Are you a business startup looking for ways to grow? So many now-famous entrepreneurs started in their house or garage. Daymond John, CEO and owner of the popular clothing line FUBU, got his start by creating hats in his home and selling them on the streets. Both Bill Gates and Steve Jobs started their successful technology companies in their garages. You have to start somewhere, and there are many who began with only a few resources and a modest work space. It took them miles of leg work, endless knocking on doors, and years of perseverance to get to where they are today.
But now, things can happen a lot faster. People can self-publish these days and sell their work on the open market. Musicians are going from “small-town band” to “overnight sensation.” This is the era of “anything can happen,” and you can take advantage of that as a small business startup.
If you are starting a business from your home or garage, you need the resources to help you take your business from your garage to the world. Here are a few sound tips to get you started:
Use social media.
Everyone is on social media, talking to friends, making business deals, and sharing their excitement. Your business should be there too. Being on social media gives you a direct line to the customers and a viable method for receiving customer feedback as well.
Create online ordering capabilities.
If you are going to be where the people are, having an online order form is essential. Once you convince people you’ve got the goods, give them a shopping cart to put it in.
Be mobile.
Researchers predict that over two-thirds of the world’s population will have a mobile device in just a few short years. To stay within your customers’ reach, you must have a mobile shopping cart solution and mobile capabilities. Make sure your website is “mobile friendly” too, with easy-to-use ordering.
Be visual.
People respond to video. Creating a cool YouTube video for your screen printing business puts you in the hands of even more mobile and desktop users. A short video of about two minutes is all you need to draw in more customers. There are 500 million visitors to YouTube each month, and 500 million people can’t all be wrong.
Be creative.
Always look for ways to further engage your audience and get their opinion on your products. Get customer feedback to encourage repeat business; be willing to do “service after the sale” and listen to what your customers want.
Remember, you may be starting in your garage or back room of your house, but a lot of great businesses started that way. Just reach out through the Internet and you too can go global by utilizing the amazing tools that are at your disposal.
