Welcome, fellow startup founder. You are probably in the trenches right now, chasing leads, tweaking ads, and trying to get those first few sales across the line. That is normal. Early on, survival is the game.
But there is one growth strategy that does not get nearly enough attention, especially in the rush to generate revenue. It is not another funnel or campaign. It is care.
The early phase: momentum matters
When you are starting out, marketing becomes the main focus. You need people to know you exist. You need attention before you can earn trust. And you need trust before anyone buys.
So yes, ads, outreach, and content are essential in the early days. They get the ball rolling. They bring in your first wave of customers and prove there is demand for what you offer.
But if you stop there, you are stuck on a treadmill. Always chasing the next click. Always paying for the next lead.
The long game: build a tribe, not just a list
Marketing gets you transactions. Care builds relationships.
When people feel genuinely looked after, something changes. They stop seeing you as another brand in their inbox and start seeing you as someone worth listening to.
Customers who feel cared for become:
- Repeat buyers
- Referrers
- Advocates
- Defenders of your brand
They talk about you when you are not in the room. They recommend you without being asked. They stick around when a competitor offers something cheaper.
That is not marketing. That is loyalty.
Care is not soft. It is strategic.
Caring does not mean lowering your prices or over-delivering to the point of burnout. It means paying attention.
It means:
- Listening to feedback and acting on it
- Being transparent when things go wrong
- Delivering what you promised
- Responding to customers like humans, not tickets
- Making your audience feel seen and understood
This is where community starts to form. People begin to feel like they are part of something, not just purchasing from something.
The growth loop nobody talks about
Here is what happens when care becomes part of your business model:
- Your customers feel valued
- They trust you more
- They buy again
- They tell others
- New customers arrive already trusting you
This creates a feedback loop that reduces your reliance on paid acquisition over time. Your growth becomes less about reach and more about reputation.
Give first. Grow later.
There is a simple principle at play in business: what you put out tends to come back. When you consistently provide value and show up for your audience, they remember.
They remember when they are ready to buy.
They remember when a friend asks for a recommendation.
They remember when they see your ad again.
Beyond growth metrics
Prioritising care is not just good for business. It makes building that business more sustainable and, frankly, more enjoyable. You are not just chasing numbers. You are building relationships.
And in a crowded market where products can be copied and prices can be undercut, relationships are one of the few advantages that cannot be replicated overnight.
If you want help building a growth strategy that balances acquisition with retention, visit www.businessmentoringaustralia.com.au or email info@businessmentoringaustralia.com.au.
