Navigating the startup world is tough enough without figuring out how to develop impactful marketing strategies. If you have trouble with marketing, it might be time to consider a startup marketing company.
Startup marketing companies are unique in that they understand the distinctive position of a startup and its marketing needs. They’re expert in everything from SEO to lead generation and content development. Having the right people on your side to tackle the things you don’t have time to do, can be a game-changer for startups that need the extra push.
But with so many marketing companies out there, how do you know which one to choose? What indicators show that they’re successful with startup companies?
Here are three specific things to look for when considering a startup marketing company.
Who Have They Worked With?
This one might be obvious, but a great indicator of success is a look back on who they’ve worked for and which campaigns they’ve worked on. This will give you an idea of whether or not they’ll be able to handle not only your product, but the space your product exists in.
Why does who they work for really matter? Startups are a unique space where your marketing initiatives are primarily concerned with growth.
If you’re an eCommerce company trying to generate leads and get your products in front of the right people, working alongside a startup marketing company that’s helped other startups like Casper, Allbirds, or Burrow would be ideal.
Ask the right questions going into your initial consultation, such as:
- What companies have you worked with before?
- Can you provide testimonials?
- Do you have case studies you can share?
- What did success look like for those campaigns?
Once you know that a company can do the work and hit your ROI, you can move on to the next piece of the puzzle.
Have they worked on growth hacking campaigns?
So much of the startup world grows via viral marketing. Companies like Snapchat, Dropbox, and Eventbrite spent almost no money on marketing. How? Because they were able to figure out how to embed marketing into their product. Basically, they mastered growth hacking.
Of course, this might not be intuitive to what your selling, but working with a startup marketing company that understands how to conduct “growth hack” marketing is a great place to start.
There are two methods of growth hacking that marketing companies can help you with:
- Build a product worth recommending and give users the chance to recommend it effortlessly
- Align your growth hack channels with ones that your ideal customers use frequently
The right marketing company will know where to find your customers, what channels to focus on, and how to build an authentic, word-of-mouth style campaign.
Do they understand generalist marketing?
In the early stages of a startup, having someone on your side that understands multiple aspects of marketing is vital. They’ll know where to find your users, how to reach them, and which channels are most beneficial to your growth.
In the startup world, your needs can change on a dime. Having a company that understands the speed of startups is critical to the growth of your marketing campaigns.
Whatever you decide to do, working alongside a startup marketing company can make a huge difference in your growth. Just be sure to do your research, ask the right questions, and hire the right people.
