Do you have a creative idea that you can turn into a successful business, but don’t even try because you don’t think you have what it takes? Do you know exactly how to build your startup?
Too many aspiring entrepreneurs like you think that starting a business is very difficult and won’t even pursue a creative idea. The truth is, everyone has what it takes to start a business.
However, only a few work hard enough to acquire the tools that can turn their creative ideas into a business.
This article will guide you into the two major parts in building a creative startup.
First, you will learn about the different tools you need to set up a creative startup. Second, you will learn about how to promote your new business.
Part I: Setting Up a Creative Startup
Whether it’s starting up a photography business, opening a dancing studio or making writing into a full-time job, there are so many tools out there that can help you set up your creative startup. Learning how to build your startup should start by knowing those tools.
5 Essential Steps to Set Up Your Very Own Business
Here are five of the essential steps to set up your very own business:
1. Observe the market and learn to diversify
The first problem entrepreneurs encounter when starting up is facing thousands of other business starters who have exactly similar skills to offer. This makes it very easy to be unnoticeable once you enter the industry.
To prevent it from happening, it is very important that you do your own research. Observe what other professionals are offering to the market and find out what you can offer that’s different.
For example, if you are a photographer, rather than offering solely taking pictures, create a photography package that includes printing the photos and creating photo books. This will set you apart from everyone else.
2. Create your brand and marketing plan
Now that you’ve zeroed in a way to diversify yourself from like-skilled entrepreneurs, it’s time to build your brand and social media following.
Start by creating a business email, website, and social media profiles that tell target audience about what you have to offer. Whatever your preference is, you can either create a Facebook page, Twitter profile, a Google page for your business or utilize them altogether.
Enter as much information about your business as possible. Then, start building content.
See Also: Things to Consider Before Starting a New Marketing Campaign
3. Build your content
The social media profiles you’ve created will be useless without valuable content.
Post content on a regular basis. You can streamline your content using any content scheduler, like Hootsuite or PostPlanner.
It is easy to lose your social media following because of lack of content. Followers will most likely not check your business the second time around if they are directed to an empty website or a broken link the first time they check your website out.
See Also: Effective Content Marketing: 8 Ways to Get Your Content Noticed
4. Write up a plan
You now have a brand and valuable social media content. It’s time to create a plan of action.
It is important to keep your business up and running. Keeping up with regular tasks such as updating a website, streamlining blogging content, and keeping up with your contacts and inventory are just a few of the tasks you can add to your action plan.
You can use task management software to keep track of all the tasks you need to do. This is one way to ensure that your business runs smoothly.
5. Expand your connections
Start by messaging your personal connections on your different social media profiles and email contacts who may be interested in your business. A simple email or tweet that will link your friends to your new business is a good start.
This will help your friends and their connections discover your business.
Part II: Promoting Your New Business
Now that you’ve started your new business, it’s time to take your business to the next level. Let’s promote your new business.
8 Tips to Jumpstart Your Creative Startup
Here are eight ways to start growing your new business like never before:
1. Use keywords to make your content discoverable
It’s not enough to just produce content related to your business. To make your business discoverable, it’s vital for all your content to have relevant keywords that are niche-specific. This to improve your ranking in a Google search.
Tools like Moz can help you find relevant keywords for your business. It can also tell you how much traffic each keyword generates.
2. Practice a few SEO techniques
Use page titles or title tags that are not only relevant to your business but also unique. They should be able to stand apart from similar businesses.
If possible, and only if it makes sense, include a keyword or two in your title tag. This will increase its search engine discoverability. Make sure to post original content rather than copying posts from other websites.
3. Offer promotions
When starting up, you’ll find that it’s so hard to introduce your business to the public. One great way to reach an audience is to offer some promotions.
Whether it’s a discount, a giveaway or a sample, people will find it hard to resist. Offering your products or services for free in exchange for a review that your audience can share online will give your business an exposure boost.
4. Co-host special events within your niche
Most event planners try to find sponsors to fund a special event. If you have an extra budget just laying there, use it to host an event.
Next time you get an invitation to join a marketing event, ask if it still has any sponsorship spots available. Co-hosting an event allows you to meet and talk to your target audience and generate potential leads who may be interested in what you have to offer.
5. Give away freebies
Businesses before the boom of social media used traditional marketing strategies like giving out free items to promote brand awareness. By utilizing these traditional marketing techniques in addition to building a social media following, you will most likely increase the visibility of your brand. This way, people will start recognizing your business.
You don’t have to break the bank to utilize this strategy. You can simply use stickers, tee shirts, pens or some other affordable items.
6. Think locally
Leverage your community to improve your brand awareness. Think about what’s going on in your community and take advantage of it.
Is there a 5k charity walk happening this weekend or a little league next week? Sponsor it and have display marketing banners during the event.
This can improve your business visibility locally. It can also increase your chances of getting recognized outside your community when local news features the local community event.
7. Collaborate with non-competitive businesses
Reach out to non-competitive businesses in your area and suggest to co-promote. You can leave business cards or fliers in each other’s stores or exchange reciprocal website links.
You can also take advantage of either’s social media platforms to talk about each other’s businesses. By doing this, you can expand your customer base by reaching people you’ll almost never encounter.
8. Start a customer referral program
Implementing a customer referral program allows you to gain new customers even if you don’t do any hard work. Your current customer will do all the work for you.
Offer both parties incentives.
For example, give rewards to your existing customers for every referral. On the other hand, offer discounts to the new customers to get them interested in your product or service.
Conclusion
Setting up your own business can be a bit overwhelming. With the right tools to guide you, you’ll be ready to turn your passion into a creative business.
Always remember, you certainly have what it takes to start your own business. Don’t let anyone tell you otherwise. Use their negativity as fuel to successfully launch your creative startup. Learn how to build your startup, keep working hard, and prove all of your naysayers wrong!
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