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Startup Branding: 10 ways for Mobile Startups to stay ahead of Competition

Competition is aggressive in a business and is brutal for a startup. It is better for a startup to accept the fact that, competition is an indispensable component and there is no other choice than fighting out. There are predators that want to eat up and swallow small startups like you in hopes of eliminating the competition. Do you want to fall a prey to such ruthless predators or gain the courage to withstand and fight against them.
Startups tend to think, branding is a material that is intended for top businessmen and premium products. But, branding is essential for any startup and matters much more for a mobile startup.
In the present day, Mobile communication is the primary means of communication that exploits technology. Mobile communication is trending to keep up with user demand. Technology is driving the industry to develop faster and more efficient. Now, we see umpteen number of mobile startups? How will you clear the clutter and win the race?
Regardless, of your potentialities, the attractive USP, the magical X factor, you cannot escape that stiff competition at some point. How to beat the competition? The answer is you got to stay ahead of it. This article brings together 10 ways of how a mobile startup can uncover current and future development and how to factor that to stay ahead of the race.
Here’s how.

1. Telling a great startup story

Many of us use it but only a few have mastered it. Storytelling. Yes, a story is worth a good start. In an era where consumers are bombarded with irrelevant information, success in business will be had only by those who have mastered the art of narrating a captivating story. “Tell it, Don’t sell it” should be your mantra. Your customers are mobbed by millions of advertisements, campaigns, hoardings and so on. Precisely, they live amidst noise and cannot hear you. But you can edge out your competition with a powerful and convincing story; the most powerful way to put ideas in the world, today.
Even the tech-titan Apple had to learn the importance of a good story. In 80’s, Apple attempted to persuade IT executives and top companies to adopt Mac through ads but they failed. Overtime, they turned the stone only with a gentle persistent storytelling.

2. Define your brand

Branding is a survival tool. It helps you to sustain in the competition before a fierce combat. Branding involves 2 components- Naming your business and discerning the logo of your product.

Naming your startup right

Naming your startup is an overwhelming and an exhaustive experience. Name is like an address for a startup. Names might seem simple. But, in this cluttered information highway, startup names should be unique to mark them well from the competition. It has become a trend to reach out to consultants and name developers who suggest the right name that fits your product and brand. A brainstorming of the company’s mission and vision is followed by a linguistic and context analysis. Language patterns are analyzed in the consultation and the study resolves the cultural nuances of a name.

• Know what makes a good name.
• Brainstorm a list of names.
• Narrow it down to a few decent names.
• Pick the one that is perfect.

Names generate emotional responses. In fact, popular brands such as Apple and Google, made the cut recently in an Adweek survey that measured emotional responses from consumers to major brands. Define your brand with the right name and site a triumphing address. Create a unique brand personality.

Spend time for your logo

Logo is the face of your brand. It is related to every aspect of your business. An identity to your company and forms a first impression on the consumer’s mind.
The reason behind a logo design is knowing your startup story. Know your company’s objectives and how you are going to brand yourself, while knowing what your consumers will respond to. Company principles and values come alive in logos, and it shouldn’t just be carried by market data. Know that your logo can emerge along with your brand without losing the core of your business.

3. Social Media Branding Plan

Social media is both bane and boon for marketers. It is one of the most standardized marketing strategy. There are 3 steps to follow,

• Ascertain your startup goal.
• Decide your target customer.
• Build real world relationship with them in the media.

4. Founders’ business behavior

A startup founder should be a good leader. He should set a role model to the members of his organisation. There are certain virtues that portray a fine business behaviour and always keep a founder in control,

• Trust and Integrity.
• Focus only on things that are primary for the business.
• Reinforce productivity.
• Establish Authority in the market.

5. Know your competitors

Study the competition you are facing. By doing so, you will identify the areas you need to improve. Who are they? What are they selling? What is their USP? How do they stand out in the market? The answer to these questions will enable you to gain insight on the competitive nature of the market and helps in resolving solutions to handle the fight.

6. Connect with customers

To combat potential poaching, build and maintain a relationship with your customers. Deepen your customer relationship by being responsive to their needs. Take time to survey and understand what they really want?

• Price
• Quality
• Service
• Latest Product

Once you have gained insight on their requirement, attempt to meet the customer expectation. Be flexible and reassess your marketing strategy. Excite your customers with innovation. Promos bring excitement. Plan a new promo every month.
Early Bird promo, invite a friend promo, Get one buy one promo, Weekend promo and so on.

7. Stand Out

Establish your uniqueness. Show the market that solid reason to buy your product and draw the customers towards your product. They should not have a second thought of going back to your rivals. Explain to the market Who you are? What you sell? Why customers should come to you? It can be a small flyer or, brochure or a classy and expensive media campaign. Frequently, emphasize the freshness in your product or service. Customers fantasize and are attracted towards newness.

8. Leverage a skilled team

The success stories of many businesses is backed by a strong team. Attract fresh and motivated skilled talent by providing a healthy work culture and environment. Throw an opportunity for a structured career growth. And hence draw in the key resources that can serve the best for your organisation. The key resource can equip your product to stay ahead of the competition.

9. Stay ahead in technology

Technology is the need of the hour in any field and is unavoidable for a mobile startup. A mobile launched with the current technology is more likely to take the market by storm. A mobile technology which offers real-time interoperability solutions, a compatible platform for all mobile networks can definitely stay ahead of the competition. Be it Android or IOS, look out for innovation and exploit it in your product. Update with the latest technology to pull the customers towards your product.

10. Maintain a business blog

Brands are incomplete without a voice, and there is no better way to deliver branded messages than blogging. Content Marketing is going to stay, we may see changes only the forms of content. Hence, it is good to maintain a blog and regularly post content supporting your business. Content that are keyword rich and optimized by search engines can enable you to reach your goal.
There is beauty in brevity. Reach your target customers with crisp informations about your product in the form of infographics and explainer videos.

Hope this article aids all startups, especially to stay ahead of the competition. Wishes for a successful startup branding. Share your views on startup branding and your experience as a startup in staying ahead of competition.