Essential for Web3 Project Cold Starts: How to Ignite the Market with KOLs + Media

In the Web3 world, user attention is scarcer than tokens. Data shows that approximately 80% of new projects fail to surpass 1,000 active users within 30 days of launch, with most lacking effective outreach strategies. Relying solely on announcements, whitepapers, or official X posts makes it hard to break the “echo chamber” dilemma. For a new project’s cold start, no matter how strong the technology or innovative the model, without exposure, it’s as if nobody knows who you are. The key to amplifying this “first wave of buzz” isn’t blanket advertising but precise, credible endorsement campaigns.

In 2025, more and more success stories point to one combined strategy: KOL Marketing + Media Outreach. KOLs generate discussion buzz, while media builds authoritative trust. Together, these channels create complementary synergy, becoming the “standard playbook” for Web3 project cold starts.

This article will break down the logic behind this strategy and provide a comprehensive guide on how to leverage a smaller budget for greater market impact.

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How to Effectively Utilize KOL Resources?

Match KOL Types to Project Stages

Different promotion stages demand different KOLs. During the pre-launch phase, topic creators who discuss trends and niche hotspots can give your project visibility. Around product launch, review-focused or tutorial-based KOLs are key, as they lower the user understanding barrier with authentic usage demos, driving participation. During TGE, finance-oriented or opinion-driven influencers can spark discussions and trading interest. Clear stage alignment helps allocate resources more effectively.

Learn More: How to Choose the Right KOL for Your Project

Test with Mid-Tier KOLs Before Scaling Investment

Top-tier KOLs offer loud voices but come with high costs, diverse follower bases, and less content control, making them less ideal for cold starts. Many successful projects start with mid-tier KOLs (1–50K followers), testing their content performance, traffic-driving ability, and user feedback before scaling to high-performing accounts. This “test first, then amplify” approach boosts ROI. Why start with mid-tier KOLs? Check Out the In-Depth Analysis Report.

Build a KOL Matrix

Single-point efforts yield limited results, but a multi-account matrix amplifies visibility. Projects can layer KOLs by content style, audience demographics, and platform presence, creating a collaborative network of top-tier, mid-tier, and micro-influencers. By aligning posting schedules, hashtags, and CTAs, multiple KOLs can create a “flooding” effect, breaking into users’ feeds within a unified time window.

Embed Task Platforms to Drive User Behavior

KOL content generates “awareness,” but converting it to “action” requires a clear user pathway. Integrate KOL videos or posts with platforms like Galxe, Zealy, or TaskOn to guide users toward clicking links, registering, or completing incentivized tasks. This “content + task” combination has proven effective in real cases, especially during early cold starts.

How to Choose the Right Crypto Media?

Identify Your Target Market

Media preferences, user demographics, and language vary widely by region. For Chinese-speaking audiences, prioritize authoritative local outlets like PANews, ForesightNews, or BlockBeats. For Western or global users, consider Cointelegraph, The Block, or Decrypt. These platforms not only boost exposure but also lend industry credibility.

Match Content Type to Goals

Not all media suit in-depth analysis or PR releases. For technical projects requiring market education, opt for feature interviews or long-form analyses. For quick buzz during TGE or launches, news releases or short updates work better. Understanding each outlet’s content preferences maximizes impact.

Evaluate Distribution Reach and SEO Performance

Great content needs to be “seen.” When choosing media, check if they’re indexed by Google News, CoinMarketCap, or Binance News, have Telegram channels or active X accounts, or are cited by mainstream KOLs. These factors directly affect an article’s reach and long-tail impact.

Prioritize Case Studies and Content Tone

Many startups focus on media pricing but overlook content quality and industry reputation. Before deciding, review the outlet’s past collaborations, read sample articles, and assess whether their tone is professional, influential, and capable of delivering the “trust boost” your project needs.

Here’s a list of the top news media outlets worth investing in: Click to Unlock for Free!

Cold Start Synergy: Media + KOL Combination

Media as Foundation, KOLs for Secondary Amplification

A well-structured media article provides KOLs with material for deeper insights or tutorials, enhancing credibility and expanding user understanding. This media-KOL linkage creates a positive feedback loop for brand perception.

Leverage AMAs for Amplified Impact

AMAs (Ask Me Anything) are highly interactive in the crypto space. Host AMAs with KOLs and pair them with live text coverage and follow-up summaries on crypto media. This format fosters real-time engagement and creates reusable PR content, delivering both “event-driven buzz” and “content longevity.”

Establish a Clear Campaign Timeline

Cold starts require a structured timeline. For example, two weeks before TGE, release a PR highlighting project strengths; one week later, have KOLs post reviews and FAQs; and just before launch, sync AMAs with community events. This “build-up—guide—explode” structure gradually drives awareness, participation, and conversions.

Share Content Assets Across Channels

Manage media and KOL content as an integrated system. PR visuals or FAQs can be repurposed for KOLs, while KOL reviews can serve as official educational material. Content sharing reduces collaboration costs and boosts campaign efficiency.

📌 Success Case Studies

Case Study 1: DeFi Project “XYZ Finance” Achieves User Growth Loop in 3 Weeks

XYZ Finance, a DeFi project focused on stable yield strategies, faced high user education costs and security concerns during its cold start. The team deployed a “Media + KOL” strategy three weeks before TGE:

Step 1: Published a detailed article on Cointelegraph and PANews about smart contract audits and yield mechanisms to build trust.
Step 2: Partnered with 8 DeFi-focused X influencers to create product reviews and tutorials with referral links and incentivized tasks.
Step 3: Hosted 2 AMAs for deep user engagement, guiding users to the Discord community.

Results:

AMA events added over 4,000 community members in one day.
Zealy task participation reached 8,200 users in the week before TGE.
TVL exceeded $1.2M USDT within 48 hours of launch.

The team’s takeaway: Media built professional credibility, while KOLs drove education and conversions, forming a trust-driven growth loop.

Case Study 2: GameFi Project “MetaMon” Cracks Vietnam Market with KOL + Media

MetaMon, an on-chain pet-breeding GameFi project, targeted Vietnam and the Philippines. Initial attempts with X-based top-tier KOL retweets and giveaways generated exposure but minimal community engagement and registrations.

The team pivoted to a “local media + niche KOL” strategy:

Partnered with Vietnam’s “TheCoinTimes” for feature articles and news releases on gameplay and economic models, boosting professionalism and awareness.
Engaged 5 influential YouTube and TikTok gaming KOLs in Vietnam to post gameplay videos explaining mechanics, NFT acquisition, and early rewards.
Hosted an AMA in Vietnamese with the founder, addressing project vision and roadmap.

In just 10 days, the project achieved:

Over 1,200 article shares and 10,000 AMA views.
KOL videos averaged 30,000+ views with positive comments.
Discord and Telegram communities saw a 4x surge in Vietnamese users, with significantly higher next-day retention.

This case proves local media endorsements + KOL-driven emotional engagement + AMA trust-building create a “awareness—understanding—conversion” loop for GameFi cold starts.

Conclusion

In the highly fragmented Web3 industry with globally dispersed users, “letting the product speak for itself” is no longer enough for a cold start. Even the best projects struggle to gain traction in a competitive market without the right amplifiers.

Influencer marketing combined with media outreach has evolved from “nice-to-have” to a “must-have” for cold starts.

KOLs deliver instant exposure and community buzz, attracting early adopters. Media, as authoritative channels, builds long-term brand credibility in search engines, laying the groundwork for funding, exchange listings, and secondary outreach.

The key isn’t choosing between the two but optimizing their synergy.

Use media for brand endorsements and KOLs for user conversions, or leverage KOLs for initial buzz followed by media for technical deep dives and interviews. Both approaches create a “content loop” that strengthens market presence and user trust.

For every new project, you need more than great content—you need a tightly coordinated outreach system.

Start with small-scale tests to find the content formats and campaign rhythms that suit your project’s style. The sooner you build this combined strategy, the faster you’ll establish a foothold in the market.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q1: My budget is limited—should I choose KOLs or media?

If you can only pick one, start with KOLs for direct user reach and engagement. Long-term, media is critical for building brand credibility as a foundation for KOL campaigns.

Q2: Our project is new and unknown—will KOLs work with us?

Many mid-tier KOLs value interesting content or “early opportunities.” Offer airdrops, test incentives, or AMAs to attract them to try and promote your project, building initial trust.

Q3: What content formats work best for cold starts?

Focus on “educational + review” content, such as tutorials, feature comparisons, or task guides. These formats drive high conversions by encouraging real user participation.

Q4: What are the advantages of promoting through ChainPeak?

As an agency, we offer bulk pricing advantages, with costs far lower than direct KOL negotiations. Long-term partnerships unlock customized packages and annual discounts, saving over 30% on costs.

Additional Resources You May Need:

Website: https://chainpeak.pro/

Official Twitter: https://twitter.com/chainpeak

Global KOL Resource Group: https://t.me/globalcryptokol

Global Moderator Resource Group: https://t.me/web3modglobal

Schedule an Online Meeting: https://calendly.com/chainpeak/30min

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