Want To Start A Business? Begin With The Basics.

The dream of becoming a business owner is a confidence booster. It can become an exciting journey when birthed into reality, and if successful, a feeling of accomplishment is tagged not just within you but in your overall persona.  

With the advent of the internet and the growth of technology, starting a business has never been so easy.  Today, considering how advanced the business world has become, anyone with the drive and determination can get started with little to no start-up cost.  There are many people who started out as an affiliate, marketing for a company of their preferred niche, made thousands of dollars and became successful business men and women.  Others started out selling on eBay and became power sellers and so on.  

All over the internet, there are stories of people who started out of nothing but determination.  Some started out of necessity because they got in a financial bind, because of workplace discrimination, racial prejudice and the likes, and had success beyond their wildest imagination.  Mary Kay Ash is a typical example.  She started out with $5000, and her company is still a household name even after she's gone.  Read her remarkable story here.  

Others mapped out their plans, took classes, read books, attend meetings and invested heavily, all in an effort to create their own success story.  

As inspiring and encouraging as some of business success stories are, a lot has changed over the years.  Our era has changed and so is the way businesses are conducted.  That is why it is important to be abreast with the trends of the business world.  Understanding your obligations as a small business owner or aspirant will save you time and money, especially if you plan to be in business for a long time.  While traditional methods still works, it is the application of modern day business methods that will help you stand the test of time.

Here are some simple guidelines to help you get you off to a good start.

1)    Decide on your niche market.  It is good practice to choose a niche that you are either familiar with or interested in.  If you already knowledgeable in the field, be informed about the latest trend.  If you are simply interested in the niche and would like to venture into it, it is advisable to do your homework.  Thoroughly research the market and be knowledgeable about it.  Find out about your demographics, who are your potential customers, what social media platform best fit your business and start building your network.  Just because Facebook is huge, doesn't mean it will work for your type of business.  For example,  LinkedIn is not the most suitable platform for Expose Your business Online.  While we may still win a few clients from there, it is mainly a career-oriented platform.  It is mainly for Professionals looking to advance their careers.  So do a research on where your customers are,  what advertising and marketing strategies will work best for you, the best places to get targeted customers, how you plan to retain them and so on.  

Doing an evaluation of your findings will help you in your decision process.  Also, don't forget to take into consideration your personality type.  People don’t think it is important.  But it is.  If you easily take offense, certain businesses may not be for you.  Having and running a small business as self-employed can sometimes be lonely.  So most importantly, be patient.