Entrepreneurship has become a pillar of the United States economy. Millions of small businesses are started every year, however, roughly 50% of them make it to the five-year mark. The idea of starting a business and being your own boss may be appealing, but it usually means long hours and a ton of hard work to carve out a niche in the early years.
Startups have large mountains to climb to get a foothold in their industries. Some may be more equipped than others to handle modern-day business challenges, especially because of the digital reality they are entering.
And yet, there is still a place for more traditional Internet tools to serve as resources for startups. For example, Usenet, which predates even the Internet, still plays a role for many fledgling businesses. Let’s discuss how this platform can boost startup innovation.
Table of Contents
What is Usenet?
First, we need to outline what Usenet is. It was created before the Internet by students from two universities in North Carolina. The original intent was to discuss news within these universities with students from both campuses. Now, it is a centralized server cluster that hosts topics of discussion known as newsgroups. Within these newsgroups, users can discuss and upload articles around the topic of the newsgroup and engage in conversations with others. Everything is encrypted and unmoderated, so free speech is a priority. Additionally, you need an account from some of the best Usenet providers and a reader to access the discussions and articles in these newsgroups.
Audience Research
To sell a product or service, you need to understand your audience. There are numerous methods for deep audience research, many of which depend on the Internet and market research firms. What if there was a tool that could get you valuable insights into a particularly niche audience? Usenet is one such tool. Perhaps your business serves an audience focused on computer technology. One of the “Big 8” newsgroups features many computer-related topics, so you can learn what potential customers are talking about. Continuous learning is crucial for startup leadership, and these newsgroups often feature well-educated users that you could learn from.
Customer Engagement
As you collect data about your audience through traditional tools like Usenet, you can also improve your customer engagement practices with this tool. Users in various newsgroups can form a tight community where ideas are exchanged and subjects are discussed with great passion. Everything from modern-day politics to religion to recreational activities has dedicated newsgroups, one of which may be the perfect source of customer engagement for your business. In the course of your interactions, you could start to know your potential customers on a deeper level, creating a positive brand image that will help your business going forward. A loyal audience can be the key to unlocking startup success.
Product Development Ideas
Research into your audience is a great strategy, but you should also be looking to improve the product or service you sell. This is another reason to join Usenet and start engaging in newsgroups that are relevant to your business and its audience. Perhaps you are operating a business that is deeply scientific in nature. Your target audience wants assurance that your products or services are well-researched and tested. Science-related discussions are huge on Usenet and can focus on topics like physics and research. This would be a great place to get ideas from people who may be potential customers. Additionally, if they are on Usenet, they are likely very committed to these discussions, so you could find some valuable insights that will inform your product development.
Brand Awareness
Finally, Usenet is a great alternative marketing tool. While most businesses may look to modern social media, emails, and experiential marketing opportunities, certain niche audiences will be convinced by your presence on a unique platform like Usenet. In the relevant newsgroups, you can upload articles and engage in discussions that demonstrate your brand’s expertise in that area. As other users see what you have to offer, they will learn to trust your authority and consider how your business can meet their needs.
Is Usenet the Right Tool For Your Startup?
Usenet may not work as an innovation practice for all businesses. If your specific niche is not relevant to the main newsgroups on the network, then it may be hard to get accurate data about your audiences. However, if your business is in a field that has high engagement on Usenet, then it could be perfect for your growth plans. Whether you are building brand awareness, engaging with customers, obtaining audience insights, or researching product development ideas, Usenet could become your secret weapon as you carve out a place in the industry.