With more than 1,300 startups being founded in 2019 alone, the IT industry body Nasscom has reported that India continues to reinforce its position as the third-largest startup ecosystem in the world. While this growth rate is tremendous for the country, it does make it tough for entrepreneurs to make their business stand out of the crowd.
The success rate of a business is determined on two things, the capability and skills of the entrepreneur, and the visibility and ‘virality’ it can obtain within the first five years of its inception. We aren’t talking about just having an online presence, but actual visibility, wherein people have heard about your brand or are actively looking for you. After all, your business’s revenue and sales entirely depend on how customers know you. If they don’t know about you, how would they buy from you?
In this article, we’ve provided five tips that businesses can use to stand out from the crowd and ensure people on the internet are not just aware of you but are following and loving you too!
1. Don’t Underestimate The Power of Social Media
In a study published recently, 48% of the respondents stated that they would purchase products from a brand that was responsive on social media. Social media has come a long way from just being platforms for people to socialize. Starting from Facebook and LinkedIn, social media has played a significant role in changing the entire dynamic of how online marketing is carried out. So much so that even platforms like TikTok have become prominent channels for brands to market and promote their products.
Hence, if you want to succeed, you need to be present on most of the social media platforms and share relevant and engaging content that will attract potential customers.
2. Google Is The Epitome Of Online Visibility
There are many search engines present online, including Yahoo and Bing. But, combine the daily searches on all of those platforms, Google alone will still have more searches every hour. That’s the power of this giant search engine. Google has become synonymous with the internet, with most people starting and ending their online browsing from this search engine.
It’s humorously said that if you want to hide a secret, the second page of Google is the best place. With advanced and evolved algorithms, Google search results are so accurate that the user always finds what they are looking for in the first ten results, i.e. the first page. Hence, there is a continuous competition among brands to rank in the top positions for relevant keywords. If you want to leverage the popularity of Google, you need to optimize your website for the search engine and try to rank in the top position.
3. Everyone Loves To Be Teased By Videos
Another increasingly popular search engine is YouTube. While this platform isn’t a conventional search engine, it is a video watching and sharing platform, wherein people find answers to their questions. Need to know how to tie a tie? Watch a video on YouTube! Need to learn how to bake a cake? Watch a YouTube video!
Brands have used this platform to attract customers in multiple ways, especially brands that sell gadgets. For example, many Apple launches a new interactive and catchy video whenever they are about to release a new product. This increases curiosity within the customers, and before even the product is launched, the demand for it increases. Check out the video that Apple released for iPhone 11 below:
Intrigued, aren’t you? You too can capture user’s attention by creating and uploading such interactive videos.
4. Email Marketing Is Still Extremely Effective
Before there were social media and Google, there was email marketing. Almost every individual checks their email daily. Hence, promoting your products via email is a great way to increase brand awareness and potentially make a sale. It is important to note that too many emails might result in the customer reporting you as spam. So ensure you monitor the number of emails you are sending. It is recommended only to send an email if you’re launching a new product or announcing a discount or offer on an existing product.
5. Incentives Can Get You A Long Way
‘Discount,’ ‘Sale,’ ‘Offer,’ all of these are catchphrases that brands use to attract customers. After all, who doesn’t love paying a little less for products? Hence, since the start of marketing and advertising, brands have been using incentives to attract new customers.
The same applies to the digital world as well. Only here, you can do better. Through tools like Google Analytics, you can track which customer purchased from you. Then, you can provide specialized incentives for them, urging them or re-buy something from your store at a discounted price. This will not only compel them to make another purchase but will also increase brand recognition and loyalty. If you make them feel valued by offering them a special offer, they will trust your brand and recommend you to their friends and family as well.
The only thing that’s constant in the digital world is change. There is no right or wrong strategy. There’s no guarantee that what works for one brand will work for the other too. But, it’s important to keep trying, after all the digital world is too big for you to ignore. Powering your digital presence is the only way to take your business ahead!
Also Read – What is a Startup? The Ultimate Startup Guide – Definition, Types & Important Terms
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