Startups of all sizes release software that has different receptions depending on quality/usefulness. Subscription models are quite popular as users are paying for improvement and consistent updates. Software can also help establish a certain company as an authority on a specific niche of business. Tools that are created in terms of marketing automation integrated within a CRM is what helped HubSpot grow into the juggernaut it is today.
The first software that is released by a company can impact the trajectory of a startup for years to come. Establishing a company as a quality brand due to useful and intuitive software that was created can yield profits well into the future. A startup that is seeking funding might get that angel investor that trusts in the path that the current leadership is taking the business. The pressure to release a second tool or software can inhibit growth long-term. The new tool/software might not live up to the quality of the first release.
Set a Realistic Launch Date Rather Than Overly Optimistic Deadline
Setting a launch date should not be done too far ahead. Missing an initial launch date can alienate certain users looking forward to utilizing the software. Trying to launch too early without thorough testing of the software is a recipe for disaster. Beta users can be a huge help as they not only can report bugs but also can suggest features/aspects of the software that could be improved. Feedback from a number of users could indicate a pattern that allows a startup to make tweaks before the official launch.
Create a Buzz Before Launching
Attending a few tradeshows or conferences to help showcase what the software can do is imperative. For industry software, this can be immensely important. These events will contain the highest concentration of relevant users possible. Offering a few free months to start from signing up at the event can help create a marketing list of users. A helpful software will prove its worth to users making it easy for the startup to collect a monthly or annual subscription. Podcast marketing can be important as industry podcasts that generate a decent amount of relevant traffic. Showcasing knowledge on a podcast can help make a brand personable and establish it as a brand that is an authority on specific topics.
Development Should be Collaborative on One Platform
The beauty of software development in today’s world is that both onshore and offshore teams can work simultaneously on a project. DevOps tools allow for efficient collaboration in a secure platform that can be scaled up with users or by data storage. Offshore teams can be used to handle certain tasks on a mass level while the onshore team can handle more specific portions of the project. Using both types of developers as a company helps reduce costs while speeding up the production of the software. The organization of the development team will be far easier in one platform. Managing offshore developers is usually a chore compared to onshore.
Create a Solid Social Media and Content Marketing Campaign
Content marketing is the lifeblood of SEO as the right campaign can help a brand surge up the search engine rankings. The right keyword density combined with readability is important. This combination can attract visitors to a blog post or offsite article contribution is essential. Promoting content with social media along with the creation of engaging posts or comments on content will help expand the reach of a brand. Link building through content will allow a software to climb search engine rankings for specific keywords. Publisher outreach will be the challenging aspect of this. Creativity with approaches/pitches or offerings to a publisher is important.
Continually Improve with Additional Paid and Free Features
Software that continually offers new updates that add features is important. There could be features offered for free for a limited time that some subscribers are more than willing to pay for down the road. Features that showcase data of how useful a piece of software is can prove the value of the technology. Companies will see how a piece of software improves sales or helps manage remote workers more efficiently. Companies will look at this cost as an investment in their business depending on how useful and versatile it truly is.
Building a brand that is based on great software and tools released on a regular basis will take time. Patience along with the dedication to the creation of useful tools and software is essential. Impatient companies that try to force a product release even though there is little to no demand might be seen as making a money grab.
