The Secrets to Early Startup Success

While there certainly is excitement when starting a new company, you will also find that there is a great deal of stress and anxiety because there is so much work that needs to be done and you only get one chance to launch. From Business Insurance to creating high-quality products, you need to take care of everything. You hear many stories of startups failing shortly after the launch which is a very real concern unless you know how to navigate these challenging early days. Well-thought-out planning will hopefully allow you early success so that you can start to grow and compete with the bigger brands. Here are a few key tips to keep in mind.

Find a Gap in the Market

It is hard to succeed as a new business if you are not bringing anything innovative to the table, as consumers will simply go with the more established brand. This is why you need to carry out thorough market research into your competitors and your target customer to try and find a USP that will help you to stand out and start attracting customers from the very start.

Create High-Quality Products

You also need to make sure that you are offering high-quality products that will appeal to your target customer. It is worth working with new product formulation specialists that can help to turn your product ideas into high-quality goods, often using the best and latest tech which could give you a competitive edge. When you provide high-quality goods at competitive prices, you will always be able to both attract and retain customers even at the very start.

Create a Strong Online Presence

No matter what industry you are in, it is essential that you have a strong online presence otherwise you will never be able to establish your brand. This means that you need to have a high-quality company website, be active on social media, and use digital marketing to increase your visibility online. This can be challenging and time-consuming, so this may be an area that you want to outsource. Additionally, you should start promoting the business as early as possible so that people are aware of your company from day one.

Keep Costs Down

Cash flow problems are the main reason that a startup fails because they struggle to stay afloat during the difficult early days when there is not much money coming into the business. You obviously need to secure enough funding to get set up and to keep you going early on, but you should also find ways to keep costs down without impacting the quality of the product/service that you provide. A few of the best ways to keep costs down include:

• Remote working
• Outsourcing
• Negotiating with suppliers
• Second-hand equipment
• Open-source software

 

Implement New Technology

One area that is worth investing in is technology as this can help a new startup to start competing from the very start, plus it will help you to stay current which is critical in a time where technology evolves so quickly. Currently, a few of the best technologies that could help your startup to succeed include:

• Automation
• AI
• Cloud computing
• Virtual and augmented reality
• Internet of Things

 

Seek Feedback from Customers

You should always pay attention to what your customers have to say, especially early on when there is a lot to learn. Ask for feedback from the very start and you will identify the best ways to improve, plus you will also show that you are a brand that cares which is incredibly important for building a positive reputation. You can also use any positive reviews to promote your brand and this is key for attracting new customers.

Go the Extra Mile

Leading on from this, you should also make sure that you are always willing to go the extra mile for your customers. Consumers will always be attracted to the companies that look after their customers, so by making this a priority you could both attract and retain customers and start to build a positive reputation for your company.

Ask for Referrals

You should also ask for referrals as this is a great way to reach a much wider group and benefit from word-of-mouth marketing. You may have to incentivize referrals, but this will prove to be cost-effective because attracting new customers early on is incredibly valuable and will help you to quickly compete with other brands in your industry.

Protect Your Business

There are many different threats to a modern-day business and you need to make sure that you are fully protected from day one. This will include:

• Business insurance
• Making sure that you are legally compliant
• Copyrights and trademarks
• Using contracts
• Terms and conditions
• Cybersecurity 
• Physical security

 

Only Hire Essential Staff

It is important that you do not hire staff for the sake of it and that you make sure that you take your time with the recruitment process. Identify what your staffing needs are and whether you need to actually hire someone or whether you can outsource (cost-effective) and then make sure that someone is the right fit and has a good work ethic before hiring. Hiring the wrong people can be costly, especially early on when it is so important that you hit the ground running.

Be Adaptable

One thing that can be learned from the coronavirus pandemic this year is that the world is unpredictable. Many businesses all over the world have gone from being very successful to having to close due to the coronavirus pandemic, but there are businesses that are not only surviving but thriving in the current situation and these are businesses that are adaptable, agile, and have entrepreneurial-spirit. Being able to react to situations is vital for long-term success so you should try to be light on your feet and not stuck too heavily in one way of working. Keep these tips in mind and it will hopefully allow you to manage during the challenging early days of a new startup and build a solid platform for future success.