You’re done with your new business plan, and your products and services are ready to be launched. The big question now is: How do you get others to know about your startup?
Without a doubt, successfully marketing a new company is one of the most difficult parts about starting a business. With so many startups around these days, standing out can be tough. However, there are several things you can do to make sure your startup reaches a receptive audience.
1. Submit your startup to directories
One way to market your startup is to submit it to directories like Go2Web20 and Crunchbase. Some of them are free, but others require payment. Getting your startup listed in these directories will at least give your website more traffic and help other businesses find out about you. Here is a list of 100+ free ones you can start with.
Getting listed on websites that group similar websites together, such as SitesLike, is another way to get others talking about your startup.
In Trinidad and Tobago there is also the UWI-Lok Jack GSB’s Biz Booster which includes a list of entrepreneurs, and annual membership directories are produced by the Trinidad and Tobago Manufacturers’ Association (TTMA), the Trinidad and Tobago Chamber of Industry and Commerce (TTCIC) and the Trinidad and Tobago Coalition of Services Industries (TTCSI) to name a few. It may be wise to contact the organization best aligned to your service/product to find out more on becoming a member.
2. Get in touch with media editors and industry bloggers
One way to get the word out about your startup is to pitch your story to news editors, industry bloggers, and startup magazines. In other words, influencers. They have access to wide audiences and can influence public opinions on industry trends, products, and even companies. Write them a few short paragraphs about who you are, what your startup does, and, on a bigger scale, what problems your product and/or service solves.
Besides pitching, another way to make an impression on media editors and industry bloggers is to send them free products and/or special deals in exchange for a review.
What’s more, it’s always a good idea to find out if influential editors and bloggers are looking for guest posts for their news websites/blogs. If so, come up with two or three good topics for a post and pitch the idea to them.