Top 6 startup ideas & marketing strategies for small businesses

Starting anything from scratch is daunting and complicated. Be it a new hobby or a business- you need motivation and determination to initiate it. As we will discuss further, launching your business has many perks, and one of them is that you get to be your boss, and that's a good feeling. If you were looking for a sign to leave your 9-5 job and start your own company, then is it. Read further to find out more information about good startup ideas and grow your small business.

Top 6 Startup ideas

1. Travel Agency

All thanks to growth in people's desire for wanderlust, the travel industry worldwide has become a significant contributing sector to the economy. Aspiring entrepreneurs have the market opportunity to get into the tourism business and gain profit. You can set up a home-based travel company and collaborate with a host-agency to considerably reduce the expenditure. Furthermore, this method will give you multiple benefits, such as procurement of ARC IATA or CLIA, and a lesser workload as they will handle all back-end functions, higher commissions, etc.

2. Home-Based Catering

With people living such fast-paced lives, working men and women rarely have time to cook their daily lunch or cook for their events. For people who love cooking, this business is the perfect fit for them. You can cater daily lunches for the working class in your colony or apartment as a start. You can also cater food for small events like birthday or anniversary parties, formal gatherings, and so on. Word of mouth plays a crucial role in this profession, so ask your family and friends to advertise your business to expand your clientele. Experiment with your food, learn new culinary skills, and connect with the local food markets to improve your business.

3. Freelance Website Developer

Web development is a priority for both small and multinational businesses. The industry is in great need of people who have the required talent to build a quality website. If you possess technical skills and are enthusiastic about creating websites, then this is the best-fit job for you. With the elevated demand for such professionals and the booming software industry, the chances of getting profits and success are high in this job.

4. Online Bakery

Food is a component that does remarkably well in a competitive market. An online bakery is another great profession that has a high probability of success for small business owners. Baking is truly an enjoyable art, which can be swiftly learned. Sign up for a couple of baking classes to pick up the necessary skills and knowledge required to whip delicious warm oven treats. Set up social media accounts to take orders and advertise your treats.

5. Event Organiser

Most people who organise their events are oblivious to the fact that they have the talent to do it professionally. Be it weddings, business meetings, or birthday parties- all such events need meticulous planning on a limited budget. People who have good communication skills and have a strong network with local businesses are suitable for this job. An event organiser has many responsibilities, ranging from finding the perfect venue, scheduling performances to hiring caterers- all of the above tasks need personal experience and sharp aptitudes. This industry revolves around popularity and brand image, which can be handily built through social media.

6. Career Coaching Centre

Companies value skill and talent more than just academic scores. Rising employment in a saturated job marketplace has increased people's difficulty finding a job with a decent package. Such people require guidance and a fresh new perspective on their career to excel in it. You can help them get jobs, teach them how to ace an interview, and make them realise their hidden talents, and so on. Career counselling can be conducted online or offline, depending upon you and the client. This startup idea won't require much of your time or money.

Marketing Strategies for Small Businesses and startups

1. Official Website

To be an established company, you must have a website. Potential customers instinctively google your business, and thus, you must make a good impression. Ensure that your website is mobile-friendly and SEO-optimised for consistent traffic. You can hire a professional to set up your website, from designing the web page's basic layout to enhancing the SEO scores.

Social Media has helped several small businesses and startups reach out to their potential customers. In this technologically advanced world, everyone has a social media account. Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and other social media platforms can be used for free and paid promotions. Posting regular content on your social media pages will spread awareness about your brand and expand your clientele.

3. Email Marketing

Email is a highly effective free marketing tool that many amateurs make the mistake of underestimating. A curated organic list of prospective customers is all one needs to kick off their email marketing strategy. Ask customers to sign up for the newsletter through social media and the official website. Send creative content, such as tutorials and how-to guides with occasional promotional content to advertise your product. Remember not to stuff too much advertising as they might unsubscribe from the newsletter.

4. Tempting Coupons

Coupons are a big attraction for your business. According to research, four out of five consumers regularly use coupons in both online and offline stores. The little discounts customers get through coupons mean a great deal of joy for them. It makes your brand pocket-friendly and quickly favourable among consumers. You can either distribute coupons via snail mail or email e-coupons.

5. Blogging

Sources prove that businesses with blogs generate 126% more leads than all of their competitors who don't blog. Utilise this powerful strategy today to establish your business as a leading provider while simultaneously attracting your target audience. Make your blogs creative by adding pictures, infographics, and even hyperlink some YouTube videos to boost engagement. Write simple yet, intriguing content so that your audience develops a genuine interest in reading them. Most importantly, make sure your blog has high SEO scores to gain traffic.

Also read:

Startups in India: Growth & Other Factors to be Considered for a Startup
Startup Ideas: How do you know if your Startup idea already exists?
What Is the Startup India Campaign?
What are the Best Ways to Think of Ideas for a Startup?

FAQs

Q. Is it necessary to have a target audience while starting a business?

Ans: Yes, it is extremely critical that each business owner sets its target audience before launching their startup. A target audience defines the group of people who can use your product or avail of your service. A thorough analysis of the ideal consumer profile should be done to understand the consumer's needs and wants. This allows startups to change and implement their strategies accordingly.

Q. How can digital marketing benefit small businesses?

Ans: In this new era, things are rapidly changing. Advertising and marketing, which was once a tough job, has been digitalised and is widely accessible to anyone with an internet connection. Not only are most marketing and advertising tools on the internet free, but they also connect small businesses to a wider range of their target audience. By implementing innovative digital marketing strategies, one can significantly boost their startup or small business profits.

Q. What are some valuable business tips for startup companies?

Ans: Following are some business tips to ensure your startup doesn't fail:

1. Follow your passion
To be great at something, you have to feel passionate about it. Think about your future goals, career, interests, passions before starting over. Understand why you're doing this, define your business, your goals, and believe in yourself.

2. Lay the groundwork
Do your research meticulously. Search if the industry/profession you want to get into has openings for new businesses, talk to experienced entrepreneurs, and decide your target audience. Once you are aware of what your audience wants, inculcate that within your startup plan. Make a concrete plan that will act as a blueprint while setting up your startup.

3. Limited Budget
Before you start to spend on anything, imagine yourself with a zero budget. This mindset will help you find ways to cut down the expenditure for your startup. Furthermore, it will stop you from making unnecessary purchases and keep your losses to the minimum.

4. Use the internet's power
Many small businesses and startups owe their success to digital marketing and social media marketing strategies. It is important to change with time and digitise your business. The benefits of these strategies are unbeatable, and it will surely fast track your business goals.