If you’ve ever thought about taking the plunge and starting your own business, but aren’t sure where to begin, here a couple of ideas to help you get started. Being a small business owner can be incredibly rewarding for you and your local community, and with the rise in independent businesses, now is a great time to think about your next steps seriously!
Location
Deciding where to open your business is hugely important and will depend on many factors. These may include the actual content and format of the business, your target clientele, budget, and access. For example, working from home can hugely reduce costs as you won’t be paying rent for a shop or an office, which will, in turn, reduce the cost of your products for your customers. However, businesses like shops and restaurants may thrive with physical buildings for customers to enter and receive the full experience of your business. Choosing an appropriate setting and geographical location for your small business is essential in growing traffic, both on foot and online.
Target audience
What is your business, and who is it aimed at? Working this out will allow you to target your advertising, marketing, and promotions, among many other elements of your business. Think about the kind of customers you want to attract, and who would benefit best from the services you are providing. You may want to avoid becoming too specialized and alienating certain clients (unless your business is incredibly specialized) but deciding on your demographic and streamlining your efforts towards them will help attract the right kinds of people and save you money, time, and effort in areas that do not apply to them, or on marketing yourself in ways that will not be seen by them.
Online presence
Having a great website and social media presence is important for the majority of small businesses. Many people turn to search engines as the first port of call for answers, so make sure your website is at the top of their search results by using a marketing agency that provides great SEO services. This will help increase traffic to your website, therefore boosting engagement and customers.
Other elements that contribute towards a successful website include great design and photography, links to social media, and a good balance of information, without being overwhelming. Your website should be user-friendly and easy to navigate, to be used by a large majority of people, regardless of their experience with using the internet.
Suppliers and Environment
A large part of the attraction of using local, smaller businesses is the environmental and sustainable elements involved. Supporting independent traders and contributing to the local economy is important for people, and you can engage with this by using local suppliers and services within your business, wherever you can. For example, finding local photographers and designers to help advertise your business, or buying stock or products from more local suppliers can turn customers in your direction.
Being transparent in your pricing and methods, and making your business as ethical and environmentally friendly as possible will also go a long way, not just with customers, but with your impact on the planet. Recycling, reusing packaging, and using sustainable energy sources are only a few of the ways you can make your small business as green as possible!
