9 Grassroots Marketing Strategies for Your Startup

Do you want to grow your business with marketing your customers won’t see coming? Check out these 9 unique marketing strategies that work.

Your startup may offer a brilliant service or product, but if consumers aren’t aware of it, you won’t see revenue. For this reason, you need to engage in as many marketing tactics as possible.

Marketing tactics such as SEO and social media networking are the most commonly used tactics, but these techniques alone aren’t enough. If you really want to bring your business to the attention of consumers, you need to think outside the box.

Here are nine unique marketing strategies that’ll grow your startup.

1. Take to the Streets

While digital marketing has become vitally important for businesses in the modern world, the truth of the matter is that physical, real-world marketing still has its place. This is especially true for startups that only offer their services in the geographical areas in which they’re located.

For this reason, it’s important for startups to market themselves on the streets. There are a number of ways in which you can do so. Not only can you hand out fliers and brochures, you can also use sidewalk chalk to write the name of your business in a public area.

The more often people come across the name of your business, the more familiar they’ll become with it. Make yourself as visible as possible.

2. Give Products Away for Free

A great way for consumers to begin noticing your startup is by giving away some of your products for free. While this may seem counterproductive, it will actually cause your business to appear more attractive.

There are two different ways to do this. You can either hand out your product for free to anyone passing on the street, or you can give the product away in a contest.

If you don’t have a strong social media presence, handing out your product on the street is probably the best approach. Just be sure to include the name of your business on the product.

3. Utilize a Referral Program

The best way to market your startup is through word of mouth. Consumers are much more likely to believe in the quality of a product if it’s referred to them by other consumers; particularly consumers who they know on a personal basis.

In order to get referrals from your consumers, it’s good to reward them in some way. Send consumers a free version of your product in exchange for a review on social media. This should have your business’s name spreading like wildfire.

4. Network at a Trade Show

The next of our unique marketing strategies is to network at a trade show. A trade show is essentially a convention at which businesses promote and demo their products.

At such shows, you not only pique the interest of other players in your industry but of the press as well. Having a successful showing at a trade show can go a long way in promoting your product.

5. Reach Out to Users on Relevant Forums

When it comes to marketing, nothing beats personal communication. For this reason, it’s important to frequent online forums which are relevant to your startup, and speak to the users of these forums.

Answering questions and engaging in discussion on a forum can help your startup gain credibility with consumers. A consumer will feel more comfortable purchasing from a person that he or she is familiar with.

Sites such as Stack Exchange and Reddit are excellent places in which to engage in discussion with potential consumers. However, it’s important that you engage in discussion, not market yourself ceaselessly.

6. Be Charitable

A great way for a startup to garner positive attention is by giving to charity and putting on charitable events.

Perhaps your business could host a walk to raise money for cancer research. Maybe your business could start up a recycling program. Or, maybe your business could give a portion of its proceeds to an after-school program.

Doing this will not only give your business exposure, it will allow consumers to see that you’re a business which takes part in its community. This can only garner a positive reputation.

7. Participate in Business Award Competitions

There are business award competitions held by organizations of all kinds. Not only do national organizations hold such competitions, but local organizations do as well.

It’s never a bad idea to participate in these award competitions. If you win, you’ll be able to label yourself a winner on your website. If you lose, you still stand a chance of receiving some sort of designation from the organization which put on the contest.

If consumers see that your company is award-winning, they will be much more likely to do business with you.

8. Host Free Activities

Another of our unique marketing strategies is for your business to host free activities and events.

By putting on barbecues, races, and other types of events, your company stands a chance of being seen by thousands of people. It also positions itself to be seen as a cog in the community, garnering positive favor among local consumers.

When putting on an event, remember to have the name of your business posted as much as possible. The point is to have attendees catch on to your business.

9. Utilize the Power of Stickers

Some marketing ideas are so simple that you may overlook them. For instance, have you ever thought about using stickers as a means of marketing?

You can place stickers with the logo and name of your business just about anywhere, allowing the identity of your business to get seen by thousands of people daily.

Not only should you apply stickers to automobiles and bulletin boards, you should also hand them out to passersby. Stickers are fairly inexpensive but can go a long way in marketing your business.

Learn More Unique Marketing Strategies

Are you hoping to attract more consumers to your startup? Are you looking to learn even more unique marketing strategies? If so, I, Aaron Vick, have got you covered.

I advise startup businesses on everything from marketing, to contract negotiations, to business development. It’s my goal to transform your startup into a successful and thriving business.

Contact me today to discuss your needs!