5 Lessons Startups Can Learn From [Line.ME]

Ready to get inspired on your startup journey? Well, then, you’re in for a treat with Line.ME.

It is quite easy for startup founders to get discouraged in their early stages. Watching their biggest competitors take yet another win can be disheartening.

Yet, as Nancy Pearcey, an American author, puts it: “Competition is always a good thing. It forces us to do our best”.

Line obviously had the same philosophy. This .MEr persevered. It kept showing up. It kept going in the face of adversity.

So, today, Line.ME serves as an inspiration to all startups. It teaches us how to outshine the competition.

Line.ME Outshining the Competition

Founded in 2011, Line hit their first snag right at the very beginning. In short, their rival company, Kakao, kept dominating the market.

But, instead of getting discouraged, they decided to learn from the competition.

So, when the devastating earthquake and tsunami struck Japan just a month after their launch, they decided to innovate.

They decided to take things a step further, and quickly launched a messaging and chat app. Meeting people’s needs at the right time, the app became a hit.

Of course, Kakao had a similar app. But, it was the founders’ superior cultural knowledge that made Line.ME shine. They crafted features that resonated with Japanese users specifically, reflecting the way they want to communicate.

Put simply, they knew what the people wanted, and they made it happen, outshining the competition in the process.

Not two years later, they became the biggest social network in Japan. Today, the app is used by more than 70% of the country’s population. Plus, it spread its wings even further, becoming popular in Taiwan, Thailand, Indonesia, and even the US.

Actionable Lessons From Line.ME Every Startup Should Learn

This .MEr’s quick ascent says a lot about them. It shows commitment. It shows courage and determination to grab the opportunities that come their way.

But, most of all, it shows how smart strategizing takes you places.

So, Line offers more than mere inspiration. It offers actionable lessons that every startup should learn. Well, let’s start learning.

1. Adversity Fuels Creativity

Line is a clear example of how adversity fuels creativity. And how great ideas often come in the biggest times of need.

The tragic Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami gave birth to an idea that brought them where they are today.

And it was born out of a pure desire to help people. To give them what they need during a difficult time. Consequently, people recognized the effort and showed loyalty.

To put it simply, this .MEr looked adversity right into its ugly face. And what they saw was an opportunity.

So, whatever kind of an adversity your startup may be facing, here’s the lesson. Don’t shy away from it. Don’t get discouraged. Let it inspire you. Let it fuel your creativity.

2. Line.ME Shows How Agility Beats Perfection

Far too often, startup founders believe that they need to reach perfection before launching. Yet, perfection is an impossible ideal. An unattainable illusion that does more harm than good.

It prevents you from taking action. And no action means no success.

The story of Line teaches startups that agility beats perfection.

They were quick to adapt to consumer needs. They were quick to launch the service that was so urgently needed. And they didn’t get hung up on making it perfect.

Instead, they acted quickly, and then kept on improving along the way.

Thus, don’t wait for a flawless product or service. The desire for perfection is sure to kill your progress. Agility is one of your startup’s main strengths. So, use it.

3. Versatility Is Your Friend

There’s nothing wrong in starting with just one thing to offer. Yet, in a world in which you constantly have to improve, to be better, to give more, you can see how lack of innovation can shove you in the background. And make room for your competitors to shine.

Clearly, in a world like that, versatility is your best friend.

Line recognized that. So, what began as a messaging app turned into a wide array of digital services over time.

From communication, entertainment and shopping to business and lifestyle… This .MEr decided to offer it all.

Today, they offer everything from payment processing, business promotion solutions and job platforms to music streaming, manga readers, and even game apps.

This sends a clear message to everyone looking to launch and grow their business. Leverage your creativity to create a wide range of products and services. And then, reap the rewards of said versatility.

4. Monetization Is Not a One-Way Street

Speaking of reaping the rewards, that’s another field in which Line.ME shines.

And, once again, they shine through versatility.

Recognizing that monetization is not a one-way street, they decided to, well, take several paths. So, this .MEr leverages not only their services, but also ads, sticker packages and similar things to monetize.

Now, that’s a lesson in revenue diversity we all need. In short, it teaches us not to put all of our eggs in one basket.

5. Feedback Helps You Strategize

If there’s one thing that Line never put out of sight, then it’s this. Whatever they’re doing, they’re doing it for their audience. They’re doing it for the people.

So, they have to know what the people think. Clearly, thus, customer feedback plays a big part in their strategizing efforts.

Watching user behavior and listening to what they have to say, Line keeps improving. Adding new features, refining existing ones… They do it all. But, they do it the way their audience wants.

It is precisely this user-driven approach, and the focus on providing real value, that got them this far.

Here’s your lesson. Don’t assume you know what your users want. Ask. Then listen. Then respond.

.ME & Line.ME – A Powerful Combo

Just like everyone else, Line.ME knows the importance of branding. And of staying visible online.

In their efforts to send their message across, and show what they are all about, they partnered up with .ME. And created a website that clearly showcases their offer and underlines their human-centric approach.

This partnership with .ME also has a great effect on the memorability of their domain name, making it catchy. Making it unforgettable.

Of course, creating an unforgettable domain name is the first step in building a powerful brand.

And Line really made it happen with .ME. A powerful combo, if there has ever been one.

Summing Up

The story of Line.ME is a story of staring adversity in the face, and seeing an opportunity.

An inspiration to all startups, this .MEr teaches you how to strategize. Underlining the importance of agility, creativity, versatility and feedback, Line provides a recipe for success.

So, calling all startups to get the recipe. To build on it, playing on one’s own strength, and innovate.Because, in the end, success doesn’t come from copying others. It comes from seeing what others did, and then doing it better.