10 Tips For Tech Startups - From First Steps to Mainstream Success

The internet has become a part of our daily lives in a way that few other technologies have. Whether you are a startup looking to leverage the power of the internet or an established tech giant looking to expand your user base, there are many ways that you can use the internet to grow your business.
From online marketing to development platforms, here are seven tips for startups that embrace technology as a growth tool.
1. Make Sure Your Idea Is Unique. If you’ve got a great idea, make sure no one else is doing what you do before you go any further.
You have to know your market and how they think before you start talking about your product. You need to find out if anyone else is already selling what you plan to sell. You should research competitors and their products, services, pricing, and marketing strategies.
2. Create A Marketing Plan. Once you know who your customers are, create a detailed marketing plan. Think about where they spend time online, and then determine where you want to place your ads.
For example, if people are looking for information on how to build a website, you may want to advertise right above that search box. Or, if they're searching for your service, you could advertise on Facebook or Twitter.
Remember, some things work well for some businesses and not others. Do your homework and test different options until you find something that works for you.
3. Find A Way To Measure Results. Don't just assume that your business will take off once you launch. It's important to measure results so you can keep track of progress.
This way, you'll be able to tell whether your efforts are paying off. If you don't measure results, you won't know if you're making progress.
If you're having trouble tracking results, consider using Google Analytics. It's free and provides data on traffic, visits, and conversions.
4. Test Different Strategies & Offer Promotions. If you've determined that your target audience likes a certain type of content, offer it regularly.
Also, try offering promotions to increase sales. These can range from discounts to giving away extra items with purchase. There are many ways to promote your business, including posting flyers and placing classified advertisements.
5. Be Patient And Stay Organized. It takes time to get your startup going. But, remember that patience pays off.
Don't expect overnight success. Instead, focus on building a solid foundation. After all, without a strong base, you can't achieve much else.
Be prepared to put in long hours at first. But, if you stay organized and focused, you'll eventually reap the rewards.
6. Do not underestimate the power of word-of-mouth advertising. As soon as you create something people want (or think they do), they’ll tell their friends about it and spread the word! Word-of-mouth marketing is great because it’s free – and if done well, can get you massive exposure.
7. Find a market before building a product. Oftentimes, the best products are ones that have been built around a need that already exists. Take advantage of this fact before you build your own solution.
8. Be careful what you ask for. It’s easy to make assumptions about how your product should perform. Ask customers what they actually want instead. Sometimes, they’re surprised by the answer!
9. Make sure your company name is short and memorable. If your business grows, it will likely outlive its founders. Make sure you choose a name that won’t become difficult to remember.
10. Create value, not just features. Make your product useful to the customer. Make it easier for them to achieve their goals. If your product does these things, then it creates value for the user. That means that people will use it over and over again.
11. Don’t put all eggs in one basket. In order to succeed, you need to be able to distribute your product and services across multiple platforms. If you only focus on one type of technology, you may find yourself struggling down the line.
12. Use social media. Social media is the easiest way to connect with potential customers. You don’t even need to spend money to promote your product on social media networks; simply share links to relevant pages and let the rest happen naturally.