How to Make a Business Successful From Day One

With customer expectations and market competition higher than ever before, it’s crucial for businesses to market themselves appropriately from the beginning. Most business leaders will realize immediately that both innovation and widespread strategy are necessary to succeed in the 2013 economy.

Below I have listed some straight forward ways that companies and organizations can imprint their brand on society for quicker and longer lasting results. It takes intricate and detailed deployment of marketing to grasp—and hold onto—the target market.

Start a Website

In 2013, having a website is a first priority for any business trying to gain traction. Not only is it necessary for sales and customer support, but websites are also an ideal platform when marketing is concerned. Whether it’s writing content on a company blog or posting relevant banner ads, a website is a common thread in the staple of modern business. Sell, promote, and explain your product through the World Wide Web.

A website could be a prerequisite to starting and marketing a new business this year. They’re that important. Keep it simple and keep it functional. The results are hard to predict but the potential is limitless in the internet age.

Make Sure the Online Local Directories Include your Business

Search engines are a main way that people will see your business, and being listed in the Google, Yahoo or Bing directories is a form of marketing in itself. Any place that will house your information is beneficial and any increase in internet traffic will boost your promotional campaign.

Getting your brand in online directories is a small step towards widespread success. The more visual your brand becomes in the market the more influential search directory listings become, and vice versa.

Jump on the Social Media Bandwagon

Similar to starting a company website, social media can help solidify your brand within the market. With so many users frequenting social platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, Flickr, and Pinterest the potential is clear. Creativity is a must with these platforms, because the competition is just as fierce as it is in the economy. Stay visual and informative from the start to help portray your brand in the correct way.

Social media is vital to both the functionality and the marketing of your business image. Even if you aren’t a fan of social media, you may need to attend the game anyway.

Get your Brand in Public

Your company image will only be as successful as you make it. As a business leader, you want your logo physically in and around the public. If someone sees your logo, you want them to identify with your company and your products. One way to do this is to distribute promotional items such as personalized tote bags printed with your logo. Whether these bags are distributed at a trade show or another event, it’s imperative to provide interested members of the public with a token of appreciation. These people are a great resource for you and your company. Reward them for their interest and they’ll become your brand advocates.  Each time they use your bag, you are increasing your return on investment and improving your company’s reach.

There is nothing more efficient than accomplishing two goals with one simple idea. Visibility in public is a huge factor when brand exposure is concerned. Providing promotional items to the community in efforts to jump start your company is an idea that should utilized in 2013.

Provide a Great Service or Product

Regardless of what your company provides to the customer, it’s important to do it right. Performing at a high level whether you deliver a product or provide a service will convince other people to join your cause. Happy customers will naturally market your image within their inner circles and this is the dream of any business leader. The promotion of a company through satisfied customers tends to yield future connections. The better the business, the better your customers will market for you.

The efforts to define a company’s brand are nullified when performance is unsatisfactory. While outreach and promotion are crucial, the success of operations must be there for reputation to grow.

High visibility of brand coupled with sound operational structure leads to a successful business model in 2013. Nothing is more important than starting out on the right foot when it comes to a growing company, and these are steps to help make it happen.

Hayley Scott is a writer and graphic design aficionado that loves Thai food, specifically green curry. When she’s not sketching a new logo design she writes for HALO Branded Solutions, a leader in custom bags and promotional items.