We’ve come a long way on our Creator-to-CEO journey, haven’t we? From finding your niche to building your brand and even creating your very own product, you’ve laid the groundwork for something truly special. 🎉

But, even the most amazing product won’t sell itself, right? With millions of brands vying for attention online, getting noticed can feel like shouting into a hurricane. That’s where marketing comes in. Before we talk further into the nitty-gritty, have a look at these mid-boggling stats -

▶️ Of the 1000 businesses that were surveyed, 78% stated that they would want to invest more in digital marketing, 73% wanted to invest more in their social media, and 57% plan to increase their investment in email marketing. (Source)

Done right, marketing can be the rocket fuel that propels your creator-led D2C brand to new heights. In this final instalment of our series, we’re tackling #Marketing & Promotion: Reaching the Right Audience. So, are you ready to get your brand out there and start making some amazing sales? Let’s dive in!

Spreading the Word

You’ve got a product and a beautiful online store. But how do you get people to actually find it? Organic marketing — build genuine connections and spread the word without relying solely on paid ads. Here’s how:

Leverage Your Existing Audience

If you’ve already built a following on social media or have an email list, you’ve got a head start! These are the people who already know, like, and trust you. Don’t be shy about letting them know about your new D2C venture.

• Social Media: Share behind-the-scenes peeks of your product development process, run contests and giveaways, and encourage your followers to spread the word. Remember, 90% of consumers trust recommendations from people they know, so your audience can be your most powerful marketing tool.

• Email: Send out personalized announcements, offer exclusive discounts to your subscribers, and keep them updated on your latest product launches. Did you know that email marketing has an average open rate of around 20%? That means 1 out of every 5 people on your list will see your message! 🤯

Content Marketing

You see how people naturally gather around a campfire? Why ─ because it’s warm, inviting, and there’s always something interesting going on. Your content marketing approach should be on the same line- it should spark curiosity, provide value, and keep people engaged.

• Blog Posts: Blogging forms the heartbeat of content marketing. They should be insightful, knowledgeable and interesting to read. Brands that prioritize blogging see 13 times more ROI than brands that don’t.

(Source)

• Videos: Viewers retain 95% of a message when they watch it in a video compared to 10% when reading it in text! Create tutorials, product demos, or even just fun, personality-driven content that showcases your brand’s vibe.

• Social Media Content: Keep your followers entertained and informed with a mix of promotional posts, and educational content.

• Email Newsletters: 40% of people regularly look for brand discounts and promotions in their emails. So, send regular newsletters to keep your audience engaged and informed about your latest products and promotions.

SEO (Search Engine Optimization)

When someone’s looking for a product online, they usually start by typing a few words into Google, right? Now imagine they’re looking for something you sell…wouldn’t it be amazing if your store was one of the first ones they see? That’s the magic of SEO!

• Keyword research: Figure out what words and phrases your target audience is searching for and use them in your website content, product descriptions, and blog posts.

• On-page optimization: Make sure your website is easy for search engines to understand and crawl.

• Link building: Get other websites to link to your store. This signals to search engines that your site is trustworthy and authoritative.

(Source)

SEO can be a bit tricky, but it’s worth investing the time to learn the basics. After all, organic search traffic is one of the most valuable sources of traffic for any online store.

Creating Your Tribe

Your audience is more than a bunch of potential customers. They’re your community — your tribe of like-minded individuals who share your passion and values. Nurturing this community is essential for long-term success.

• Engage with your followers: Respond to comments, answer questions, and show that you care.

• Create a sense of belonging: Host online events, create exclusive content for your community, or even start a membership program.

• Encourage user-generated content: Ask your customers to share their experiences with your products and repost their content on your social media channels.

(Source)

Paid Advertising

Organic marketing is great for building relationships, but sometimes you need a little extra push to get your brand in front of a larger audience. Here, paid advertising comes into play — you’re paying to get your message seen by a lot of people, fast.

Platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok offer a ton of options for reaching your ideal customers with targeted ads. You can choose who sees your ads based on their interests, demographics, and even their online behavior.

Google Ads: Be the Answer to Their Search

Ever noticed those little ads that pop up at the top of Google search results? Those are Google Ads. They’re a great way to get your brand in front of people who are actively searching for products like yours.

• If someone searches for “vegan leather handbags,” your ad could appear right at the top, increasing the chances of them clicking through to your store. The average click-through rate (CTR) for Google Ads across all industries is about 3.17%. That means for every 100 people who see your ad, roughly 3 will click on it!

Retargeting: A Gentle Reminder

This happens with us ALL THE TIME! We often browse an online store, then later see ads for those same products popping up on other websites. That’s retargeting in action. It’s a way to remind people who have already shown interest in your brand that you’re still there.

(Source)

Ready to give your brand a paid advertising boost? Check out Everything You Need to Know

Influencer Marketing

Influencers are like mini-celebrities to their followers. Their recommendations carry a lot of weight, so when they talk about your product, their audience listens.

Finding the Right Influencers

Not all influencers are a good fit for your brand. You want to find creators who genuinely love what you do and whose audience matches your ideal customer.

• Look for influencers who share your passion and style.

• Check out their engagement rate — do their followers actually interact with their content?

• Make sure their values and overall vibe align with your brand.

Types of Influencer Partnerships

There are tons of ways to work with influencers:

• Sponsored Posts: Pay influencers to create content featuring your products.

• Product Reviews: Send influencers your products and let them share their honest thoughts.

• Giveaways & Contests: An estimated 132,200 people search for “giveaways” each month on Google. Team up with influencers to host fun giveaways or contests to get people excited about your brand.

• Affiliate Marketing: Give influencers a special code or link, and they earn a commission for every sale they generate. On average, affiliate marketing brings a 12:1 return on ad spend (ROAS)

(Source)

Measuring Influencer Marketing Success

It’s important to track how your influencer collaborations are performing.

• Use trackable links and discount codes: This helps you see how many sales each influencer is driving.

• Check out social media engagement: Keep an eye on likes, comments, and shares on influencer posts about your brand.

• Don’t forget to ask for feedback! Find out what worked well and what could be improved for future collaborations.

(Source)

Beyond Marketing

Marketing is great for attracting new customers, but it’s your existing customers that will keep your business thriving. They are your VIPs.

Customer Service: Treat Your Customers Like Royalty

Great customer service isn’t just about fixing problems, it’s about making your customers feel heard, valued, and appreciated. Respond to their questions promptly, go the extra mile to resolve issues, and always show them you care. Remember, happy customers are more likely to become repeat customers and spread the word about your brand.

(Source)

Loyalty Programs: Reward Your Biggest Fans

Everyone loves a good reward! Create a loyalty program that incentivizes repeat purchases and makes your customers feel special. Offer discounts, exclusive access to new products, or even personalized gifts to show your appreciation.

(Source)

User-Generated Content: Let Your Customers Shine

40% of shoppers say UGC makes them more likely to buy a product from an ad. Your customers are your biggest advocates. Encourage them to share their love for your brand by creating and sharing content on social media. You could:

• Run contests or challenges encouraging customers to post photos or videos featuring your products.

• Repost customer content on your own social media channels (with permission, of course!).

• Create a branded hashtag that customers can use when they post about your products.

(Source)

User-generated content is authentic and relatable, and it can be a powerful way to build trust and community around your brand.

Congratulations, you’ve made it to the end of our “Creator to CEO” series! We’ve covered a lot of ground, from finding your niche to launching your product and marketing your brand. But remember, building a successful D2C business is an ongoing journey. There will be challenges and setbacks along the way, but don’t give up! Stay true to your vision, keep learning and growing, and most importantly, keep connecting with your audience.

Your passion and creativity are your superpowers. Use them to build a brand that not only sells products but also inspires, empowers, and makes a real difference in the world. We’re cheering you on every step of the way!

— — — — -

if you’re a creator looking to launch your own brand and want to focus on creating incredible content while leaving the technical work to experts — we’re the perfect partner for you. At MarkupX Brands our mission is simple: to revolutionize the creator economy by empowering you with the team and support you need to grow your brand and build a thriving business. 💌 MARKUPX BRANDS

From inspiring success stories to practical guides, we’ve got everything you need to jumpstart your D2C journey. Happy building! 💌