As the cost to build an app has gone down over the last 10 years due to open source and cloud computing, the number of apps as grown. Now, there are dozens of apps that do the same thing in every category imaginable. The result: customer acquisition is the number one challenge with so much noise in the market. And, it’s only going to get more challenging.
Here are four things to work on to build a customer acquisition machine:
- Community – Work towards 1,000 true fans. Start small. Find the first 10 that care. Then the first 100. Nurture the community and grow it over time.
- Content – Write original content. Make a statement. Have a strong opinion. Put new ideas out there. Find a rhythm.
- Engage – Connect with people. Target best-fit accounts. Run a process. Follow the account-based engagement best practices.
- Experiment – Follow the Traction book. Constantly experiment. Try new ideas like micro apps and social selling.
Customer acquisition is the most difficult challenge required for startups to succeed. Invest in it early and build the expertise over time.
What else? What are some more ways to build a customer acquisition machine?
David Cummings on Startups 