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11 Crucial Tactics For Starting A Business

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Having a successful business is what most young people dream about. Independency, freedom of choice, and financial well-being are just a few things a successful startup can give you.

Many startups fail not because their ideas are not good enough, but because they have the wrong approach towards the whole thing. It is impossible to say how to start up with your idea and become successful right away. However, there are some practical tips that will help for sure.

Here are the 11 crucial tactics for starting a business

1. Don’t be afraid to fail

Starting up your own business, you should be ready to fail. Small failures can give you priceless experience. In your failures, you can find a success recipe for your next undertaking.

Here are a couple of bright examples; simply think about them. PayPal was the fifth business try of Max Levchin. Angry Birds is the fifty second try and the first big success of Rovio Company. Impressive, isn’t it?

You cannot learn to ride a bike only reading about it. You need to pedal, to fall a couple of times, to feel how it works and only then you can confidently ride it. And when you ride along a bad road in terrible weather, you can then overcome any obstacles in the future. Startups are also like that. You fail and learn your lessons the hard way only to get up and to achieve success.

 “Failure isn’t fatal, but failure to change might be” – John Wooden

2. Make sure you and your investors are on the same page

Money is an important part of a start up campaign, but be careful with it and pick the right source. As your investors will be shareholders in your company, you will practically be “married” to them. That is why it is better if you like your investors. Check if you share similar ideas and attitude towards your startup. If you have any doubts, better look for someone else.

 

3. Don’t try to make it alone

Most of the startups created by one person fail. You need to have a strong team of co-founders. Don’t start a project if you don’t have a good designer, marketing specialist, developer and techies. Try not to see these people as your employees, treat them as your co-founders and partners and they will be more driven to make the project successful.

 

4. Don’t worry if you cannot afford an office

Not every startup gets big investments the moment they think of a business idea. You have to create a plan and develop your idea into something bigger first. At this point, all you may have is this idea, some like-minded people and some money to implement this idea.

Don’t worry if you cannot allow a big fancy office for your startup. Numerous successful businesses started their lives in the houses or garages of their creators. Among them are Apple, Amazon, Microsoft, Disney, Google, Nike and many other business giants.

 

5. Always get yourself and your partners motivated

Motivation is what makes people create great things. Find something that makes you motivated and constantly think about it. It can be anything starting from a deep desire to see your product helping people and finishing with a simple wish to become rich.

And never forget to motivate your team. If you cannot motivate them financially yet, use other tactics. Always remind them of your goals, arrange different creative brainstorming sessions and simply hang out together and talk about all the great things you will accomplish.

 

Teamwork
 

6. Don’t focus on the race

On a competitive market, it is easy to focus on the race with your competitors trying not to yield to them. Do your own thing and put the energy into the things that seem important to you. Maybe your ideas will change all the rules and your competitors will then have to play your way.

Of course you have to know what your competitors do, but instead of trying to be more like them, focus on your target audience and find out what it values the most. Then try to give it to people. If you don’t, someone else will.

 

7. Mistakes are your best teachers

As Mark Suster says in his article on entrepreneurship, the main quality of a successful startup “is the ability to spot your mistakes, correct quickly and not repeat the mistakes”. Of course, it is very cool if you’ve witnessed some other entrepreneurs’ mistakes and learnt their lesson, but usually it is your own mistakes that teach you best.

 

8. Freelancers and outsourcers are your good friends

Let’s say you have a great idea but you live far away from like-minded people. Or the programmers or designers who are ready to work with you are not bright enough to create a successful project. In these or other similar situations, you have a great option of finding talented people and doing some business magic with them distantly.

With all the technology we have now, you can easily make it work. Of course there can be some issues, but every team has problems whether they work in one building or in different parts of the world. Before hiring someone from far away, though, you need to get tips for working with freelancers. For example, you need to make sure you can rely on these people and you can contact them any time you need it.

 

9. Don’t let routine kill your enthusiasm

Many startups begin their project full of energy and enthusiasm. However, when they encounter routine tasks and some difficulties, many of them give up and abandon the whole thing. Starting your project, you need to be ready for routine and for problems. Don’t forget to focus on your goals and to keep following your ideas and your dreams.

 

10. Don’t procrastinate

Startups are all about the speed. If you don’t realize your ideas fast, someone else just might do it before you. Procrastinating is unacceptable in a startup. You need to constantly move forward and not get distracted by dull things that stop you from progressing.

“Only put off until tomorrow what you are willing to die having left undone” – Pablo Picasso 

11. Deal with your personal issues

Your life and your work are inevitably connected. If there are too many personal problems in your life, it would be difficult to focus on your project and to give it 100% of your dedication. So, a successful start up demands you to deal with your troubles, to let go of all the things that hold you down and to feel happy about your life. Only then will you be able to create something truly great.

Hopefully this small business startup guide can help at least some of you to start working to make your ideas a reality. If you have a killer idea and you think all the basic things through, no one can stop you on your way to success.

Which one of these tips do you think is the most important and why? Please leave your thoughts in the comment section below!

William Sarto is an experimenting content strategist at GoHunters - freelance writing board. His passion is helping people to reach success! William primary interests are startups, marketing and growth hacks. He enjoys trying new techniques and sharing his experience with people. Stay tuned on Twitter!

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Startups

5 Strategic Power Moves to Successfully Build Your Empire

Transitioning from idea to empire is a journey of strategic planning, execution, and constant evolution

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how to build your empire

The journey from a fledgling idea to a thriving empire is both exhilarating and daunting. The Startup Launchpad is not just a process but also a strategic framework that enables visionary entrepreneurs to become market leaders. This framework comprises five power moves, each a critical steppingstone in building a successful business.

These moves—Ideation, Business Plan, Online Presence, Strategic Marketing, and Launch and Growth—are the blueprint for turning aspirations into achievements. (more…)

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Startups

How to Avoid Startup Clichés and Buzzwords When Pitching Investors

Using jargon can make you sound like you’re trying to fill space instead of providing meaningful data

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How to pitch investors better

Entrepreneurs frequently seek startup funding through a variety of channels. Yet, none seem as challenging as successfully pitching to experienced investors. After all, investors are pressed for time and eager for opportunities. These characteristics make it challenging to motivate them, especially if you’re bombarding them with a pitch full of jargon. (more…)

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Startups

From Idea to Empire: 5 Power Moves for Your Startup to Thrive in Today’s Market

As an entrepreneur, I’ve learned that understanding market dynamics and choosing the right business model are crucial

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How to thrive in the startup market in 2024

As an entrepreneur, I’ve learned that understanding market dynamics and choosing the right business model are crucial.

A few months into the startup, I was quick to gauge why it is necessary to go beyond the nuances of operational efficiency and the art of sustaining a business amid growing competition.

Collaboration is key.

The HR and the recruiting teams work with departments to foster a culture of collaboration, but what’s indispensable to business performance is the sync between the marketing and sales teams. What we’d consider as entrepreneurs is the need to ensure seamless collaboration to predict and achieve business goals together. In turn, this will help secure long-term recurring revenue for the business.

Besides, entrepreneurs need to focus on revenue as they gear up to take their startup from $0 to $1 million. The journey is filled with critical decisions, from identifying your target customer base to choosing the right funding strategy.

So, what next?

Read on… because here are five practical, results-driven strategies that you as a founder can implement to make a mark in their industry.

#1. Embrace the Lean Methodology

What is lean methodology?

It is all about pivoting resources to create more value for customers with fewer resources. 

This principle encourages you to be more agile and allow rapid iteration based on customer feedback rather than spending years perfecting a product before it hits the market.

Want to implement it?

Here’s what you can do.

Build “Measure-Learn” Loop: What I did was develop a minimum viable product (MVP), a simple version of the product. You can do the same since it allows you to start the learning process as quickly as possible. After launching MVP, measure how customers use it and learn from their behaviors and feedback.

Here’s what I can recommend here:

  • Identify the core features that solve your customers’ primary needs and focus solely on those to develop your MVP.
  • Know the feedback channels where early users can communicate their experiences, suggestions, and complaints.
  • Analyze user behavior and feedback to make informed product development and iteration decisions.

#2. Focus on Customer Development

Let’s talk about taking our startup to the next level. 

It’s not just about getting customers – it’s about really getting to know them. We need to dive into their world, understand their struggles, and see how our product or service can make a difference in their lives. 

It’s like we’re detectives, piecing together the puzzle of our business hypothesis by actually chatting with our customers

What would you ideally do here?

Understand Customer Segments: I’d say, start dividing your target market into segments and develop a deep understanding of each segment’s demographics, behaviors, needs, and pain points. The idea is to get into their shoes and really feel what they feel.

Ensure your Product Clicks: When starting up, think of what you offer and consider whether it clicks with what our customers need. My thought was “Does my product solve their problems? Does it make their day better?” Put yourself through a tough grilling session to show customers the value proposition and ensure that the product’s promise matches what our customers are looking for.

I’d recommend the following actions here:

  • Talk to them – through surveys, interviews, or even casual chats. The goal? To gather real, raw insights about what they need and expect.
  • Use the collected data to create detailed profiles for each type of customer. This way, everyone on our team really understood we were serving. I think this should help your startup as well.
  • Try out different versions of our product with a few customer groups. It’s all about feedback here – understanding if you’re hitting the mark or if we need to pivot.

#3. Foster a Data-Driven Culture

The digital world is highly data driven since it fuels key decisions in a startup. 

I believe it’s essential for us to build a data-driven culture. This means, you’ll move from making decisions based on hunches or assumptions. Instead, the focus should be on data analytics and insights to guide our strategies and improve our outcomes.

What can you do?

Use Data Analytics Tools: You should be using these tools to gather, analyze, and interpret data related to customer behavior, market trends, and our business operations. Here, consider the adoption of pipeline forecasting that leverages AI to find patterns in marketing data. 

In turn, you’ll get areas for improvement since it can analyze historical data and predict the outcome for you to plan your.

Action Items:

  • Pinpoint key performance indicators (KPIs) that align with your business objectives and ensure they are measurable and actionable.
  • Next, you can consider training your team to understand and use data analytics tools. This might involve workshops or bringing in experts to build a data-savvy workforce.
  • Once everything is in place, regularly review data reports and dashboards. This gives us a clear picture of a startup’s health and helps adjust your strategies and predict future trends.

#4. Strengthen Your Financial Acumen

A good grip on financial skills is important to steer your business towards growth and making sure it stays on track. For this, you’ll have to understand the money side of things, which helps you manage your cash flow. Think of figuring out smart investment moves and sizing up any risks that come your way.

Here’s a tip on how you can get savvy with your finances.

Maintain Rigorous Financial Discipline: I’m really focused on cultivating a strong company culture, one that truly resonates with our mission. So, I’d suggest fostering open communication and encouraging a sense of ownership and collaboration among everyone in the team.

Action Items:

  • Get to know your financial statements inside out – I’m talking about the income statement, balance sheet, and cash flow statement. These are like the vital signs for your business’s financial health
  • Use financial forecasting that helps predict your future money moves. With this, you will have a heads-up on upcoming revenues, expenses, and how much cash you’ll need. Also, research on the available financial forecasting tools that can make predictions spot-on.
  • Don’t go at it alone. Regularly touch base with financial advisors or mentors. With them by your side, you’ll have a fresh perspective on your financial strategies to ensure you’re on the right path to hit your business goals.

5. Prioritize Team Building and Leadership Development

It is crucial to focus on building a solid team and developing strong leaders. This means putting our resources into the people who are going to propel our company forward. 

What you’ll aim for here?

Creating a culture where everyone collaborates and every team member has the chance to emerge as a leader.

What I would do:

Cultivate a Strong Company Culture: This culture should mirror our mission and foster open communication. It’s important that it encourages everyone to feel a sense of ownership and work together.

Invest in Leadership and Team Development: As founders, we’ll have to make way for opportunities for teams to enhance their skills, face new challenges, and grow in their careers.

Some concrete steps that you should consider taking:

  • Begin with clearly communicating your startup’s vision, mission, and values so that every team member is on the same page.
  • Conduct regular team-building activities and workshops to boost skills and strengthen a sense of unity and collaboration.
  • How about starting a mentorship program within our organization? The more experienced team members could guide and support the growth of newer or less experienced folks.
  • Alas… encourage feedback at all levels. We should keep striving to create an environment where open, honest communication is the norm and everyone feels safe to speak up.

I know it’s one thing to get your head around these ideas and quite another to actually make them a part of your everyday business life. But that’s where the real magic happens, right? It’s all in the doing. 

As a startup founder, this means more than just being a big dreamer. How about rolling up your sleeves to be the planner who pays attention to the smallest details. Ultimately, these tips and more tactics around it will help carve a leader in you who listens and cares and the learner who’s always ready to adapt

So, as you’re either starting out or moving forward on this entrepreneurial adventure, keep these practical tips right there.

May these be your guiding lights, helping you steer through the wild and exciting world of building a startup that’s not just a dream, but a thriving reality.

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12 Things I Learned in 12 Months of Working on My Startup

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Image Credit: Unsplash

A few weeks ago I launched my startup. It took exactly 12 months from the initial idea until the moment I saw my app in the App Store. And these were some of the most challenging, fun and exciting 12 months of my whole life. (more…)

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