So…you have your LLC, you have your business license, you’ve hired a few employees, and you have a clear vision and direction of how you want your business to run. What’s next? How do you start spreading the word about your new and inventive business?

There are many things that you can do in the first year of your business that will be beneficial, so the below list incorporates just a few things to get you started. We love seeing and being a stepping stone to your success as an entrepreneur! Keep reading to see how these few things can really help kick start your new business.

Have a Strong Presence Online

There are many facets to having a strong and powerful online presence. From website design to SEO [search engine optimization] to blogging, technology provides plenty of avenues to get your new business found online. 

First, we recommend having a clear and concise website that captures your brand, provides an easy, and showcases your product/service well. For more information about an effective website, check a blog we wrote on custom web design!

 The primary goal of SEO is to get your website found on Google. When a consumer Googles key words that relate to your business, your business pops up as quickly as possible in the consumer’s search. SEO can be a little complicated and scary, but the benefits of a strong SEO game are hard to deny! [Click HERE for more information on SEO]. 

Again, SEO and a great website are just two of hundreds of things you can do to start a strong online presence. Even including a Call to Action button in your email signatures is a subtle yet powerful way to point people to your products or services.

Get to know People in your Community

Establishing a strong relationship in your customer base is crucial–it will cost you more money generating new leads compared to holding on to existing ones. Networking is a great way to build relationships, get out there, shake some hands, get to know them and remember their names. This will require some time and commitment but a strong network will bring you many benefits in the long run.

Think about even collaborating with other local businesses through bundled promotions or coupons/fliers. By doing this, you will expand your customer base because you’ll be reaching new buyers.

Take Advantage of Social Media

Choosing the best social media platform is a beast in and of itself, but starting somewhere is key. Social Media is no longer only used to gain exposure for your business, but it’s more of an essential tool for your business to spend time on. With tools like ads, stories and shares, it’s a great way to gain new business as well as interacting with existing customers. 

Give It Away

Don’t be afraid to give your product away for free or have some great deals at the beginning. How will someone know if your product is as excellent as you say it is unless they try it themselves? They are way more likely to buy something after they’ve tried it and liked it!

Give out free samples. Or when introducing new product into the lineup, promote a “buy one X, get *new product* at 50 percent off”. Customers wouldn’t be able to pass up a deal like that.

Ask for Reviews & Referrals

Online reviews will help new customers build trust in your company. Eighty-two percent of people trust website reviews as much as they trust a personal recommendation, and fifty-four percent of review readers will visit your website after seeing a positive review written. Something as simple as incorporating a quick review link after online check out could increase your chances of getting new customers.

Also, don’t be afraid to ask for a referral. Many people are willing to provide a referral if asked, but very few will take the initiative on their own.

Pro-Tip: Some of this stuff can be a little complicated, don’t be afraid to ask for help.

BreveCo Marketing offers free [yes, free] consultations. If you need help getting started, don’t hesitate to reach out. We love teaching new business owners new skills and helping them refine old ones. One of our favorite services we offer are consultation sessions because we value equipping and empowering you to make your business better.

Many of us are eagerly awaiting the new year so we can say goodbye to 2020. Regardless of the heartbreak that COVID-19 brought to many small businesses, it also revealed many strengths and weaknesses. Not only did it help businesses become stronger, but it also provided opportunities for many new businesses due to new consumer needs.

The beginning of any new year provides us with a fresh start, but the start of 2021 has a different feeling because of how much we’ve learned this year. The cracks in our operations have been exposed and we’ve been able to repair them propelling more successful business practices. 

Let’s plan well for 2021, take what we’ve learned and move forward for a more successful  business despite where the world leaves us. Keep reading for some helpful advice on how to plan well for the upcoming year.

Let’s learn from our adaptability

How has your company changed in the last year? In what ways did you adapt to the pandemic and other obstacles? What changes did you execute? How did you implement new products/services? How was that received by your clientele? These above questions should be asked prior to goal setting. It’s important to know and evaluate where your company has been in order to proceed successfully. No doubt about it your company has changed in some way this year, why not ask your customers how they felt about it? What ideas do they have that can make your business better? Even take a look at your online/social media presence and evaluate those platforms–did you gain followers? Did that lead to more sales? How can those platforms be used more effectively in the future? These are just a few example questions–we know you’ve learned a lot this year, let’s write those lessons down and keep moving forward.

Let’s set achievable goals

Once you’ve evaluated your past year, looking ahead to 2021 should be optimistic and enjoyable. Think about what you can do for your business to see it grow both long-term and short-term. When setting goals, it’s wise to keep them S.M.A.R.T. The “S” stands for Specific. Keep your goals simple and reasonable. “M” is Measurable. Quantify your goals! “A” is Achievable. Make sure your goals are ones that you can actually reach. It can be discouraging when goals are too lofty. Meeting goals can be a powerful tool to raise moral. “R” is Relevant – realistic, results-based. Last but not least, “T” is for Time Bound. Setting a deadline for your goals is a great idea. Let’s look at an example goal and make it a SMART goal.

Plain ole’ Goal: Grow Social Media Following 

Specific: Grow Instagram Followers

Measurable: Grow Instagram Followers – 5K total followers.

Achievable: For example sake–you have 4k followers right now.

Relevant: Is this a goal that seems worthwhile? With social media platform growth–Yes!

Time Bound: Grow Instagram Followers – 5K total followers by Jan of 2022.

Isn’t “Grow Instagram Followers – 5K total by Jan. of 2022” a better goal than “Grow Social Media Following”? It gives a clear expectation of what exactly the goal is and when it needs to be accomplished by. It’s a great roadmap for moving forward with goals in making your business successful in 2021.

Let’s take care of our people

At the heart of every small business are the people. The people who do the packaging, the customer service, the dreaming and the day in and day out mundane roles that make your business tick. Therefore, at the core of your 2021 strategy should be a solid plan to take care of these people. Now more than ever, businesses need to prioritize their employees’, work-life balance, quality of life, and physical/mental health. Think about incorporating things like paid volunteer days, generous PTO policies, half-work-day Fridays, etc. There are many things you can do to show your employees that you care about them. Happy employees means more loyal and hardworking employees.

Let’s plan for the “What If?”

If we haven’t learned anything else from 2020, we’ve all learned that unexpected events happen out of nowhere. How do you plan for a world to be affected by a virus? You don’t. But now that we know what we know, we can plan for the future and for potential odd scenarios. What if schools shut down again and my employees are working remotely with the kids? What if our product/service becomes obsolete? What if we take another big dip in sales? Find yourself an enneagram six friend and let them “what if” with you all day.  Do what you can and plan for those wild scenarios and hope they don’t actually happen.

Pro-Tip: Find a solid company to help you implement your new goals and strategies.

We know what it’s like to have a rough year and we would love to help you and your business grow and succeed in 2021. Happy new year! Here’s to learning so much in 2020 and starting fresh with new goals and new strategies. BreveCo Marketing would love to be your biggest cheerleader this year–let us know how we can help.

During today’s “new normal” creative entrepreneurs shouldn’t be fearful of failing. Instead, they should use their innovative ideas to serve potential customers in unique and creative ways.

When the nation is facing challenges, consumer needs and desires shift quickly. For example, in the last six months many businesses have become successful overnight–– mask makers, meal prep delivery services, fitness equipment businesses, bread baking companies, and coffee subscription companies just to name a few. Amid the 2008 financial crisis, large startups like Uber and AirBnB were founded as a result of a changing market.

Now is a prime time to reach customers who are being forced to change their habits and are now seeking to build new relationships with new brands. Why not be one of those new brands?

Here are a handful of reasons why you should start a business right. Now.

Pro-Tip: Ask for help when you need it. Starting a business is difficult and needing support is essential. 

BreveCo Marketing has your back when it comes to any creative marketing that’s needed to enhance your startup. We care about establishing your brand and advancing your business by creating a well-planned, effective digital marketing plan. Check out our “About” page and we’d be happy to give you a free consultation. 

“There is no perfect, one-size fits all, balance you should be striving for. The best work-life balance is different for each of us because we all have different priorities and different lives.”

~Jim Bird, author of Redefining Work-Life Balance

A combination of factors go into determining desirable work-life outcomes. Core values, personal motivators, learning styles and recreational outlets are different depending on who you ask. Even then, the results are subject to change.   

Your work-life balance will look different in the different seasons of your life. As an entry level employee what you consider successful work-life balance will change after you become settled in a job position. It continues to transform even later if you marry, have a family, and are nearing retirement. 

Establishing work-life balance is not finding an exact 50/50 split between work and leisure. That split does not exist. But you can at least strive to maintain a balance. Sometimes work and leisure crossover and that is understandable and acceptable.  When you are able to find an appropriate balance, you will be able to experience work and leisure in more fulfilling ways.

Although factors for work-life balance vary from person to person, understanding what you enjoy and where you find achievement can help indicate how you best define and achieve work-life balance in your own life.

Pro-Tip: Don’t cheat yourself on vacation days. A study taken in 2017 from the U.S. Travel Association showed that 52 percent of Americans didn’t use all of their vacation days.

Millions of dollars in benefits are lost every year. Don’t be fearful of falling behind on your workload. Not only are vacations are beneficial to your personal health, they are proven to increase productivity at work. Mental Floss comprised a surprising list of 11 hidden benefits that vacations offer here. 

Work-life balance can seemingly become less of an option when you are the one calling the shots and things literally don’t function without you. Whether you are a startup business or you are expanding to a larger market, implementing effective work-life balance is critical at every stage. 

Delegation can be a powerful skill to help achieve the goal of maintaining work-life balance. You should look for trusted and credible partners like BreveCo Marketing that will effortlessly take on tasks that are specific to your business needs- allowing you to incorporate work-life balance practices into your everyday routine. 

Check out our website and let us show you how our services can provide the relief you need to ensure you experience maximum success and satisfaction both with your business and in your personal life.

Brand management is not just some corporate fluff word, it’s the development of how your brand is perceived by the public, and more importantly, your audience.

Great brand management is essential to engaging with your customers, adding credibility to products and services and remaining relevant. Think—everything from launching and maintaining a stellar website to creating beautiful brand collateral and running effective digital marketing campaigns to further establish your brand.

Your business brand runs hand-in-hand with products or services. It’s an essential foundation for every single business.

Think about all the time you put into maintaining your products and services, making updates based on feedback, and striving to deliver your A-game to all your customers and clients; that’s sort of how brand management works––it’s not a one and done task. It’s an on-going process that’s out to build better relationships with your target audience and stand out above the rest.

Brand Management requires a fine-tuning process.

Brand management requires  a fine tuning process of 1) separating your business apart from others in the industry and 2) building devoted customers. Most of these efforts require the same mediums like a business web design, engaging on social media, and digital marketing strategies.

See how BreveCo Marketing can help you take advantage of all of those mediums.

Handling your brand management can be tricky and time consuming, so it’s not for the faint of heart. So where to begin when it comes to brand management? Here are five simple, effective, and brand management mediums you can start with to better articulate your brand.

Brand Management – 5 Areas to Get Started

Create brand collateral.

Brand Collateral is a collection of materials intended to showcase a brand and market its products or services to consumers.  Business cards, brochures and other marketing material are just a few of the items that establish your brand, and they all serve as tangible evidence of your brand.

Build a website + make it mobile friendly.

Websites allow a unique space to display your brand on the world wide web. Having an online presence in 2019 is like hanging the “open” sign on your door each day, it’s essential.  Nearly half of your visitors will judge the credibility of your business based on your website. Need I say more?

Use well-written copy that generates engagement + converts

The gift of gab might be art many possess, but the gift of effective gab is an art not easily mastered. Copy is such a simple way to give your brand an incredible facelift, generate more engagement and even convert visitors into customers. Fresh copy on your website, brochures or blogs speaks volumes into your brand. Careful not to overlook this powerful brand management tactic.

Put a digital marketing plan into play.

Digital marketing is nothing new, but the strategies change rapidly. Find a company that knows what they are doing. Digital marketing isn’t just for growing a business, sometimes it’s a simple as creating brand awareness and establishing good relationships with your audience. Whatever your end game is in the realm of Digital Marketing, BreveCo Marketing has you covered.

Take advantage of social media.

It pains me to see unengaged profiles floating around out there. Social media is such an incredible tool that’s often put on the back-burner. Don’t let it go to waste–– whether you’re looking to grow your business or simply create your genuine online presence, never underestimate the power of social media.

Pro-Tip: Don’t abandon the brand.

All-in-all brand management is about representing the core of your mission and articulating your brand well. Establishing your brand can take time, but once it’s finally complete, it requires results-driven strategies and a creative flair. That’s where BreveCo Marketing comes in.

Lucky for you, you’ve happened upon an awesome team of creatives that are ready to start work on your next project.

If you’re on the fence about venturing on to a company to handle your creative brand management, just reach out to us online for a free consultation. We’d love to chat about what BreveCo Marketing could do for you.