The good news about getting into a self employed business is that, unless the market is saturated with other entrepreneurs offering the same service or products, then there’s probably a lot of low-hanging fruit, hidden opportunity, and untapped demand. The bad news is that unless you market yourself effectively, provide customer with exceptional value and service, and keep a close eye on quality control and your bottom line, your chances of small business survival are probably slim.
However, if you have the motivation, the self discipline, and the marketing skills to effectively attract and retain customers, then being your own boss might turn out to be one of the most rewarding things you’ve ever done.
1. Self Motivation is the First Key
Believing in yourself and your business plan is the foundation of your future success. If you doubt yourself or the value of your products or services, then that will weaken your energy, lower your productivity, and undermine just about everything you do. Making a commitment to continuous improvement, excellent customer service, and the attainment of a series of achievable goals will help keep you on a progressive path to self employment success.
2. Marketing Makes the Difference
Since word-of-mouth advertising is the most valuable form of marketing, it’s vitally important to be meticulous when it comes to establishing a stellar reputation and delivering outstanding service. When you’ve accomplished that, you’re in a strong position to ask clients for referrals, or just stay in touch with them, periodically, to notify them of new products, services, or promotions. You’ve succeeded in your marketing and customer service efforts when you’ve achieved “top of mind awareness” in the minds of your clients and prospects. When they think of you first when they need your services or products, then you know you’re on the right track to building a successful business.
3. Planning to Succeed
Success rarely happens by accident, so it makes sense to create a plan for building your customer base, leveraging your strengths, and minimizing your weaknesses. Even though starting your own business entails a certain degree of risk, knowing what your competitive advantages are and having the ability to clearly communicate those benefits to customers and prospective clients will help form the framework of a growth-oriented small business.
