The 5 Fundamentals for Growing Your Startup There are some things you have to do well no matter what business you are trying to build.

By Kelly Bolton

Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.

Shutterstock

It can be an exciting thing, starting your own business. But like many others who have begun their own startup companies, it soon becomes apparent how daunting it can be to make the company a success, or even just to keep it going. For those that do have startup companies, it can be a tricky thing to market the business and make it grow. That can be said of any new business, but particularly of small startup businesses. To help, here are a few top tips in marketing and growth hacking to help you to grow your startup.

1. Network.

This should be one of the top things for anyone starting out to do. Build an online network with key influencers within your industry. It can be a really powerful thing to have people share your brand, especially because they want to. If you don't have a big network, get out there and "meet" people. Be socially active with influential people. Follow their blogs and on social networks and comment on their posts. Share their posts with your friends. Engage with them and make them notice you. But don't be a pest about it. Show them you care about them and their work, and that they should care about you, too. And remember to include a link to your site in your signature. There are tools online that can help you find influential networks and bloggers in your industry based on your product's keywords.

Related: A Simple 6-Step Process to Starting a Small Business

2. Start small.

Don't try to market to everyone at once. Start off targeting a small niche of consumers first. After a while, if that goes well, then you can consider expanding your range and start marketing to more people. But sometimes more isn't always better, and focusing on just a small niche might work out best for you.

3. Content.

Always remember that content is king. Wherever you post content -- website, blogs, social media -- make sure its viable. Publish your content regularly. It can be anything, but at least some of it should be related to your industry niche, and your content should also be relevant to your potential customers. Post things they'll be inclined to share with family and friends. Also make sure your posts contain keywords that SEO will pick up so your site ranks higher in searches. Remember, too, that your potential customers like more than just text content. Images and videos really catch their attention and help them feel like they're engaging with you. Publishing a "how to" guide is a great way to start off. People like guides to help them with things. Making it downloadable is even better. You can also add an "opt in" form to have them submit their email in order to download it. This way you'll be able to gain their e-mail address.

Related: How Much Time Should You Devote to Starting Your Business?

4. Email.

Build an email/subscriber list if you don't have one yet. This is as easy as placing an opt-in form on your website or landing page. Offer some sort on incentive for them to sign up for your newsletter or email automation workflow. Having contests is a great way to gather e-mail addresses. Once you have them, you can keep in touch with them, offer them periodic specials, etc, to keep them engaged with you.

5. Social media.

Social media is practically everything in today's world. But that doesn't mean every social networking site is for everyone. For example, Instagram may work well for someone in, say, the fashion industry, but it may not work as well for a technology company. That being said, start off by using social media to amplify your content. Find the networks that will work best for you. Start with just one or two at first, so you don't get overwhelmed. Post relevant content and content that people will want to share. Respond to comments and messages in a timely manner. Be active and engage with your followers. Like, share, and comment on their posts. Some of the more popular social sites are Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Google+, Instagram, Pinterest, Tumblr, Flickr and Quora. Try a few and see which ones work best for you.

Related: 50 Signs You Need to Start Your Own Business

These are some of my top tips for helping you market and grow your startup. Put these to use and be persistent, and you should see some excellent results.

Wavy Line
Kelly Bolton

Founder of Aggressive Growth Marketing

Kelly Bolton is the founder and director of Aggressive Growth Marketing, which uses specialized growth-marketing methods to help businesses stand out from the crowd and stay a cut above the competition. Known for high levels of ambition, drive and client service, Bolton has built AGM from the ground up and taken it from a part-time freelancing job to the company that it is today.

Editor's Pick

She's Been Coding Since Age 7 and Presented Her Life-Saving App to Tim Cook Last Year. Now 17, She's on Track to Solve Even Bigger Problems.
Lock
I Helped Grow 4 Unicorns Over 10 Years That Generated $18 Billion in Online Revenues. Here's What I've Learned.
Lock
Want to Break Bad Habits and Supercharge Your Business? Use This Technique.
Lock
Don't Have Any Clients But Need Customer Testimonials? Follow These 3 Tricks To Boost Your Rep.
Why Are Some Wines More Expensive Than Others? A Top Winemaker Gives a Full-Bodied Explanation.

Related Topics

Business News

California Woman Arrested For $60 Million Postal Service Scam

Lijuan "Angela" Chen faces two charges that each carry a maximum sentence of five years in prison.

Business News

'I'm Not a Very Good Businessman': Kevin Costner Is Risking a Ton of His Own Money on New Project

The "Yellowstone" star discussed how he bankrolled his new epic movies — and his accountant isn't happy.

Business News

Twitter's U.S. Ad Sales Are Tanking Despite Elon Musk's Claim That Nearly All Advertisers Have Come Back — Take a Look at the Turmoil

The company's new chief executive Linda Yaccarino reportedly started her role earlier than expected.

Business News

Microsoft to Pay $20 Million Settlement for 'Illegally' Retaining Children's Information

The Federal Trade Commission says Microsoft violated the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA) by collecting children who signed up for its Xbox system's information and failing to obtain parental consent.

Travel

Find Cheap Flights and Learn New Languages With This $160 Deal

Get Rosetta Stone, a VPN, and more in this Father's Day deal.