What's one piece of advice you'd give to a startup founder struggling to build a strong online presence? What strategies or platforms have you found most effective?

Question

In today's digital landscape, startups face the challenge of building a strong online presence to stand out from the competition. This comprehensive guide offers expert-backed strategies to help new businesses establish themselves effectively in the digital realm. From focusing on a single platform to implementing a 'build in public' approach, these insights provide actionable steps for startups to create a compelling online identity.

Bhavik Sarkhedi · Answer

Honestly? If your online presence isn't making an impact, stop posting and take a step back. Ask yourself: who are you really trying to reach, and why should they care?
Most founders rush into content creation without thinking through the basics. However, unless you're clear on your voice and your value proposition, none of it will resonate. It simply gets lost in the endless scroll.
Once you know your target audience, focus on one platform. Don't try to be everywhere at once. For me, LinkedIn has been the most effective. I didn't attempt to be flashy; I just started sharing my knowledge. Lessons from work. Things I wish I'd done differently. Authentic experiences.
That kind of content makes an impact. People can recognize genuine material.
One more thing: posting is only half the job. Real growth comes from conversations. Comment on other people's content. Respond to DMs. Initiate actual dialogues. You'll be surprised how far that takes you.

Malia Leong · Answer

Don't try to be everywhere. Focus on being unforgettable in one place first. A common mistake I see startup founders make is spreading themselves too thin across every platform. Instead, choose one channel where your audience is already active—whether it's TikTok, Amazon, or email—and go deep.
For many of the beauty and wellness brands I work with, we built a strong online presence by starting with a single 'hero platform' and refining content, SEO, and retention strategies there before expanding. Depth builds trust. Scale can come later.

Derek Pankaew · Answer

Here's one thing I've learned about building an online presence:
Your homepage doesn't matter nearly as much as your Google search results.
Most early-stage founders obsess over their website—pixel-perfect design, fancy scroll effects, the whole thing. But honestly? The first thing a potential user, investor, or journalist does is Google your company name. If all they find is a dead Twitter feed, your personal LinkedIn, and maybe a Crunchbase stub from 2022, it sends a subconscious signal: "This company isn't alive."
So instead of endlessly refining your homepage, go on the offense. Contribute thoughtful responses to HARO or Featured. Answer relevant questions on Quora, Reddit, or even TikTok if your users hang out there. Publish insights on Medium, Substack, or as guest posts. Set a goal: "Every month, five new high-quality links show up when someone Googles us."
One weird trick we've used: we respond to UGC (even small ones—tweets, forum posts, blog comments) as the founder, not a generic brand voice. People remember that. It's scrappy, but also personal, and it makes your brand feel human in a sea of sterile SaaS clones.
Bottom line: your online presence isn't your website—it's the breadcrumb trail that proves you exist, that you're active, and that you're not just another startup with a nice logo and no heartbeat.

David Abraham · Answer

My best advice for a startup founder struggling with their online presence is to stop trying to be everywhere at once. It's easy to feel like you need a polished website, an active presence on every social media platform, and a blog, but that's a recipe for burnout and mediocre results. Instead, I'd tell them to focus on two things: a niche and an email newsletter. Find the one specific problem your product solves for a very particular audience, and then build a simple landing page that promises to solve that problem. Your goal should be to get people to sign up for your newsletter so you can deliver that value directly to them.
The email newsletter is a powerful but often overlooked platform for startups. While social media algorithms can be unpredictable, your email list is a direct line of communication with people who have already shown interest in what you're doing. This allows you to nurture your relationship with them, share your journey, and build a genuine community of early adopters. It's also where you can get invaluable feedback on your product before you even launch. This strategy builds a loyal following that will be ready to buy from you when the time comes, proving that a small, engaged audience is far more valuable than a large, passive one.

Jen McFarland · Answer

Don't underestimate the power of a 'build in public' strategy. Hop on your webcam, share your screen, and do everything you can to celebrate wins and share challenges, hopes, and dreams. The more you can be on video talking directly to your ideal customer, the better. The feedback you get helps you build a better product focused on benefits, rather than useless features. For extra credit, use the video transcripts to create a blog. It's cheap, authentic, and a credibility builder.

Rodney Warner · Answer

Here's what I would do: Create one really solid long-form piece of content - a detailed blog post or video solving a real-life problem your customers actually have. Then work with AI to smartly slice it into social posts, email sequences, LinkedIn articles, Twitter threads, etc.
The magic isn't really in the AI - it's that you have to start with something worth actually saying. Don't create garbage at scale. Be smarter. Use it to multiply good ideas.
One 2,000-word article becomes 20 social posts, three emails, and five video scripts. All of those pieces reinforce your expertise. Every platform gets native content. Nothing feels recycled because you're adapting, not copying.
Quality at scale beats quantity without substance.

Heinz Klemann · Answer

Instead of trying to be perfect, focus on being consistent. Many founders put off building an online presence because they're looking for the perfect brand or message. Start posting regularly on one or two platforms where your target audience spends time, like LinkedIn for B2B or Instagram or TikTok for DTC. People connect with real stories, progress, and lessons much more than with polished marketing talk. Also, put money and/or time into SEO-driven content on YouTube or a well-organized blog early on; it builds long-term visibility and gets better over time.

Andrew Peluso · Answer

If you're a startup founder trying to build a presence online, my advice is to stop chasing visibility and start earning trust—one question at a time. When I helped launch a new pest control brand, we didn't start with big ad spends or influencer deals. We started by answering real, location-specific questions on the blog—like "How much does termite treatment cost in Lafayette?" Those posts didn't just get traffic—they converted, because they showed up at the exact moment someone needed help.
The strategy that worked best was pairing helpful content with a strong, clear offer mid-article. We'd lead with education, then plug in something like "Get your first service for $79 in Lafayette" right where people were already engaging. That mix of relevance and timing made even a new site competitive fast. Don't worry about going viral—focus on becoming the most helpful, trustworthy voice in your space. That's what makes you worth finding.

Andrei Kurtuy · Answer

For a startup founder, the pressure to "be everywhere" online can be overwhelming. My advice? Don't chase a "presence." Focus on being genuinely helpful to an audience. A strong online presence isn't about shouting; it's about earning trust as a valued voice in the community.
Let me take a page out of the Novoresume book and show you how you too can build on the pillars of honest engagement, genuine interactions, and relentless persistence.
First, engage authentically. Early on, we skipped ads and joined Reddit and Quora. We didn't spam links. We listened, understood frustrations, and offered helpful and thoughtful answers. Find the "watering holes" in your industry. It could be LinkedIn, a subreddit, or a niche forum. Now, contribute, not market.
Second, keep it real. Generic replies won't cut it. When someone's struggling with their job search, we share tailored advice, not a blog plug. People can spot self-promotion easily. Help them gravitate toward the sincere help you're offering, instead.
Finally, persist. Don't look for a quick hack. Play the long game. Offer advice to ten people, and the eleventh might become a fan, follower, and customer. Show up daily, aim to add value, and trust the compounding value of your efforts.
Platforms like LinkedIn and Reddit work great, but this principle applies anywhere, really. Be honest, genuine, and persistent, and your presence will grow naturally.

Andrew Osborne · Answer

The best advice I can give to a startup founder struggling with their online presence is to focus on showing exactly what you do and how well you do it, not just telling people. When I started Ozzie Mowing & Gardening, I didn't have a big marketing budget, but I had years of hands-on experience, a horticulture qualification, and a clear passion for the work. I started posting regular before-and-after photos on Facebook and Instagram of real client jobs. I kept the captions simple but informative, always pointing out the gardening techniques I used or how I solved a particular problem. Over time, this built trust because people could literally see the quality of work and the pride I took in it. This alone generated a steady flow of inquiries and helped me build a community of locals who now regularly engage with the page.
One specific example was a full garden restoration I shared where a client's overgrown yard was transformed into a low-maintenance native garden. I explained my plant choices, layout strategy, and soil prep approach based on my horticulture knowledge. That post alone led to three new clients who said they chose me because they saw I actually understood plants, not just mowing lawns. Social proof is everything. So my advice is, don't overthink the platforms. Use Facebook, Instagram, and Google Business Profile well, post real work with useful context, and let your experience do the talking.

Joel Miller · Answer

Here's what I'd tell any startup founder: Own your Google Business profile like it's your storefront—because it kind of is. Early on, we spent too much time fussing over fancy website tweaks and not enough making sure our online listings were clean, packed with reviews, and updated weekly. Once we made that shift, calls increased, especially from mobile users searching for "pest control near me" in places like Ankeny and Overland Park.
I'll never forget a customer who told me she chose us over a competitor because we had recent photos, clearly listed hours, and over 200 five-star reviews—while the other company's profile looked half-abandoned. That's when it clicked. Don't wait to get perfect—get visible. Your online presence isn't about having the prettiest site; it's about being easy to trust in 30 seconds or less. Start there.

Jim Hickey · Answer

If you are a seasoned professional launching your first business or even a Gen Xer moving into the startup sector, I have one main tip:
Don't be afraid to hand online marketing off to a digital native.
I've learned the hard way that trying to master every new platform, trend, or algorithm yourself can burn a lot of energy with minimal return. Building a strong online presence today isn't just about having a good website or posting occasionally; it's about understanding digital behavior, timing, tone, targeting, and analytics. That's a full-time job -- and one best suited to those who grew up online.
Your job, on the other hand, is clearly understanding your value and audience, plus the story you want to tell. Get crystal clear on that, then hand the keys to someone who lives and breathes this space -- someone who can translate your business instincts into digital traction. You can still lead the brand, but let them steer the clicks.
The internet rewards authenticity above all else. Hand this task over to someone who speaks its language fluently.

Gursharan Singh · Answer

My advice is to focus on building a solid foundation with a user-friendly website and consistent, valuable content. Create helpful, high-quality content that speaks to your audience's needs, and post regularly.
I've found LinkedIn, Instagram, and YouTube to be the most effective platforms. LinkedIn is great for networking and showing expertise, while Instagram and YouTube help you connect visually and engage a larger audience.

Joe Horan · Answer

One of the basic pieces of advice I'd give to any startup founder whose presence on the internet is a concern would be outreach. At Jumper Bee, it's not just about the products we offer and creating memories, but also about reaching out to our customers and the communities we cater to. Being established on the World Wide Web does not just mean self-advertising your company; it means listening, responding, and being involved with individuals who are discussing you.
Facebook and Instagram make this easy. Share highlights, run contests, and celebrate to connect with followers. Work with local events and tag them to get noticed and show support.
Lastly, optimizing for local search by keeping your Google My Business listing up to date and encouraging satisfied customers to provide reviews has paid its weight in gold. For location-based companies like ours, this often leads directly to bookings. Focus on engagement, quality content, and being where your customers are searching.

14 Strategies to Build a Strong Online Presence for Startups

14 Strategies to Build a Strong Online Presence for Startups

Focus on One Platform and Engage Authentically

Prioritize Depth Over Breadth in Presence

Prioritize Google Search Results Over Homepage

Build an Email Newsletter for Direct Communication

Implement a Build in Public Strategy

Create Long-Form Content and Repurpose Intelligently

Consistency Trumps Perfection in Online Presence

Answer Specific Questions to Earn Trust

Be Genuinely Helpful in Your Community

Showcase Your Work with Before-and-After Photos

Optimize Your Google Business Profile

Delegate Online Marketing to Digital Natives

Develop a Strong Foundation with Valuable Content

Engage Actively with Your Target Audience