Editor’s Note: Here at Dispatches, we are always looking for ways to help our readers do things. For some of our readers, that means helping navigate the working world, for others, it means assisting in the ever challenging question, “what’s for dinner?” For still others, it means figuring out how to balance family life with everything else. In an effort to aid in all of these endeavors, we have collaborated on this article written specifically for our readers.
So you’ve started your own business – congratulations! What’s next? How do you make sure that people know about your products and services?
Find Your Message
First, you need to figure out what exactly it is that you want to communicate. If you’re a digital marketing agency then you need to know what exactly it is that makes you different from your competitors and why people should work with you. If you work in sales, what exactly do you do to ensure that your business is better than the rest and that you provide great customer service? Make sure that you have an elevator pitch – a couple of sentences that explain exactly what you do to anyone who asks you when you’re out and about so that they understand your company and you don’t have to waste a lot of time going back on what you’ve already said!
Learn How To Network
Even if you feel uncomfortable and awkward doing it, networking is absolutely essential if you want your business to be successful. Go to networking events and conferences with a wallet full of business cards and a smile on your face. Make sure that you talk to everyone that you can and you make a connection with each person – ask them questions, listen carefully to the answers and figure out how you can work together in a way that benefits both of you. Finally, remember not to take advantage of all those free glasses of wine – you want to stay clear-headed when you’re trying to network.
Get Advertising
One of the best ways to really get word out there about your business is to advertise it. If that isn’t your area of expertise, it can be hard to know exactly where to start and what you should do. If you aren’t certain, you could bring in an advertising agency – you can work with them so that you can develop the right publicity and advertising campaign for your company which puts across the right message while remaining true to what you are and what you do. Bringing in an ad agency will mean that you can focus on the task at hand, which is the business itself.
Use Social Media
You should also develop a social media strategy. Use sites such as Twitter and Facebook and make sure that every tweet or update is checked for spelling, punctuation and grammar issues before they’re sent out. If your company is design focused you could also use Instagram to upload photos that represent your style and taste. Your social media channels will allow you to make your company more human and to completely develop your voice. Keep it professional and light at the same time.