When new kids step onto the block they want to enter with a bang to tell everyone else that they’ve arrived. That’s what creative advertising
strategies are to start-ups. They formulate new, innovative messages that start-ups can send to their customers and competitors. The hope is that the more innovative the idea, the more viewership of the advertisement they will receive which can be converted into buyers.
Each start-up wants to be recognized and wants their voice to be heard. Essentially, the start-up finds a way to market effectively and creatively with the smallest bill. Here are some interesting and innovative advertising ideas for start-ups:
1.Capitalize on Trends: Unibubble, a start-up allows students to connect, buy and sell belongings and find out about daily news and events, making campus life more interactive. It also enables businesses to advertise directly to their desired student population. The start-up gained attention and popularity when it began to capitalize on the Harlem Shake. It created an event on Facebook and the video of the event was then posted on YouTube. The website has seen a tremendous increase in traffic from that day.
2.Social Media: Social media is the greatest weapon of this century. Social media exercises more power on the masses than we have recognized. The greatest advantage of using social media to market and advertise your start-up is that is affordable, widespread and sometimes even free. Many fashion labels have made it big through social media platforms like Instagram and Facebook. Ads on a social media website are a great way of emphasizing and building brand recognition.
3.Sell the spirit: The customer is bombarded with offers and new products on a daily basis. The only way to impress a potential customer is to customize your product. A personalized experience is what sells the most. The key to making a great impression is to not focus on the product but the key spirit or idea of your startup. One Plus, a Chinese Smartphone company that is relatively new decided to sell ‘exclusivity’ as their strength. In the initial months, people who received the invite from One Plus were able to purchase the phone. This led to the circulation of invites and a surging curiosity amongst those left out. After creating the buzz, it realized its products everywhere and has become one of the most sought out smartphones.
4.Reach everywhere: Plan you budget judiciously. Avail all free venues, word of the mouth, and relatively larger groups to create the buzz. It is important to remember your target audience and then reach everywhere that might have potential customers. Mint advertised in almost 600 blogs. Start-ups require an undying spirit and energy that is infectious. Make sure that you reach out using social media, friends and events to every possible venue. Collaborate, invite and participate to gain recognition.
5.Content: Old school but essential is the content that goes up in all your advertisements and blogs. Your content should reflect the mood and spirit of your start-up.If you are a group of college graduates, keep if informal and simple.Let your language be catchy but not crass. A powerful content can make or break the deal. Hotmail initially signed every mail going out with a note- “P.S.: I love you. Get your free email at Hotmail”. This became popular and helped Hotmail gain 1 million customers within 6 months.
Many start-ups have adopted various marketing and advertising strategies. Choose simple but effective methods that suit your budget and, more importantly, complement your product. Make sure you share your motto and vision efficiently to your customers.
