Performance Analysis of Content Marketing, Paid Advertising, and Email Marketing in Boosting Conversions and Sales for Start-Ups
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.63682/jns.v14i2S.7058Keywords:
Content Marketing, , Paid Advertising, Email Marketing Conversion Rate Optimization, Digital Marketing Strategies, Startup Growth PerformanceAbstract
Start-ups operate in dynamic environments where marketing resources are scarce, yet the need for rapid traction is high. Among the most widely used digital strategies are content marketing, paid advertising, and email marketing, but few studies offer a direct comparison of their effectiveness in driving conversions and sales, especially in the Indian start-up context (Patel & Kumar, 2020; Kannan & Li, 2017). This study addresses that gap by empirically evaluating the performance of these channels through a cross-sectional survey of 122 early-stage Indian start-ups across technology, consumer goods, and service sectors.
Using a quantitative design, the study analyzes ROI, conversion rates, and sales attribution through multivariate regression. Results show that email marketing delivers the highest return on investment, particularly when leveraging automation and personalization (Mailchimp, 2023). Paid advertising generates the fastest short-term results but suffers from diminishing marginal returns and high cost per acquisition (Statista, 2024). In contrast, content marketing contributes significantly to long-term engagement and organic lead generation, though it demands more time and consistency (Pulizzi, 2014; Holliman & Rowley, 2014).
The findings suggest that the stage of the start-up lifecycle, industry type, and customer journey stage are critical contextual moderators influencing channel performance (Dwivedi et al., 2021). This paper contributes to the literature by offering a comparative, data-driven framework for channel selection in start-up marketing and delivers actionable insights for founders on aligning strategy with growth objectives. Implications, limitations, and future research directions are discussed
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