In order to become a successful business owner, it does not matter if you have a business school education. There are a large number of people who like being their own bosses, and what better way to become one than own your own businesses. In a self-owned and self-run business, there is no restriction (in terms of business-related issues) as to what the owner can and can’t do.
This idea is becoming more and more attractive to people these days. Even owning a small website, or running a personal blog is a business of its own and it is important to keep in mind things like market strategy, finances, and advertisement. This is why it is really important to be aware of all of those platforms that you can benefit from them.
You need to know how to kick start your business and use new and innovative ways to set it apart from others.
KNOW YOUR SPECIALITY
It is extremely important to be aware of what sets you apart from other businesses? What exactly inspires your business and what is its purpose? You can search through books and surf the Internet to find inspiration as well, but what is most important is that you have a clear idea of how you want your business to be.
In order to do just that, you need to create a map or flowchart of sorts. Do this on a computer or with just a pen and a piece of paper. Ask yourself some serious questions. What product do you want to sell? What makes your product so unique? Is there any other vendor who sells a similar product, and if so how is yours different from theirs?
What is the “something extra” that you can offer your customers in order for them to choose you over your competitors? Do you have the scope to give a discount or special promotion of sorts? Is your business mobile, or stationary, and what are the pros and cons of each of these?
These are difficult answers and will require a lot of deliberation. However, once you answer them well enough, you will realize that you have done a lot of crucial planning, and once you start taking practical steps, this will give you a clear direction to go in.
KNOWING YOUR TARGET AUDIENCE
Once you have done all the planning for your product or your service, you need to start thinking about the customer as well. Who do you plan on catering to? Think of an ideal customer of sorts and then break down the whole structure into individual categories, such as age, gender, interests, etc.
Young and Rubicans have given a 4Cs model which actually describes the different types of customers that are out there
The Aspirer:
These are those people whose aim is to fit in with people who they think belong to high society. They do not make a lot of original choices but buy those products which other people are buying commonly. Their main interests are superficial and materialistic.
The Explorer:
These are those people who love experimenting. This kind of customer loves buying new, innovative products. Strange and new things attract them, and if your business sells a new quirky product, these kinds of customers are probably the ones that will buy them first.
The Reformers:
These are those kinds of customers who are not really materialistic, but at the same time they are not as adventurous as the Explorers either. They will buy new products, but won’t go too far in terms of experimentation. They can be thought of as trendsetters as best.
The Mainstreamer:
These are those people who form the largest part of the target consumers. They “go with the flow” and rely on brands that are currently trending, provide good value of money and are trustworthy.
The Succeeder:
These are those kinds of consumers whose main aim is to seek out what they think is the best brand and product because they believe that they deserve the best. They have a few, “prestigious” brands that they tend to fall back on.
The Struggler:
This is the kind of customer that doesn’t really plan for tomorrow, and they tend just to survive one day at a time. Other people don’t see them in a positive light necessarily, but for this kind of customers, the visual impact and physical sensation of the product is essential.
The Resigned:
These customers usually belong to older age groups. They like products that give them a sense of nostalgia. Their brand choices are usually driven by the needs of economy and comfort. They usually have very strong pre-existing patterns that are normally difficult to change.
CHOOSING THE CORRECT PLATFORM
These days, there are numerous e-commerce platforms that have flooded the market. Big Commerce is one such platform, but Big Commerce pricing may not essentially work for all people. Big Commerce pricing model can be costly and even a little difficult to understand.
Also, if you have already been using some other hosting service and want to upgrade to a newer one, Shopify Plus is a great choice. Not only does it make the switch much easier, but it also focuses on things that are very important these days, such as customer engagement, strategy, and social influence.
If you are a small business owner and lack coding skills, you will need a platform that is easier to understand and offers clarity in terms of what is happening. This is something that Shopify provides. Choosing the correct platform is a key aspect for the success of a business, and this choice should be an informed one so that you don’t have to suffer negative consequences later on.
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