3 Things to Know When Starting a Business

I am so proud and in love with this generation, we are innovative, go-getters who are constantly evolving from one level to another. All over social media I am seeing boss babes starting businesses, writing books and upping their insta feeds. The industry is booming and there is always room for more. Why? Because no one is you, and THAT is your true super power.

Since officially launching my business November 2020, I have both a lot to celebrate and a lot of lessons learned. The first step and the hardest part is launching, everything after that is commitment. I would like to talk (candidly) about a few things I wish I knew when I made the decision to start an e-commerce site. 

1. Research, research, research!

With platforms like Youtube and TikTok, there are so many FREE resources available to you. From how to start a small business, how to grow your social media following and more. Follow hashtags related to your brand others for inspiration and education such as #smallbusinesstips and #entrepreneurtips.

Research the industry, trends, vendors, competition and of course, write it all down. Create a business plan. Look into social media calendars and content ideas. This all becomes easier once you know and understand your target audience.

For example: You are providing a service for more than just women aged 18-24. You understand that there is a gap in the industry, and you are filling that gap. Do not worry about other brands that sell similar products like you, you brand is unique because of YOU.

2. Social Media is your God-send.
One word: CONSISTENCY
With the new algorithm on Instagram, here are a few tips to get seen:

• use all the interactive features: reels, IGTV, links, polls etc.
• post when possible (if not everyday, make a schedule)
• interact on your feed 30 mins before posting
• reply to comments within 1 hour 
• post stories daily
• make saveable content
• use 10-15 hashtags
• Study your insights to see what your follows respond best to

Here are some Pinterest tips:

• Use keywords!
• Pin throughout the day
• increase your saves and comments
• add fresh content often
• pin popular content to your boards

Here are some TikTok tips:

• Use trending sounds in your videos
• Use appropriate hashtags
• Ensure your videos are high-quality and well-edited 

Ultimately, if people don't know, people won't buy. Research shows that consumers need 7 touch-points before making a purchase. That means being in the consumer's face with persuasive, high-quality content 7+ times, and social media makes that easy. 

The reality is...starting a business is working a 5-9 after your 9-5. It requires a good amount of passion and whole lot of commitment.

Note: if you want to be a (micro)influencer, you need to be posting consistently. Make this easier on yourself but batch shooting your images; some high-quality and some filler photos to last you 1-2 weeks.

3. Work smarter, not harder. 
Want to edit videos? There's an app for that. Want to create graphics for free? There's an app for that. Download apps that do the hard-work for you. 

Here are some apps: 

• Captions for Instagram: generates the perfect captions for your content
• InShot: video editing made easy (even gets rid of the annoying TikTok watermark) 
• Canva: create beautiful graphics
• Preview/Planoly: schedule posts on Instagram and TikTok, or use to organize your feed
• Lightroom: edit your photos lighting for the best quality

Readers, you have the potential for a successful business. Use the resources and don't be afraid to ask questions. 

Comment below if any of the tips worked for you!