Startups come in all shapes and sizes. From software to hardware, to services, if there is a market out there with money to be made (and the idea of making it yourself), you’d better believe someone has built a tech startup blog for that.
The energy and excitement of running your startup often make it hard to stop and think about how important communication with the public is; but unfortunately media relations don’t happen overnight. So you should start preparing sooner than later if you want your company’s name and story to reach new heights.
But what kind of blog should you build? What topics should you cover and how can you expand your online presence in the best way possible? We’ll touch on each of these points, starting with what kind of blog your startup needs.
Building the Right Type of Startup Blog
The first rule in creating a blog for your startup is to answer the question: What is it about my company that people would want to read about? Do we sell green widgets, or do we help launch new companies? Are we a lifestyle shop, or a company that changes and improves lives through our products? Once you know what your angle is, think about your competitors. You want to be different from them and stand out from the crowd.
Then think about what other bloggers are doing. What topics should you cover and how can you expand your online presence in the best way possible? Find people who you want to emulate and learn from them. Ask yourself, “If they’re successful, why aren’t they blogging?”
Now that you’ve got a clear idea of what your blog should cover and how it should be structured, the next step is to set up your own blog. The following are some of the most popular tools for blogging: WordPress, Blogger, Typepad or Blogspot. Each one has its strengths and weaknesses so choose one depending on what will work best for you.
The easiest way to set up a blog is with WordPress. With this, you can create a static HTML page or use their WYSIWYG editor (blogging software) known as WordPress. There are also numerous plug-ins that you can add such as Google AdSense or e-mail services like MailChimp which will allow your site to make money through sponsorships, advertisements and email subscriptions. The possibilities are endless: You could run an inventory system for your products, build an affiliate program, offer coupons and sell theme templates or the ability to customize your blog site. The possibilities are endless!
The most popular blogging platform is Blogger. Blogger allows you to enter in HTML code and publish media, making it easy for visitors to view your blog.
A good alternative to a blogging platform is Typepad. Typepad offers web space, an integrated blogging and management system, as well as the ability to add RSS feeds so your customers can subscribe to your site. The most popular plug-in with Typepad is MailChimp which allows you to build an email list, get notified when people sign up and send out coupons or promotions via email or by filling out a simple form on your site. You can also integrate these features with Google AdSense and use Google Analytics for tracking visits.