Owning a business, or setting up a business is not an easy process for one person alone. A team of some sorts is always needed to make sure all the p’s and ‘s are in check. Sometimes the day to day of running a business after it’s been set up can be overwhelming as well. It can happen on a number of different fronts, especially when it comes to marketing. Some general thoughts on what I have experienced and learned throughout the years.
What are You Offering the World – and Why
The development of your core services and products should be the first priority as the business owner. What makes your offerings unique? What problem are you trying to solve with your product or service? There are many options in today’s marketplace for similar ideas, but they all don’t have the same features. Pre-plan a clear pricing list as well for what it is you want to offer as well and study your existing competitors.
What are You Offering the World – and Why The development of your core services and products should be the first priority as the business owner. What makes your offerings unique? What problem are you trying to solve with your product or service? There are many options in today’s marketplace for similar ideas, but they all don’t have the same features. Pre-plan a clear pricing list as well for what it is you want to offer as well and study your existing competitors.
What are You Offering the World – and Why The development of your core services and products should be the first priority as the business owner. What makes your offerings unique? What problem are you trying to solve with your product or service? There are many options in today’s marketplace for similar ideas, but they all don’t have the same features. Pre-plan a clear pricing list as well for what it is you want to offer as well and study your existing competitors.
What are You Offering the World – and Why
The development of your core services and products should be the first priority as the business owner. What makes your offerings unique? What problem are you trying to solve with your product or service? There are many options in today’s marketplace for similar ideas, but they all don’t have the same features. Pre-plan a clear pricing list as well for what it is you want to offer as well and study your existing competitors.
Marketing Challenges
Depending what products and services you offer a mix of website, social media and advertising will be involved. You need to be very clear the type of budget involved. This can make the difference between you having to do everything yourself, or having assistance to get the start up tasks complete. There needs to be a clear Marketing Plan created as well, either on paper or laid in thought to make sure you don’t miss any of the important details. Over the years of being a Virtual Assistant I have changed the details of my marketing course several distinct times. You must always remain in a dynamic state.
The Main Business Logo
I will start with an example. When I first established Virtual Assistant Extraordinaire, I decided to use a target as a main part of my logo. I also had a basic red and black color design in the logo. The target now needs to always be part of the logo. It is the definition of what my business does for my customers. I have changed up the logo at least three times during the course of Virtual Assistant Extraordinaire, but the use of the target will never change. Moral of the story: Make sure you think long and hard about what you want your logo to the before putting it out to the world, it may be hard to change in the future.
Identify Your Target Customers
When I officially started the Virtual Assistant world I had no idea who my target customers would be. I will admit, I was initially lost in the sauce and it took me several years to create a decent pace of customers, and certain industries dictated the type of customers that could be consistent and profitable. Keep in mind providing a service for a specific business/product, is completely different than providing a business/product for a service. Each takes its own type of approach. Make sure to identify your target customers up front and be dynamic if your initial thought needs to be adjusted!
Building Your Reputation
Make sure the services or products you provide work better than customers will initially expect. It needs to stay the same way, and get better if possible in order to build a good base reputation. I have always stuck with services I provide and did not intentionally over-promise , but I over-give consistently if possible. It is greatly appreciated from my customers.
Virtual Assistant Extraordinaire 