Marketing a new business

My first question to her was asking if she was a good salesperson? It really made her think. After all, she was explaining to me how she could start off small buying a minimum amount of materials so the expenses would be low. Also she would do it at the same time as holding down a full time job.

I proceeded to advise her that she was leaving out one big part of the equation-sales and marketing. And this is not the first time I have heard this from visionaries who have fantastic ideas. Unfortunately they feel if they have the production and design part of the business down, everything else will follow suit.

If you are going into your own business after the first of the year, I wish you the best of luck. Whatever you do, make sure you have complete sales and marketing plans incorporated in to the overall business plan. You need revenue coming in right away or you will be out of business as fast as you get started.

If you do not feel comfortable selling or figuring out how to market your products or services, find someone who is and hire them, whether it be as a full time employee or as a contractor. Either way, you will be better off for it, by having a revenue stream sooner rather than later.

What are your challenges when it comes to marketing your new business? I look forward to hearing your comments. Until next time…