Since most startups fail, how can I succeed in my startup?

Startups are more of an art than a science. What applies to one startup might never apply to yours even if they are in the same industry doing similar things.

In order to increase chances of success, its best to adopt the lean startup methodology. In the methodology you basically have a hypothesis for the problem with you want to solve. You then develop a Minimum Viable Product (MVP) which has the least features possible and use it to test your predictions and see if a need exist. Based on what ever you find out, you keep making changes to the MVP and your general business model till you fully know if your product/service is needed and in what form it should be produced.

A few things I will point out if you want to increase your chances of success:

1. Follow the lean startup methodology.
2. Use a business model rather than a business plan. You can see it this way: a business model canvas is dynamic while a business plan is static. A business model canvas can be changed easily but a business plan can because it assumes things are constant and never change.
3. Don’t really bother yourself with getting capital or a lot of resources. For starters, you are not sure if the startup will succeed and all your assumptions are right. In fact, along the way the startup will change. Force yourself to work with less because in working with less it will tend to lead you to making more sound decisions.
4. Don’t use traditional advertising methods which have large budgets. Use growth market hacking in which budgets are very low or cost nothing and returns in relation to investment and massively high.

I cannot guarantee that your startup will succeed because a startup is more of an art form than an exact science. But if you can keep to these guidelines, you will be on the right path.