Network
This is the most bandied around piece of advice that professionals and people in industry use. There is a reason for its popularity, however, as networking is one of the most important skills to have.
Networking is important when you are a startup as you will likely need advice and people who are able to work with you or put you in touch with someone else.
Meeting like minded individuals, offering your skills and service and seeing what they can offer you do not have to be done in a formal setting, and networking can take place at parties, lunches and informal occasions. It is up to you to make yourself known, however, so make sure you take an opportunity to do so.
Showcase Your Product
Going to showcases is one of the physical ways of getting your product out there. Go to as many as you are able and try to go to Industry showcases where you present to investors as well as consumers of your product.
Exhibit your products to a professional standard and make yourself stand out. With so many other exhibitors it is easy for you to get lost among the crowd which is why the exhibition stands you use are so crucial; the more professional or engaging the stand, the better.
Social Media
Instagram and Snapchat are two of the best platforms that can help you gain a considerable following. Make the most of the Instagram and Snapchat stories feature that allows you to share your day over a period of 24 hours, which encourages people to watch before it disappears.
Follow similar pages and products to see how others are successfully marketing their product or service and make sure that your page offers something that your competitors do not. People want to see a person behind the product, which is why it is a great idea to have a page that offers something more than simply images of your product.
Repost images of people using your product, reviews, and even the process in which it is made or produced. By allowing people to come close to the product and those involved with it engage with their natural curiosity and make them want to continue following your journey, even becoming part of it.
Get Brand Ambassadors On-Board
Influencers who have access to a big following can represent your product, providing them with a financial reward when people use their code or link.
Contact people whose brand fits with your product, making it more likely for them to get involved and the audience they reach is more likely to be interested in the product they are promoting.
Free Trials/Giveaways
You can use social media to promote your product by conducting giveaways or free trials for people who follow/repost/ like your page.
Everybody loves getting something for free so capitalize on this and offer a free trial and get people hooked on what you have to offer. Getting people to repost/like or share your page or post is an excellent way of making your product visible, and this spreads your product on many levels.
For example, if one individual reports a post about the competition they are sharing it with their followers who will, in turn, share it to theirs if they also choose to take part. This is why it is worth creating an attractive giveaway and making a small loss, to begin with, as this form of promotion will give back tenfold.
Find Other Brands Or Companies To Collaborate With
You can reach more people by using the following that other companies or brands have built up. While it might seem strange to contact a direct competitor, it can be a good idea to work with a similar brand that can complement what you offer rather than competing directly with you.
If you are a tech startup and are building a cool new app, for example, see if there is another similar brand out there that you can compliment your own.
Have A User-Friendly Website
There is nothing more annoying for a consumer than having to deal with a slow or hard to use website. This can make people lose interest in your site rapidly, and even if they are interested in your product or service, will be more likely to use another site that it easy to use.
Invest in a top of the range website; this doesn’t have to be the most expensive website creation service, however, just one that is easy to use, visually attractive and easy to find. Using Google analytics and SEO software can make your website easy to find in search engines. Look here for some of the best SEO agencies to use once you’ve decided to invest in this tool.
Put In The Hours
Your product won’t miraculously make it onto the bestseller list unless you are willing to put in the hard work, and often long hours it takes, to make this a reality. Particularly in the beginning when you are just starting out, you are likely to be faced with what might appear to be an endless stream of minor or even major setbacks.
You will also have to be prepared financially, and this might mean having something to fall back on if needs are. Making sure that you are prepared for what is to come will give you and your product the best chance of success in a competitive field.
