Running your own business. It’s something most people dream of at some point during their career. But with 20% of small businesses failing to make it past the first year of business, it can be a tough task to pull off.
But when you’re a savvy, innovative and determined entrepreneur with an incredible idea that can transform people’s lives for the better, giving up isn’t an option.
With that in mind, here are six super tips to help your startup soar.
1. Find your niche
Discovering a product, service or feature that no one else is offering (or has executed effectively) or targeting a specific audience will help your startup differentiate itself from the competition and thrive in a specific area of the market. As well as this, it will give you a tighter focus for business activities, which, in turn, will help you use your business resources efficiently and to maximum effect.
2. Networking
When you’re first trying to get your startup off the ground, networking is the activity that will help you to keep it afloat. It enables you to connect with likeminded professionals who can support you on your business journey, through promotion, partnerships, advice and other useful means. In the digital age, a large proportion of networking can be done online, however, you should use event sites such as Eventbrite to find face to face functions too.
3. Know your audience
Knowing your audience well can often be the difference between startup success and failure because if you lack awareness of your customer’s needs and expectations, you’ll be poorly placed to connect with them during their buyer journey. It’s therefore essential that you conduct plenty of audience research and that your business decisions are guided first and foremost by the needs of your customers.
4. Show, don’t tell
Too often, startups boast about being best in their niche, thus prematurely positioning themselves as successes. A more effective strategy is to show people what it is your business does and what it has achieved so far. In doing so, you’ll lay the foundations for your brand vision in a way that is more authentic and believable.
5. Choose the right team
The vision for your startup goal may be yours alone, but you’ll need a team to help you bring it to light. However, these shouldn’t be just any people, you’ll need to surround yourself with those who understand your vision, share your values and fit into the culture and mindset of your business.
6. Use social media
Using social media enables you to reach a huge online audience on the platforms they love. You should set up one or two social profiles and post regular and relevant content for your audience. However, if you’re social media novice, it might be worth utilizing the services of a marketing agency such as Greedier Social Media – they’ll help you build up a strong audience.