This document outlines 6 common startup marketing mistakes: 1. Thinking about marketing after product creation rather than integrating it into the initial planning. 2. Ignoring competitors and not understanding competitive advantages. 3. Invalid digital marketing budgeting such as relying solely on "growth hacking" or free promotion methods. 4. Lack of market verification to determine if potential customers will actually buy the product. 5. Focusing on impressing investors rather than proving growth potential and business concept to target users. 6. Failing to lay the foundation for further growth, development, and scalability in different customer segments over time.

1. 6 Startup Marketing mistakes
you should watch out
Andrii Kuranov
Content Manager

2. Of all the startup businesses launched in the world,
only about 8% survive.
After analyzing more than a hundred unsuccessful
startups, CB Insights identified the most common
reasons for their failure.

4. How you can see, 49% of unsuccessful startups blame
their failure on poor digital marketing.
What are the “pitfalls” to watch out for, so that your
digital marketing doesn’t "drag you to the bottom" -
let's figure it out.

5. 1. Think about
marketing after a
product is created
It is one of the most common mistakes. You
can't afford to forget about the obvious risk of
creating a product that no one will buy. This
error will cost you too much.
Solution: Use tools like digital marketing,
exhibitions, conferences, and media
publications. Strategies may not be final, but
should include a general plan of action.

6. Even if the solution is completely innovative
and there are no direct competitors yet, you
will educate the consumer and actually build
a new niche in which a competitor can come
at any moment.
If you already have rivals, you should think
about the competitive advantages of your
product.
Solution: Be sure to study the market, create
a portrait of a potential customer and of
course check your idea.
2. Ignoring competitors

7. 3. Invalid Digital
Marketing Budgeting
There are 2 common mistakes:
1. To count on “growth hacking”. It can lead
to a quick and thoughtless drain of investor
money and as a result, leave the company
without money and without customers.
2. To use only free promotion methods. No
matter how brilliant a startup is, promotion
cannot be made without advertising
investments.
Solution: Distribute the budget wisely and
consult experienced professionals for advice.
After that, do a few short advertising
campaigns on small budgets to test different
tools.

8. It’s not enough to get information from the
buyer about whether he likes the product or
not. You need to find out if he will buy a
product.
Solution: Do not neglect market research. If
you don’t have the opportunity to spend
money on a full-fledged research, gather at
least a focus group or conduct several
interviews to get feedback from real users.
4. Lack of market
verification

9. 5. Focus on investors,
not users
It’s okay to desire investors’ approval - they
give money. But all this will only make sense
if you have a valuable and proven offer.
Solution: Do not forget who you are creating
your product for. Don't focus on shows and
pitches of the ideas instead of proving the
existing growth potential and their business
concept in real conditions.

10. It's a big problem, when the project does not
initially lay the opportunity for further
development, adding new functionality, etc.
Growth is important and this is exactly what
you should focus on.
Solution: You need to make sure that:
● your niche is not too narrow, and the
product may be interesting for different
segments;
● you’ve developed a proven sales
strategy;
● you’ve developed plans for further work
with potential clients.
6. Lack of foundation for
growth and scalability

11. Learn more about all these startup
marketing mistakes and ways to avoid
them in our new article!