Marketing Sales Channels: A Startup’s Guide To Expanding Your Sales Reach

A Marketing Sales Channel (MSC) is a way for your business to reach potential customers. It can be through the internet, television, radio, print ads, or even person-to-person contact. There are many different types of MSCs, and each has its advantages and disadvantages. This article will discuss the different types of MSCs and how you can use them to grow your startup.

By using this guide, you should be able to expand your sales reach and get the most out of your Marketing Sales Channels.

Marketing Sales Channels

MSCs can be a great way to reach new customers, but they can also face risks. The most important thing to remember when using MSCs is to track your progress and adjust your strategy as needed. Not all MSCs will work for every business, so it’s essential to experiment and find the ones that work best for you.

The first step in using MSCs is to establish a funnel. This means creating a system where potential customers are funneled towards your product or service. There are many different ways to do this, but the most important thing is ensuring that your funnel is effective. Once you have an effective funnel, you can start marketing your product or service through MSCs.

Types Of Marketing Sales Channels

You can leverage several types of marketing sales channels as a startup.

The most common are:

Each sales channel comes with different marketing strategies and its unique advantages and disadvantages, which we’ll explore below.

Direct Sales Marketing Sales Channels

Direct sales can be defined as selling products or services to customers one on one without using any intermediaries. Utilizing direct sales can be done through personal visits, telephone calls, emails, or other forms of direct communication.

The advantage of direct sales is that you have complete control over the sale process and tailor your pitch to match the buyer’s needs. The disadvantage is that it can be challenging to reach many buyers this way, and you will need to invest a lot of time and resources into training your sales team.

Personal visits

Personal visits are a very effective way to make direct sales, provided you can reach your target market. In this type of sale, the seller goes to the customer’s place of work or home to pitch the product or service. This method is often used by insurance agents and other professionals who need to assess the customer’s needs before making a sale.

When making a personal visit to a potential client, remember to:

As a startup, you may not have the resources to visit all your potential customers personally. But if you can target a specific market, personal visits can be an effective way to drive sales.

Telephone calls

Telephone calls are another common form of direct sales. In this method, the seller contacts the customer by phone and interests them in the product or service. This type of sale is often used by businesses that offer products or services that require a more personal touch, such as financial advisors or home improvement companies.

When making telephone calls, remember to:

Telephone calls can effectively reach potential customers and generate sales, but they can also be very time-consuming. If you’re going to use this method, make sure you have an excellent script prepared and that you’re clear about what you want to achieve from the call.

Trade Shows

Trade shows provide an excellent opportunity to reach potential customers in person and build relationships with them. They are also valuable to learn about new products and trends in your industry. However, trade shows can be expensive to attend and require much preparation.

To get the most out of trade shows:

Trade shows can be an excellent way to generate leads and market your products or services, but only if you plan and execute them effectively.

Leverage Direct Marketing Sales Channels

Startups can use a variety of direct marketing channels to reach their target market and sell products. The most important thing is to choose the right channel strategy for your product or service and to have a clear plan for how you’re going to use it. Personal visits, telephone calls, and email outreach are great options to sell directly, but each has advantages and disadvantages.

When choosing a direct marketing sales channel, consider the following:

Once you’ve selected a few potential channels, test them out and see which one gives you the best results. Remember to track your results to continue improving your sales strategy and reach existing customers over time.

Indirect Sales Marketing Sales Channels

An indirect channel in sales occurs when a company sells its products or services through intermediaries such as retailers, distributors, or wholesalers. The advantage of this type of sale is that it allows you to reach a more significant number of potential customers with less effort than direct sales.

However, the downside is that you will have less control over how your product is marketed and sold, and you may need to give up some margin to an intermediary.

Affiliate Marketing

Affiliate marketing is a valuable way to reach new customers through an established network of partners. These partners, known as affiliates, promote your products or services in exchange for a commission on sales. Affiliate marketing can be a cost-effective way to expand your reach and attract new customers. Still, it requires careful selection and management of affiliates to ensure effective partners.

To establish a robust affiliate network, you will need to:

Once you have created a successful affiliate program, you can sit back and enjoy the additional sales generated by your affiliates.

Referral Marketing

Referrals are a powerful way to attract new customers, and this type of marketing channel is a great way to harness that power. You incentivize current customers to refer their friends or family members to your business for rewards or discounts with referral marketing. This type of marketing can be very effective, but it requires careful design and execution to ensure that referrals result in sales rather than lost customers.

There are several ways to set up a successful referral program:

By following these tips, you can create a referral program that will attract new customers and help to grow your business.

Partnership Marketing

Partnership marketing is another type of indirect sale where two or more companies work together to promote each other’s products or services. This type of marketing can be very effective, as it allows you to reach new customers through the partner’s established network. However, it can also be challenging to develop and manage successful partnerships.

To create a successful partner marketing program, you will need to:

Remember that partnerships need to be mutually beneficial to be successful. If you can find a partner that shares your goals and is willing to work with you to achieve them, you will be well on your way to growing your business.

Wholesale Distribution

Wholesale distribution is when a company sells its products to another business rather than consumers. These businesses then resell the products to their customers. This type of marketing sales channel can be beneficial for startups because it can help them reach a larger audience with their product.

That said, it is essential to note that establishing a wholesale distribution channel can be costly and time-consuming. To be successful, startups need to have a well-thought-out plan and strategy.

The first step in setting up a wholesale distribution channel is to find the right partner. Start by identifying businesses that would be a good fit for your product. Then, reach out to these businesses and see if they would be interested in carrying your product in their store. Once you have found a partner, the next step is to establish a contract. This contract will outline the terms of your agreement, including the price of your product and any other essential details.

After the contract is signed, you will need to ship your product to the wholesale partner. Ensuring that your product arrives on time and in good condition is vital. If there are any issues with the product, it is a good idea to resolve them quickly and efficiently.

Once your product is in the hands of the wholesale partner, it is up to them to sell it to their customers. You can help promote your product by providing marketing materials, such as flyers or posters. You can also offer discounts or other incentives to encourage the partner to sell your product.

Monitoring the performance of your wholesale distribution channel is essential to ensure that it is working effectively. Keep track of how many products are being sold and what feedback you receive from customers.

Please do your due diligence before establishing a wholesale distribution channel, as it can be costly and time-consuming to make changes once the agreement is in place. By taking the time to plan and strategize, you can ensure that your wholesale distribution channel is successful and profitable.

Social Media Marketing Sales Channel

Social media is one of the most popular indirect channels to generate brand awareness and increase digital distribution. It allows businesses to reach many potential customers at a fraction

of the cost of traditional methods such as print advertising or direct mail. In addition, creating social media accounts allow businesses to build relationships with their customers and create a community around their products or service.

The key to using social media for marketing sales is:

When using social media for marketing sales, it’s important to remember that not everyone will be interested in what you have to offer. Make sure your posts are well-targeted, consistent, and relevant to the audience you’re trying to reach. Don’t be afraid to experiment with different types of content. You may also want to consider running ads on social media platforms if you’re looking to reach a larger audience.

Some of the most widely used digital channels include:

Startups should consider using each platform to its full potential when establishing social media marketing sales funnels. For example, companies can use Twitter to share news and announcements about their product, while LinkedIn can connect with potential customers and partners.

Businesses can use Facebook to create a community of fans and followers interested in what you do, while Instagram can be used to share behind-the-scenes content and show the human side of your brand.

When you use more than one channel, you create a multiplier effect that can help you reach more people and get more leads. Overall, content marketing can help you generate brand loyalty.

Pay Per Click (PPC) Paid Ads and Paid Media Buying

Another excellent option for startups is to reach more people quickly is PPC ads, which lets you place ads in front of a specific audience. At the same time, paid media buying will enable you to buy ad space on popular websites and platforms.

Paid media buying refers to the process of paying a website or platform to promote your product or service. Advertising platforms can do this in the form of display ads, text links, video ads, and more.

PPC can best be defined as an advertising model in which you pay a publisher (like Google AdWords or Facebook) each time someone clicks on your ad. This is similar to the Boost post feature on Instagram, which allows you to pay a fee to have your post seen by more people.

The key with these marketing channels is to start small and gradually increase your budget as you see results. Both PPC and Paid Media Buying can be highly effective, but businesses should use them in conjunction with other marketing channels for the best results.

Use Influencer Marketing Channels

Startups should also consider using influencer marketing channels to reach new audiences. Influencer marketing is a type of marketing that focuses on using key leaders to promote your brand. These leaders can be bloggers, YouTubers, Instagrammers, or anyone with a large following and influence in your industry.

The key to successful influencer marketing is finding influencers who are a good fit for your brand and who have an engaged audience interested in what you do. Reach out to them and see if they’re interested in working together. If so, you can work out a deal where they promote your product or service on their platform in exchange for a fee. Influencers are an excellent way to reach new people who may not have heard of your brand yet.

Always check an influencer’s engagement rate before paying for services. Often, you can find cheaper or even free influencers with a higher engagement rate than those who charge. If an influencer has a huge following but barely any engagement, proceed cautiously.

Use influencer platforms like Famebit, Upfluence, and HYPR to find the best influencers for your brand.

Email Outreach

Email outreach is a great way to reach many potential customers with minimal effort. You can use email to send out information about your product or service, as well as special offers and discounts.

The key to successful email outreach is to ensure your emails are relevant and interesting to the recipient.

There are a few things you can do to make sure your emails stand out:

Statistics show that 40% of B2B marketers say that newsletters are critical to success. While email outreach can effectively reach potential customers, you want to ensure your emails are well-targeted, consistent, and relevant to the recipient. Don’t be afraid to experiment with different types of content.

Selecting marketing sales channels: Factors you should consider

Cost

Cost is a significant factor when choosing a marketing sales channel to get the most bang for your buck. Always be sure to compare and contrast different options to find the one that offers the best value. If the cost of capitalizing on the channel outweighs the potential profit you could make, it’s probably not worth pursuing.

Audience

It’s also important to consider who your target audience is and whether or not the marketing sales channel you are considering is likely to reach them. There’s no point in pursuing a channel that doesn’t have potential customers.

Capacity

When exploring different options, be sure to consider how much time and resources you have available to invest in each option. If a specific channel requires more time and effort than you can reasonably commit, it may not be the best choice for your business right now.

Choosing the proper marketing sales channels is essential for any startup looking to expand its reach and grow its business. Keep these factors in mind.

Ease of Use

The marketing sales channel you choose should be easy to use. Otherwise, you’ll likely never use it. Make sure the process for signing up, creating content, and connecting with customers is straightforward.

Reach

Not all marketing sales channels have the same reach, so you’ll want to make sure the one you choose has a large enough audience to interest you. If your target market is small, then a marketing sales channel with a smaller reach may not be ideal.

Compatibility

Make sure the marketing sales channel you select is compatible with your business goals and objectives. If your goal is to increase brand awareness, then choose a marketing sales channel that focuses on

Ease of Use

You also want to consider how easy the channel is to use. It may not be worth your time if it is too complicated, especially if you are a small startup with limited resources.

Effectiveness

Of course, you also want to consider how effective the channel is. What results have other businesses seen from using this particular channel? Make sure to do your research before making any decisions.

Now that we’ve gone over some of the critical factors to consider when selecting marketing sales channels, let’s take a look at some of the best options for startups:

Consumer preferences

Consumer preferences are constantly changing, so startups need to be aware of the latest trends. One trend that is gaining traction is influencer marketing.

In influencer marketing, businesses work with individuals with a large social media following to promote their products or services. These individuals can be anyone from celebrities to everyday people who influence their followers.

Automation Potential

Another critical factor to consider is the automation potential of the marketing sales channel. Automating repetitive tasks can free up time so you can focus on other areas of your business.

To judge a channels automation potential, look for channels that allow you to:

Once you have developed automation systems across your marketing sales channels, you will have more time to focus on other areas of your business and scaling your startup.

Startup Marketing Sales Funnel: Final Thoughts

Startups can use many different marketing sales channels to reach more people and expand their sales reach. By using a variety of channels together, you create a multiplier effect that helps you achieve your goals.

The key takeaway from utilizing multiple marketing channels is that startups can now use a marketing mix of resources to reach new audiences and expand their sales.

It is good to experiment and see what works best for your business. Try out a few different channels and see what gives you the best results. And always remember to track your progress to see what’s working and what’s not. With the right mix of marketing channels, you’ll be able to take your startup to the next level.

If your startup company is looking for additional resources to reach a broader audience in various ways, but you don’t know where to start, consider joining one of Maccelerator’s many programs. With assistance from industry professionals and marketing masterminds, we will launch your product in the most effective ways!

Visit M Accelerator website for more information and apply to join our programs today! Go To Market sessions are always hands-on and specific to the businesses in the cohort. Join the Founders Meetings to learn more about our GTM approach.