12 Marketing Rules for Startup Founders to help you craft your next campaign!

12 Marketing Rules for Startup Founders to help you craft your next campaign!

1. Nobody wants to book a meeting with you:

Users want to try your product or download something for free, not spend time talking to a stranger. Your landing page conversion rate will skyrocket with the right call-to-action, and usually "book a meeting" is not the best CTA. This is especially true if you're targeting millennials or Gen Z.

2. Higher price = better customers

Being cheap is the worst differentiator from your competitors. Cheap products attract customers who only care about the price. They will leave you as soon they see a cheaper alternative. Instead, provide unique value at an above average price point. You will get customers who appreciate your product and understand its value. Increase your pricing. You'll thank me later!

3. Empower users

Nobody likes to be marketed to. Do you enjoy seeing a fake discount countdown or getting bombarded with emails about the same thing? No. You don't. Your users don't like it, either. Guess what they do like? Getting free educational resources, feeling empowered to achieve their goals, or having a good laugh. Try these approaches instead!

4. Talking to customers is a shortcut to success

You have brilliant marketing ideas, but your customers may have better ones. Conduct buyer interviews with your customers, and get inspiration from them. Learn why they bought your product, what is important to them, and what they enjoy the most. This can be your next marketing campaign.

5.?Having an email list is a superpower

Algorithms change, but having an acquisition channel that you actually control is a superpower. You can market it whenever you want, and predict how much revenue you will generate. If you're not building an email list, you're in danger.

6. There is no such thing as too much social proof

People trust people. If someone with similar needs and interests as I have benefited from this product, I should check it out. Do you already have testimonials? Great! Now, add case studies, user statistics, press mentions, product awards, reviews from opinion leaders, and interviews with a founder. You can always add more social proof.

7. Showing the product > describing the product

Some founders write five paragraphs about their features, and they lose customers because of it. Showing a stunning product GIF is way more convincing than describing it, even if you are a world-class copywriter. People love visuals. Give them interesting things to look at.

8. Nail one acquisition channel before adding another

Trying to be everywhere likely means failing everywhere. Instead, pick one acquisition channel and master it. Learn what's working and what's not. Optimize your marketing campaign, then move on to the next channel. One step at a time.

9. Sell positive futures, not product features

Nobody cares about your features and integrations. People only care about the results that they can achieve with your product. You are selling a positive future, not five brilliant features. Still, don't forget to mention features to clarify how you will provide the promised value.

10. Your customers are the best promoters

Again, people trust people. If your friend recommends a product, you'll check it out because you trust their judgment. Nudge your customers to recommend you on social media. Sometimes, it only takes one email to skyrocket your referral traffic. Your customers would love to help you, but only if you ask them.

11. Distribution is as important as the content

An excellent article with 100 views is worse than an okay article with 50K views. You should spend as much time on distribution as you do creating. This goes for your product, articles, TikTok, newsletter, etc.

12. Paying customers is the true validation

No matter how many people said that they like your product, or how long your waitlist is, you should only care about paying customers. This is the ultimate validation for marketing campaigns, product ideas, and offer experiments. Focus on getting paid, not upvoted.

Thanks @Dan Kulkov

What are your top marketing tips? Share in the comments below!