Startups can benefit from marketing strategies called “growth hacks.” Sean Ellis coined the term back in 2010. It refers to non-traditional marketing techniques designed to rapidly grow your business.
These strategies are based on the latest trends. From the web design, email templates, content creation, social media, search engine optimization, advertisement, landing pages and others – there’s a need to constantly be up-to- date.
GROWTH HACKING STRATEGIES
Entrepreneurs need to use all possible means to promote their business, and we all know how important the online world has become.
Having a website is important, but it’s never enough to simply have an online presence. To help your business expand, you can use the “growth hack” strategies below.
Growth Hack #1: Run a Pre-launch Giveaway
Make some noise as soon as you launch your business. Let people know about your business by creating an account via Rafflecopter. This may cost you a bit, but it will entice people to join the raffle and promote your business. By using Rafflecopter, you also encourage your online audience to connect to your different social media accounts. Once they’re connected to you on social media, you can also gain feedback about your products and services, as well as create a customer contact list that you can use in the future.
Growth Hack #2: Increase your online visibility through organic search Provide information that your potential customers will find most useful. Use snippets that can grab the attention of your online audience in 150-160 words. Use keywords that directly describe your company or your products and services.
Growth Hack #3: Create shareable content
You may have come across blogs created by different businesses. They may be about the business itself or something related which customers will find interesting. When you provide extra information to your customers and followers, it can entice more people to get curious about what you offer. When people check your website often, it gives you an edge over your competitors.
Growth Hack #4: Remarketing
It helps your business immensely when you let your customers feel how important they are.
Some form of token for continuously patronizing your products and services will help strengthen their loyalty. This will also encourage your customers to promote your products and services to their friends.
Growth Hack #5: Referral System
Encourage your customers to refer you to their friends by offering them discount coupons or vouchers which they may use in the future. Example: “Refer 3 friends and you get free shipping on your next purchase”. Everybody wants to earn something.
Growth Hack #6: Optimize site speed
Your website should load quickly. Adding so many photos can slow down your website. Use only photos that are really needed.
Growth Hack #7: Ask for PR from bloggers
There are many bloggers who are willing to help promote your business. You can either invite them to an event you are having, or send them samples of your products which they can write about and share with their followers. But you should also be careful because bloggers can sometimes be downright frank and brutal about what they think about your product. Choose the right bloggers.
Growth Hack #8: Hire virtual assistants
There should be dedicated personnel that handle your online presence. You should always be available online to let your audience know the latest about your business and provide answers to queries. Customers want to feel important and they expect answers immediately. By being constantly visible online, you are able to reach out to more people.
Growth Hack #9: FAQ
Create a Frequently Asked Questions page. Position questions around your key selling points. By doing this, you alleviate your customers’ purchasing anxieties and lessen the burden on your customer support. This can also help strengthen your customers’ trust in your business.
Growth Hack #10: Cold Emailing
Take time to research the names and contact details of your customers. Try sending out personal emails to 10-20 prospective individuals every day. Let them know about your business or latest offering. It may not always be a 100 percent turnaround, but you can reach some people that can eventually be of great help.
(Armando Bartolome is known as the Philippines’ Franchise Guru, a business mentor to numerous micro entrepreneurs who are now themselves big names in the industry. This article is reposted with the author’s permission and was previously published on The Business Mentor column posted by ABSCBN News. For questions and more information, you may contact Armando "Butz" Bartolome by email:philfranchiseguru@gmail.com or on Twitter @philfranguru. His website is www.gmb.com.ph)
