Your first sale is often the hardest, but at the same time, it’s something that you want to get done as soon as possible so that you can continue growing your business. Oftentimes, the missing piece to that first sale is marketing.
As a new business, marketing can present a huge challenge that can be hard to tackle on your own without the right knowledge and experience.
Thankfully, we are here to help you get your first sale in 30 days with this marketing checklist.
Item 1: Research
The first thing you need to do to get your first sale is figuring out who you’re actually selling to through market research. Learn more about the industry in general and your market more specifically to reach these individuals with the right marketing materials.
The best thing to do here is to come up with a customer persona. A customer persona goes beyond basic demographic information to create a persona that reads like a real person. This should include information about wants, fears, motivations, interests, etc. You can then use this persona to guide you through the rest of this checklist.
Item 2: Website
The second thing you need to do is to set up a helpful and user-friendly website. Contrary to popular belief, you don’t have to be an expert web designer to do this. There are tons of tools out there that you can use to develop a professional website that caters to your unique brand.
On your website, you need to include information about your brand and what you represent. You also need to include information about the products or services that you’re selling. Another key component of an effective website is social proof — so make sure to gather and post glowing customer reviews to motivate potential customers to make a purchase.
Item 3: Content
Now that you have launched your website, the next item on your checklist is creating content on that website. Many brands make the mistake of only putting basic information about their company and products on their websites. If you want to stand out from the competition, you need to go a step further by including relevant content that your customers will want to see.
The best way to do this is often through a branded blog. On this blog, you can post about trending topics in the industry, how your products work, and more. Not only will this help your customers, but it will also help with search engine optimization or SEO.
Item 4: Search Engine Optimization
SEO is a powerful tool that is often neglected by new and small businesses. And while SEO does involve investments of both time and money, they are well worth it. This is because SEO can help you rank higher on Google and earn more customers as a result.
This form of organic growth marketing feels more authentic than other forms of paid advertising on social media, for example. Begin your keyword research today and start utilizing backlinks to bypass your competitors and rank #1 on Google.
Item 5: Social Media
While social media advertising can feel inauthentic, it can feel more authentic with the right approach. The first thing you need to do is to create profiles on popular social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, TikTok, etc. The right platforms for your business will depend on your target customer.
From there, you can start building your following by posting engaging content on your feed. Once you have built a solid following, you can expand to paid advertising on social media. Just make sure to take advantage of the targeting mechanisms offered by these platforms to get the most bang for your buck.
Item 6: Email
The next thing you need to check off your marketing checklist is an email marketing strategy. Email marketing is definitely still relevant in 2021 and can be extremely beneficial to your business. In fact, it could help you get your first sale.
You first need to build your email list. The best way to do this is to offer an incentive like a 10% off coupon. Next, you need to send out newsletters, sales, launches, etc., to your customers.
That being said, you shouldn’t send the same thing to every customer. Instead, you need to segment your email list for the best results.
Item 7: SMS Marketing
SMS marketing is booming in 2021, and this is definitely a way to help set you apart from the competition. SMS marketing is more personal and intimate than email marketing and is a great way for you to build connections and relationships with your customers.
Just make sure that you receive consent before you start texting. Also, make sure that you’re only sending out relevant information on time — no middle-of-the-night texts should be allowed.
Item 8: Split Testing
Now that you have your marketing basics down, it’s time to talk about testing. Testing is one of the best things you can do to ensure that your marketing approach is actually successful. A/B or split testing is an effective way of testing marketing content as it compares two different versions with a single changed variable.
You can then use the results of your tests to create the most effective marketing content.
Item 9: Audience Targeting
Unfortunately, even the best marketing content won’t be effective across the board. This is because it should be created with your target customer in mind. But how do you reach this specific group of people? Most online platforms like Google, Amazon, Facebook, etc., allow you to use their data to your advantage through targeting.
You can target people based on demographic information, geographic location, interests, or even past actions. For instance, you can re-target people who have previously engaged with your content or brand in the past. Effective targeting will get you well on your way to getting your first sale and growing your business.
Item 10: Expertise
Clearly, a lot of work is involved in developing a successful marketing strategy that will help you get your first sale and more. The good news is that you don’t have to do it all on your own. Working with marketing experts can be extremely beneficial and can actually save you money.
This is because marketing experts know what works and why — allowing you to bypass the costly trial and error trap that many marketing newbies fall into. Think of outsourcing your marketing strategy as an investment into your company.
Final Thoughts on Your Marketing Checklist
If you’re looking for the best marketing expert to help you get your first sale in no time, then you need to talk to Greg Gillman. Greg Gillman specializes in omnichannel marketing techniques that have generated $4 billion in annual revenue for his clients.
While he has worked with big brands like Petco, Adidas, and Ring, he also knows what it’s like to be a new and growing business. He can help you both anticipate and conquer the challenges that come along with it. So reach out today to see how he can help grow your brand.
Sources:
Buyer Personas: What They Are, Why They Matter and How to Best Build One | Entrepreneur
Small Business SEO: Ranking Your Business on Top of Google | Forbes
How to Reach Your Customers With Text Message Marketing | Business News Daily
