Role in Startup

Marketing is about letting your narrow ICP know you exist. It might be as simple as writing personal emails, leveraging LinkedIn, or tapping your network. No big-budget ad campaigns or major events. At this stage, you rely heavily on word-of-mouth, referrals, and direct outreach.

Objectives

The marketing objective is to generate enough buzz to secure those first customers and gather initial feedback. You’ll want to articulate your value proposition in simple, compelling terms that your ICP resonates with. Often, this is “founder-led marketing”—you telling your story wherever you can.

Areas of Specialization

Specialization is light and you most likely have “a” marketing person or small agency you work with. You might explore growth hacking tactics or influencer outreach if it suits your niche. But primarily, you’re focusing on building a clear brand message that conveys why your product matters and persuades early adopters to give it a shot.