A Startup Guide to Street Marketing and Advertising

Are you looking for ways to get the word out about your startup company’s big launch? Do you wonder what the best method is for introducing your new business to the local community? If so, then you need to learn more about street marketing.

Doing so can help you find the best avenues to market your company. Money is tight with any startup, so the name of the game is finding maximum return on your investment. The startups that do that best are the ones that have the most success.

See below for several street advertising methods you can use to gain traction for your company in its marketplace.

1. Consider Outdoor LED Display

Even in an ever-growing digital world, there will always be a place for offline marketing in your business model. However, who said you had to sacrifice the latest technology to do so?

When someone says “street advertising”, most people’s minds go directly to billboard advertisements on a highway of heavy traffic. The problem with that is that they no longer fit the modern-day consumer.

Today’s consumers are used to having ads show up in their eyesight, rather than having to look for it themselves (as a billboard from a far distance would cause them to).

In fact, modern American sees over 4,000 ads every single day. Think about that… How can you get your ads to stand out from the crowd? Perhaps the solution is to stick your ad in the crowd using an outdoor LED display.

These beautiful displays guarantee to attract the customers’ eyes and ensure they read what your message is. Be sure to read up on what to look for in the outdoor LED display that you choose.

There are aspects such as brightness, sizing, viewing, and upkeep that you will want to consider during your search.

2. Look for Places of High-Traffic

Your startup’s comprehensive marketing plan should contain both digital and street marketing tactics. Too many companies elect to choose one or the other, but the fact of the matter is that your company needs both to be successful.

Why? Because they both serve a specific purpose. Digital marketing is meant to key-in on your target market using specific online tactics. Street marketing is meant to capitalize on places of high-traffic and create brand recognition within your local community.

Because of that, you want to think through the street marketing avenues that you explore for your startup.

Think about the specific community that you’re in. What are some of the biggest attractions that it contains? What places do people visit most often? What are the must-see places or the must-have restaurants in your town?

Those are the money spots. Those are the places and businesses that you need to be associating your brand with. This will ensure a maximum return on your investment since you’ll get the most traffic (and most eyes) crossing paths with your ads.

Think of it as participating in a half-court shot contest. The more basketballs (traffic) that you get, the more buckets (loyal clients) that you’ll make!

3. Put a Face to the Name

Contrary to popular belief, street marketing isn’t just about finding areas for placing your startup’s ads. It’s just as much (if not more so) about you getting out on the streets to talk about your business.

First things first, always look the part. You never know when a casual conversation could lead to you talking about your business. If you’re still rocking pillow hair and pajamas while you have that talk, you’re not creating a very good first impression for your brand.

Second, load up on print marketing for your street excursions such as business cards (a must-have item), sales collateral, flyers, posters, and so forth.

Lastly, dedicate a certain amount of time each week for you and your staff to get out into the street and talk to clients in an area that would be interested in your product.

For example, if your startup is a plant-based protein smoothie company, you could do street advertising in front of local gyms.

4. Always Integrate Social Media

As has been mentioned several times already—but still bears worth repeating— your company needs to mix in both digital and street marketing into its advertising plan. In many cases, the two can effectively collaborate to grow your brand.

For example, any type of street marketing you do should broadcast your startup’s social media accounts on it. Putting your Instagram account or Twitter handle on it will entice those that see it to start following you and build familiarity with your brand.

Put your social media handles on your car, your posters, sales collateral, business cards, and anything else you can think of.

5. Use and Grow Your Network

The primary point of street marketing is to create direct ties between your startup company and the community that it resides in. The better you do that, the more leads you’ll generate, the higher sales conversions you’ll have, and so on.

Your street marketing initiatives are also a great way to use and grow your network. You will find that many local companies are happy to collaborate with your company on advertising opportunities. In that situation, everyone wins.

Always be thinking about your network from two sides. First, how can you help them and their business? Always have a help-first mentality. Second, how can their business help you in your street marketing endeavors?

Create a Successful Street Marketing Plan for Your Business

Now that you have seen how to create a successful street marketing plan for your startup company, it’s time to start putting it into action.

Make sure you and your startup staff are all on the same page. Where can you find the most traffic? How can you compel them? What are your long-term goals for the project?

Be sure to browse our website for more articles on street marketing, as well as many other helpful topics.