The short guide to running a business in 2022

1. Be DEDICATED and SERIOUS ABOUT YOUR CRAFT 

Let us just clear the air with if you are starting a business solely in hopes of becoming one of these Instagram people you see on your timeline who quit there 9-5 and wear all this designer then go home to package there orders just to take pictures with then you are in it for the wrong reason. Now there is nothing wrong with what I just said because I have done 2 out of the 3 lol. People go wrong thinking this is going to happen overnight and unfortunately it does not work like that unless you are selling something people absolutely love and it goes viral or already have a large engaging audience. If you are not willing to dedicate a lot of time and money as well as effort into your business, you will be wasting your time even starting. There it is. The harsh truth. You must have a goal and a vision. 

2. Trust the process

I cannot stress this enough and it is the #1 thing I see from new business. Quitting before you give it your all! Launching your business to then stop spreading the word and posting about it in on social media in 7 days will only make people not take you serious and therefore not want to spend money or support you. You cannot expect people to know anything about your business unless you promote and push it in front of people eyes. Do not give up on yourself just because you are not seeing results you were expecting to see at once. Wonderful things take time. Do not compare yourself to what anyone else is doing because nobody is business is like YOURS. 

3. Have a target audience and niche 

I know you see everyone saying this but it’s the truth. Know who you are selling to and what they like. Combining what your product or service is with what's trending for your target audience will never steer you wrong. Sweet and simple. 

4. A logo to last a lifetime

The simpler the better. If you're starting a business, you should already be thinking longevity. Just take a look at all the big brands and designers. They have simply and sleek logos that have last them through decades. Your logo is the first layer of your brand that’s holding everything else together. Keep the fonts simple and the colors to a minimal. No more of the glitter and glitz as well as only using simple images if you're incorporating in into your logo. To put things into perspective, try to envision your brands in 10 years plastered everywhere and on everything, even maybe a head front store. A loud logo will not look to pretty to the eye everywhere. You want something that will last but bring the attention.  

5. Preparing the prelaunch  

Now that you have all things listed above, it's time to spread the word. This is the most important step. Do not be the person to launch their business 2 days after announcing it, and then expect things to go smooth. You haven't even given people the chance to know your brand and what you're selling.  

You should start of by deciding how long you want your pre-launch to last. You could do 30, 60, or even 90 days. Whichever you choose this is the time to gather leads and initial interest.  You need to focus on packaging, websites, and first set of products or services. With this example we will be doing a 30-day pre-launch.  

WEEK 1 

• Have websites in the works and social media pages ready for posting. 
• Find what domain you want run your business through. 

• Promote your band page. You can have people subscribe to your newsletter, do giveaways, and even offer something free for the first few people who sign up or make a purchase when your brand launches.  
• Begin product testing. Trying out a few services or items on people in your target audience to get some feedback so you can determine if the audience you're targeting find interest in your product. 
• Begin posting sneaks peaks and spreading the words on social media to get people interested and have a sense of what you're selling. You want people to come to your page and see what the hype is about not and empty Instagram or Facebook feed. 

WEEK 2 

• Be sure to post on your brand page at least 3-4 times a week. Don’t let people forget you. Get them to stop scrolling and engage. 

• Open a business bank account. 
• Make sure you have everything you need to package your orders. Label printer, tape, and desired packaging material. 
• Find a fulfillment service and who you want to ship with. (USPS, FEDEX, UPS, ECT.). Example: You would use Stamps.com if you choose USPS to ship items to buy stamps to create packing labels and Shiptstation.com to fulfill orders and print out labels. If you're using Shopify they also have shipping all in one but you could use either.  
• If you have influencers lined up to help promote your brand, this is the best time to get in contact with them to send some of your products for them to post on their socials to get some traffic to your page and even future customers lined up.  

WEEK 3: 

• Have website completed and ready to launch. 
• Be sure to have all payment options setup and tested. 
• Create an ad or commercial showcasing your products to keep people reeled in. 
• Post on your personal accounts with your products to get your followers to your business page.  

WEEK 4: 

• Announce launch.  
• Promote through your leads continuously. 
• Announce on social media and through email subscribers. 
• Continue to post even after launch day (honestly never stop posting lol). 

6. This is only the beginning

Weather you’ve gotten 1 order or 40. Do not give up or doubt yourself. I mean look at how much you’ve done so far. There's no going back now. Continue to do your research and steadily upgraded your brand in every aspect. Don’t quit after a week just to “relaunch” your brand again just because it's not going how you expected it to or because you see someone else's business booming who's targeting the same audience. There's room for everyone to eat If you have to tweak something whether it be your target audience or even your site layout, never close down shop. Your’re doubting yourself and doubt only leads to failure. DO YOU and stay in your lane. You'll thank yourself in the end.