Have a Brand-New Business Idea? Here's What to Do Next

Listen in! Pick up some expert advice to a reader's question that we selected from CyberSchmooz.

Ok, so you've got an idea for something you want to sell. You're full of passion, and a few people have even told you it's a good idea. But now you're wondering, “how do I turn your idea for a successful business into a reality?”

Read on to discover four useful tips to bear in mind when you're starting a new business.

1) Social Media Presence

Nowadays, a strong presence on social media is a core component of every business strategy. But unless you're a celebrity, it's pretty hard to kickstart your social media following from scratch.

So to get started, you can buy instant Facebook likes, which will immediately give your social media a sense of authority and encourage other users to like your page. Before you know it, you'll have a substantial following and a strong platform to promote your products and spread the word about what your business does.

2) Effective Branding

Make sure you choose a catchy name. A brand name with ten syllables written in gray Times New Roman isn't going to cut the mustard in today's fast-paced, photo filter-filled environment. You need a brand name that's short and rolls off the tongue. Words involving sibilance ('s' sounds) are often the most effective, and plosive words (ones with a p- or b- sound) tend to be easiest to remember.

Sometimes, the best way to choose your business name is to write a list and see which ones you remember the next day — if you found a name memorable, there's a good chance your customers will too.

Also, your logo design and text should feel fresh and fitting for the tone you're trying to achieve.

3) A Navigable Website

We've all been there: you visit a company's website, only to find it's slow to load, the layout is confusing, and you can't get to the page you were looking for.

According to Forbes, 38% of users will stop interacting with a website if the layout is unattractive. That's a huge number of potential customers you'll lose just because you didn't design your website appropriately.

The key to a successful business website is navigability: how easy it is for users to find their way around the pages. Each time you're adding a new page to your website, ask yourself the following questions:

Is the purpose of this page clear to users?
Can users take action easily? Can they buy the product or navigate back?
If users don't like what they see, do they still have a reason to stay on the site, i.e., have you offered them alternatives to suit their tastes?

If the answer to all three is ‘yes,' then there's a good chance you've built a pretty good website.

4) Customer Approval

It goes without saying that strong customer service is the backbone of every successful business. But business owners often forget that it's important to actively seek customer approval of their product.

Before you make your first product available for sale, make sure you have in place a clear strategy to attract positive feedback. Invite your customers to review their products, and consider offering them incentives to do so, such as vouchers, discounts, and raffles.

If you get negative feedback, don't worry! Consider each piece of negative feedback an opportunity customers have given you to refine your product and increase your chances of success for the future. It's better to receive constructive criticism early than after you've launched the brand.

Building your Business

Of course, every business is different, and without a good product or service, no business is likely to succeed. But if you keep these four main points in mind, you'll build a solid foundation to launch your venture.

Remember to focus on branding, establishing a clean website, and staying active social media presence. Also, ask for customer feedback ahead of time to put out the best product.

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