So, you’ve got a cool idea for a business or product? Great! You’ve been out there talking to people and getting your hustle on? Amazing! Validated your product-market fit? Incredible!
But… Don’t have a website with clear messaging? Not sure how to jumpstart your growth journey? You can’t possibly talk one-on-one to all of your customers. Need to up your online presence? That’s where your marketing strategy comes in, and it doesn’t need to take you months to write. Start with the basics, build and optimise.
This article will take you through a simplified entrepreneur’s marketing strategy for any new business looking to gain more awareness and drive conversions for your new great idea!
Let’s dive in.
The 60-minute entrepreneur’s marketing strategy
Download the lean marketing strategy template.
1. Define your brand vision, mission and values.
Every successful business starts with a clear understanding of its core brand values, mission, and vision. This foundation sets the tone for your brand and helps you align your marketing efforts with your business’s purpose. Take a few minutes to reflect on what your brand stands for, what it aims to achieve, and the values that guide it.
Complete these sentences:
Vision statement
I see a future where [your target audience] no longer experiences [pain point] and they are free to [make the change you help them with].
Mission statement
I want to help [target audience] to [make a change] by offering them [your product or service].
Values
List things that your brand is and is not under the headings:
We are / We are not
Use verbs (action words) to describe how you want to behave and achieve your vision and mission.
Extra for experts – try these templates to dig deeper
Brand vision worksheet | For teams
Bring clarity to your brand vision by taking your team through this simple exercise. Download the brand vision worksheet.
Brand purpose worksheet | For entrepreneurs
Build confidence as a small business owner by discovering your brand purpose. Download the brand purpose worksheet.
2. Define your ideal customers
Understanding your target audience is crucial for effective marketing. Create detailed customer personas that encompass their demographics, behaviours, pain points, and aspirations. This will help you tailor your marketing efforts to resonate with the people most likely to benefit from your product or service.
Demographics of your target audience:
Their biggest pain points / challenges:
Their goals and aspirations:
Dig deeper with this persona template:
A simple marketing persona template to help you define your target audience and improve your brand positioning and messaging.
3. Define your positioning statement – how you are going to stand out from the competition
Your positioning statement is your unique value proposition. It should articulate how you plan to stand out from the competition and why customers should choose your brand. Keep it concise and impactful so that it instantly communicates what makes your business special.
List your top 3 competitors:
What are their strengths and weaknesses:
How are you different and better than your competitors:
Dig deeper with this competitor analysis template
A simple 6-step guide, this competitor analysis template will help you work through the overwhelming task of competitor research and help you position your brand for more growth.
4. Decide on your growth channels
Identify the platforms and channels where your target audience spends their time. It could be social media, search engines, email marketing, or even niche forums. Choose the channels that are most likely to yield the best results for your specific business.
List the top 4 places your audience will be:
5. Build your funnels / growth loops
Funnels and growth loops are essential for converting potential customers into actual customers. Design a clear path that takes your audience from awareness to interest, and ultimately to action (e.g., making a purchase). Implement strategies to retain and upsell existing customers to achieve sustainable growth.
Create a plan for how your audience will find out about you. How you will convince them of your value. And how you will call them to action to make a purchase.
6. Promote your business with relevant and valuable content
Create content that speaks directly to your target audience. Your content should provide value, address their pain points, and highlight how your product or service can help. Distribute this content through the channels you’ve chosen in step 4. Consistency and quality are key.
Create 4 key messages in each of the following stages of your funnel and run test campaigns to see which has the most impact.
Awareness – Highlight pain point and educate your audience on your solution.
Consideration – offer proof that your solution works to solve pain point. (eg. testimonials). Why should they trust you?
Conversion – call then to action and make it easy for customers to purchase.
After the test, take the unsuccessful ones out and test again with new messaging. Rinse and repeat until you find what works.
Entrepreneur’s marketing strategy – on a page
Creating a one-pager that encapsulates your marketing strategy, highlighting key points, goals, and action items will serve as a quick reference and a way to keep you focused and your team aligned with your vision.
In just 60 minutes, you’ve defined your brand, identified your ideal customers, crafted a unique positioning statement, chosen your growth channels, built your funnels, created compelling content, and documented this on a one-pager for easy reference.
With this strategy in place, you’re well on your way to boosting your brand awareness and driving conversions for your fantastic idea. Get ready to watch your business grow!
Need help working through these steps?
Book a free brand consultation to get extra help.
