Startup launch: My step-by-step plan, tools & tips

Hey, Mats here! Are you about a startup launch? You have a great idea, and you’re ready to start, but the big question remains: where on earth do I begin? Don’t worry, I’ve launched multiple startups myself and know exactly how overwhelming it can be. There are methods and tools that make the startup launch process much easier. Here are steps and tools that I fully stand behind, including a few handy affiliate links. This means I might receive a small commission if you sign up through my link. But don’t worry, I only recommend what I use daily and am truly satisfied with.

🚀🚀🚀 Discover my branding packages — My complete solution for startups aiming to launch their brand quickly and effectively. Click here for more info.

This was supposed to be a short blog post, but it turned into an in-depth guide – and even then, I haven’t covered everything I’d like to share. Click the titles below to jump straight to the section you’re interested in.

👉 Brainstorm a strong name for your startup
👉 Develop your brand strategy and identity
👉 Research: know your market and competitors
👉 Set up social media accounts
👉 Purchase domain and hosting
👉 Put up a simple landing page
👉 Optimize your online presence
👉 Tools I can’t live without

1. Brainstorm a strong name for your startup launch

One of the first and most important steps in your startup launch is brainstorming a name that aligns with your vision and target audience. Your name is the first thing potential customers will see, so it has to be right. A strong brand name is catchy, recognizable, and ideally easy to pronounce.

The right name can make a big difference in how your brand is received. That’s why I always put a lot of thought into this process myself. Here are some tips and methods I use when coming up with a new brand name.

Start with research

Before diving into brainstorming, I recommend doing some research. Look at brands you admire or that match the vibe you want for your startup launch. This can provide inspiration and direction. Ask yourself questions like:

• What makes these names effective?
• How do these brand names relate to their target audience or product?
• What feeling does the name evoke?

This helps you develop a sense of what does and doesn’t work in your sector.

Types of brand names

Not all brand names are the same, and it can be helpful to know what type of name you’re looking for. Here are a few types to consider:

Check the name internationally

If you plan to operate internationally, it’s important to check your name in other languages. The last thing you want is for your brand name to mean something inappropriate in another language. I once came up with a brand name that meant “Poo” in a particular language—obviously something you want to avoid, haha.

That’s why I recommend using free tools like Word Safety, or if your budget allows, hiring an agency to conduct a thorough language analysis.

Pro-Tip: Brainstorm with a mindmap

My favorite way to come up with a name is by brainstorming with a mindmap. It’s a creative and playful way to arrive at unique names. Here’s how I usually do it:

1. Start with 5 keywords related to your product, service, or brand. Think of words that evoke emotions, describe your target audience, or refer to product attributes.
   
2. For each of these 5 words, think of 5 more words related to them. These can be synonyms, related concepts, or just words that come to mind.
   
3. Repeat this process once more for the 25 words you just came up with, creating another 5 new associations for each. You now have a list of up to 125 words.
   
4. Combine random words from your list and see if any interesting, unique combinations emerge. This method often produces surprising ideas.
   

This is actually how I came up with the name “Happy Kiddo” for Sophie’s online kids’ clothing subscription. It started as a simple brainstorming session with words describing happiness and youth, and out of the many combinations, this name immediately stood out!

Tools for creative combinations

Once you have a shortlist of potential names, a tool like Namelix can provide extra inspiration. Namelix automatically generates creative name combinations based on the words you enter. This can help you explore fresh angles you might not have considered.

🔥🔥🔥 Always remember to check if your name is available as a domain name and on social media platforms. I use Namechk to see in one glance if my name is still available on the major platforms. This saves a lot of time and prevents disappointment.

2. Develop your brand strategy and identity

Once you have a name for your startup launch, it’s time to develop your brand strategy. This goes far beyond just a logo or color palette. It’s the backbone of your brand and should clearly convey what your business stands for. A strong brand strategy isn’t something you write down once; it needs to be ingrained in your entire company. Everyone on your team should know the mission and vision by heart and carry it in everything they do. Developing your brand strategy and identity is a crucial step in the process of launching a startup.

Mission: Why does your company exist? What drives what you do? This should be a simple, inspiring sentence that employees and customers can immediately understand. A mission is more than just a statement; it’s the reason for your existence.

Vision: What do you want to achieve in the long term? This is about where you’re headed. A good vision looks forward and helps you make future-oriented decisions. Your vision should play a significant role in your strategy and guide your company’s growth.

Core values: What are the key principles that your company upholds? These are the pillars on which your business rests and that guide your decisions. Core values help you stay consistent in both your communication and your operations.

This is my strength: I love helping companies develop their brand strategy. It’s not always easy to find the right words to capture what makes your business unique, but I guide you through this process step-by-step. Together, we make sure that your mission, vision, and core values not only look good on paper but are ingrained in everything you do.

Building your brand identity

Once your mission, vision, and core values are clear, you can start building your brand identity. This is the visual and tangible part of your brand—how people will see and experience your company.

• Logo: Your logo is the visual translation of your brand. It should be powerful and recognizable. A well-designed logo reflects your brand identity and ensures recognition among your target audience.
  
• Color palette and typography: Choose a set of colors and fonts that you carry through all your communication. Consistency is key. Selecting the right color palette can sometimes be challenging, but I’m here to help. A handy tool to try out yourself is Coolors. It allows you to easily test color combinations and create a professional palette that matches your brand.
  

Create a mood board for your startup launch

A mood board can be incredibly helpful in determining the direction of your brand identity. I often ask my clients to create a Pinterest board, where they gather brands and visuals that inspire them. This helps clarify the style and atmosphere you want to convey for your brand. Pinterest’s algorithm is also very handy as it automatically suggests related pins, allowing you to develop a consistent style quickly.

I also have many Pinterest boards—I must admit, I’m one of those, haha! Collecting visual inspiration helps not only refine your own ideas but also improves communication with the designer (or yourself, if you’re doing it all!).

Developing your brand strategy and identity is a critical step in the startup launch process. This is not only something you establish internally but it becomes the foundation of how customers experience your business. If you need help with this, I’m here to guide you through the process.

3. Research: know your market and competitors

With a strong name and brand identity, it’s time to learn about your market thoroughly. Good market research is essential to ensure a successful startup launch. You need to know who your competitors are, what they’re doing well, and especially: where they’re falling short. This helps you find your unique place in the market and identify gaps in their offerings to leverage.

While you can conduct a lot of research yourself through Google or tools like ChatGPT, more in-depth research is often best when done by experts. This gives you the deeper insights needed to compete strategically.

Blogs and forums: valuable sources of information

One of the most valuable and often overlooked sources of information is competitor blogs and forums. These channels often reveal crucial insights, even unintentionally:

• Complaints and pain points: Customers often share their frustrations and complaints about a product or service in comments and forum discussions. By listening to this feedback, you can identify where competitors fall short—your opportunity to do better.
  
• Customer communication: Observe how your competitors interact with their customers. How do they respond to questions or complaints? Are they prompt and friendly? This says a lot about their customer focus and gives you the chance to excel.
  

By actively participating in these platforms or simply following the discussions, you can gain a clear picture of what resonates with your audience and where competitors may be missing the mark.

Tools for a broader competitor analysis

Besides SEO tools like SEMrush and Ahrefs, which help you gain insights into competitors’ keyword strategies and online performance, there are plenty of other tools available that offer a broader view of your competition:

1. SimilarWeb: A versatile tool that gives a detailed overview of your competitors’ website traffic, main traffic sources, and which channels are most effective for them (organic, paid, social, direct, etc.). This helps you see where they attract their customers and where you might find opportunities.
   
2. BuzzSumo: This tool is extremely useful for content and social media analysis. It shows which of your competitors’ content is shared and discussed the most, allowing you to study their successful strategies. It also helps you find popular influencers you might want to involve in your own marketing.
   
3. Sprout Social or Hootsuite: For detailed social media analysis, these tools provide insights into how your competitors manage their social media accounts, how often they post, which posts get the most engagement, and how they communicate with their followers. This is essential for building a strong social presence.
   
4. Brandwatch: A powerful tool for monitoring your competitors on social media and analyzing their online reputation. You can see how often your competitors are mentioned, the tone of discussions (positive, negative, neutral), and who the biggest influencers are talking about them.
   

DIY research or hire experts?

As mentioned, you can carry out many of these analyses yourself using free tools and simple Google searches. This gives you a basic understanding of your market landscape. But for truly in-depth and strategic research, expert help is invaluable.

Market research isn’t just about identifying competitors; it’s about thoroughly understanding underlying market trends, customer needs, and future shifts. This requires a strategic approach that goes beyond surface-level metrics and keywords. If you want to secure a strong market position, I can help conduct an extensive competitor and market analysis. This gives you deep insights to strategically position and boost your startup launch.

Thorough research into your market and competitors provides the knowledge you need to compete smartly. Whether you go it alone or enlist expert help, a good grasp of the market ensures your business is positioned effectively.

🚀🚀🚀 Discover my branding packages — My complete solution for startups aiming to launch their brand quickly and effectively. Click here for more info.

4. Set up social media accounts

Social media is now one of the most essential marketing channels for startups. It offers a direct and accessible way to connect with your audience, share your brand story, and build a community around your product or service. Without a strong social media presence, you miss out on opportunities to strengthen your brand and reach new customers.

Where to start?

Setting up social media accounts should be one of the first steps you take as your startup gets off the ground. Think carefully about which platforms your target audience is on. Is your audience primarily on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, or Twitter? Or maybe on newer platforms like TikTok or Pinterest? Focus on the platforms where your customers are most active.

🔥🔥🔥 Also, create accounts on other platforms, even if you think you won’t be active there right away. You never know how the market will develop or where you might want to be active later. Securing your username on all possible platforms ensures you won’t encounter surprises if you want to expand your reach later on.

Use Namechk to avoid surprises

One of the biggest frustrations when setting up your social media accounts is discovering that your desired username is already taken. To prevent this, you can use Namechk. This handy tool helps you check if your brand or username is still available on all major social media platforms. It saves a lot of time and prevents you from facing inconsistent usernames across channels.

Is your name taken? No problem! It’s really not a big deal. No one thinks, “Oh, I don’t trust this brand because their Instagram handle doesn’t exactly match their brand name.” Just add an extra word to make your name unique, and you’re ready to go.

For example, suppose the brand name Pears is taken for a laptop manufacturer. Don’t worry! You could easily choose GetPears as a username. This even adds a fun and active vibe, while staying true to your brand identity. Being creative with your username can actually be an advantage, allowing you to stand out.

The key is to ensure your brand name remains recognizable and consistent across channels. Small tweaks to your username won’t affect how trustworthy or professional your brand appears—the goal is to build a strong and cohesive online presence.

Optimize your profiles for your startup’s launch

Creating accounts is just the first step. To appear professional and trustworthy, it’s important to optimize your social media profiles. Here are a few things you should do right away:

1. Profile photo: Upload a consistent and recognizable profile picture, like your company logo. This helps with brand recognition across all platforms.
   
2. Bio: Write a clear and concise bio that briefly explains what your company does. Use your brand voice that resonates with your audience and make sure it aligns with your brand strategy.
   
3. Link to your landing page: Don’t forget to add a link to your website or landing page. This is a crucial part of your social media profiles as it drives traffic to your site and helps visitors learn more about your product or service.
   

Think about your social media strategy

It’s also smart to start thinking about your social media strategy. This isn’t something you need to fully develop right away, but it’s a good time to consider how you want to present your brand on social media and what your objectives are. Do you want to gain more followers, increase audience engagement, or mainly drive traffic to your website?

A strong organic reach on social media can work wonders with the right approach. It’s all about consistent content, engaging with your followers, and creating valuable content that resonates with your audience. Of course, it takes time and energy to set up a solid strategy, but it’s worth the effort.

Using social media is a powerful way to build your brand, and with the right approach, it can help your business grow. Start by creating accounts, make sure your profiles look professional, and don’t be afraid to think about your future strategy. You can start today, and with a bit of patience and a good plan, social media can become an indispensable marketing channel for your startup.

5. Purchase domain and hosting

With your brand name and social media accounts in place, it’s time to further strengthen your online presence by securing a domain and hosting. This step might seem overwhelming, especially if you’re not tech-savvy, but it’s a crucial part of your startup launch. Your domain is your online business card, and hosting ensures that your website runs quickly and stays stable.

Personal recommendation: Cloud86.io

For all my websites, I use Cloud86.io, and I highly recommend it. Their hosting and support are top-notch. The platform is user-friendly, even for non-technical users, and their prices are competitive. What I particularly appreciate is that their help desk is always available. You don’t have to worry about getting stuck on technical issues. Cloud86 is not only my go-to for my own sites but also for my clients looking for reliable hosting.

Hosting can be simple

I often notice that clients feel intimidated by setting up hosting, as it can seem technical. Understandable, since terms like DNS, SSL certificates, and name servers can sound intimidating. But in reality, it’s all less complex than it seems. The Cloud86 interface is very accessible and intuitive. You don’t need to be a tech expert to get started. Plus, their support team is always available to help with questions.

Beware of cheap hosting

While it might be tempting to go for a cheap hosting provider, be cautious. Cheap hosting often means slower servers, which can hurt your business. Google penalizes slow websites by ranking them lower in search results. A slow-loading site gives the impression of poor optimization, which impacts your SEO performance. This means you’re less likely to be found by your target audience, which can hinder your growth.

🔥🔥🔥 Use Google’s PageSpeed Insights, a free tool to monitor your site’s performance. It analyzes your site’s speed and optimization, providing actionable suggestions to improve it. This can help quickly identify issues with load times and enhance your SEO results.

Beware of appealing discounts

Many hosting providers lure you in with attractive first-year discounts, but pay close attention to the fine print. Renewal costs can be significantly higher, especially with specific domain extensions like .shop or .store. This can be an unpleasant surprise when your domain renews after the first year, and you suddenly have to pay double or more. It’s worth looking beyond the promotions and checking what you’ll be charged after the first year.

Purchase multiple domain names

A common mistake businesses make is only registering the most obvious domain name when launching a startup. While this is a good start, I recommend registering all relevant extensions and variations of your brand name right away. A domain name is a small investment, and it can save you a lot of hassle in the future.

Consider regional extensions like .fr for France or .nl for the Netherlands. You can easily redirect these domains to your main website, so visitors always end up in the right place. For example, if your brand is Pears, you could redirect getpears.fr and getpears.nl to getpears.com. This way, you prevent others from using the domain names and protect your brand identity.

Choosing the right domain name and hosting provider can make a difference in your site’s speed and visibility. Be sure to choose quality and take your time to research the best options. Need help setting up your domain or hosting? Let me know, I’d be happy to assist!

6. Launch a simple landing page

Building a full website can be time-consuming, so why not start with a simple landing page? A landing page is a quick and effective way to make your startup launch visible without developing a complex site. It provides a place where visitors can learn more about your business and gives you a foundation for your marketing campaign, like an option for visitors to sign up for updates.

Platforms like Webflow, Wix, and WordPress are great for quickly setting up a professional-looking landing page. You don’t need technical knowledge, and within a few hours, you can have a beautiful, functional page up and running. These platforms offer intuitive drag-and-drop capabilities, so you can easily customize the design and content of your page.

WordPress: A reliable option

While WordPress sometimes receives criticism (often from web agencies promoting high-cost custom sites), I regularly use it for straightforward websites or landing pages. WordPress is stable, flexible, and offers a vast range of themes and plugins. Its strength lies in its simplicity, as long as you don’t make things too complex for yourself.

🔥🔥🔥 The golden rule: the fewer plugins you use, the better. Keep it simple and only use essential plugins to build and optimize your landing page.

Optimize your Meta Title and Meta Description

One often overlooked step when creating a landing page for a startup launch is optimizing the Meta Title and Meta Description. These are the title and description that appear in Google search results when someone looks up your business or a related topic.

While Google can select these elements based on your page’s content, customizing them gives you control over what users see. This provides an excellent opportunity to experiment and develop an SEO strategy that aligns with your objectives. It ensures you make a great first impression.

• Known brand? If your brand already has recognition, you can focus on your brand name in the Meta Title and Meta Description to make it easy for users who are already familiar with your business to find you.
  
• New brand? If your brand isn’t well-known, it’s better to focus on search terms that potential customers might use. For example, if you have a brand named “Pears” but aren’t yet known, you could use a title like: “Looking for fresh pears? Get them straight from the farm.” Ensure your landing page content aligns with this search term. The goal is to match search results to your audience’s intentions.
  

SEO can become complex quickly, especially if you have multiple pages targeting different search terms. However, for a landing page, focus on your core purpose and what you want to achieve.

Focus on the goal of your landing page when launching a startup

A landing page should always have a specific goal. Think carefully about what you want to achieve with your page. Do you want to:

• Inform: Clearly outline what your business does and what you offer.
  
• Generate leads: Place a form on your page where visitors can leave their contact information, perfect for building a newsletter or following up with a personalized offer.
  
• Sell something: Ensure the focus is on the product or service you offer, using clear call-to-action buttons leading to a purchasing process.
  

Depending on your goal, adjust the structure and content of your landing page accordingly. Use the right tools to make the process easier. For lead generation, for example, integrated options within Wix and Webflow or plugins within WordPress can help.

Lead generation with Mailchimp

If you want to set up a landing page quickly and easily, consider Mailchimp. The advantage of Mailchimp is that you can not only create a simple landing page but also integrate a signup form automatically. This allows visitors to leave their email address, building a mailing list you can use for future marketing efforts.

Setting up a simple, effective landing page is a smart way to get your startup launch online quickly. Whether you use tools like Webflow, Wix, or WordPress, focus on your goal and make sure your landing page aligns with it. Add a solid Meta Title and Description, and you’ll make a strong first impression with potential customers! Need help? Let me know, I’d be happy to assist!

7. Optimize your online presence: Google My Business and SEO

Even if your startup operates entirely online, optimizing your local presence is essential. A smart way to do this is by setting up a Google My Business account. This increases your visibility in local search results, even if you don’t have a physical store. It’s especially useful if you want to attract customers in specific regions or if your target audience is locally active. Your launched startup will appear not only in search results but also on Google Maps, significantly boosting the chance of connecting with local customers.

🔥🔥🔥 Even if you operate worldwide, a local presence can help build trust with customers, especially in the early stages. It shows that you’re an established business with a local base, which can build trust with potential customers.

SEO: The foundation of your online visibility

In addition to local visibility, SEO (Search Engine Optimization) is essential to make your startup launch discoverable online. SEO helps you rank higher in search results on Google and other search engines, driving more traffic to your site. The beauty of SEO is that it works organically—you don’t pay for clicks like with ads, but it does require a strategic approach.

The first step is to optimize your site for search engines. This might seem technical, but there are some simple steps to start improving your site’s discoverability. The tools Google Search Console and Google Analytics are indispensable. They provide insight into how your website is performing, which keywords are generating traffic, and where you can make improvements.

🚀🚀🚀 Discover my branding packages — My complete solution for startups aiming to launch their brand quickly and effectively. Click here for more info.

Practical SEO tips for your startup launch:

1. Use relevant keywords
   Keywords are the foundation of SEO. These are the terms people type into Google to find something. Make sure to include relevant keywords in your website content, like phrases that describe your specific product or service. These keywords should appear not only in the page text but also in your page titles and meta descriptions. This helps search engines understand and rank your site.
   
2. Create compelling meta descriptions
   The meta description is a short piece of text that appears under your page title in Google’s search results. It’s the first impression people have of your site, so make it clear and attractive. A compelling meta description can spark curiosity and encourage users to click through to your website.
   
3. Focus on link building
   Link building is one of the most essential SEO strategies. It means getting other websites to link to yours. The more quality backlinks you have, the better you’ll rank in search results. You can achieve this by forming relevant partnerships, submitting your site to business directories, or writing guest blogs for other sites in your niche.
   
4. Use local SEO
   Even if you operate online, local SEO can help you reach customers in specific regions. This works especially well when combined with Google My Business. By filling in your business information—like hours of operation, contact info, and a description of your services—you spread consistent information about your brand, which helps boost visibility.
   

Google My Business and SEO: The perfect combination

Combining your Google My Business account with a solid SEO strategy ensures you’re visible to both local and online customers. Not only will you rank higher in Google’s search results, but you’ll also increase the chances of being found through Google Maps and local searches.

🔥🔥🔥 Google My Business also lets you gather customer reviews. This is a valuable addition because good reviews not only strengthen your reputation but can also improve your ranking in search results. So, encourage your happy customers to leave a review!

Optimizing your online visibility through SEO and Google My Business is an ongoing process, but with these steps, you lay a strong foundation. By combining Google My Business and SEO, you increase your chances of being discovered by potential customers, both locally and globally. And don’t forget other search engines, like Bing Webmaster Tools.

Can’t-miss tools for my workflow 🫶

Here’s an overview of my favorite tools that significantly speed up my workflow. I use them daily and highly recommend them to anyone.

Accountable

My go-to bookkeeping software for Belgian freelancers and startups. It’s super user-friendly and gives you instant insights into your finances. I handle my accounting entirely with Accountable, and the cost is negligible for what you get.

Cloud86

As mentioned earlier, my favorite hosting partner. Their interface is straightforward, prices are low, and their support is fantastic. I recommend Cloud86 to any startup that wants to go online quickly.

Reclaim

My secret weapon for managing my schedule. Reclaim is an AI assistant that strategically organizes my business and personal appointments. One of my favorite features is the scheduling links, which allow you to plan various types of meetings effortlessly. Whether it’s a quick 15-minute chat or a detailed 2-hour meeting, Reclaim handles it all and syncs my calendars perfectly. Plus, it tracks my time automatically, which is ideal for billing.

ClickUp

This is the tool I use to organize all my projects and tasks. ClickUp offers endless customization options. It has a learning curve, but once you get the hang of it, you can fully tailor it to your workflow. I link ClickUp to Reclaim to strategically plan my tasks into my calendar, helping me stay focused and efficient.

Need help with your startup launch?

With these steps and tools, you’re well on your way to successfully launching your startup. However, I understand that there may be times when a bit of extra help is needed. Whether it’s building a professional website, optimizing your SEO, or crafting a powerful brand strategy, we’re here to take your startup (launch) to the next level.

Want to start strong and make a lasting impact? I offer three packages tailored to give you exactly what you need to make your startup visible and successful—from brand strategy to an SEO-optimized website.

Ready to launch your startup the right way? Discover the possibilities and choose the package that’s perfect for you!