Month: September 2017

You’ve seen businesses fail and start-ups die almost as soon as they’ve begun, and it can cause you to doubt your own plans and ideas. For entrepreneurs or soon-t0-be entrepreneurs, the foundation of a successful business venture is a good, novel or timely idea. You may be holding back because you have concerns about whether your idea is really good enough to make it. How can you really know if what you want to do is something that can succeed? Here are a few questions to ask yourself in order to know if your business idea is truly a good idea:

• Is it needed? Be honest with yourself about the purpose of your idea — if it doesn’t meet a need, provide a solution or offer something of value to a consumer, it may not work in the marketplace. Keep in mind that while it may not work now, it could work in the future. Store it away until it’s the right time for your particular idea.
• How will people feel about it? It can be difficult to make a business idea succeed if it doesn’t stand out from the competition. A cup of coffee is a cup of coffee, so any new coffee shop must figure out a way to make what they offer exciting or unique in some way. Differentiation from the competition is the lifeblood of a successful business idea.
• Are you willing to put in the work? It’s no secret that entrepreneurs sometimes have to suffer for the benefit of a business. If you are willing to put in the hard work and sweat for at least a period of time, that’s a sign that you may ready to launch this business idea.

Starting a business is not an easy or painless process. While it is important not to allow the fear of failure to hold you back from moving forward, it is prudent to be sure that it’s the right time for this particular business idea. At the wrong time, a really good idea is no better than a bad idea. If you’re ready, and it’s time to go for it, don’t let your fears keep you from succeeding.

By Meagan Kerlin for Vertu Marketing LLC

No one knows everything there is to know about business — you included. Even the most successful business people find that there are still things to learn and areas for growth, even after decades of entrepreneurship. For this reason, you may find that it is in your best interests for you to seek the support and guidance of a career coach or business mentor.

There are many entrepreneurs who simply go it on their own. You may be inclined to believe that you are fine on your own, but in reality, there are always benefits to having a knowledgeable, more experienced ally in your corner. A career coach can help you avoid costly mistakes, provide valuable feedback and serve as a sounding board for new ideas.

A career coach is like a fitness trainer for your business. His or her role is to keep you in shape, push you to new levels, help you focus on improvement and more. You may benefit from a coach if you are looking for practical advice and pragmatic step-by-step instruction. If you need help achieving goals and guidance for reaching a certain level, a career coach could be the right choice for you.

You could benefit from a business mentor rather than a career coach if you want guidance and support from someone experienced in your industry or field. A mentor is appropriate for someone looking for advice regarding specific issues, which can only come from someone closely familiar with the challenges and struggles you are facing.

Whether you believe you could benefit from a career coach or from a business mentor, it is always smart to have a strong support team in place. Behind the scenes of every successful business is a safety net comprised of individuals who provide advice and insight for various challenges and issues faced by entrepreneurs. No matter what type of business you have, chances are, you could benefit from support team. Do you have the right people in your corner?

By Meagan Kerlin for Vertu Marketing LLC

If you use Instagram at all, you have probably noticed the small circles at the top of your newsfeed. Each circle represents a profile that you follow, and when you click on one, you will be able to view that person’s Instagram stories. These “stories” are very short videos, pictures, boomerang videos, time-lapse and slow-motion videos, and more. Users have the option to add graphics, text and even embed hashtags and links within each “story”. If you aren’t familiar with this new feature on Instagram, you should explore this option next time you sign on. Instagram stories is a great way to show some personality and build your brand in an easy, non-intimidating format.

Instagram stories offers an excellent platform for visual storytelling. Very similar to the way some companies use Snapchat, IG stories is a great way to offer small glimpses into the way your company operates. By showing personality and telling the story of your business through these short videos or pictures, you can better engage your followers on this social media platform.

Storytelling is a key component to building your brand. You need to offer your customers and followers a way to emotionally and visually connect with your company. Not only is this good for your bottom line if more people buy your products, it can also elevate the perceived worth of your business and your products in the eyes of your followers. Essentially, Instagram stories is a free way to boost your digital marketing strategy and build better brand recognition and loyalty.

While it is informal and approachable, you should still be producing quality content for your IG stories. Whether you are showing off new products, providing a “behind the scenes” glimpse into your business or educating about your services, what you post matters. Be thoughtful, but have fun, and if you aren’t already using Instagram stories for the benefit of your business, consider employing this tool to tell your story — your followers will listen.

By Meagan Kerlin for Vertu Marketing LLC