Tips for success when starting a business….
Have a business planHave a business plan! This is probably the single most strategic tool for entrepreneurs. Having a good business plan in place is like having a roadmap for life. It will help you focus on the specific steps necessary to make business ideas succeed. It will also help you to achieve short-term and long-term objectives. But keep in mind, it is just a plan!!While a business plan is essential to entrepreneurship, not every entrepreneur sees the need for one. Many are reluctant to have their plan written down. We believe some people think that a business plan can’t change once it is in writing. In our opinion having a plan written down will keep you in motion and any plan can be updated and rewritten based on how business is progressing. Have you ever met a chef who hasn’t updated or changed a recipe in their kitchen while creating a meal? Probably not!! Things to consider when deciding to write a business plan…...Who will the reader be? What do you want the response to be?If you are interested in raising capital, investors will likely be your target audience. If you are interested in partnerships or joint ventures, your potential business partners will be your audience. BUT if you are a small business just starting out, you need your business plan to actually help you to figure out who your customer is. Whoever this audience may be, focus on the key message you want them to receive in order to get the response you want. If your business starts to grow quickly and you need to raise funds from institutional investors and lenders, a good business plan is extremely valuable. You should aim to have a well-documented plan that speaks for itself. It needs to be clear and easy to read and understand, trust us it can happen quicker than you anticipate!
Brand Consistency…Know your vision and share it with your clients…..When it comes to branding, creating a great one requires several factors, but one of the most important is brand consistency. Brand consistency ensures that your brand is easily recognizable across all marketing channels and touch points. This creates a cohesive consistent brand identity, a unified experience for both existing and potential customers. This helps your customers get to know your brand on a more personal level. Your brand is about so much more than your logo design, website, products or services. Your brand is the summary of what other people think of you, so you cannot afford to give out mixed messages.For others to believe in your brand, you must believe in it first! You are trying to appeal to those who are interested in your particular niche, so your brand should be designed with this in mind.Let’s get into what happens when you have a consistent brand. What can be the benefits of having a consistent brand…
Consistency leads to brand recognition...
A great example of brand consistency is sports giant Nike. Most people could quote Nike’s simple slogan without thinking about it – even if they are not customers of Nike.
Apple is another great example. Over the years Apple has changed their slogan and product, but the brand consistency of the image of the colorful apple is the trusted brand and iconography that continues to bring the customer through the door..
Marketing (mostly) takes care of itself….Once you have established a strong and stable brand, people feel they know exactly what they can expect from you. In business, there is an unspoken expectation that predictability is essential. If your business is unpredictable or confusing, people will go elsewhere.Consistency leads to brand recognition...A great example of brand consistency is sports giant Nike. Most people could quote Nike’s simple slogan without thinking about it – even if they are not customers of Nike. Apple is another great example. Over the years Apple has changed their slogan and product, but the brand consistency of the image of the colorful apple is the trusted brand and iconography that continues to bring the customer through the door..It all begins with an idea. Maybe you want to launch a business. Maybe you want to turn a hobby into something more. Or maybe you have a creative project to share with the world. Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference.
Be prepared for failure
Let’s be clear on one thing…...There is no such thing as failure. Please say that again to yourself because I want to make sure you hear it and if you do not trust yourself, below are a few quotes from people you might trust. Keep in mind as you read these, they were once just like you, not sure on the next step or even to take it!
Failure is just life trying to move us in a different direction- Oprah Winfrey
Failure is the condiment that gives success its flavor- Truman Capote
I have not failed. I've just found 10,000 ways that won't work.-Thomas Edison
Every time I thought I was being rejected from something good, I was actually being redirected to something better-Steve Maraboli
But man is not made for defeat. A man can be destroyed but not defeated- Ernest Hemingway
Only those who dare to fail greatly can ever achieve greatly. - Robert F. Kennedy
Need we say more, the bottom line is you will never succeed if you do not ever step out of your comfort zone and just get started!
Good luck and let us know how it’s going! @kaliesolutions #IDIDIT