We all know how difficult it can be to startup an enterprise in Nigeria. But, what many aspiring entrepreneurs fail to take into consideration is that “successful startups get the bulk of the work done before they launch”.
With some many creative ideas and innovation, a poor marketing approach can render your startup dead on arrival. So, how do you navigate the deep blue seas of consumer behaviour? Thats the Million Naira question. The success of your startup is limited by the number of potential customers who know about it and most startup will fold up within 3-5 years of opening shop. To avoid such an outcome, you will have to build your customer base.
This is where most the aspiring entrepreneurs are blindsided. They focus more on making quick gains, paying less attention to building and marketing their brand. According to his post on the blog Startups.co, Roy Morejon, President and co-founder of digital marketing agency Enventys Partners wrote “Short-term wins absolutely exist, but instead of spending time and money searching for them, early-stage companies should formulate repeatable, scalable marketing techniques.”
Startups need to focus their energy on building sustainable customer base in order to increase exposure. Here are some tips on how to position your business before your launch.
- Describe/Define Your Brand:
In the beginning, aspiring entrepreneurs have to define their brand. Who they are and what problem their product/service will solve. Your brand should reflect your company values and personality and do so in such a way that is relatable to your desired customers. Focus on differentiating your business instead of trying to assimilate into the industry. In the long run, your branding will be one of the main reasons customers will choose your product or service over a competitor’s.
2. Reach Your Customers Through Unique Ways:
You have to be daring and different when trying to connect with your target audience. Basically, you must connect to them in ways they have not experienced before. To really connect with people, you’ll need to meet them where they spend their time. Identify those chilling spots, whether they’re online or in real life and place your messaging there. Offer valuable contents to your audience, keep them engaged and engrossed with interesting and fun contents and they will become loyalists.
3. Design An SEO Strategy:
After clearly defining your target audience, figure out what keywords they’re searching for. The keyword list will help direct traffic to your website and your social media accounts. Remember, your keywords must be relevant to your brand. While it’s nice to win traffic from highly competitive keywords, instead start by targeting keywords with low competition and lots of traffic.
The aforementioned tips are just one of many relevant and helpful ways in which startups can become more visible to the audience they care about. Read it, internalize it, and then practice it.