Starting your own business is an exciting venture. Whether you’re looking for a little more freedom to express yourself or searching for something which will catapult your expertise to the next level, there are a few things you need to look at before jumping in and starting that business. One of the biggest mistakes most entrepreneurs make when launching their businesses is seeking out which product they want to sell rather than which market they will target.
Here are the top five things you need to do before setting out on your new business venture:
Where’s The Need
As we have previously discussed, you need to find which market you want to target before you decide on which product you’ll be offering. “Finding your ideal market is more than a simple guessing game,” says Patrick Woolmartin the executive marketing assistant for Persian and Modern Rugs. He adds that to correctly analyse the market you need to find a solution to a problem.
Deciding on which market would best suit your skills can be determined through various means including scrolling through various online forums. Forums are a great way to find out what types of problems people have and need solutions to. Alternatively, you could also do keyword searches online. Once you have a problem that needs solving you should check out what your prospective competitions are doing. This will give you great insight into the market you are hoping to join.
Website and Copy
Once you have a business plan in mind you need to seriously think of how you are going to reach your audience. You want to create a stunning website and then fill it with amazing content. An when we say amazing content we mean the type of content which keeps your audience attracted and interested from the moment they click your link. As part of your content use important sales techniques which have been proven to work.
Your website should be simple, easy to use and super user-friendly. Always opt for a design which is easy to navigate and read. Be clear about your products and services. The general rule in web design is that you will have just 5 seconds to get the attention of your user. If you do not grab them in that time the chances are that you would have lost them forever. Graphics and other interesting things should only be used to enhance the message you want to convey to your audience.
Selling Online
Your website and content are important but so is the way you sell your product. You need to make use of important sell techniques within your content to attract your customers. You can do this by describing their problem, finding the solution, creating urgency around the matter and then offering for them to use your service.
Using Search Engines
The quickest way to get potential buyers straight onto your website is through advertising online. This is also called pay-per-click or PPC advertising. One of the biggest advantages of using PPC advertising is that your website will be fed directly to the user on the front page of the results for Google. This means that your business will be seen first.
Build Your Reputation
The main reason for using the internet is to get information. Use your expertise in the business gain notoriety online. Offer free advice to others in the business and write guest blogs for your competitors but always include your website links in the information you provide. Alternatively, you can also create an article to share on related forums and websites.