1) Train employees (or friends):

Usually, with a start up, most of your employees are friends that have been recruited to work for you. It’s going to be very difficult, but you’re going to have to train them and get them excited for your opening (otherwise your business may turn into “Hanging Out At Bob’s”).  The foundation of every company is its’ employees.  If your employees aren’t sold on your company, its mission, and your ideas, then your foundation is shot and you’re company is going to have a hard time “getting off the ground.”  Be aware, though, about having your friends double as employees.  There is a fine line between helping out a friend, and being bossed around by an employer.  So, I suggest that if you have the means to do so, hire a real staff that won’t get offended if you tell them to make a fresh pot of coffee.

2) Press release:

I’m sure not all startup’s have the financial capabilities to splurge on a public relations department like the corporations we hope our startups will eventually morph into; but with the sudden rise of niche blogging and e-magazines you can find effective and cheap press release outlets that can easily notify your specific target audience.  Also, you don’t need a professional to write your press releases for you.  The wonderful world of Google and other search engines has made it possible for Joe-Shmoe’s like you and me to research “How to Write a Press Release”.  These immaturely produced press releases that you create can be sent out to any main stream media sources you feel would be appropriate for your company.

3) Invest in your top customers:

It is essential that you treat your first customers like kings because they will be the vessel in which crucial information will be disseminated to other potential clients.  Basically this is where your word of mouth marketing starts.  It is the verbal form of viral marketing and probably the most effective,  so pucker up and be prepared to kiss a lot of asses it will get people talking.

4)  Basic SEO

It’s vital you do some basic SEO before you launch your startup, if your handling the web development yourself you should know the proper steps to take. SEO might not manifest its wonders within the first two days, weeks, or even months; give it time and you’ll be pleasantly surprised with the results.

5) Social Media Buzz

And off course  what we’ve all been waiting for , Social Media. It seems social media is taking over everything, if you’ve noticed I can’t even write a decent post without social media not being one of the key points. As much as I love to hate social media, the truth is that it does help if done properly. The basic idea here is creating some buzz about your startup before you officially launch it, you want to get people talking about your website and the products or service it has to offer. To be successful at this you’ve got to time it to perfection, you can’t have people talking and buzzing way too early and forget about it when you actually launch your startup , and you can’t have people talking when it’s too late to milk it.