Cheap Digital Advertising Techniques Appropriate For Startups

Hey there! Starting up can be pretty exciting, huh? You’ve got this killer idea, a passion for your product or service, and the drive to make it all happen. But let’s face it, in the midst of all the setup, inventory, and countless cups of coffee, budgeting for advertising often feels more like a pipe dream than a reality.

 

Worry not—I’ve got your back with some wallet-friendly digital advertising techniques that would sit well with any startup budget.

Let’s dive into some cheap digital advertising techniques appropriate for startups.

 

Content Is King (and Queen)

First things first, do Content Marketing. I cannot stress this enough. Crafting blog posts, infographics, or videos with valuable information about what you do can be the golden ticket. Think of it as helping your potential customers without being all ‘salesy.’ Plus, search engines love quality content, so it’s a win-win.

• Start a Blog: Share your expertise, talk about your field, give tips—whatever fits your brand.
• Create How-to Videos: Honestly, who doesn’t watch a YouTube tutorial these days?
• Infographics: They’re shareable, easy to digest, and informative. Perfect combo.

Get Social Without Breaking The Bank

Social media platforms are like the town squares of the internet. Everyone’s there, and that’s exactly where you should be.

• Choose the Right Platform: You don’t have to be everywhere. If you’re B2B, think LinkedIn. Selling visually appealing products? Instagram and Pinterest are your friends.
• Engage, Engage, Engage: Start conversations, reply to comments, and genuinely interact with your followers. It’s free and builds community.
• User-Generated Content: Encourage customers to share their experiences with your product or service. It’s authentic and personal.

SEO – Your Stealthy Long Game

Search Engine Optimisation (SEO) is like the ninja of digital marketing—silent but deadly (in a good way). It helps your website rank higher in search results without paying for clicks.

• Keywords: Research keywords relevant to your business and pepper them across your site’s content.
• Optimise Your Site: Make it fast, make it mobile-friendly, and make sure it provides a good user experience.
• Backlinks: Get reputable websites to link back to your site; it boosts your credibility with search engines.

Email Marketing – The Comeback Kid

Email marketing is like that old band tee you can’t throw away—it never goes out of style and always has a place in your heart.

• Build a Subscriber List: Offer something in exchange for an email address. Think e-books, discount codes, or insider tips.
• Segment Your Audience: Tailor messages to different groups for more personal communication.
• A/B Testing: Try two versions of your email and see which performs better. Learn and adapt.

Pay-Per-Click (PPC) – The Thrifty Spender’s Dream

This is where you only shell out cash when someone actually clicks on your ad. Google AdWords is a popular platform for this.

• Set a Budget: Determine what you’re willing to spend and cap it there.
• Target Long-Tail Keywords: These are more specific and less expensive than generic ones.
• Landing Pages: Create pages specifically designed to convert your PPC traffic.

Partnerships – Doubling Up to Cut Costs

Think about brands that complement yours. Teaming up can mean sharing the load and doubling the audience.

• Co-Marketing Campaigns: Collaborate on a webinar or an ebook.
• Affiliate Marketing: Let other people sell your products in exchange for a commission.
• Cross-Promotions: Share each other’s content on social media or newsletters.

Influencer Marketing – The Social Butterfly’s Approach

This doesn’t always mean going after the stars with millions of followers. Micro-influencers with smaller, more engaged audiences can be gold.

• Find Your Match: Look for influencers whose followers might be interested in your product.
• Offer Freebies: Send them your product for a review or a feature.
• Be Clear About Expectations: It’s a partnership—communicate your goals.

Take Advantage of Online Directories

These are like the modern-day Yellow Pages. Make sure your startup is listed where it counts.

• Google Business Profile: This is a must for local search visibility.
• Industry-Specific Directories: If you’re a restaurant, think Yelp. A B2B company? Alignable could work.

Run a Contest or Giveaway

Who doesn’t love free stuff? Contests are great for engagement and can increase your reach.

• Make it Relevant: Offer prizes that relate to your brand.
• Spread the Word: Use social media, email marketing, and your website to promote it.
• Collect Data: Use entry forms to gather emails for future marketing efforts.

Utilise Retargeting Strategies

Ever browsed for shoes only to find ads for them stalking you on every website thereafter? That’s retargeting, and it’s brilliant because it focuses on people who have shown interest in your product.

• Use Pixels: Place a tracking pixel on your site so you can show ads to visitors after they leave.
• Segment Your Campaigns: Show different ads to people who visited different parts of your site.

Be Smart With Data Analytics

Data is like breadcrumbs; it tells you where people have been on your site, what they liked, and what they didn’t.

• Google Analytics: It’s free and super powerful. Track your traffic, see where it’s coming from, and learn what users do on your site.
• Heatmaps: Tools like Hotjar can show you where people click and how far they scroll.

Sum Up

Remember, being a startup means you’ve got the agility to try new things, be creative, and pivot quickly. While these cheap digital advertising techniques appropriate for startups can get you far, never underestimate the power of testing.

 

Try them out, analyse the results, and refine your strategy. And why you’re at it, check out our comprehensive all-in-one marketing tool, Convertrr. 

 

Use every tool you have, keep an eye on your budget, and you might just find yourself outgrowing that ‘startup’ label before you know it.

 

Here’s to your inevitable viral success. 🚀 Cheers!