Ok, so you are soon to launch your business; your months, if not years of planning and strategizing are soon to be put into action, and you are keen to launch your business.
Here is a checklist to help you make sure that you have all boxes ticked – you have one opportunity to make the right impression, so let’s do it right.
Your personal credit rating.
You may have been solely focused on the finances of your emerging business, but your personal credit rating can have a detrimental effect on your business. Financial institutions share your personal financial information so that can see whether you are an attractive investment for their credit – find out your score and see if it needs improving. You can do this several ways, but one way is to use a credit card by Vanquis that, as long as you make the repayments, can boost your rating in a matter of months.
Is your marketing strategy up to scratch?
It can be easy to fall into the trap of focusing on the profit that you intend to make, but have you got a marketing strategy in place that focuses on how your offerings can solve customers’ real problems?
Before you launch, take a step back and review your strategies. If your product clearly solves a problem, this should be your main focus for pushing your product into the marketplace. Get proof of how your product can provide a solution, and you will be able to use this to push your business across different platforms – aim for a viral impact!
Your digital presence should be geared for your success:
- A seamless user experience on your website.
- Creative content that is SEO friendly to boost your search engine ranking position.
- Creative content that engages your potential customers.
- Social media platforms that are used by your target audience.
Make sure that your brand is consistently represented across the digital landscape. A strong brand will engage your customers and incite loyalty. Remember, your business needs to appeal to your customers and not just your own tastes – although the two should overlap!
Business cards.
There has been much debate as to whether business cards are more a thing of the past, but people do like to have a tangible and personal product in their hands. Business cards are essential for networking and if your business is customer faced, a business card is one way to make you memorable. So, don’t discredit these ‘older’ ways of direct marketing.
Look the part.
Customers often deal with companies because they like the people that they deal with as well as the products or services on offer. When you are launching and conducting your business, look the part. Get a haircut, buy a new suit or work attire, clean your shoes and be the physical embodiment of what your business stands for – you are the representation of your business’s standards and ethos. Not only will customers appreciate it, but it will give you confidence to make your business a success.
The first impressions that you make are the most important. With the runup to launch, you will be exhausted by the preparation and planning stages, but it is important that you don’t let oversights dampen your business’s initial success. Good luck.
