The startup scene in Korea is really struggling due to the COVID-19 outbreak. It is harder than ever for your startup to stand out in Korea. There are no more meetups, startup events, or conferences for the time being in Seoul. This is only temporary as it is expected by many that the startup scene in Korea will kick back up again, even if it is done slowly. Therefore this could be the perfect time to set up your startup before things go back on the upswing. However, with so many talented startups in one small country, how can you make your startup stand out in Korea? We’re here to show you how with these 4 failproof methods.
How to Make Your Startup Stand Out in Korea
Have a Story to Tell
There are many different reasons why customers decide to buy from startups instead of the brands they’ve grown up loyal to. Especially in Korea, there is a lot of loyalty from Korean consumers and many are eager to help support Korean startups.
However, the most compelling reason of all is the connection that startups can make with customers through their story. Koreans love a great story. This is one of the main reasons why Korean dramas are so successful in Korea.
When you’re presenting your business to the Korean market, whether that be to your customers or potential investors, you need to take the facts and craft them into a compelling story. Your brand’s story should be captivating, clever, and demand an emotional response from your audience.
Maybe there’s an intriguing tale behind your business idea? Or maybe you have a unique supply chain that gives back to vulnerable groups.
Whatever it is, make sure you paint it with color when you present it to your audience via social media posts, articles, or YouTube videos.
Know What Makes You Stand Out
Standing out is all about having a unique selling point. What’s yours? To survive in the business world, you must have something that makes you different and memorable. And, when you work out what that is, you need to reiterate it over and over and over again. You will need to do this online. Therefore you will start by creating an online reputation. This should have been done even before launching your startup. It is vital for any entrepreneur in Korea to have some kind of online presence whether via YouTube, LinkedIn, or even Facebook. This will be a great way for you to deliver information about your upcoming company. Even if you didn’t do this it is never too late to start. You will need to constantly explain what separates you from the competition which in turn will help you build that reputation. Remember to not talk down about your competition but the difference.
Startups in Korea should always remember that entrepreneurship isn’t about reinventing the wheel. It’s about taking the wheel and making it better. Korean startups can get massive inspirations from innovative ideas from all around the world and try to bring that innovation to Korea. Even if you just make one small change to an already existing business model, you now have a unique selling point and should be ready to shout about it to the world!
Cater to your Audience
As a startup in Korea, you’ll find yourself talking about your business to a lot of different groups of people: investors, potential partners, reporters, competitors, and, of course, customers.
However, one of the biggest mistakes that startups make is using the same spiel to talk to every single person.
Remember that what makes your business memorable to an investor is completely different from what makes you stand out to a customer. Why’s that? Because, they have different interests, of course.
If you know your audience well and keep their own unique interests in mind every time you speak to them, you can really make your startup stand out in Korea.
Find an Amazing Partner
Korea is awash with talent in every industry; from tech to marketing and communications. As a startup, you might think that its best to bootstrap and do things on your own. But, having an amazing partner could be the key to your business success. There are even Korean investors that will provide capital because they believe in you and won’t get in your way. However, it is more productive to find an investor that can bring additional value to your startup. There are many great accelerator programs in Korea that offer a large network of global mentors.
If you find someone who can enhance the parts of your business that you struggle with, your startup will go from strength to strength. It’s true what they say, sometimes: two heads really are better than one!
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