So, you are starting a new business. You’re full of wonderful ideas. You are now following your passion and can’t wait to hit the ground running. But did you miss a few steps along the way?
For most of you, the financial component of starting a business will be the biggest obstacle you face. It’s easy to purchase all the supplies you will need to run your business but have you thought about how your customers will know you’re out there? In my opinion, most of you have completely skipped over the most important steps — your identity and branding.
Don’t panic, with a few small investments you can make a giant impact on your new venture. First, and most importantly, your business identity! You have thought long and hard about the name of your business but have you thought about how you want to present your business to your customers? A successful logo design shows that you are committed to your business, reputation, and your customers. If your logo looks more like an afterthought and is poorly put together, that will be your first impression on anyone looking in your direction. By working with a professional designer, you can easily have an amazing and custom logo created just for your business. As soon as your logo has been created the rest will easily fall into place. You can now tie your logo into business cards, packaging, website, social media, and more.
Your branding is another important step in driving your business forward. A Facebook page is great, but it’s not a website…it’s a social media platform. If you want to be taken serious in today’s market you absolutely need a professional online presence. Think of how you would want your store front or office to look and feel when your customers walk through the door. That is the feeling you want your customers to have when they visit your website. Your website should reflect who you are, your voice, your culture and your values. Websites are not cheap; trust me, I know. Everyone’s first thought is to put a dollar value on a website. Ask yourself — “what value will a professional website add to my business?” rather than — “How much will this thing cost?” Some companies, like mine, will offer easy payment plans to help with smaller budgets. It is very doable for any business and will have a lasting impact!
Peace, love and design.
