5 media platforms every startup should use to market their business

Running a startup can be an onerous job. But, thanks to the growth of new media, such a daunting task has been made infinitely easier in recent years. With the potential to reach millions, the likes of Facebook and Twitter now provide young companies with the chance to market themselves in innovative, cost-cutting ways.

So, if you’re a budding entrepreneur who needs a marketing strategy, then look no further, for we’ve compiled the five best media platforms that’ll help your startup grow exponentially…

Originally conceived as Mark Zuckerberg’s passion project in 2004, Facebook has since grown into a worldwide phenomenon with two billion visitors per month, making it by far the largest social media platform available. So, if you want to reach the masses, then start here.

Another benefit is that this is the most straightforward way to market your brand, as a Facebook page allows you to outline who you are, what your service is and other key details. There’s also a review and rating function available which can help build trust between customers and businesses.

You may think that Whatsapp is designed purely for keeping in touch with friends and family, but since its acquisition by Facebook in 2014, the messaging app has gained commercial importance amongst businesses. Why? Because it forces you to connect with your audience directly, making it feel far more personal and less dated than traditional email marketing lists. Moreover, as it incorporates image and video functions, Whatsapp makes for a very straightforward and fuss-free way of creating content.

According to Adweek, nearly 70% of Twitter users are more likely to try the services of a brand that they follow. So, if one-on-one customer engagement is imperative to your company, then Twitter is your go-to platform. Also, succinct, 140-character-long tweets allow startups to deliver breaking news and quick customer service, while relevant and topical hashtags can help spread marketing messages even further.

Having doubled its user base to over 700 monthly actives within the past two years, Instagram is one of the fastest growing networks out there. Perfect for visual-first businesses (such as cafés, fashion houses or restaurants), the photo-sharing app lets people post beautiful, attention-grabbing images and videos.

And, thanks to user-friendly tools, even so-called “boring” companies can create striking aesthetics. Again, hashtagging is crucial as posts with at least one hashtag are 12.6% more engaging than those without.

In this app-dominated world we live in, one of the more original ways to get your brand name out there is via podcast, and with 4.7 million people in the UK downloading audio files such as Serial every week, it’s safe to say that there’s a big enough audience to captivate. When creating your content, make sure to target 25-34 year olds as they make up 40% of UK listeners. And if you need some guidance on how to set-up a smooth-running series, then check out our previous podcast episodes.

Need some extra entrepreneurial advice? Check out our section dedicated to startups