Growth marketing tactics can be a game-changer for startups looking to scale rapidly. Read on to discover 15 actionable strategies that can help your business grow faster and more efficiently.
Welcome to the world of growth marketing, where every tactic is designed to help your startup soar. Julian Shapiro, the founder of numerous startups including Demand Curve, shared his top growth marketing tactics, and we’re passing them on to you.
1. Retarget Your Newsletter Unsubscribers
When someone unsubscribes from your email list, it doesn’t mean they’re not interested in your content. They might just prefer consuming it on another platform. You can re-engage these users by creating custom audiences on social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn. This way, you can target them with ads about your new products or services.
2. Do Hyper-Targeted Geo Rollouts to Look Bigger Than You Are
If you’re expanding your online presence, concentrate your ad budget in one specific location. Partner with influencers in that area and have them promote your product within the same month. This creates a buzz, making it seem like everyone is talking about your product.
3. Cross-Target Audiences on Multiple Platforms
Different platforms have different strengths. For example, LinkedIn is great for B2B targeting, while Snapchat can be effective for niche communities. Use lower-cost platforms to identify your audience, then retarget them on higher-performing channels like Facebook and Instagram.
4. Use Cheap Video Ads to Find What Works
Video ads can significantly improve your cost-per-click. Start with quick and cheap videos to test different versions. When you find one that works, consider investing more in production value. For B2B ads, use tools like ScreenFlow for screen recordings and Bunny Studio for professional voiceovers. For B2C ads, consider using Fiverr for animated videos or Animoto for Buzzfeed-style image videos.
5. Look for Up-and-Comers to Find Cost-Effective YouTube Sponsorships
YouTube creators often charge based on their number of subscribers, but that doesn’t always translate to views. Look for up-and-coming creators who get a lot of views and negotiate to pay for views instead of subscribers. Make sure your ad runs early in the video for maximum impact.
6. Warm Up Cold Leads Through LinkedIn
Pre-targeting is a digital way to warm up leads before a cold outreach. Upload your email contacts to LinkedIn ads and run ads to them for two weeks. This raises brand awareness, making them more likely to respond positively to your emails.
7. Turn Blog Visitors Into Leads
High-traffic blogs can be a goldmine for leads. Use quizzes and gated content to capture emails. For example, offer a quiz and require an email to see the results. Alternatively, provide a high-quality PDF guide and ask for an email to access the full content.
8. Do Direct Mail (But Do It Properly)
Direct mail can still be effective if done right. Test it with a large enough sample size, include time pressure and a clear call-to-action, and track performance via a custom domain name. For example, use a domain like dcmarketing.com that forwards to your main site with tracking codes.
9. Ease Your Audience into CTAs
A well-placed call-to-action (CTA) can nurture a visitor into a customer. However, aggressive CTAs can hurt your conversion rate. Focus on writing exceptional copy that convinces visitors of your product’s value before introducing the CTA.
10. Use Facebook Ads to Narrow Down Your Copy
Testing ad copy directly on your website can be costly. Instead, use Facebook ads to test different versions of your copy. Make controlled changes between versions and see which one has the highest click-through rate. Use the winning copy across other platforms.
11. Figure Out Word-of-Mouth/Referral Programs
Geographic lift is a powerful but underused tactic for measuring word-of-mouth and referrals. Focus your ad spend on one geographic market and compare its performance to a similar market without ads. The difference helps you estimate untrackable leads from word-of-mouth and referrals.
12. Grow Your Podcasts Through YouTube
YouTube is a powerful platform for distributing your podcast. Cross-post your podcast on YouTube and make it video-based for better performance. Make your podcasts timely by discussing hot topics and interview guests with built-in audiences to attract more viewers.
13. Use Break-Even Ads to Raise Brand Awareness
If your ads are breaking even, don’t turn them off. Use them to raise brand awareness. Many companies spend millions on brand awareness, so break-even ads can be a cost-effective way to achieve the same goal.
14. Prevent Gmail from Going to Spam
Avoiding the spam folder is crucial for email marketing campaigns. Familiarize yourself with Google’s Email Sender Guidelines. Focus on areas like authentication, subscription, unsubscribing, format, delivery, and third-party senders to optimize your email campaigns.
15. Optimize The Time Your Ads Go Out
Day parting is essential for ad efficiency. If your business relies on you being present for interactions, control the time your ads are displayed. Use third-party tools like AdEspresso to implement day parting on platforms like Facebook and Instagram.
These growth marketing tactics can significantly impact your startup’s success. For more insights, visit our blog or contact us via email at info@07hm.co.uk or telephone 01702 410663.
