Where To Focus When Building a New Business (3/3)
So far in this series, we’ve walked you through step by step of where to place your focus as a new business owner. From legal to personal brand, we’ve covered the little things often missed and the simple ways to ensure you have each and every duck in a row.
Today we’re moving on to the last part of this focus series to discuss WHERE those ducks should swim once they’ve been prepped and released. Where should your focus lie after you’ve lined up the legal and designed a brand you’re proud of?
Once you’re ready to move forward and begin the process of opening your new business, the focus should start to shift towards a few key things. Let’s go through them one by one!
1. Marketing Strategy
When it comes to marketing strategy, we can often feel overwhelmed. That’s ok! Give yourself a breath and remember to keep it simple. We suggest beginning with where your audience lives. Evaluate their social media patterns, where they spend their time and who they engage with regularly.
Think through your email marketing and design some creative connection. Would an app benefit your customer? Maybe mobile marketing is a better space to place your focus. Gather information about your target audience and begin crafting a marketing strategy that excites and engages that demographic.
Pro-Tip: Know your niche! If you’re struggling to write out a marketing plan, you may need to go back to basics and identify your niche. That word scares many of us because it can feel as though we’re limiting our audience, when in fact it produces the opposite result!
Identify your competitors when developing your strategy and take notes on what they’re doing and how they’re engaging with their customers. Knowing your competitors, how they operate and their competitive advantages will help you discover creative strategies and potential partnerships.
2. Effective Website Design
At the end of the day, you’re always going to be pointing your customer back to the home base: your website. So paying close attention to how your website functions is key! Think of it as the resume for your business. It can make or break the customer experience.
One way to ensure you stand out when it comes to your website is by personalizing the photography. Using stock imagery is a great alternative in the beginning as needed, but these days brand photography can actually be quite affordable and easy to achieve! Look at your brand colors and aesthetic, then plan a photoshoot that aligns with that vision. A brand photographer can help with this process, and it’s a fantastic way to support local!
Remember to include a few testimonials if possible on your website, as well as any awards or accreditations. Ensure that your navigation is minimal and relevant. It’s also important to make sure your website is mobile-friendly!
We talked about voice and copy in part two of this series, but it’s worth mentioning that your website should reflect that voice. Is your voice more approachable or casual? Consider making your About page a bit more relaxed. Is your voice more on the professional side and team-oriented? Make sure your website is reflecting the same.
3. Creative Collateral
Finally, it’s important to place a good bit of focus on your business collateral. What do we mean by “collateral”? This includes your packaging, signage, menu design, pitch portfolio, email signature, etc. This is where the details MATTER!
When it comes to collateral, brand is everything. By now you’ve established your brand design and visuals for your business. So creative collateral should be a pretty simple process.
Take into account every part of the customer experience. From the moment they connect with you to the moment they hit purchase. What items need that branded touch?
Consider your color schemes, your logo design, and find tasteful ways to elevate those branded details.
Sound overwhelming? We’re here to help you! Check out some of our past work with clients needing branded collateral and design!
So you’ve finalized the legalities of your business. Paperwork is in order, licenses have been signed. You’ve moved on to branded visuals and worked with us to develop a design and voice you’re proud of! We’ve helped you create an effective website that draws in your audience and communicates the heart behind your business. You’ve formulated an effective marketing strategy and you’ve added some creative collateral to tie it all together.
Congratulations new business owner! Your ducks are officially in a row! You’re ready to release your brand out into the world and connect with your audience effectively and strategically! We’re so proud of you! It may seem like a lot of work up front, but the pay off is worth it.
Understanding your audience and engaging with them at the heart level is what makes the process powerful, and we’re here to help you every step of the way! If you’re ready to start the process and get your new business ducks in a row, we’re ready to partner with you! Let’s connect over a call and discover what it is you need to move forward and what has you stuck. You are on your way! You can do this! Let’s chat!