By Renato Agrella, founder of Acerca Consulting and helps clients leverage marketing to accelerate sales and fuel growth.
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Are you thinking about starting your own business? It’s a big decision, and there’s a lot to think about before taking the plunge. Here are five things you need to consider before hangin’ out your shingle.
1. What services will you offer?
This is probably the most important question you’ll need to answer before starting your company. What services can you provide that will meet the needs of your target market? Do some research and make a list of the services you feel confident offering, then start niche-ing down from there. Remember, it’s better to be a big fish in a small pond than a small fish in a big pond. You want to focus on providing quality services that meet the specific needs of your target market.
2. What makes you different?
What makes your company different from all the others out there competing for market share? Is it your focus on customer service? Is it your team of experienced professionals? Is it your innovative approach to delivering your product or services? Whatever it is, make sure you have a clear understanding of what sets you apart before moving forward. This will be essential for not only attracting clients but also for attracting and retaining top talent.
3. What’s your target market?
Speaking of attracting and retaining clients, it’s important to have a clear understanding of your target market before getting started. This can help you determine where to focus your energy (and your marketing budget) and how to position yourself in the marketplace. When defining your target market, be as specific as possible. The more specific you are, the easier it can be to attract them with your marketing efforts—and convert them into paying clients. Circle back to that question of what makes you different—that will come in handy here as well!
4. How will you get clients?
Unless you’re already well-connected in your realm of business, chances are good that landing those first few clients is going to take some effort on your part. Be prepared to put in the time and energy necessary to get yourself out there and build relationships with potential clients—it’ll be worth it in the long run! You might even want to consider partnering with another company or freelancer until you get established and start generating some organic growth.
5. How will you use technology?
Technology should be an integral part of any modern business—after all, we are in the digital age! Not only do you need to have a strong online presence for your clients, but you also need to be able to provide a strong digital experience to your employees. Fortunately, there are plenty of affordable (and even free) tools available that can make getting started with technology easy—and affordable—for companies of any size.
So, there you have it—five things to think about before starting your own business. If carefully considered, these factors can help set your business up for success right from the start.