A typical mistake in the first digital budget of a startup is the order in which the money is spent:
– Social Media – first
– Website – second
– SEO will be done when we have time
– App Development after a few meetings
This feels logical, but it’s not always the correct approach.
Every single digital channel you spend money on will bring people back to your website. If your website is not converting those visitors, then none of the money you spent on those channels is worthwhile.
To assist someone who remains unfamiliar with what you’re offering – Simple!
Most startup websites fail in this area.
The headlines are either ‘driving growth’ or ‘transforming businesses’! Neither of these headlines offer the visitor actionable information regarding your business. If a first-time visitor cannot explain what your business does within five seconds, then you URGENTLY need to revamp your website.
And after making the necessary change, you will be ready to spend money on ads or marketing.
Another area of failure is speed – 53% of mobile visitors will abandon a page after three seconds of loading time.
This problem gets worse in India, as connection services vary by city and locality.
Professionally built startup websites in India cost between ₹25,000.00 – ₹80,000.00 based upon complexity – this is the “starting point” of any website budget – all future costs will build upon this number.
The start-up has an excellent case: it takes months to get results from SEO, but they want leads now; therefore, go with ads and sort out the SEO later.
The issue with this strategy is that when you stop paying for ads, your traffic stops. SEO builds up over time and continues working indefinitely.
Rajesh Mehra’s business had been online when he came to see DIAMA Technologies. Our team fixed the underlying technical issues, created excellent on-page structure and content designed to match what the people searching for his products were actually typing into search engines. Rajesh later said that the “SEO team knows what they are doing.” He was on the first page of Google within 3 months.
Do not chase broad keywords in your first twelve months; you will fail. The keyword “Digital Agency for Start-Ups in West Bengal” is far more advantageous than the keyword “Digital Marketing -India” because the person searching on Google using the former is much more specific and on the verge of making a decision and will likely encounter fewer of your competitors than if searching the latter.
Average monthly SEO for a reputable Indian agency costs between INR 10,000 and 30,000 per month. If your monthly SEO expenses are less than INR 8,000 per month, you can expect to have little or no results.
No.
An app is only necessary if your product is app-based, or key features cannot be delivered via a webiste. Otherwise, you don’t need one just because you want to.
Building an application starts from ₹400,000, depending on your platform and needs. Most of this may result in positive returns on investment.
Cost-wise, hiring a full-time developer, designer, SEO expert, and digital marketing manager averages Rs ₹52,000–₹1,10,000/month month for all four across many major cities in India (assuming you can even retain all four at the same time, which is not possible for most startups); vs. engaging a Digital Agency to take on those roles for less money, quicker than hiring employees, and existing as a flexible partner when you need to downsize.
The right Digital Agency will discuss buyers with you prior to discussing services. If they lead the conversation with pricing as the first topic, it’s a red flag.
1.) What should a startup in India invest in first?
A fast, clearly aligned website with basic on-page SEO that ensures every other channel (email, social media, etc.) will send your buyers to a place that works.
2.) How quickly can I expect to see results in SEO?
Typically, for specific or location-based lower-competition keywords, you can expect first-page rankings in 60-90 days; broader terms typically take longer (when starting out, the advice is to start narrow and then build out).
3.) Should I have a social media presence immediately?
You must select one area where your buyers are. Approaching one channel consistently will outperform five channels addressed inconsistently.
Before making a purchase or doing something new, you should verify four items:
If your answer is “no” to any of these questions, then that is where your first investment should be. Marketing comes after you have a solid foundation.
DIAMA Technologies specialises in providing services such as web development, app development, SEO, UI/UX, graphic design and DevOps to Start-Ups and Small-Medium Businesses throughout India. We have developed over 100 partnerships and completed 50 digital transformations.
For a free consultation, visit www.diamatechnologies.com or send an email to contact@diamatechnologies.com or call +91 89007 69311.
