What should you do and what should you avoid as a new small business owner?
❌ Don’t spend money on Google Ads as a new business owner.
You need to make your money work for you and stretch as far as possible. Google advertising (display ads, pay-per-click ads) is expensive and if you’re not an expert, it’s difficult to get the right traffic on this channel.
❌ Don't go all-in on SEO.
SEO is super important, and super powerful, but it's not a tactic that's going to bring you business now. You need to be consistent with your content creation and publishing on your website, but it falls in the old "it's a marathon, not a sprint bucket." Don't let anyone tell you there is some kind of instantaneous magic to be had here.
❌ Don't spend money on a pricey business coach.
Social media is full of these "coaches" and have you looked at their LinkedIn? Do they have the experience to back up their "expertise"? Some really do, but a lot don't. We're all about continuous learning and paying for it when it makes sense, too! But, beware of gurus and "marketing ninjas" out to make money off of you without delivering any real value.
✅ DO know your audience.
We have a free workbook that dives into this right on the first page. Use it to help you think through exactly who you want to sell to. There are a couple of pages with questions prompts and boxes for you to write in your answers. Print it out and write it in the old-fashioned way, or use a PDF editor. Don't skip this step, you need to be crystal clear about who you're marketing to, or you're going to be all over the place. Comment WORKBOOK if you want a DM with the link to download it. It's free, no gimmicks.
✅ DO make friends
(We suggest wicked good friends). Referrals and word of mouth are always going to be your best tactic to get started or to grow. Building real relationships with potential customers—and also fellow business owners—is going to go a long way. Don't think of other small businesses as "the competition." There is space for everyone and you can learn a lot from each other, and even refer customers to each other!
✅ DO take a break.
There are lulls where things get depressing. Business is slow, you're stretched thin, and you feel like giving up. Don't! But see "do" above. This is where friends are essential. They can prop you up and fuel you when you're feeling ragged. Don't go it alone, give yourself a good support system.
We're thinking about building a community for small business owners to do just that. Where you can network, ask questions, and lend a hand. Who's interested? Join the wait list.