You’ve probably heard of a startup. Perhaps you’ve even considered applying for one. A startup is an organization that’s been formed with the express purpose of creating a new business. One that’s different from the traditional corporate structures we’re all used to. Startups are often focused on a particular market or niche and may only exist to serve a particular client base. They’re frequently smaller, more nimble organizations, which operate with a higher tempo.
A startup’s main focus is usually on marketing itself, gathering sign-ups and engaging with current and potential customers. Traditional brick and mortar businesses still depend on consumers walking into their stores to make a purchase. But the world of commerce has changed. Thanks to online marketplaces like Shopify, Octopart, and others, businesses can now operate from the comfort of their own homes or remote offices and reach customers across the globe.
If marketing is the bread and butter of any business, then marketing for a startup might seem tricky. After all, how do you build a brand identity when you don’t even have one yet? How do you gain credibility when you haven’t even begun operations?
It’s a common struggle and one that many businesses don’t want to face. Which is why so many startups adopt a more stealth approach to their marketing. Going under the radar and not broadcasting their existence is something that every business strives for, but few are able to pull off. Especially since marketing is such a crucial part of every business relationship. Regardless of whether you need a logo, website, or just want to build a brand for yourself, the fundamentals of SEO, content marketing, and social media still apply.
SEO
Search engine optimization (SEO) is the process of influencing the rankings of your website or blog articles in relevant search engines such as Google, Bing, and others. When potential customers use search engines to find information about your products or services, they usually click on the first few results on their search results page. Naturally, this means you’ll want to strive for a high ranking on search engine results pages (SERPs) for relevant keywords. Think of keywords as ‘mini-brochures’ that introduce readers to your business, products, and services. Each word or phrase you select for a keyword should relate to a concept your product or service promotes.
If you’re new to SEO, it can be tricky to know where to start. There are so many tactics and tricks to improving your rankings, like guest blogging, social bookmarking, and content marketing, that it can be hard to know where to begin. That’s why we’ve decided to tell you about three of the most popular online marketing courses that cover all the basics of SEO.
i. Designing Websites for Startups
Every business is different, but usually, startups want something simple but effective. Which is why we’ve chosen to discuss a static HTML website for this article. It’s a great place to start if you’re looking to build a simple and basic website. But you don’t want to settle for just ‘bare bones’ because that’s never going to do it.
Designing a static HTML website doesn’t mean you have to settle for what’s been done before you. The world of startups is alive and well and embracing creative freedom and new ideas. If you’ve ever designed a non-profit’s website, social media pages, or just a new product’s website then you might have encountered this freedom first hand. You can utilize this freedom to make your website stand out above the rest. Which is why we’ve decided to discuss this particular course. But before we begin, it’s important to note that this is a completely free course and there are no rules other than to have fun.
This course is all about taking a fresh look at the way you organize your web content. The goal is to create a functional yet beautiful website that represents your business. And we’re not talking about a template website here, either. You’re going to use the tools at your disposal to make a design that’s reflective of you and your business.
The first step towards designing a website for a startup is to sit down and collect your thoughts. It can be helpful to break down the purpose of your website and then refocus on designing the template. If possible, take a look at other websites in your industry to see how they are laid out. Of course, you don’t have to be limited by what you see elsewhere. You can always find inspiration from a variety of sources, whether it’s an artist, photographer, or even a book. You can also find a lot of information online. There are many tutorials and courses that you can take to learn the skills you need to become a web designer. A lot of these courses are offered online and can be accessed from any location. This is particularly helpful for those looking to secure their freedom and operate remotely.
ii. Content Marketing for Startups
For many businesses, marketing through content is the key to gaining credibility. After all, who are you to sell something if you haven’t expressed an interest in buying it in the first place?
If you’ve been in business for a while and have accumulated some content that you think is interesting and maybe even helpful to your customers, why not try and monetize this content? You could put together a few high-quality and authoritative blog posts about your industry and niche. Something that will engage and delight your audience. And in doing so, you’ll be able to build credibility and show that you know what you’re talking about. Thanks to the success of content marketing courses such as Grow With Google and the rise of personal content creators, everyone from micro-bloggers to artists and photographers are able to make money online through content marketing.
If you’re just getting started with content marketing, it can be tricky to know where to begin. There are so many tactics, tricks, and shortcuts to getting results without any real direction or guidance. That’s why we’ve decided to tell you about three of the most popular content marketing courses. All of which cover the basics of creating and distributing content that’s interesting, valuable, and hopefully profitable.
iii. Social Media Marketing for Startups
If you’ve ever shopped online, then you’re probably familiar with the many benefits of social media. It’s a great way to gain credibility, establish trust, and engage with prospective customers. Especially if you’ve got a solid handle on social media marketing, you’ll be able to take full advantage of any platform.
Depending on your resources and scope, you might want to consider creating a Twitter account, building a brand page on Facebook, and setting up shop on Linked-In. Not only will these platforms allow you to build credibility, they can also be used to gain exposure and to attract potential customers to your website.
If you’re still unsure of how to approach social media marketing, these courses will help. They’ll give you the tools and tips you need to get started effectively. Even if you’re not sure what kind of content to create or whether or not to accept ads, these courses will help you figure it out. Naturally, it’s important to find the right balance between entertaining your audience and being informative. Ultimately, you’ll want to create content that encourages your readers to take action. Something that will help them solve a problem, increase their knowledge about a particular subject, or just introduce them to your business. Ultimately, it’s all about giving your readers value and useful information that they can benefit from.
Once you’ve got your head around the idea of designing a website for a startup, the next step is to decide on your domain name and choose a web hosting provider. If possible, we recommend choosing a.COM or a.NET domain name. Most hosting providers still allow you to select your domain name for free. But you’ll want to purchase a premium package to be able to make full use of the features.
Once you’ve got your domain name and web hosting package, it’s time to design your website. You’ll want to choose a theme that’s simple but functional and that reflects your business’ brand. Also, make sure that the design of your website is consistent across all platforms, from desktop to mobile.
As you build out your content, it’s important to keep in mind that SEO, content marketing, and social media marketing are all interconnected and dependent on one another. If you’re not sure how to begin, these three courses will help. Once you graduate, you’ll be able to take advantage of all three and form a solid foundation for your future work.