When you launch your startup, you want it to land in the marketplace with the biggest bang possible. That start with knowing who is your best target customer. Then studying how and when they buy to make sure you are marketing in the right places. Getting your business noticed can be a challenge, but there are a few key steps you can take to ensure your debut is attention-grabbing and profitable.

Here are five ways you can get people talking and launch your startup successfully:

1. Generate buzz

When you debut your startup, make sure your work is fresh, exciting, and most importantly, newsworthy. This is a potent and commanding quality to have, but it won’t last for long, so strike while the iron is hot!

There are many journalists and bloggers on the lookout for the next great product, app, or website to share with their readership. Getting established writers with a decent following to review your work or publicize your launch event is one of the most effective ways you can generate buzz and reach a broader audience.

To do this, write personalized pitches to online and traditional media outlets who create content for your targeted audience. Target both large scale and local publications. While smaller in scale, local newspapers and magazines enjoy featuring local entrepreneurs. Make sure to have a press release or a media kit ready to go on your website should they ask for additional information.

2. Use Social Media

Social media is one of the most useful tools for marketing your small business, but you need to know how to wield its power effectively to generate the hype and attention you want.

Having a Facebook page for your company is a good idea, but Twitter is the true marketing powerhouse. This site lets you network with entrepreneurs, journalists, customers, and other potential marketing partners, and it’s a great way to keep those interested in your startup updated.

Don’t wait till the last second to get on Twitter, get started with social media, at least, six months in advance of your launch. The longer your account is active, the more followers and connections you’ll gather. When launch day comes around, you’ll have an audience anticipating your arrival.

To cover all your bases, market your company using additional tools like StumbleUpon and Pinterest if you target customer is there too.

3. Secure a High profile endorsement

An endorsement from a high profile blogger, business owner, or celebrity has the potential to catapult your fledgling business out of obscurity.

While getting Oprah to vouch for your product might not be the most realistic goal, reaching out to trusted businesses and popular tech blogs and internet personalities and offering them compensation for a fair review of your services is a more achievable goal.

One creative option you can try is contacting popular Youtubers who are relevant to your audience. Pitch an endorsement deal in exchange for a video featuring your work on their channel. If your budget can’t handle this investment, try to guest blog on a high profile blog or website. This gives you the ability to share your expertise and market your services to an already established audience. It’s also a great way to drive traffic back to your own website.

4. Create a landing page for your launch

Let people who are interested in your startup know exactly when you’re open for business by collecting their email addresses prior to going public. The best way to do this is to give an amazing free offer like as a product sample, free quote or an ebook.

5. Launch at a big conference

If you’re looking to start your business in front of a live, captive audience, consider launching your startup at a big conference or event.

While this method isn’t appropriate for every kind of company, a launch of this nature might work for you if you’re producing a tech product, app, or game and can score a spot at a venue like SXSW where companies like Twitter first came onto the scene.

However, competition is fierce at these events, and sometimes starting on a smaller scale is a better strategy.

By following a few these tips and tricks, you can build a lot of brand equity for your company quickly. The most important thing you can do to make your startup successful is to be proactive, network effectively, and consistently maintain your social media presence. With great planning, you can launch your startup with a bang and help slingshot it to success.

About the Author

Kim George is the founder of YourChicGeek a blog that teaches small business owners how to get setup on the web. If you’re ready to build an online presence, she could be a great resource. Follow Kim @YourChicGeek81