3 Steps to Starting a Business

Starting a business is never easy, no matter whether you’re a first-time solopreneur, or a serial entrepreneur launching your tenth business. Obviously, the first step is to have a winning idea, but there are some other fundamental elements that, when done right, can take your business from stagnant to stand out on your road to success.

One: Find Your Identity

Understanding what your business is and understanding how that story can be told using colour and design are two totally different skill sets. And as the genius who came up with the idea for your enterprise, we suggest working with a talented design partner who can get your look and feel off the ground.

Designers often create everything from your logo — something that stands out and is easy to remember while communicating the core essence of your company — to colour palette and font choices. Then, they can take those core pieces of your visual identity and design letterhead, business cards, word marks, logos and everything else you’ll need to put your unique stamp on things.

You’ll also need them to support you when it’s time for collateral.

Two: Create Collateral

Depending on your business, even in the age of digital, people like a “leave behind.” It’s something that your prospect, or client, can refer back to and it can act as your calling card. It can be as simple as a business card, a label or hangtag, or can meet a need like a calendar that’s branded with your identity. Even though no one’s making office calls at the moment, receiving something in the mail can reinforce how committed you are to staying in touch.

Three: Make Marketing Magic

Marketing means different things to different people, but at its core, its purpose is to get your business noticed and build awareness of your brand. From websites to advertising, social media and direct mail, marketing is how potential customers learn about your business and it’s where you can tell people what you do.

For most businesses today, social media is your best asset when it comes to digital marketing. It’s free, 64% of Canadians are on one social platform or another, it belongs to you in that you decide what to put on it and when, and once you have your visual identity, you can get started. Consider taking a social media workshop, so you learn the ins and outs of the different channels, what user expectations are, and what the networks can do for you.

A comprehensive website is a great place to send potential customers once you’ve gotten their attention with your social content. Make sure it represents who you are, what your business is about, and incorporates your branding so there is no confusion. Everything you do in launching your business should feel to your prospects like it’s coming from the same place. Be mindful of colour palette and fonts when creating something “official” and stay true to what’s been established by your design partner.

Other elements like email and newsletters are an important part of marketing but will come a bit later when you’ve developed a database of clients who want to hear from you on the regular.

Branding and marketing can intimidate even the most driven business mind. Looking for support? Staples Solutionshop offers a range of services from design to printing to creating marketing materials — a one-stop-shop for getting your ideas onto paper and out into the world!