Now here we have something that will never fail us if it is done correctly, the email marketing. 80% of the small businesses rely on the email as their primary customer growth and their retention channel. But the critical advice that we cannot stress enough is for good email marketing. There are so many things that will make you to end up in spam, like the rest of them. For you to benefit from the email marketing, you want it to be personal, you should always have a CTA and make sure you have a click-worthy subject line.
When was the last time you took a look at your phone? Are you reading this blog on your phone right now? My point here is, we look at our phones a whole lot. Like, constantly! So SMS marketing is another good way that you can reach your consumers. But people’s phones are in their personal bubbles, so you have to be smart with getting permission, exclusive to the content that you are sending them, and also reaching out to them at the right time.
So, we have the social media, the email marketing and the SMS—this is one sturdy foundation for a marketing plan. But why not make it much stronger? We agree! Adding the customer reviews and the referrals are a great way for you to get a more prominent brand voice behind your company. And do not forget, that also goes for word of mouth too.
Start with Sales
I know, it sounds somehow silly. But, obviously, every startup founder that is here is to make that moola. This is just specifically about making that first sale of your goods or your services! The structure is just as important as your goals themselves. Set as many goals, the small and big, both matter as much as the other.
When anyone asks me questions like what specific goals should I set? I say SMART ones.
To make sure that your goals are clear and they are reachable, each one should be:
1. Specific (simple, sensible, significant)
2. Measurable (meaningful, motivating)
3. Achievable (agreed, attainable)
4. Relevant (reasonable, realistic and resourced, results-based)
5. Time-bound (time-based, time-limited, time/cost limited, timely, time-sensitive)
Clean Your Budget
Yes, I know I may be sounding as your mother, but it is time for you to clean your budget! The cleaner the budget, the better the chances of your success. Being organized with your finances, having a solid understanding of your taxes, and also setting a rainy day fund are all things that will make up a clean budget.
A common mistake that new business owners make is that as long as they can lay their hands on a big enough wad of money, they can just plop it into a business checking account, and it will surely satisfy all the expenses. This is so very wrong and it is far from being wise. If you are not an expert at budgeting, you will have to enlist the help of someone who is. It is crucial to have a super detailed budget before you even spend a single penny.