A marketing agency for startups is no different than any other outbound marketing agency; therefore, collaboration and open client Agency communication and data-driven insights are key, but it takes a Swiss Army knife skills and data-driven insights to beat out the established heavyweights in the business. Most agencies have a strong sales force and account reps who are willing to work the phones and set the agenda, but they lack creativity, strategic planning and vision. Marketing is the backbone of any company’s business plan and one which cannot be ignored or pushed aside. It is one area where agencies often fail to grasp and will spend most of their budget on paychecks and benefits for their sales force. Marketing is the lifeblood of any company and without it, companies go stagnant or die from lack of business. A marketing agency is the catalyst that moving a business forward and is the backbone of its success or failure.
A good startup marketing agency should take a close look at social media engagement. The use of social media is a critical component of any business development strategy and should form an important part of every company’s marketing tactics. Social media helps build brand awareness and generate leads while also exposing the business to new markets. In addition to this, social media allows entrepreneurs to better understand their target demographic and track consumer behavior through detailed research about their likes, dislikes and expectations.
An agency that develops and implements a well-thought out marketing strategy will help drive business development and growth. However, not every agency can provide the same services and the right set of tools and tactics to create that strategy. A good startup marketing agency understands that a social media strategy is infinitely scalable and adaptable depending on company size and market focus. They should also be able to rapidly implement new strategies in a cost-effective manner.
The world of startups is crowded and competitive. By nature, startups are often small and lack the financial or staff capital to hire employees and engage in branding and other marketing strategies. Because of this, many startups seek assistance from an agency that can leverage the expertise of experienced entrepreneurs to grow their presence in markets where they may not have previously been successful. An agency should be able to develop a number of highly focused marketing strategies that target key influencers in key cities and geographies. These agencies can also train employees on effectively using social media as part of their daily work day.
While it may seem more practical to hire an agency that has a great deal of experience in launching businesses, this is not necessarily a good way to get the best service. An agency should instead be a partner that provides creative advice and leadership to startups on important issues such as growth, financing, acquisitions, mergers and acquisitions, IPOs and strategic partnerships. Marketing Scaleurs that focus too much on launching businesses that aren’t likely to be successful will not be able to provide the leadership or guidance that startups need. Additionally, Marketing Scaleurs that focus too much on one particular area may not have the expertise or resources to be effective at working with different types of businesses. In Marketing Scaleurs , the right startup marketing agency will be the one that is capable of working with multiple types of startups. These agencies should have an established strategy for working with different types of companies.
A good agency should not focus solely on launching startups. Agencies should also be able to provide data-driven strategy and help design the right business structure for these startups. Having a data-driven strategy allows the agency to look at the prospective company in a more holistic manner. It allows the agency to consider the current marketplace, the current landscape in which the company will enter, what competition there is in the market, and how the company will position itself in the marketplace. The agency should then develop a comprehensive action plan for launching the company. This plan should include metrics to determine the success of the startup, an understanding of competitor’s strategies, and the ability to fine tune the data-driven strategy to better position the company for success.
In addition, a data-driven strategy also allows the startup marketing agency to determine if it needs to do any tactical execution. This involves creating goals and objectives, developing plans to achieve those goals and objectives, and then implementing plans to achieve those goals and objectives. Through tactical execution, agencies create tactical plans that address key issues that startup founders need to consider. Examples include addressing market problems, identifying opportunities, creating new financial models, and getting financial support. Through tactical execution, agencies allow startups to get critical business success feedback early on so that they can address problems as they arise.
Lastly, a good startup marketing agency should have a strong, proactive leadership team. The senior management team for a good agency should include individuals who are willing to lead in a proactive fashion. They should be able to foster collaboration among team members and provide clear direction and guidance while keeping the staff members accountable to the agency’s strategic goals and objectives.