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3 Startup Essentials That Cannot Be Overlooked

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StrategyDriven Starting Your Business Article |Startup Essentials|3 Startup Essentials That Cannot Be OverlookedIf you’re just starting your business journey and you have a company about to be launched, you might be wondering whether or not you’ve got everything in place. After all, you only have one chance to make a good first impression (or a bad one, come to that), and it can feel rather overwhelming when you consider how much you want your business to succeed and how much work you need to put into it.

For many who have never run a business before, it might seem as though there are dozens of different elements that need to come together to make it a success, but in reality, when you’re a startup, there are only three that you really need to be thinking about. Ensure these three startup essentials are in place, and you’ll be heading in the right direction.

Funding

A startup without the right funding is doomed to failure. Even if you start to make money, without having some form of capital behind you, the income will be too slow to make an impact, and before you can really make anything of your business, it will be too late – you will have run out of money. This is why it’s important to have funding in place before you launch. You can then focus on building the business rather than having to worry about keeping it afloat.

When you think of getting money for your business you will probably consider a bank loan first of all. It might even be the only thing you consider. However, there are a large number of different funding methods to think about including finding an angel investor, using your savings, borrowing from friends and family, or even using the money you’ve made through your algorithmic trading. Whatever you choose, as long as you have a plan to pay it back, you can get started even if the bank turns you down.

Customer Service

Most entrepreneurs are looking inwards when they launch their business. They’re interested in their suppliers, their employees, how productive they can be, and, of course, how much money they are making. Although this is important, you must remember that you’ll need to look outwards too; you’ll need to think about your customers.

Customer service is one of the most important elements to get right in any business, and when you’re launching a startup good customer service is vital. It’s what is going to set you apart from the rest, and it’s what will get you noticed. Customers expect a high level of good service, and if you can provide it they will be happy to return again and again. Get it wrong, and you’ll find that your unhappy customer has told everyone they know, and probably used social media to do it. That spells disaster for a young business. Reputation is everything.

Social Media

Speaking of social media, that is another important element of business that a startup is going to need to have in place before they launch. In fact, your social media channels could even help your launch by previewing what you’re going to be selling and making potential customers interested before you even get started.

However, just having an account on Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter, for example, isn’t going to be enough. Posting once in a while and writing ads when you do isn’t going to be enough. You need to focus on the content and ensure that whatever you are posting is useful information and engaging too. In this way, it is more likely to be liked and shared, and that’s crucial for a business on social media.

6 Ways You Can Market Yourself Effectively

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StrategyDriven Practices for Professionals Article |Market Yourself|6 Ways You Can Market Yourself EffectivelyA lot of marketing advice discusses ideas based on your business including how to maximize sales or get the most out of your employees. This advice is crucial, of course, especially for entrepreneurs who are always looking for more out of their professional endeavors. However, this big picture is not always where you should direct your focus. As much as improving your company is important, you’ve got to remember how essential marketing yourself is, too.

Marketing yourself will vastly improve your chances of finding the best business opportunities, which will help you grow your company in ways that everyday marketing can never live up to. If this sounds appealing, but you aren’t sure where to start, consider these ideas.

Know Your Worth

Finding your self-worth is one of the most challenging things, no matter how confident or successful you are. But, you will not be able to market yourself effectively if you do not understand what you can offer people in a professional and personal setting.

This is the first step you need to take when looking at ways to market yourself. If you know what you can offer by understanding what you are best at, you will be able to set yourself apart from others. Through this, you can push yourself ahead of the competition and make you the most appealing individual around.

Get to Know People

Networking is always a vital element of business success, and this is why getting to know people is more beneficial than you might believe. The problem here is that some people are not as outgoing as others, which could affect your chances of meeting the right people.

So what can you do? Swallowing any nervousness and acting as you belong in any scenario is useful, but it can be exhausting to keep up. Besides this, look for influential people who are similar to you, as this can make you feel more comfortable in their company.

Remember the Details

Marketing yourself is not always about how you speak or feel about yourself. You also need to consider the details. These details can apply to anything physical, whether your attire or holographic business cards rather than traditional but ultimately drab alternatives.

As you want to stand out in any situation, especially in competitive industries, these details could be the difference between winning promotions, new jobs, or increasing your influence. They will prove that you can match your substance with some style, and although you need substance over everything else, it’s always worth trying to impress others, as long as you don’t try too hard.

Trust Your Knowledge

Imposter syndrome can affect anybody. It’s easy to feel like you don’t belong and that you’ll be found out one day. But, you need to understand that you are much more capable than you give yourself credit for, and you can use this understanding to establish yourself as someone worth hiring.

While you needn’t spend all your time making bold but baseless claims about things you don’t know anything about, you can still trust what you know. If you want to be even more certain, make sure you prepare for interviews or casual meetings, as this will boost your confidence even further.

Put Your All Into Everything

If you want to build your reputation, you need to make sure you are someone who puts their all into everything, no matter how small a project might be. While it might feel like you’re doing too much, it demonstrates exceptional work ethic, and this will make people take notice.

It’s never a good look to merely go through the motions, especially if you want to increase your standing in the industry, and the harder you work now, the easier it will all be later.

Be Consistent

Consistency is key when it comes to finding success, and there are many aspects of consistency you need to remember. High-quality work is one area, but you should also remember that consistency across social media is an important tool for marketing yourself.

This means making the most of the platforms available to you. Use the same picture across your professional profiles so that people recognize you and develop a brand voice that ensures your audience knows who is talking.

Your Time

Marketing yourself is one of the most effective methods to increase your chances of finding new opportunities. Whether you want to grow your company or look for a new position in another industry, you will discover significant success by establishing what makes you a valuable asset to any company.

The Foundations Of Business Growth

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StrategyDriven Online Marketing and Website Development Article |Business Growth|The Foundations Of Business GrowthTrying to expand your business during a global pandemic may seem like madness. However, you are an entrepreneur and you don’t want to rest on your laurels. Your ambition means that you want your startup to be able to compete with the already established industry rivals and you are eager for your venture to have a global presence. However, when the world is on more of a go-slow, people are less likely to part with their cash, and the economic markets have plummeted, it can be a challenge to see how you can grow your business. Follow this guide to the foundations of business growth.

StrategyDriven Online Marketing and Website Development Article |Business Growth|The Foundations Of Business GrowthWebsite

Your online presence will really come into its own as more people stay at home and spend more time on the Internet. Online shopping was always a factor of the millennial market but now all demographics are partaking. If you are a retailer, you need to morph your business model into an online venture. The website that you produce is crucial to attract your potential market. Rather than opt for a flashy all singing all dancing website, you need to focus more time on your SEO. If you don’t know your keyword from your meta tag, you need to consider outsourcing your web design to a WordPress developer who can create a site that will emulate your brand and your ethos while appearing high up the Google search rankings. Make every section of your site within three clicks and easy to navigate to hold a potential customer’s interest. Overhaul your website and you could find your customer base growing.

Social Media

Facebook, Twitter and Instagram are the perfect vehicles for online marketing when considering your business. However, you also need to hone your social media platforms to grow your business. If you want more followers, you need to post meaningful and relevant content on a daily basis. The Twitter feed that you craft is the ideal way to communicate directly with your clientele. If a potential customer has a query, they will tweet you. This comment will be in the public domain so it is crucial that you respond promptly. Use an informal and chatty tone. The corporate hard sell doesn’t work anymore. The better the content that you post, the more shareable it becomes, thus increasing your follower numbers and global presence.

Trade Shows

If you can attend a trade show, get registered. These amazing events provide you with a readymade footfall of individuals who are eager to source your services. Go to a niche and industry specific event. By utilizing your pitch effectively, you can show off your wares, products and services. Place branded banners across your stall and encourage people to take a look at your products in action. Enthuse with your ideas and business acumen, and have some on-the-day deals that potential buyers can’t refuse. Ensure that you create an email list and follow up any leads on your return to the home office. With any luck, your clientele will grow.

These foundations of business growth will enable your venture to thrive and not merely survive during this pandemic.

Top 5 Advantages of Hiring Online Marketing Companies

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StrategyDriven Marketing and Sales Article |Online Marketing Companies|Top 5 Advantages of Hiring Online Marketing CompaniesEnsuring the growth and success of your company is possible with good marketing. Marketing helps your business get customers who will purchase the products and services you offer. However, online marketing is now the best method to promote and sell your products and services because of modern technology. Many reputable online marketing companies provide high-quality results and outstanding services. Besides, you are guaranteed that you will get permanent solutions to any marketing issues that your company is facing.

1. It provides access to the latest technology

If your company is outdated and still using old marketing tools, it is time for you to hire online marketing companies who will transform your old technology into an advanced one. When your company uses the latest developments and trends in online marketing, it gives you an edge over your competitors. It also allows the customers to notice the potential of your business.

2. It is cost-effective

Many business owners think that hiring online marketing companies is expensive and just a waste of money. It is a misconception because there are marketing agencies that provide good service at a reasonable price. Having a marketing company working for you has a lower cost in terms of per sales lead than doing your own marketing, and allows you to focus on other vital issues in your business as well.

3. It offers effective strategies and approaches

Your business needs to have the right techniques and methods in marketing your products and services. With the help of online marketing companies, your business will find the best strategies and approaches to reach the right audience. Doing online marketing by yourself is problematic because it requires expertise and knowledge to achieve success. Therefore, you should let the marketing agencies do their job, preventing you from future stress and frustrations.

4. It provides a robust online presence for your business

Social media is one of the powerful tools to market your business. If you want to improve your business’s social media presence, hiring online marketing companies is your best option. It will help you find the right customers worldwide and establish a strong foundation for your brand. When your business has a strong foundation, it will help build trust with your customers, and they will start to patronise your products and services.

5. It gives an objective point of view

As a company owner, you make all the decisions in order to keep your business on the run. Therefore, it would be hard for you to look at your business’s marketing with fresh eyes and a new perspective. It only proves that online marketing companies can take a look at your business from an outsider’s perspective, and help them understand what is lacking and what needs to be improved in terms of marketing. Besides, it would be best for your company to have an expert check in marketing from a new and objective perspective.

Knowing these advantages gives you an insight into how agencies work to provide the best marketing strategies to the businesses reaching out to them. It helps your company understand the latest tools, information, and expertise in online marketing. Moreover, you should know the simple ways to increase customers in your business because it will bring you one step closer to success and reach company goals.

About the Author

StrategyDriven Expert Contributor | Delena PierceDelena Pierce, a freelance content writer and a lifelong learner with an ongoing curiosity to learn new things, focused on unique business stories. With experienced writing, provides specialized contents for audiences with subjects valuable to small businesses, startups, leadership, management and customers for marketing. Also fascinated by the modern sales process and enjoys writing about ways to enhance productivity and motivation in business. She engages the audience with the content that really solves their problem.

How influencer marketing doesn’t just stop at Instagram

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StrategyDriven Online Marketing and Website Development Article |Influencer Marketing|How influencer marketing doesn’t just stop at InstagramInfluencer marketing is an industry that has taken over all social media platforms, as well as being one of the main advertising exports for the majority of companies. What would convince you to try something new? A random advert on TV or a recommendation from a public figure that you trust?

There are many good reasons why influencer marketing is reshaping the way that marketing works in 2020. Millennials in particular are heavily influenced by their peers when it comes to purchasing decisions. In fact, 70% of them turn to their peers for advice when they’re thinking about a product or service. But Millennials aren’t alone — in general, influencer marketing gets a return on investment that’s 11 times greater than traditional marketing!

Social media influencers need to become your brand ambassadors in their sphere of influence — whether they’re mega-influencers or micro-influencers. You need to find and foster your influencers as if they’re an extension of your own marketing team. But first, you need to know which social media channels people are turning to for advice.

Yes, Instagram should go without saying, but where else?

YouTube

YouTube is only second to Instagram when it comes to influencer marketing reach, even though many would argue it was first to the party — and it may be more powerful among certain demographics.
The platform does seem to have more sway among males. It affects the purchasing habits of 22.8% of men vs. only 13.9% of women. In addition to this, teenagers feel 7 times the emotional attachment to their favourite YouTube stars than they do to other celebrities.

Moreover, YouTube has strong influencers in a broad array of niches, including cars, alcohol, beauty, and toys (just to name a few). Consumers enjoy the funny, sometimes-irreverent familiarity of their favourite YouTubers and really take their recommendations to heart.

Influencer marketing agency Socially Powerful can help businesses tap into the benefits that YouTube influencers can have on brand awareness and sales figures, making it an even greater market for your company to explore.

Pinterest

Pinterest is one of the ‘new kids on the block’ when it comes to social channels, but it already has over 150 million users — and 85% of those are women. However, Pinterest doesn’t think of itself as a social media channel so much as it does a “visual discovery tool.”

Despite that, Pinterest is a channel full of consumers — 87% have purchased something because of Pinterest. If you’re a visually driven brand, Pinterest can be useful. Look for influencers with well-organised boards, easy-to-find keywords, and lots of follower engagement to make it work.

Snapchat

People on Snapchat only tend to follow other people that they know. Because of that, Snapchat influencers tend to be highly effective in inspiring trust.

The downside to Snapchat is that ‘snaps’ don’t have much longevity. Yes, they vanish after just 24 hours which could limit just how effective an influencer can really be. Influencers, even if they’re paid, will lose their authenticity if they’re constantly repeating snaps on the same product or service.

However, that hasn’t stopped a few companies from incorporating Snapchat into their social campaigns. Companies like VaynerMedia and AKQA have found ways to mix Snapchat into their cross-platform social campaigns for MasterCard and the Call of Duty games.