How Launch Academy Leveraged the Networking Effect — and How Our Canadianisms (Almost) Killed It

When we first started Launch Academy, one of the key things we drilled in everyone’s head was to get out of your parents’ basement and get shit done. Of course, this is the same mentality we still hold true to this day, but by joining startup hubs like Launch Academy, you were no longer a solo entrepreneur or a team of two. Rather, you became a team of hundreds because of your new found access to that network. We were all fighting the same fight, and pushing towards the same goals, but now, you had the opportunity to leverage that network through the networking effect.

If we take the example of your social media following — you may only have a couple hundred Twitter followers now, but collectively, as a group, you could potentially have 10,000 or 20,000 followers. So you leverage each others’ networks.

One of the key successes we saw through Launch Academy was celebrating milestones and achievements (which we recently shared on our latest infographic). If somebody hit a milestone or launched a product release, what they did was that they shared that on the Launch Academy network. Not only did they bring awareness for what they did, but they would attach a Click to Tweet — this made it easier for everyone else to share the news, and you had that megaphone effect.

The thing that we loved about the Click to Tweet was that whoever was the originator of the content had control over the messaging that was going out. They were able to ensure that the correct links and Twitter handles were properly in place, as opposed to asking someone to share something, and expecting them to craft up a message on your behalf. By expecting the latter, this runs the risk of people not using the appropriate hashtag or Twitter handle, which can tarnish your brand or messaging.

Click to Tweet is an incredibly strong tool and an amazing use of the network that our members had tapped into, but more recently, we’re seeing less and less of that happening. I would argue, this is a direct contributor to the challenges that a lot of startups are having when building a customer base. They’re not taking advantage of the networks that are around them — and especially at the early stage, you have to understand that everybody is in the same boat. If you’re struggling, chances are the person next to you is struggling to get exposure as well. Don’t be afraid to ask your immediate network to help you spread the word for you. I’m sure you wouldn’t hesitate to help them if they asked — and chances are after you ask they will probably gain the confidence to ask for a reciprocal tweet.

Different types of personalities may come into play, along with different levels of comfort around new networks, as well as overall shyness in asking for favours but you have to get past that if you want to be successful. There is that strong Canadianism of being too afraid to ask for help or thinking it’s too imposing. At Launch Academy, we encourage people to be more aggressive, and make themselves visible and be bold. People are happy to share the word, but you’ll see more adoption if someone is sharing a Click to Tweet, as opposed to asking in an email for a shoutout for your company.

Take away that mentality of being too afraid to ask for help.

People are more than happy to help if you make it dead simple for them to share your content. That should be one of the key reasons why you joined organizations like Launch Academy, HIGHLINE, Wavefront, Spring, and others — to access that network and be a part of that collective.

Y Combinator is by far, is one of the most successful networks because all of the entrepreneurs and alumni help and leverage each other. That’s why so many people are scrambling to try to get in, and try to become a YC alum. But it doesn’t just stop at YC. With every startup community, you now have access to a network larger than your own.

Take the time to craft the out your messages to ensure your branding carries forward, but also don’t be afraid to tap into your network and get them to spread the word. Leverage your network, but be sure to give back as much as you ask — because the network effect is only as powerful as your efforts in helping those who are in the same position you were in not too long ago.

p.s. Keep an eye out for a new social share tool being developed by Launch Academy’s own Alex Chuang and a few other Launch Academy members.