Workshop on Effective Sales and Marketing Strategies for Startup

On 14.02.2025 "Workshop on Effective Sales and Marketing Strategies for Startup" was organized by the Entrepreneurship Development Cell and IIC through offline mode in association with Department of Management Studies. The session was handled by Mrs.M.Thanalakshmi, Assistant Professor, Department of Management Studies, Francis Xavier Engineering College, Vannarpettai from 09:30 AM to 11:30 AM on 14.02.2025. 52 students and one faculty participated.

The program started with the welcome address by Dr.V.M.Sangeetha, EDC coordinator of Management Studies, Francis Xavier Engineering College. In her welcome address, she introduced the resource person. The resource person highlighted the unique challenges faced by emerging businesses and the vast market potential that exists in India. The discussion was enriched with insights from leading entrepreneurs, including Sridhar Vembu of Zoho, Girish Mathrubootham of Fresh works, C.K. Ranganathan of Cavin Kare, R.G. Chandramogan of Hatsun Agro Product Ltd, and Gautam Saraogi of Go Colors. She shared marketing strategies of these business people and made the students understand the importance of marketing.

Then she emphasized the role of key startup hubs such as Bangalore, Chennai, Hyderabad, and Kochi. Understanding consumer behavior was a focal point, noting a strong preference for local brands, high engagement with digital platforms, and the growing influence of word-of-mouth and influencer marketing. The resource person gave two case studies and its successful marketing campaign Swiggy’s hyperlocal delivery model and digital marketing approach demonstrated how localization and customer engagement drive business growth. Big Basket’s focus on customer retention and personalization was highlighted as a key factor in its sustained success. The workshop also addressed the challenges faced by startups, particularly those operating on limited budgets, and offered cost-effective marketing solutions. Strategies to build brand awareness in a crowded market, foster customer loyalty, and adapt to evolving consumer behaviors were thoroughly examined. Students were encouraged to answer the positive and negative points of Swiggy and Big basket marketing strategy.

Marketing strategies were explored extensively, covering diverse methods such as SEO and content marketing, social media marketing across platforms like Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Twitter, and YouTube, and influencer and referral marketing, citing Meesho’s viral growth strategy as an example. Growth hacking techniques, particularly Dunzo’s referral programs, were highlighted to showcase innovative ways of accelerating customer acquisition. The role of paid advertising through Google Ads and Facebook Ads was analyzed, along with email and WhatsApp marketing as effective lead generation tools. The increasing significance of video and short-form content marketing was illustrated using the success of the Koo App. The session concluded with an interactive discussion, where participants shared their perspectives and experiences, further enriching the learning experience.