Design Tips for Startups

Thousands of startups are founded each year. Each and every one of them offers products that will fullfil needs on the market. Giving new products visibility is one of the biggest challenge startups face. Indeed, the launch of any new product has to be meticulously thought out to be successful. These first steps need to be conceptualized with the user experience in mind. Here are a few valuable tips to help your startup establish itself on the Web.

• Clearly describe your product. New visitors or users need to be able to understand what your product is about in a few seconds (think 5 second test). Use as few words as possible to describe it. Focus on the user experience of your product and what benefits it can offer to your users.

• Give your product a unique identity. Your new product has to be easily identifiable amongst its competitors. It also has to have a unique look and feel that reflects your values. Think about usability before thinking about flashy design, even though one doesn’t exclude the other.

• Embrace social tools to self-promote your product. Having a great product is essential but you also need to get the word out. Luckily, with the advent of social networking tools, this can be done without having to spend tons of money on advertising. Being as anyone has access to these tools, the key is to be creative in the development of a social networking strategy. You need to create a buzz to get people talking about your product and promote it for you. Social marketing is a powerful tool that shouldn’t be underestimated.

• Avoid registration and engagement bumps. It’s easy to lose customers. There are several reasons that might incite them to abandon your new venture. It is important to avoid any hurdles they might face during registration (if registration is necessary). For more information, consult our Tips to encourage user registration and participation. A prominent call to action should also be displayed to stimulate hesitating customers.

• Encourage user feedback and be reachable. Provide different contact methods should your clients require more information. Encourage them to leave feedback concerning your product. You can then use the comments to improve your product or as an additional promotional tool for your product. It is known that peer reviews add credibility to new products.

• Be proud of your product. Your passion has to be perceived by your users. Make them feel like they are privileged to use your product, like it’s the greatest invention.

The beauty of the Web is that everyone has an opportunity to create something grand since it’s a democratic platform. Obviously, undertaking a new project involves lots of risks but with these tips, you’ll put the odds on your side as to the success of your startup. Good Luck!

Suggested Reading

• Tips to encourage user registration and participation
• Small Things that Lead to Big Results