Have you ever wanted to start your own business, to create, market, sell, and build a following of loyal consumers who will purchase and advertise your products? These days, it’s more possible than ever to start your dream job by simply taking the right steps to market your product! However, you’re not the first person to have tried starting your own business, success stories exist all over the world and yours could be one in the making. You could be the creator of the next big thing, yet it takes more than just zealous tenacity to start a business, you’ll need charisma, luck, and the backing of a strong global community to ensure the ultimate success.
Let’s talk about businesses first. Starting a business requires more than just a good name for your company; you’re going to need to understand taxes, registrations with the local and state government, bank accounts, permits and a strong will. It might sound complicated, but the reality is that starting out is only step one, and these are actually the most rudimentary of processes.
The aforementioned steps have already been laid out for you and the information is completely at your disposal. However, just because you started a business, it doesn’t mean people will start purchasing your product right off the bat. No, it’s when you start marketing yourself properly and letting others do the speaking for you that you’ll truly be successful. To reach the ultimate success you need the power of globalization!
But, how do you give your brand the recognition it so richly deserves? Take a look at these seven methods which have stood the test of time for successful startups similar to yours!
1. Look for an Audience (Especially in Social Media)
Community Consultant, Mike Handy has been helping out startups for years. His advice is to find groups of users who are already interested in whatever services you’re offering. When your users start spreading the word and talking about the service on social media such as Facebook or Twitter, you know you’re on the right path.
Once communities have started to form, they’ll slowly bring in members from their own inner circles and eventually it will grow on its own. Remember, that the majority of consumers will trust the word of their friends over the word of an online advertisement.
2. Know Your Audience Personally
It doesn’t matter how many followers you have, if your audience isn’t spreading the word, you won’t reach their hearts and minds. By searching for people who are actively talking about your product, and engaging them in direct conversation you’ll reach a much wider audience.
Don’t rush to reach the summit by building an enormous base right off the bat. Instead, play the long game because every community has an awkward phase and yours will not be any different. By continuing to engage the members you’ll eventually get through it. Once the members start discussing the product among each other, you’ll know you’re on the right path.
3. Connections
Never underestimate the power of your own friends and acquaintances when starting a community. By asking for their help in starting out, you’ll already have some ground for growing your community. Use everything at your disposal. The CEO of Social Fresh Justin Keith, actually found success by partnering with conferences and managed to grow from their already established audience.
4. Think Social Media!
If you want people in your group to share your product, facilitate it for them. If they sign-up for your website, include a box for a newsletter. Asking them to follow you on social media as part of the process always nearly works and provide opportunities for them to share with their friends and family. It’s surprising to see the amount of people who share your services simply because you asked.
5. Be Creative with Your Company
Starting out is scary, but it comes with its own set of advantages. Because when you have a small community, you can try being creative without angering a large group of people. Take your chances while the risks are minimal because when you have nothing to lose the only direction to go is upwards. This is your time to be as creative as possible.
6. Have Fun
Think of your favorite brands in the market, are they boring or funny? Ever heard of the Wendy’s Twitter Account? Or the Banana Bunker? Their stories are marked by how funny and engaging they are with their user base. Wendy’s Twitter has some sick burns, and the Banana Bunker was amusing by how masterfully they navigated through a series of loaded questions.
When you build your brand, make it as engaging as possible. Create a voice and a character to go along with it and people will follow. By creating a page that is quirky and amusing, you’ll get members eager to share the experience with others and you can’t beat free advertisement.
7. Account for Everything
Tracking all the changes helps in achieving your goals. The data you gather through these efforts will tell a story, and you have to listen to it well. Communities that are actively engaging with one another are going to provide you with all the information needed to succeed. Every victory, no matter how small is still one step towards success and you have to account for all of it. This is your baby, own it!
At the end of the day your audience will respond to you based on how you reach out to them. A happy community is a productive one and through them you’ll reach an even bigger audience. Your friends and family can help you reach the summit, but you’ll need to maximize on your resources. Social media websites have created a great platform from which you can start finding your niche, and they’ll certainly pave your way to success. But, remember that ultimately it’s your company and you’re the one responsible for making it as impactful as possible, have fun, be creative and don’t forget to always account for everything!
This generation born digital, will have a profound impact on social behavior and how we conduct business. Globalization is here and if you are not taking advantage, you have already lost. – Ricky Ahuja