Marketing Advice for New Businesses Reading Answers

Oct 18, 2025

Marketing Guidance for Startups Reading Answers includes 6 questions and is part of the evaluation framework for the IELTS General Reading test. Participants must complete the Marketing Guidance for Startups Reading Answers within a time limit of 10 minutes. This section of the IELTS reading assessment features various question types, including selecting a single word from the text for each response.

Marketing Guidance for Startups Reading Answers offers an in-depth look at methods to attract and keep customers, investigate their search habits, comprehend their requirements, and sustain consistent, relevant communication. Evaluating outcomes and emphasizing word-of-mouth referrals contribute to developing a solid reputation and enhancing business growth. For additional practice with similar reading assessments, candidates can refer to the IELTS Reading Practice Test section.

Check: Get 10 Free Sample Papers
Check: Register for IELTS Coaching - Join for Free Trial Class Now

Topic:

Marketing Advice for New Businesses

If you're setting up your own business, here's some advice on getting customers.

Know where your customers look

Your customers aren't necessarily where you think they are. So if you're advertising where they're just not looking, it's wasted money. That's why it pays to do a bit of research. Every time someone contacts your company, ask them where they found out about you. And act on this information so you're advertising in the right places.

Always think like a customer

What makes your customers tick? Find out, and you're halfway to saying the right things in your advertising.

So take the time to ask them. A simple phone or email survey of your own customers, politely asking why they use you, what they really like and what they don't, is invaluable.

Make sure customers know you're there

If a customer can't see you, they can't buy from you. There are loads of opportunities to promote your business - print, press, direct mail, telemarketing, email and the internet - and using a mix of these increases your chances of being seen (and remembered). Ignore your customers and they'll go away. It sounds obvious, but companies who talk to their customers have much better retention rates than those that don't, so it's worth staying in touch. Capture your customers' email addresses upfront. Follow up a transaction to check they're happy with the service and,if possible, send them updates that are helpful, informative and relevant.

Know what works (and what doesn't)

Do what the professionals do, and measure all your advertising. That'll tell you what you're doing A right - and where there's room for improvement. You never know, it might just throw up some information that could change your business for the better.

Remember word-of-mouth: the best advertising there is

A recent survey found that consumers are 50% more likely to be influenced by word-of-mouth recommendations than by TV or radio ads. So your reputation is your greatest asset. If your current customers are impressed with your company, they'll be more inclined to recommend you to others. On the flip side, if they experience bad service they probably won't complain to you - but you can be sure they will to their friends.

QUESTIONS 15-20

CHOOSE ONE WORD ONLY FROM THE TEXT FOR EACH ANSWER WRITE YOUR ANSWERS IN BOXES 15-20 ON YOUR ANSWER SHEET.

15. Some ………………… will help you to discover the most effective places to advertise.

Answer: research

Supporting statement: “That's why it pays to do a bit of research. Every time someone contacts your company, ask them where they found out about you. And act on this information so you're advertising in the right places.”

Keywords: research, advertising, information

Keyword Location: Paragraph 1, lines 2–4

Explanation: Conducting research helps identify the most effective places to advertise by gathering information from customers.

16. A ………………. of your customers will show you how they feel about your company.

Answer: survey

Supporting statement: “A simple phone or email survey of your own customers, politely asking why they use you, what they really like and what they don't, is invaluable.”

Keywords: survey, customers, invaluable

‘Paragraph 2, lines 2–4

Explanation: A survey allows you to understand customer opinions about your company and services.

17. А ……………….. of forms of advertising will make it more likely that potential customers will find out about you.

Answer: mix

Supporting statement: “There are loads of opportunities to promote your business - print, press, direct mail, telemarketing, email and the internet - and using a mix of these increases your chances of being seen (and remembered).”

Keywords: mix, opportunities, chances

Keyword Location: Paragraph 3, lines 2–4

Explanation: Using a mix of advertising methods ensures more potential customers notice your business.

18. If you can, provide customers with useful ……………… about your business.

Answer: updates

Supporting statement: “Follow up a transaction to check they're happy with the service and, if possible, send them updates that are helpful, informative and relevant.”

Keywords: updates, helpful, informative, relevant

Keyword Location: Paragraph 3, lines 5–7

Explanation: Providing customers with updates gives them useful information about your products or services.

19. Measuring the effects of your advertising can give you ……………. that will improve your business.

Answer: information

Supporting statement: “Do what the professionals do, and measure all your advertising. That'll tell you what you're doing right - and where there's room for improvement. You never know, it might just throw up some information that could change your business for the better.”

Keywords: information, advertising, improvement

Keyword Location: Paragraph 4, lines 2–5

Explanation: Measuring advertising performance provides information that helps improve business strategies.

20. Success in finding new customers largely depends on your ……………..

Answer: reputation

Supporting statement: “A recent survey found that consumers are 50% more likely to be influenced by word-of-mouth recommendations than by TV or radio ads. So your reputation is your greatest asset.”

Keywords: reputation, asset, word-of-mouth

Keyword Location: Paragraph 5, lines 2–4

Explanation: Success in attracting new customers largely depends on your reputation and word-of-mouth recommendations from satisfied clients.

Check IELTS reading samples: