11 tactics every tech startup should follow in 2017
Every year, more and more startups are sprouting up around the globe.
Along with the increasing number of ventures launching on a regular basis comes the pressure for startup teams to showcase themselves in a creative manner.
According to a team of business development experts at Cyberogism.com, standing apart from the competition is imperative in this process.
Based on expert knowledge, here are a few tips tech startups should adopt to achieve that objective and rise above their peers.
1. Form an A-Team
The first and foremost thing to do is to hire only those who care about building the company up. Never allow lazy or pessimistic team members who just want a corporate job with a five figure salary on board your team, at least for the first few years.
2. Diversifying the Team
Diversity of race, gender and age makes for an engaged group of startup team members who can bring a wealth of experience and perspective to help build your startup.
When this objective is met at an early stage, it becomes easier to maintain a diverse balance among your employee base in the future. Studies show this is one of the key elements for long-term success.
3. Product Launch is the Beginning
Most startups struggle very hard to launch their first product, service or app. What they miss is that this step is just the beginning of growing their startup. As such, there’s no guaranteed failure or success.
But retaining an audience and continuing the quality of your product/service matters tremendously, despite all the hurdles.
4. Copying is Not Always a Sin
When there is a successful formula that your competitor follows, study it and copy it. Any existing market is built around tried and tested ideas. Just follow them before you carve your own path with creative ideas. It’s not a sin in the world of business!
5. Be Agile
Being agile can be a model followed in a development process, but it’s better described as growing as fast as possible in the competitive market.
Hustling will surely take your startup to places you never imagined it could reach.Don’t slow down.
6. Startup Method, the Book
A highly regarded book for startup founders everywhere is The Lean Startup. The book focuses on how to execute the ideas you conceived in the most business-like manner, and so on.
Any startup seems dominated by this book, and you’ll notice this fact once you enter the world of entrepreneurship. Give it a shot because it discusses all the possibilities.
7. Pivot When Needed
An important lesson for all budding entrepreneurs is to pivot from the original goal whenever a hurdle blocks your path.
Now, this doesn’t mean you are giving up; you’re simply pivoting only to find a better solution. After a pivot, you can come back with a stronger presentation to impress your investors.
Some of the most successful startups in the world have followed this path.
8. Maintain Secrecy
Remember this! When you are looking for great ideas to steal, know that your competitors, be them big or small, are doing the same.
Maintain secrecy at every point until the product is patented and launched. There’s no telling who would steal your idea to launch it before you do. A slow and steady approach is essential to achieve big goals in a startup.
9. Never Hype Too Much
History reiterates the fact that a lot of high-profile launches have gone completely wrong because the products couldn’t meet expectations.
That’s why it’s important to start small and get rid of the bugs and issues before you build your brand value. Make sure you identify that you have a viable solution to fill up a need in the market before you start the marketing process.
10. Don’t Be Adamant on a Culture
Creating too many things in the early stages is not the best way to go about business development. Implementing too many favors at an early stage may affect the startup's growth in later years. Go slow and steady until the company finds a reasonable culture of its own.
11. Avoid Any Associations with Huge Firms
Being a small and budding startup, obviously, you won’t have the resources to compete with a big firm. Even in a scenario where a larger company provides the necessary resources, it’s better to avoid them and work with small or medium firms who would help your brand grow in the near future.
Startups inevitably undergo hassles and practical issues before they establish themselves as a strong contender in the ever-growing tech market.
Every industry is crowded by big players, but innovative newcomers never fail to impress the crowd and create an audience base of their own.
If your company follows the rules, has the right ethics and is agile in delivering as promised, it is sure to gain a reputation of its own in the long run.