How do you get your startup noticed?

Defining your value proposition is vital for your startup's success. It's a concise message that communicates why you're better than competitors. It should be clear, compelling, and address the problem you're solving and the benefit you offer. This guides your marketing and branding, helping you stand out.

The value proposition is your foundation- and here it is critical to have clarity on the audience you want to address one size does not fit all - understand your ideal customer profile or your investor profile - who do you want to talk/ buy/ invest etc in you. It needs a clarity process and then you can tailor the message for the right persona of your audience in the right communication channel / marketing vehicle. Iterate based on data and stick to initiatives/campaigns to get the learnings and not jump in a headless chicken mode

Be really creative! See what every other startup is doing? Do the exact opposite. You will have less budgets, less exposure and the bigger companies won't let you compete. Be bold and do unexpected things - high risk, high reward.

10 SOFT SKILLS YOU NEED AS STARTUP ENTREPRENEUR As facilitator of 100+ innovation projects I like to share the 10 most important soft skills you need: 1. Communication: to inspire your customers, - team, and - investors. 2. Creativity: to think outside the box and to solve isssues. 3. Adaptability: to navigate all the uncertainties. 4. Empathy: for great customer understanding. 5. Emotional intelligence: to help build team relationships. 6. Problem-solving: to drive innovation forward. 7. Resilience: to bounce back from failure. 8. Leadership: to inspire and motivate others to embrace new ideas. 9. Collaboration: to build a diverse and inclusive environment. 10. Strategic thinking: to effectively lead your innovation initiative.

It's very important to first and foremost understand your own brand and what it brings to the table to its users. What's the problem that the brand product is trying to solve? These are burning questions which the founder needs to deep think and answer to himself first. On the basis of it he can define the USP of the brand.

This is for linkedin prospective, LinkedIn Engagement: Actively participate in discussions, share industry insights, and connect with professionals in your niche to build a strong LinkedIn network. Company Page Optimization: Ensure your LinkedIn company page is complete with a compelling description, updates, and relevant industry keywords to enhance your discoverability. Employee Advocacy: Encourage your team to share your LinkedIn posts and engage with your content, amplifying your reach and credibility within the platform. LinkedIn Advertising: Consider LinkedIn advertising campaigns to specifically target professionals and decision-makers who align with your target audience, reinforcing your online presence. #linkedin #startup

Building a strong online presence is crucial for both the startup and its founder. Here are some tried & some innovative suggestions: ✅ LinkedIn Thought Leadership: Publish industry insights on LinkedIn to establish authority. ✅Interactive Webinars: Host live Q&As or webinars to educate and engage your audience. ✅ Podcast - Do podcast on your focussed niche and invite relevant guests. Also get to speak at relevant podcasts of others as guest. ✅ Short Video Content: Use platforms like TikTok to create engaging, bite-sized videos. ✅ Exclusive Forums: Build a members-only online community for your most engaged customers. ✅ Influencer Partnerships: Collaborate with micro-influencers for targeted reach.

One thing which we started very early and I tell this to all my startups whom I mentor is to start with seo very early on. The slow and steady growth that seo brings for a startup is really needed because cost is very less and leads are really effective ones. The presence in google is very important.

If we focus on Linkedin as an example, adding 5-6 relevant people to your network everyday is crucial. That said, it's about making connections, helping them, not selling your idea. As you network grows, create content based on your solution or offering. Give value without asking for anything in return. Focus on valuable learnings and cut them into small content pieces. Make sure you are around 3-4 times a week, posting on your feed. As for roaming the network, make sure to reply to posts but only when you have something to contribute to the discussion. posting a word like awesome, is nice, but it's not engagmnet, it's just saying you like what you read. Value in everything. Focus on that, the rest will happend if you stay consistent.

This is HUGE. And not just a presence, a presence people get excited by, understand is different and why they should care. Speak their language. Be where they are. Become one of your customers and study their behavior, needs, etc from the inside.

It’s been said many times that our network is your networth but as accurately a better network can increase your networth, valuation etc. because of social proof, earned social capital, identity, perception, connections/intros, mindset and much more.

The key word here is leverage. Anyone can grow a network through invaluable adds to their social presence, pay-for-traffic services, and other avenues that lend to quantity and not quality. Better is to truly understand your buying persona and to build a network that contributes to your bottom line by providing rich prospects, partner resources, and references on demand. For instance, partnering with a trade association, for instance, who may promote you to all their members is a much less resistant path than to try and partner with each member company individually. That is leverage.

World is a small place and Trust me in Startups your networks can help you the most. Here are some ways it helped me: Alumni: One of my alumni worked in VC and landed a meeting with Decision maker, similarly one of our network got us free influencer marketing as her sister was the influencer, one got us great deal when it came for office space and we got the office without paying deposit. There are n number of such example where the Network has helped me grow and same can be applied for you too! Make sure to use best of your networks but also make sure you payback some or the other way.

Give give give, before you ask. But if you've helped others enough in your network, they'll help you in return. Use tools like a personal CRM to help you keep up with everyone. My favorite is Bronto by Commsor.

You should also expand your network by attending events, joining communities, and reaching out to influencers. Your network is your most valuable asset when it comes to getting your startup noticed.

When it comes to your online presence, content is absolutely king. It's the driving force behind engagement, credibility, and thought leadership. Creating valuable content that resonates with your audience is like laying the foundation for a meaningful online presence. It's not just about the quantity; quality matters. Consistently offering insightful articles, engaging posts, or informative videos can set you apart, showcase your expertise, and foster trust within your network. Moreover, valuable content isn't just about self-promotion; it's about adding value to your audience's lives.

Content is what drives engagement between you and your stakeholders. Making content pieces that are relevant, practical, and useful is paramount. Self-aggrandizing content (or pieces that are overly "sales-y") is none of these. People don't want to read about the features of your product, but they are interested in the benefits that same product will bring them. Great content takes thought and discipline to create, so make it worthwhile by not confusing a content piece with a sales flyer.

A great example I’ve seen for startups: Build in public (BIP) content. BIP consists of building a company or product and transparently sharing the behind scenes of how you do it. Founders generally share their wins, struggles, learnings, anecdotes, and business metrics. It can feel really authentic and the results compounds over time. Adam Robinson of retention.com does this really well

To make one's startup noticed, we need more than content or a value proposition. As our society becomes complex with every passing day, the need of innovative solutions is on the rise. People are facing problems, they never thought existed. The new-age startup is different, it is marketed in a way people have never seen before and it solves an unique problem. On social media, attention is limited and whichever brand gets the most of it, gets the quantum advantage. Distribution, attention and retention, these are the big 3 that has to be mastered.

Pitching to the media can catapult your startup into the public eye. Construct a compelling press kit and tailor your pitches to relevant journalists, bloggers, or influencers in your field. Share newsworthy stories about your startup — such as major milestones, product launches or unique aspects of your startup journey — to capture their interest. A successful media placement can notably boost your startup’s visibility, credibility, and audience reach. Remember, media outlets are always looking for interesting content, so your new, innovative startup could be just the story they are searching for, providing mutually beneficial opportunities.

Founders make a mistake of directly approaching to big houses like Yourstory or Ince 42 or Crunchbase. See Initially you have to first focus on local media - They are easy and will build initial credibility for you. Approach the media or journalist that already posts in your niche or about startups. Pro Tip: Always have your PR ready don't take weeks once a media Agreed. Also to influencers of bloggers or collab with the non competing one on social media.

If your startup has a community-driven audience, try spending time in those communities. It could help you get noticed, especially by niche creators. Engaging in those creators' content, then reaching out to pitch your story in a way that's relevant to them can help build a relationship and generate media coverage.

From my experience, media pitches were most successful when they were not just about our product, but told a compelling story that was relevant to a wider audience. A nugget from my journey: journalists are inundated with pitches, so stand out by being interesting, relevant, and human. In one instance, we tied our pitch to a trending topic, providing not just a product, but a solution to a timely issue, making it newsworthy. Always ensure your pitch is not just about gaining publicity, but about providing valuable, engaging content for the journalist and their audience.

Desde mi experiencia en ambos lados del escritorio: iniciar gestiones mediáticas intensas sólo cuando del producto/servicio, haya resultados concretos, pues desde los usuarios salen las historias que conectan con el público. Es fundamental contar con experiencias testimoniales Previamente, en la etapa con foco en obtener $, hacer una estrategia de PR que considere relacionamiento con medios muy definidos, pensando que cada aparición en prensa, considere mensajes adaptados al medio. La tentación de acumular el máximo de apariciones posibles es grande, pero hay que ser selectivo y estratégico: cuando ya sales contando tu idea en un medio, no vas a poder "ocuparlo" por un buen tiempo...menos si tu noticia ya fue ampliamente cubierta.

One of the biggest mistakes that people make when trying to launch a start-up is that they assume they “know” their audience. So they assume they know where to reach them, through which format(s), how often, and what time of day. Even if you were once on the other side of the table, never assume you know. Test, experiment, iterate, and learn - by doing and by talking to the audience. And never be afraid to step outside of a comfort zone. That’s where the magic happens!

Wholeheartedly agree. In my ventures, the mantra was always: “Fail fast, learn faster.” A practical approach: adopt a robust experimentation framework where hypotheses are clearly defined before tests, ensuring learnings are actionable. In one startup, we dedicated a small budget solely for experimentation, allowing us to try bold, unconventional marketing tactics without risking core budgets. Some failed, some provided unexpected wins, but all provided valuable insights that honed our overall strategy. Embrace a culture where failure is seen as a valuable data point guiding towards eventual success.

In the startup journey, experimentation is your compass, guiding you through uncharted territories to find the most effective strategies. Each test, campaign, and product iteration brings a wealth of insights about your market and audience. Embrace this iterative process as a core part of your company culture. Encourage your team to think outside the box, challenge the status quo, and constantly seek better, more innovative solutions. This culture of experimentation and learning keeps startups agile and often leads to breakthroughs that define new market standards.

Product market fit isn't always a thing. To break out : Excellent products and fantastic communications create sales. Making excellent products takes iterations and experiments -making great communications takes iterations. But let's be honest..theres super crappy products that sell because of their distribution channels. And theres super amazing quality products that just sell because they are super amazing. I despise big box stores because the retailer beats down producers. My family goes after lowest prices because they were born poor. So terrible lunch meat comes into our house on the daily. But damn they sell! I have a knife maker friend who makes hand made stunning hunting knives with a two year waiting list. Entirely word of mouth.

In a startup journey, it’s critical to continually experiment and iterate to gain traction. Test different strategies regarding product features, marketing channels, pricing models, and track key metrics to understand what's working. Act swiftly on feedback, be ready for necessary pivots and adjustments. The ability to learn from failures, adapt and iterate quickly is essential not only to hone your startup but also to demonstrate your commitment and agility to customers, partners or investors. This constant cycle of learning and improvement helps your startup evolve effectively, reach wider audiences and ultimately get noticed in the competitive market.

Showmanship goes a long way 🎉✨🚀⚡️ Getting noticed is 💯 times easier when you see what everyone else is doing. 🪄 And then you do something with a different flare. 💡 Example 1️⃣ Everyone likes to laugh 2️⃣ Most people on LinkedIn don't try to be funny. They're all serious like a doctor telling you to eat and apple and not a snickers. 3️⃣ So I say the same stuff other people are saying. But I make it hilarious 4️⃣ And then people associate my tall dark and handsome startup content with a smile 5️⃣ And boom. That smile creates a memory. And you notice who you remember. Do not laugh at point 4️⃣ that was serious. Figure out your own version of doing what others don't in ways that are obvious if you think about human nature. 🙂

Adopting an 'experiment and iterate' approach is crucial for startups to be noticed. For instance, we tested various marketing strategies, each providing unique insights and lessons. A failed social media campaign taught us a lot about our audience preferences; pivoting our content strategy based on this led to enhanced customer engagement and brand visibility. Similarly, we iterated our product based on user feedback, which not only improved usability but also demonstrated our responsiveness and commitment. Thus, the willingness to experiment, learn from each outcome, and quickly implement changes is a powerful mechanism to adapt and improve, enhancing the chances of your startup standing out.

Everything mentioned prior to this are important, but in my humble opinion the most important skill to success is a tenacity and will to keep going. The biggest issues with most startups are that your constantly dealing with problems. It’s always something, but the entrepreneurs who have the ability to problem solve, and stay at it are the ones who have the best chance of succeeding. Intellengence only gets you so far but your will and ability to pivot is everything!

Vcs have a terrible track record picking winning startups. But the few they pick pay for all the rest. This is a pretty good business model -- but don't let their business own you or direct you they are gentrified and not usually a startup themselves. Don't count your chickens and don't put all your eggs in one basket. No matter how "experts" tell you how you should focus. Startup success is 1% inspiration and 99% perspiration. Put the work in - find success in the journey and the people you make friends with and work with. Spread the love - drink lot's of water, brush your teeth, get plenty of sleep. Do as I say and only 1/2 of what I do because you made it your own and sometimes I suck - so please just take the awesome sauce.

Some questions that the startups should answer before even getting themselves to be noticed. Target Audience - Who exactly are they targeting? eg:- Industry, Location etc. Platforms the Target Audience are present on - eg:- OTT, Social Media, TV etc. Content the Target Audience are consuming - eg:- Influencer content, ad, Newspaper, Reels etc. The content they create should incorporate these answers & they can start putting out themselves by either building their brand, talking to their audience about their product, building a network etc.