What do you believe is the most effective approach to growing a startup during its first year?

Develop your personal brand and be somehow different from similar products.

Show. Educate. Connect. Show your USP and why your startup is unique. Educate through quality content. Connect and build relationships through networking.

Among other things, it is important to collect and take into account customer feedback regulary.

Focus on your clients and your product! Getting constant feedback from the people who use your product is extremely important. They're the best source of information to point you in the right direction on what you should improve on your product.