So, you’ve taken the leap and started your own business. Congratulations! You’ve got a great product or service, I’m sure. You’re even ahead of the curve and have nailed down what you’re offering. Now comes the tricky part: how do you spread the word and get more customers? What can you tell them about your product and how do you connect your product to solve their problems? That’s where marketing comes in – and let me tell you, it should be one of the top priority consultancy hires for early-phase startups.

First things first, let’s talk about branding. Your brand is more than your fonts and colors (sidebar: those are still VERY important and give the world your first visual impression). As a startup, you might not have a fully-formed brand identity yet. Or, maybe you do, but you’re trying to figure out how to ensure it’s resonating with your target audience. Having a plan of action to develop a strong brand identity is key to ensuring you’re reaching your ideal customers. This might involve creating a new logo, refining your messaging, or developing a brand voice that helps your values sing through your pages.

But it’s not just about the visual aspects of branding – it’s also about the experience that customers have when they interact with your business. Creating a consistent brand experience across all touchpoints, from your website to your social media accounts to your customer service interactions is all included in the valuable aspects that set your company apart. A marketing consultant is here to help your team “drink the Kool-aid so everyone involved in your company is presenting your brand in the best way possible.

Next, let’s talk about lead generation. As a startup, you might not have a lot of resources to throw at traditional advertising methods. While social media, email marketing, and a website can seem like assets that just need to exist, here’s a hard truth: a bad online presence is almost as bad as no presence at all. Consumers now expect an online presence that’s updated, professional, and well-thought-through. Ensuring your brand is shining online can be the difference between getting customers or getting passed over in favor of a competitor.

But it’s not only about getting leads – it’s also about managing them. A marketing consultant can help you create a system for tracking and nurturing your leads, so that you can turn them into paying customers. We might recommend using a CRM (customer relationship management) system to keep track of your leads and their interactions with your business. We can also help you create email marketing campaigns or other follow-up strategies to keep your leads engaged and interested.

Finally, let’s talk about sales enablement. As a startup, you might not have a lot of sales materials – or maybe you do, but they’re not resonating with your potential customers. Creating sales materials that speak directly to your target audience and help move them through the sales funnel helps your clients stay engaged through the sales process. This might involve creating sales sheets, pitch decks, or other materials that your sales team can use to close deals.

Involving marketing early is an invaluable asset for early-phase startups. If you’re feeling overwhelmed by the marketing aspects of running a business, don’t hesitate to reach out to Clementine Creative Co. We’re the doers and the thinkers needed to help you grow your business.