Even though we all like to think we can be the exception, no startup turns into a huge company over the course of one year. Instead, the first twelve months are going to be all about staying afloat and building a foundation for something bigger. And in order to be able to do it, you’ll need to make sure your startup works as a well-oiled machine from day one. That being said, here are 5 simple tips that can help your startup succeed.

Know how to recruit

If you want your startup to succeed, you’re probably thinking about getting all the work done yourself. While wearing all the hats may seem like a good idea, it’ll leave you with almost no free time and make you more likely to make mistakes. Instead, what you need to do is make sure you surround yourself with people you can trust. Learn how to recruit and you’ll be able to identify people who can help you take your startup to another level.

Create strong relationships

In the business world, it’s all about forming strong relationships with your customers. Once your company has officially been launched, it’s time to start making your customers happy. This includes everything from sending them emails to offering loyalty programs to those who come back. Listening to their opinion and shaping your product or service according to what they have to say is also a must. You can easily collect feedback through social media and email.

Get on social media

Social media is becoming an integral part of our lives and almost every business needs to have social media pages. This is the case because platforms such as Facebook and Instagram can be used to connect with customers on a deeper level and ensure they keep coming back. If you decide to get on social media, you might want to connect with experts such as those at Barking Dog who can help you create social strategy and develop content for you.

Maintain positive cash flow

Ask any startup owner and they’ll tell you cash is the king. This really is the case and even if you’re making sales, unless there’s cash in your startup, you won’t be able to succeed. Therefore, you should do whatever you can to make sure your startup gets paid on time. This means you need to avoid late-paying and cheap customers. Working with a debt collection agency is also a good idea. To reduce your expenses, you can buy office supplies in bulk and renegotiate deals with suppliers.

Don’t forget to network

In order to be that person everyone knows, thinks of and recommends, you need to put a lot of time and effort into networking. If you know how to network, finding suppliers and investors will be a lot easier. What you can do is attend local events and try to meet people who can help your business. Just bear in mind that anyone who decides to help you will expect something in return. Using social media platforms such as LinkedIn is also recommended.

Achieving startup success isn’t easy. More and more people decide to give running a startup a go and competition is quite stiff. However, if you employ the right strategies and think everything through, there should be nothing stopping you from making your dreams come true.