It’s no secret that digital marketing is essential for startups. But what may be less well-known is that performance marketing should be a key part of your digital marketing strategy.

Performance marketing is a type of digital marketing that focuses on delivering results, typically in the form of conversions or sales. This means that performance marketers are always looking for ways to improve their campaigns and get better results.

So, What Is Performance Marketing?

Performance marketing can be defined as “a type of digital marketing in which advertisers pay publishers only when there is a desired action, such as a sale or lead.” In other words, you only pay for results.

This makes performance marketing an extremely effective and efficient way to market your startup. You are only paying for leads or sales, so you know that every dollar you spend is working towards your bottom line.

How Performance Marketing Works

Advertisements are placed on a particular channel, and then compensated based on how well that ad performs. There are a few different payment methods:

Cost Per Click (CPC)

Cost Per Click or CPC, is where advertisers pay a set amount each time their ad is clicked. This is a good option for startups as it allows them to control their spending.

Cost Per Acquisition (CPA)

Cost Per Acquisition or CPA, is where advertisers pay a set amount each time someone completes a desired action, such as making a purchase. This is a good option for startups as it allows them to focus on conversions.

Cost Per Impression (CPM)

Impressions are the number of times your ad is seen by people. Cost Per Impression or CPM, is where advertisers pay a set amount each time their ad is seen. This is a good option for startups as it allows them to focus on brand awareness.

Cost Per Sales (CPS)

Cost Per Sales or CPS, is where advertisers pay a set amount each time someone completes a desired action, such as making a purchase. This is a good option for startups as it allows them to focus on ROI.

Cost Per Leads (CPL)

Similar to cost per sales, cost per lead or CPL, is where advertisers pay a set amount each time someone completes a desired action, such as filling out a form. This is a good option for startups as it allows them to focus on generating leads.

What Are The Benefits Of Performance Marketing For Startups?

There are many benefits of performance marketing for startups, but here are the three most important:

You Only Pay For Results

As we mentioned before, one of the biggest advantages of performance marketing is that you only pay for results. This makes it a very efficient way to market your startup as you know that every dollar you spend is working towards your bottom line.

Cost-Effective

Performance marketing can be very cost-effective since you only pay when someone takes an action that you want them to take, such as making a purchase or signing up for your newsletter. This means you’re not wasting your marketing budget on ads that no one is paying attention to.

You Can Test Different Channels

With performance marketing, you can test different channels to see which one works best for your business. This is important for startups as you want to make sure you are using the most effective channels to reach your target audience.

It is Measurable

The great thing about performance marketing is that it is very measurable. You can track how many people saw your ad, clicked on it, and took the desired action. This allows you to see what’s working and adjust your strategy accordingly.

A/B test and optimize for revenue-driving KPIs

You can also A/B test your performance marketing campaigns to see what works best and optimize for revenue-driving KPIs.

You Can Scale Quickly

Once you find a channel that works well for your business, you can scale quickly and efficiently. This is important for startups as they often need to grow quickly to stay ahead of the competition.

Reach Large Audiences

Another great thing about performance marketing is that it allows you to reach a large number of audiences. This is important for startups as they often have limited budgets and need to make the most of their marketing efforts.

Top Performance Marketing Channels

There are many digital marketing channels that startups can use for performance marketing. Here are some of the top channels:

Paid Search Advertising

Paid search advertising or PPC, is a form of digital marketing where advertisers pay each time someone clicks on their ad. This is a good option for startups as it allows them to focus on generating leads.

Social Media Advertising

Social media advertising or SMM, is a form of digital marketing where advertisers pay to promote their product or service on social media platforms. This is a good option for startups as it allows them to focus on brand awareness and generating leads.

Display Advertising

Display advertising or banner ads are a form of digital marketing where businesses display ads on websites and other online platforms. This is a good option for startups as it allows them to focus on brand awareness and generating leads.

Email Marketing

Email marketing is a form of digital marketing where businesses send promotional emails to potential and existing customers. This is a good option for startups as it allows them to focus on generating leads.

Search Engine Marketing

Search engine marketing or SEM, is a form of digital marketing where businesses use paid search ads to promote their product or service on search engines like Google and Bing. This is a good option for startups as it allows them to focus on generating leads.

To sum it up, performance marketing is an essential digital marketing strategy for startups because it allows them to control their spending and focus on conversions, brand awareness, or ROI.

What’s more, with performance marketing you only pay when your ad generates results. So if you’re looking for a digital marketing strategy that will give you the most bang for your buck, performance marketing is the way to go.

Hiring Performance Marketers?

Our recruiter picks for recruiting top performance marketers

Hirefuel is a premier boutique recruiting firm specializing in placing top talent with hyper-growth companies. Their proven track record is a testament to their passion and expertise in recruiting. As an extension of your brand, Hirefuel takes great pride in its relationships, ability to bring a personal touch, unrivaled experience, customization, and “startup speed” to talent acquisition.