In a world that is ruled by social media, online marketing, and online ads, it is no wonder that so many startups have the perceived notion that success is directly correlated to online services and activities.

Whilst online services are indeed a pivotal factor of success for any small business, we’re here to remind you that for ultimate success, startups need to rely on more than just online services. In this article, we look at the various factors that contribute to a startup’s success that exist beyond the sphere of the world wide web. Read on to find out more!

1- Print is Still In

Many may believe that print marketing is outdated in 2019, but did you know that the very opposite is true in today’s competitive world? Print is a fantastic way to establish your brand, and expert marketers will be the first to tell you the significance of printed publications and other branded materials when it comes to marketing success.

Print is a fantastic way for you to channel your vision to your customers with fonts, colours, textures and imagery that can truly help in building your brand recognition. Printed material is tangible, credible and often more engaging, considering most websites are often skimmed in as little as 20 seconds per visit.

What does that mean for startups? Well, it means investing in some high-quality printers, Samsung toner cartridges and other print material as soon as possible. Your brand recognition counts on it!

2- Networking At Events

There is no better way to market your startup than with real human engagement. This is why heading to business events and expos are an integral part of marketing your brand and really getting your name out there. If given the choice to attend events, we always recommend attending them as this is an opportunity for you to extend your network.

Building relationships with other people and connecting with them can aid in building your own business, and you’ll even be able to find a few potential employees and investors in the process. Sure, online networking is great – but nothing beats face to face contact, that’s for sure!

 3- Establish Loyalty

It takes a lot of time and effort to attract new customers and prove to them that your services are exactly what they need. Whilst getting your customers to purchase is obviously the main goal, may startups neglect another crucial aspect of it all – ensuring that customers return time and time again. This is why you need to establish loyalty. You can do so by offering loyalty programs, discounts and other incentives to your repeat customers.

Letting them know that they are valued and thought of is a fantastic way to keep your brand ahead of the competition. Never get complacent when it comes to loyal customers – people are always looking out for bigger and better things, so staying on top of the loyalty game is essential in the overall success of your startup.

4- User Testing Is Essential

No online service is going to give you as much feedback as something like user testing would. When developing products or services, it is important that you are continuously trying to fine tune and improve, and the best way to do this is with user testing. What better way to know what needs improvement than to ask your customers themselves?

Being attentive to the needs of your customers and prospects is the only way you’ll be able to give them what they really need, and the best way to do this is to get into their minds. User testing can be the difference between a failed product and one that thrives, so get the opinions of your customers as soon as you can!

 5- Focus on Professional Development

No matter how many social media campaigns you run, chances are, if you’re not keeping on top of professional development, you’re going to encounter hurdle after hurdle in the race to success. One of the best ways to maintain a successful startup is to hire employees that are passionate, motivated and goal oriented. Your employees need to feel like they belong, and that their jobs are of significant worth.

Focusing on professional development is essential, and as simple as encouraging employees to work on team building activities or collaborative tasks. It is also important that you send your staff to training sessions and seminars to keep them up to date with market trends as well as improve on the current bank of knowledge that they have. Never underestimate the power of continuous learning and the positive effects it can have on your startup.

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I hope that this article has given you some insight into some of the key factors that truly contribute to a startup’s success. Whilst online services are indeed an integral part of business, one should always be reminded that there are a myriad of other factors that exist outside the realm of the web that contribute to overall success.