So you set up an innovative start-up, which is unlike anything else already present on the market, and which will change your line of business of choice in no time… While enthusiasm is always an admirable trait, especially in the competitive field of small businesses, it is by no means the single prerequisite for success. Globalization, which is opening up markets the world over, and giving employers access to cheaper labor force, as well as the onslaught of new technologies, are radically re-shifting the order of priorities in this area. Meanwhile, hundreds, if not thousands of great business ideas die at birth, so to speak, as the transition from concept to working reality fails to roll over as smoothly as initially expected. With this as the overarching context, what’s a competent, enthusiastic business owner to do, in order to keep afloat—and even turn their dreams of profit into a reality? We’ve browsed the web for the top three tips and this is what we came up with.
First, brush up on your online knowledge. If you’re not active on social media platforms, if you don’t Twitter, post to Pinterest, keep up with the Joneses on Google+ or Facebook… get to it right away, or, better yet, outsource this task to an experienced professional or company, who know the rules of successful online social interaction. According to experts in the field, the age of the Web 3.0 has turned the statement ‘if you’re not online you don’t exist’ into a rule of law for businesses the world over.
Secondly, remember to fearlessly explore global markets. If your idea gets rejected, once, twice, thrice or ten times in your home country, this does not, by any means, imply that there truly is no market for it. You may possibly be ‘barking up the wrong tree,’ as they say. WAToday.com, for instance, will let you read through the story of Bede Doherty, wine connoisseur extraordinaire, who transformed his life-long passion for wine-making into a profitable deal. How so? He realized that China has the potential to become a great, sustainable, long-term buyer of Australian wines, once the cultural gap between the two remote countries is bridged. That is precisely where Bede stepped in, with his company Bede Doherty & Associates. His story is not a singular one, and the next one the media could be reporting about is your success case study.
Thirdly, since first impressions matter on a generally human level, remember that they are also vital in the business world—which places a lot of value on appearance, social interaction, networking and communication. No matter how small your creative business may be, you will not get away with the lack of a professional headquarters, or without sufficient knowledge on how to answer your business mails or calls. Luckily, chances are you can find virtual offices right up your alley (http://www.regus.com.au/products/virtual-offices/index.aspx), as major rental companies have turned to exploring this line of work. Invest in powerful business communication solutions, such as those from Allstream, in order to streamline communication, as well as being more flexible and productive with your telecommunication system.
Bottom line? No matter how innovative your concept may be, it stands plenty of chances at success in today’s seemingly strict business environment. The only condition is that you, the business owner and manager, match up that creative, one-of-a-kind business idea with a similarly impressive online and offline presence.
