Silicon Valley is still the most famous hub to publicize a startup on the planet for tech companies in particular. Even so, the likes of Berlin, Beijing and Boston are getting increasingly popular for startups. What’s more, several lesser-known cities are on the rise with Pittsburgh, Lisbon and even Ho Chi Minh in Vietnam gaining a lot of traction.

At the same time, location is no longer as important for publicizing a startup and these places offer just as many benefits as Silicon Valley. For example, the above-mentioned Pittsburgh has a lively tech ecosystem and more than 40 universities to support the inevitable need for talented graduates. As if that’s not enough, Pittsburgh has a strong finance sector to support local startups, while the smaller size is often thought to make the city a lot more accessible and beneficial to startups.

On the other hand, to publicize a startup, does location even matter anymore?

After all, PR and marketing is mostly an online effort these days and there are endless ways to publicize a startup when you are not in Silicon Valley. In this article, we explore some of these methods and point out the basic ways in which a startup can get ahead, regardless of what goes on in Silicon Valley:

1. Engage in content marketing

Content marketing is possibly the cheapest way to publicize a startup and is often ignored at the expense of advertising or cold-calling. It’s also a lot faster than many entrepreneurs realize. Even two to four months is enough to start ranking your content high up on search engines.

For instance, Hubspot recently discovered that half of the companies that experiment with content marketing experience a significant increase in web traffic within this short space of time. Whether this relates to blog posts, infographics or videos; this content is also easy to create and largely cost-effective.

2. Prioritise influencer marketing

Influencer marketing really exploded a few years ago with Instagram in particular proving an incredibly powerful place to generate leads. In fact, 90% of professional marketers report over ten times more return on investment from influencer marketing than any other digital marketing. While it can cost more than other methods, location is irrelevant when it comes to publicizing your startup through influencers.

3. Improve SEO to complement PR and marketing

Search Engine Optimization (SEO) is also mostly discounted by inexperienced marketers but the truth is, both new and existing content can be optimized to help with PR. For example, certain blog posts or web pages can be changed to include keywords associated with an upcoming product. Moreover, publishing new blog content is always beneficial for PR as part of a long-term strategy.

4. Use Google My Business listings to gain traction

Google My Business along with Microsoft Bing and Yahoo is a good place to start publicizing your startup for free. However, Google My Business is arguably the most powerful means of gaining traction via search listings. Just so you know, Google My Business listings tend to show up at the top of these results and it’s completely free to sign up for the facility. Also, this is a great place to convey the most important information about your startup and let customers know where you are and how to reach out to you.

5. Invest time into social media and live streaming

Live streaming is certainly the most explosive form of social media publicity in recent times and numbers are always a good thing for PR. As you know, social media is also free and the fastest way to reach a target market in any industry. From Facebook and Instagram to Twitter, Linkedin, and Twitch, engaging content on social media also has the potential to stand out – something which is increasingly hard to do in Silicon Valley.

6. Embrace the power of Linkedin

Let’s touch on Linkedin a little more. In recent years, this platform has transitioned from a job website or resume holder into a professional social network with excellent interaction. Given the professional nature of Linkedin, this is a great place to connect with potential investors and seek advice or feedback from peers in the same industry.

7. Build an email marketing strategy

First of all, email marketing is not dead and continues to offer an excellent return on investment for those who know how to use it. For many marketers, this is also still the most superior method to promote a startup and distribute offers, news and press releases. That being said, the key is still to keep the information direct, concise and relevant to the target market.

An email marketing campaign is a great way to promote a startup. In fact, it is claimed to be “the gold standard of marketing.” News concerning product updates, special pricing offers and discounts, and corporate news must be sent to your customers. Keep your emails short and avoid being too promotional. Focus on how you can help your customers rather than how they can help you. Choose a proper and relevant subject line, which will make your recipients open your emails.

8. Self-publish your press release

It’s true, press releases can really grab the attention of potential customers. They provide a boost in traffic to your website. You can create a press release to build awareness for a brand name, product, or event. You can even self-publish this document via social media or your online newsroom.

9. Leverage reviews and feedback for PR

We could write an entire blog post about the importance of reviews. When this feedback is good, your reputation receives a boost. On the other hand, bad reviews will enable you to spot and address problems to ensure they do not arise in the future. You should also know that “word of mouth” is also the most powerful form of PR. After all, people are much more likely to buy or interact with you when they trust your brand.

10. Use Quora and other Q&A websites for free PR

Question and Answer websites like Quora and Reddit have always performed well on search engines but the recent Google Medic Update has taken these sites to the next level. For instance, when you perform a standard search query on google. More often than not, you will find a result for Quora on the first page. With this in mind, answering relevant questions on these websites is a quick way to demonstrate your expertise. Spread the word about who you are, what you do and how you can help the readers.

Final Thoughts

As you can see, while Silicon Valley is still a haven for startups, location is no longer essential for finding the right connections, capital, and support for your startup. It should also be comforting to know that experienced marketers can help you gain just as much traction. Experienced help from marketing experts helps your startup stand out in what is most likely an increasingly saturated market.

Do you need help generating publicity for your brand? With help from the PR specialists, expert writers, and certified designers at Pressfarm you can capture attention and stand out in your industry. 

Using a professional press release, some engaging guest posts and an eye-catching media kit, you can build a memorable brand and win clients over. In addition to creating this content for you, Pressfarm can also help you put it in front of the right eyes.

By submitting your content to the right media outlets and startup directories, Pressfarm can boost your online visibility and help you rank in relevant search results. Finally, as a client, you get custom media kits tailored to your niche as well as access to a media database of 1 million+ contacts. With this contact information, you can connect with the best journalists, bloggers, and influencers in your niche. 

With one of Pressfarm’s PR packages, you can generate the publicity your brand deserves.