You have spent long days (and nights) thinking about the perfect idea for your future business. The one that will make you rich and famous. Or that will simply bring you the money and the flexibility to indulge in your other activities. In any case, it is now time to move towards the realization of your project. Here again, you have the energy to spare and ideas in your head. Only downside: you have only a very limited budget to get started.
Now, as you know, money is the nerve of war. Fortunately, it is possible to win his first entrepreneurial battles with small means. For this, you will have to think outside the box and above all, apply a rigorous method. The following 10 tips serve this purpose. They've proven themselves at every successful business, from Silicon Valley start-ups to trendy coffee shops down the street. It's your turn to apply them!
Equip yourself with an effective website
In 2016, it is unthinkable to launch your business without having a website. Whether it's an online store, a portfolio or a simple showcase, your presence on the Web must be ensured. That's how your customers will find you - and find you. With Wix, creating a website has never been so simple and intuitive, while remaining very accessible (if not free). To begin, you just need to draw the template that suits you. Rest assured: with several hundred in reserve, there is really something for everyone. Then you just have to customize it (logos, texts, photos, etc.) without any technical knowledge.
Note: Do you have associates in your adventure? No problem. With Wix Administrators, you can share access to your account in one click so that they, too, can work on the site.
Conquer the Web
In parallel with the realization of your site, you will have to invest social networks. Facebook and Twitter are, of course, indispensable. But there is a whole range of other platforms that you would be very comfortable to discover, depending on your activity. For example, if you're a cook, designer, or makeup artist, it's a good idea to post photos of your creations on Instagram. For more information on the subject, see our small guide to networks and their possibilities.
Once your accounts are created, you will be able to feed them with quality content. This is called content marketing, or the art of talking about your business without seeming (unlike conventional advertising), thanks to texts, videos or images that captivate Internet users. This content can be exploited on all your media, from your Facebook profile to your site by way of a blog. Not to mention the newsletter, one of the most effective tools to establish a regular link with your (future) customers.
Optimize your offer
There is no question of embarking on a large-scale program like Coca-Cola. Because you have just started, you have only a few resources to devote to your marketing. It is still possible, with a little work and cunning, to talk about your business. Example? Plan launch promotions for your products or services, or even give gifts to your first customers. As you will soon see, generosity ends up paying!
Also think of developing your offers in the form of formulas: "3 for the price of 2", "a product bought, the second offered", etc. This trick also applies to services. Rather than offering a service priced by the hour, you can design "packages" (Premium, VIP or any other name snappier) that group many of your services. The benefits are many. First, you simplify the life of your customers. Then you guarantee a minimum income. Finally, it will avoid giving too much choice to your prospects, which is counterproductive (as explained by consumer psychology ).
Simplify your cash and your bills
Billing and payment management can take you a lot of time, or even freak out if you hate numbers. But these are also essential activities, which bring the precious euros in your wallet. We wanted to give entrepreneurs a boost by launching Wix Invoices, a simple and very clever tool. It allows you, in a few clicks, to create and send professional invoices. Naturally, you can personalize them by adding your company logo and the legal notice of your country. Once it's done, you can track the status of your bills in real time, reroll the late payers, and archive the (digital) paperwork in a well-ranked file.
Communicate intelligently with your customers
As your darling grandmother told you, you can not be in the oven and at the mill. At the beginning of your entrepreneurial adventure, you will have a thousand and one things to manage. In these conditions, difficult to establish a regular communication with your customers. Yet this is precisely the time when they will most want to annoy you talk.
Fortunately, Wix thought of everything. And especially automatic messages, which send you without you having anything to do when a visitor performs a chosen action on your site. Whether it's a new subscriber e-mail or post-purchase notification, the Wix Smart Actions take care of it for you. The effect is doubly beneficial: your customers will feel that a special connection exists between them and you (while you are not even behind your computer - oh joys of technology!); in addition, you will give the impression of having an army of collaborators at your service day and night.
Make bookings and payments easier
Given the work you have to shoot, a personal assistant would not be too much. He would take appointments from your customers and make sure payments are made. What if your site could handle all this? Lucky kids, we've looked at it and just released Wix Bookings, an innovative booking app. Your customers block a niche and pay directly on your site - sports class, manicure session or attorney's appointment: anything is possible. So, you can let go of the phone and are finally free to focus on what you do best: your business.
Focus on your area of expertise
Why make complicated when you can make it simple? You certainly have, like everyone else, an area of specialization. Rather than navigate in unknown waters, get into the activity you already know. The benefits are many. You already have the skills, which saves you a lot of time. In addition, you will enjoy the book more, which will have a positive impact on your efficiency. Finally, the more your concept is linked to your know-how, the less you will use external consultants and service providers.
Nevertheless, it is quite possible that you may benefit from delegating certain technical tasks. An encrypted example? No problem. Let's say that you charge your services 20 € per hour. If you have a computer failure and are trying to solve the problem yourself, it will take you two hours, which you will not be able to spend with your customers.
Reduce the sail
The government says it all day long: it's time for savings. If you want to prosper in the long run, you will have to cut costs right now. Obviously, no question of not paying your electricity bill or the Internet. But you certainly do, without even realizing it, unnecessary expenses. Are these business cards with 3D effect and fleece texture really necessary? The classic model is half price and will be just as effective. In the same vein, a trendy iPhone is useful, or can you settle for a standard smartphone? You will be surprised to discover the costs you can save on each work tool.
The same goes for your providers. Do not hesitate to negotiate your contracts with confidence. You certainly have room to maneuver with each of your suppliers. Do not be shy but make sure you do not go too far - it would be a shame to break your relationship. We have just prepared a short guide that explains how to conduct a negotiation effectively. To read imperatively. And that is not negotiable!
Work from home or shared space
When you start, renting an office is an option that is hard to imagine because it is too expensive. An excellent way to save money is to work from home. Start by creating a defined space, well separated from the "personal" area of your apartment or house. You will stay away from temptations and show your family that beyond this limit, you do not want to be disturbed. For the rest, you can read this little article that explains how to create your home business.
If you miss the company and need to feel the electric atmosphere of a real office, turn to shared workspaces ( co-working ). They bloom everywhere in France, and elsewhere. There is certainly one near you. For a reasonable fee, you can rent a small office and have the necessary services to work efficiently, such as Wi-Fi, printer and ... the coffee machine! It is also a great way to meet other entrepreneurs and share tips and best practices with them. In other words: the benefits of office life without the disadvantages.
Go out
You have now understood: in the digital age, it is necessary to have a website and a presence on social networks to make themselves known. But that does not mean that good old method have become obsolete.
Feel free to participate actively in events and conferences related to your industry. Thus, you will be able to build up a solid network by exchanging with professionals of the same profession or complementary activities. Are you a professional makeup artist? Work with a hairdresser, to whom you will send your clients - and vice versa. The logic remains the same for all trades: the union is a strength!
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