Start-Up Your Business

When starting a new business, it is easy to get lost in initial branding, website development, etc. and take too long to launch.

Your launch strategy is simple if you are just starting out. Create an image that is bold, clear and simple. If you are setting up a website, start with just a few pages and clear ways to contact you. If you are designing business cards, use bold colors but assume you will improve them later on - they are cheap.

The key is to look professional and launch quickly. Once money is coming in, you should use it to improve your brand, website and materials.

There are a few basic things you will not want to change later if you can avoid it. Here they are:

Company Name

If you are just building a small practice, consider the Jane Smith Group (Branding You). If you want to grow a bigger practice, come up with a good name that will be memorable, easy to spell and not be so specific that you cannot add new things later.

Website Address (URL)

You can have more than one domain name and website, but you should have one main place people go to get information about you that will not change in the future. This means you will want to register your domain and set up a real website, not some free site someplace.

Email Address

Your main email address should not change and it should not end in aol.com, hotmail.com, gmail.com etc. You should have an email with your domain if you want to be professional. We also offer email addresses name@virtualbuzzassistant.com if you are interested in that email. You just have to let us know.

Wordpress Blog

You do not have to have a blog on day one. However, before you start really blogging, purchase a wordpress blog. It is simply more professional, offers more options and moving your blog at a later time is painful.

Phone Number and Address

To keep this simple, try a PO box and a cell phone that is your business line. You can also use a service like RingCentral.com to manage your calls, faxes, etc. If you decide to go with a service like that, do it in the beginning or you will end up needing to change your phone number on everything.

Outside of these few things, you will always be improving, adjusting and developing your image, products, services and marketing.

Once you have those firm things identified, you will need to get the basics in place.

Have a bold, simple business card that stands out in a stack and is easy to read.
Start blogging and improving your website
Have a template for proposals ready so that you can respond quickly to potential clients.
Have your showcase ready for us to send to potential clients (A zip file with resume, testimonials and anything else you want to include)
Set up online profiles in places like LinkedIn
Write an email template you can send to people you know that updates them on your new business or services, your new contact info, etc.
Encourage them to forward people to your site that need a Virtual Buzz Assistant.
Update the Virtual Buzz Assistant Network on your progress.

Companies are never done. Look at some big company like McDonalds. Do they need to advertise on TV? Yes, because the have continuous competition. Even though they have a strong brand, clear products and loyal customers, successful brands are always trying new messages, strengthening visibility and improving how they interact with the world. You must get a fast start and then commit to continuous improvement.