Every small business wants to get noticed, but there are so many new companies popping up every day that it is a challenge for all of them to be noticed in such a crowd. In this day and age, where it seems as though everything has already been done, you need to be a particular kind of unique if you are going to get noticed and reap the rewards.
But how does a small business get itself noticed? The tides of business have changed, and now you want to announce yourself in your industry with a bang, instead of a ripple. To do this, there are many essentials you need to consider if you are going to get noticed as soon as possible.
WEBSITE
Every business needs a website as for many it will be their first interaction with your company. The website must tell them about what you do, who you are, and why they should choose your service over the hundreds of similar competitors on the market.
But it can’t just be any old website that looks like it was pulled straight out of a 90s teen drama. It needs to be something that is is easy on the eyes, easy to navigate, and easy to access. Furthermore, while it might seem smart to fill your About section with every generic business and tech jargon under the sun, if regular customers don’t understand what it says they will click off, never to return, and you are left back at square one.
Putting customers off your business before they have even sampled your service would be catastrophic towards further growth. Additionally, this can harm your reputation as all style but no substance. There is no easier way to fail than being seen as someone who doesn’t know what they are doing.
OFFICE SPACE
Whether you have a home office or are renting out space locally, having an office space will immediately make you, and any potential employees, feel like your business is real and not merely some side project.
Scouting of adequate office space costs time and money, so it may be smart to stick to the home office in the early weeks and months unless you are gifted with considerable investment. Going further, the office space needs to be a representation of your company. When designing it and looking for furniture, lighting, and decor, then consider the type of office culture you want to present to anyone coming in for the first time.
Many companies will opt for coworking spaces while still in their infancy. This is a place that is shared with other small businesses and creates an atmosphere of togetherness, as you are all striving for a common goal: success, as opposed to competing for customers. Choosing a space that is not your spare room also grants quicker expansion, as you need not worry about holding off on hiring more team members but have nowhere to put them.
NETWORK
Networking is essential in creating valuable connections around your industry and beyond. If you are someone who naturally likes talking with others, then this should be second nature to you, however, if you consider yourself more reserved, you will need to step out of your comfort zone and speak with experienced industry giants if you ever want to expand your company beyond your hometown.
Attending conferences and seminars is an excellent way of finding like-minded business owners to talk with, and can open doors for collaboration in the future. This can lead to investment and new clients, as well as receiving advice from those who have much more experience than you do.
But it isn’t just face-to-face interaction that will prove beneficial. The world we live in is highly dependant on digital interaction, and so obtaining personal Facebook, and other social media accounts will put you in touch with an expert on the other side of the world, whenever you want. Furthermore, you can keep up with trends and new businesses by browsing the newest sites and finding companies local to you.
MARKETING
Your marketing strategy is essential to presenting yourself to people who have never heard of you before. This strategy can cover all sorts of media, from the internet to TV, to radio, to print, so it is vital that you take advantage of all possibilities.
Companies nowadays rely on internet marketing and SEO to spread awareness of their product, and this is clearly an effective method. However, if you want to stand out, then it might be a wise idea to go against the grain and pursue a different type of marketing strategy to get your company noticed.
Another method to consider is working with local businesses to spread brand awareness. Not only will this allow you to build rapport with people who have experience in the town or city you are based, but also demonstrate dedication to helping established local vendors. You can organise deals, offer discounts, and collaborate on maintaining the local business culture of the area.
SOCIAL MEDIA
Look at the recent trend of big corporations taking advantage of social media to get people talking about them. Even though they have been established for decades, they have managed to evolve with the trends that their target audience most interacts with.
While it is probably not advised to follow the Wendy’s Guide to Social Media approach (at least, not immediately), having a presence on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter will help introduce your small business to a broader audience.
This sort of presence can be anything from discussing industry trends to replying to customers or potential clients in a respectful and genuine manner. Too many businesses employ someone who doesn’t understand the adequate way to respond to or identify trolls, and so ends up looking like their business is old-fashioned. Because of this, ensure that you understand the ramifications that such representation can have on your company’s image.
NICHE
Finding the proper niche for your business will save you being drowned in the myriad of similar businesses that operate. This can be a challenge when wanting to stand out, but undertaking adequate research will allow you to identify gaps in the market and take advantage of them.
You may want to move to a city where a specific sector is burgeoning. This has happened all over the world, but one example is Silicon Valley which while being a hub of innovative technology in the 90s and early 2000s, has now arguably become oversaturated with everyone and their mothers seeming to be running a startup.
You don’t want to get bogged down surrounded by a host of similar companies, so looking for a region where there is a startup culture but also one that seems to be missing something is essential for standing out. Finding your niche may take a while, and it may involve a certain level of evolution for your company, but in the long run, this will only prove beneficial for leading you towards success.
BANG!
Starting a company from scratch takes a lot of time, energy, and perseverance. You want to announce yourself, and the company, to the world in as excellent a shape as possible, and so ensuring that you are prepared for everything before the launch occurs will give you an advantage over those who neglect to prepare and hope that everything works out.
In business, there is no such thing as over-preparing. Taking the time to organise everything allows you to demonstrate professionalism and dedication towards aiming for success. Don’t let the other companies get the head start that you need, grab it and embrace it. It will only reap benefits and let you introduce your company with a bang.