As a new startup, it can be overwhelming trying to find your place when there are so many successful and well-established businesses making noise. So, what do you do? How can you cut through the noise and establish yourself as an authority?
1. Make sure you have something new (or interesting) to say!
The likelihood is that your new startup was built on a new idea or innovation that is going to disrupt the marketplace somewhat. If that’s the case, then you should have something new and exciting to say.
Rather than enter the market to start posting similar content to everyone else and simply ‘joining the conversation’, you need to come in and stir things up.
Challenge the status quo! What is it about your industry that desperately needs changing? If you want to be recognised as the new kid on the block, let it be known that you are one to watch out for!
2. Focus on a niche area
Even if you don’t necessarily have some new or innovative product, it doesn’t mean that you won’t have a USP (unique selling point). If you want to stand out in a saturated industry, niche down and make yourself the King of that specific area.
For example, any agency that offers SEO services will invariably have a difficult time standing out. The industry is saturated with thousands and thousands of digital marketing agencies – each claiming to be the most knowledgeable.
However, if they dial it in and focus on being the master on one specific aspect of SEO, they’ll have a much easier time standing out. Perhaps they’re so gifted at minimizing page load speed that every single one of their client websites loads within 2-seconds on a mobile device. Now that would be a boast indeed!
3. Be consistent, dependable, and factual
It may feel like a towering impossibility, making your mark, however, if you show up consistently and prove yourself as being a genuine and dependable brand, people will start to take notice.
Not only that but if you want to be recognised as an authority in your field then you really do need to know what you are talking about! And that means creating highly in-depth, factual content that holds up against heavy scrutiny.
If you are pumping out hundreds of half-arsed articles with facts and figures you’ve borrowed from elsewhere and yet fail to cite your resources, no one is going to take you seriously. However, if you are conducting your own research and compiling your findings into truly exceptional content, it won’t be long before your brand grows into a massive player to contend with.
4. Engage with other creators in your field
LinkedIn is fast becoming one of the greatest social media platforms for those who wish to demonstrate their authority, grow their following, and take their business to even greater heights.
Want to stand out? Put the work in and start engaging with other creators in your field. Comment on their posts, expand on their points, and offer insights of your own.
Following that you should also publish your own content and share your industry-expertise for all to see.
If you commit to this and do it well, people will take notice.
5. Don’t be afraid to show your face
Get out into your community, collaborate with other professionals, and take part in industry forums and expos. You should also not be afraid to create video content and feature on industry-relevant podcasts. If you want to be taken seriously and recognised as a thought-leader, you’ve got to be active and recognisable.
Conclusion: It doesn’t happen overnight
Entering a new industry as a startup and expecting to skip straight to the top is optimistic indeed. It takes an awful lot of hard work and consistency, but above all: strategy.
You must understand who your audience is, what type of content they engage with, where they are hanging out, and how best you can resonate with them. Not only that, but you really do need to be an expert!
They say it takes 10,000 hours to master something so you best start putting the time in and pumping those rookie numbers up if you want to be a master.
In any case, it’s all about consistency and taking part in your industry. Be a positive force and share what you know for the betterment of your audience and the rest will follow.