Analyzing the Impact of Digital Marketing Strategies on the Growth Trajectory of Early-Stage Startups in India

Analyzing the Impact of Digital Marketing Strategies on the Growth Trajectory of Early-Stage Startups in India

Nishchint Tiku

Computer Science and Engineering

RV College of Engineering

Bengaluru, India

nishchinttiku.cs22@rvce.edu.in

Pratham Chib

Computer Science and Engineering

RV College of Engineering

Bengaluru, India

prathamchib.cs22@rvce.edu.in

Saksham Kumar Jindal

Computer Science and Engineering

RV College of Engineering

Bengaluru, India

sakshamkjindal.cs22@rvce.edu.in

Naraharisetty Mohan Sai                                                                                                         Dr. Manas M N

Computer Science and Engineering                                                                                    Computer Science and Engineering

RV College of Engineering                                                                                                 RV College of Engineering

Bengaluru, India                                                                                                               Bengaluru, India

nmohansai.cs22@rvce.edu.in                                                                                                manasmn@rvce.edu.in

Abstract—Digital marketing has emerged as a cost-effective growth enabler for startups facing budget constraints. This paper examines the impact of digital marketing strategies—including social media marketing, content marketing, search engine optimization, and search engine marketing—on customer acquisition and revenue growth of early-stage startups in India. A mixed-methods approach combining a structured survey and in-depth case studies was employed, covering 50 Indian startups across technology, retail, and service sectors. The results highlight the relative effectiveness of different channels, challenges faced, and best practices for maximizing return on marketing investment. Based on the findings, this paper proposes a practical framework for strategic digital marketing allocation tailored for startups in emerging economies, emphasizing budget optimization and target audience alignment].

Index Terms—Digital Marketing, Startups, Social Media Marketing, SEO, SEM, Customer Acquisition, Emerging Markets, Entrepreneurship, India