Underrated Growth Tactics Every Entrepreneur Should Consider

Want to grow your business faster without spending your whole marketing budget?

Entrepreneurs spend all their money on digital ads and social media. But these popular channels can only get you so far. There are plenty of low-key growth hacks you’re overlooking.

Let’s get into it…

Here are five underrated growth hacks every entrepreneur should consider:

1. Trade Shows Are A Goldmine
2. Trade Show Display Solutions = Results
3. Strategic Partnerships
4. Build A Community
5. Post Event Revenue

Trade Shows Are A Goldmine

Here’s a little-known growth statistic…

Most entrepreneurs don’t know that trade shows are actually a massive growth opportunity.

Trade shows are one of the best ways to reach your target audience face-to-face. Instead of fighting for eyeballs on social media, you’ll have direct access to buyers ready to make a purchase.

Buyers who literally walk by your booth.

Think about that for a second.

According to Cvent’s research, 81% of trade show attendees are buyers with authority to purchase. Meaning most people that walk past your booth can actually write you the check.

But wait… It gets even better.

67% of trade show attendees are new prospects. These are people that haven’t been reached by your brand through another channel.

That’s crazy when you think about it.

You have access to a group of people who want to buy from you, and you can physically stand right in front of them. As long as you have the right trade show display solutions, trade shows can be a goldmine.

Trade Show Display Solutions = Results

If trade shows are so great, why don’t more people use them?

They can seem intimidating and expensive. But there’s one thing that will make or break your trade show experience…

A banner.

Ok, maybe that was dramatic. But your trade show display solution is super important. You could have the best demo in the world, but if your booth looks boring nobody will come.

Research shows that booth design is the number one thing exhibitors use to attract attendees.

So what makes a good trade show display solution?

These are the basics:

• Bold logo and clear messaging
• Clean design
• Interactive elements

You’re going to attract prospects like flies.

When crafted properly, your exhibition stand is a visual communication tool. Your booth tells your story before your prospects even reach your demo table.

It’s also important to partner with an experienced exhibition stand designer and builder. A poor booth job will ruin your brand image faster than great trade show display solutions can build it.

Companies who specialise in creating unique exhibition stands can help. A quality exhibition stand builder London service can get a booth built quickly while delivering outstanding results.

Strategic Partnerships

Having a solid trade show booth isn’t the only way to grow your business.

Another tactic that businesses fail to take advantage of is strategic partnerships.

Sounds fancy right? It’s not. It’s actually super simple.

Think about who else serves your target audience. Chances are there are brands out there that would benefit from striking a partnership with you.

Find a non-competing company that complements your business, and pitch a partnership.

A fitness brand could reach out to a healthy meal prep company and offer to promote their services. In exchange, the meal prep company promotes theirs.

Instant access to a ton of qualified prospects that wouldn’t have heard about either brand otherwise.

Just keep it simple. You don’t need some crazy partnership contract. Cross promote each other on your channels and see what happens.

Here’s a quick checklist:

• Find non-competing businesses that share the same target audience
• Offer value to their followers
• Promote their content/yours on social media
• Simple.

Build A Community

What’s something the biggest brands in the world do that small businesses don’t?

Build communities.

There are so many industries that have effective user communities. Take video games for example. Game forums are huge because players spend hours on end talking about their favorite game.

Ever thought about applying that to your brand?

Your community is made up of your biggest fans and enthusiasts. Instead of always trying to acquire new customers, focus on building relationships with your current followers.

The community will then do the work of finding you new customers. Community members will promote you to their family and friends because they trust your brand.

Building a community can be as simple as creating a Facebook group for your customers to communicate and help each other.

Not only will you create loyal brand ambassadors, but you’ll have a constantly updating platform for users to share feedback. You’ll always know what your customers are thinking.

Post Event Revenue

Whether you’re attending a trade show or just starting a community, your customers don’t stop at the exit booth.

There is huge value after the event that most people don’t take advantage of.

Let’s use trade shows as an example. You spend all this money to get a booth and hire trade show display solutions, but what happens after the show?

Too often, businesses throw their leads in a bucket and email them a week later. By that time, it’s unlikely that your lead will remember you. They’ve been overwhelmed with booth swag and new business cards.

Follow up within 48 hours.

Make sure you have a system in place to qualify and follow up with your leads ASAP. Most top companies follow up within 24 hours of meeting a lead.

Here’s a quick follow-up system that works:

1. Send a personalized thank you email.
2. Add them on LinkedIn with a quick message.
3. Send them something of value, maybe an article or a discount.
4. Call them within the first week of meeting.
5. Add them to your monthly nurture sequence.

Done.

Repeat this process for every lead you get and watch your growth skyrocket.

Wrapping It All Up

Growing your business takes time, money, and effort. But that doesn’t mean you have to spend all your money in the same places.

Use trade shows to get in front of buyers. Partner with non-competing brands that offer products or services that compliment yours. Build a community of brand advocates. Then pick up the phone and follow up with every lead you get.

Implementing some of these “old school” hacks into your business can massively impact your growth. You’d be surprised what you can do with just a phone call.

There’s trust factor. Real people buying from real people. You become an authority by showing up. Lastly, you gain loyal customers that your competitors will try to snatch from you.

If you want to grow your business and you’re tired of running ads, try something different. Take advantage of some old school hacks.

Most people won’t even try them.