starting a business

Things You Should Know When Starting a Business

When starting a business, it is hard and at times overwhelming if you do not approach it with laser-like focus. When your immediate goals become muddled, confused and your target is further than it was when you first started doubt starts to creeps in. You had such a grand idea of how you were going to enter into your target space and blow the doors off of the competition. Visions of how you are going to scale and what space to enter in next are all very exciting but also a bit unrealistic.

Believe you me, many great entrepreneurs are thinkers and visionaries but lack the fundamental understanding needed to take a business from point A to Z. This is no fault of your own, we are all wired differently, the fault lies in honestly identifying your strengths and weaknesses. This article is not to rain on your parade and your ideas, it is to help you slow down and take the necessary steps to get there. While passion and zeal for entering the world of business ownership are the main ingredients to success, it also takes the right balance of capital and creativity. The biggest challenge entrepreneurs face is the lack of prioritization and execution.


To be more specific… most if not all of the steps between idea and success! The first question to ask yourself is if you have the patience, determination and most of all the ability to plan and stay focused on your immediate goals?

Believe you me, many great entrepreneurs are thinkers and visionaries but lack the fundamental understanding needed to take a business from point A to Z. This is no fault of your own, we are all wired differently, the fault lies in honestly identifying your strengths and weaknesses.

This article is not to rain on your parade and your ideas, it is to help you slow down and take the necessary steps to get there. While passion and zeal for entering the world of business ownership are the main ingredients to success, it also takes the right balance of capital and creativity. The biggest challenge entrepreneurs face is the lack of prioritization and execution.

To be more specific… most if not all of the steps between idea and success! The first question to ask yourself is if you have the patience, determination and most of all the ability to plan and stay focused on your immediate goals?

While success is not guaranteed, you can take steps to increase the probability of success by partnering up with a company or a person who has been through the battles.

Getting overwhelmed at the beginning is usually what causes a great idea to get derailed before it even gets started. Creating a business plan is like training for a long distance marathon, it is a much different plan than planning for a sprint. If you understand that fundamental difference between the two, you have a better chance of reaching your goal.
While we are not all wired for executing the details of the vision, we can take some simple steps to achieve a higher probability of success. Below are some key questions and concepts I always keep in mind when launching a new idea.

Crafting the right idea takes time and effort. Crafting the right idea that generates revenue or sustainability is another. When defining that great idea, make sure you can answer the following problems.

  1. Who is your target market people or companies?
  2. How will you deliver your solution to your target?
  3. What industry can your solution be most applicable in?
  4. What could go wrong and how can it be solved?
  5. How can you bring the human element into the equation or how can you remove it to improve efficiency?

By answering questions listed above, you have the basis to start developing your elevator pitch!


I keep these questions in mind at all times and the first set of questions I ask my clients when they are starting a new business. When you can answer most of these questions without hesitation, you are half way there.
Make sure you practice answering these questions ahead of time, you’ll come across more confident and trustworthy.

After you’ve taken the time to answer questions about your business or product idea, put together a concrete business plan.


According to the U.S. Small Business Administration, a business plan should include the executive summary, a company description (what makes your company stand out), an overview of the demographics you are entering and who your primary competition is. It is also important to articulate your company strategy, your immediate goals, and your long term goals.

Part of the planning process is to list out your known and expected operational expenses. Consider your initial expenses to include startup costs, your month to month expenditures and your operating expenses. Obviously, you want to generate more revenue than your operating expenses so you have a month to month goal. Once you have a set basis of revenue, you can project how long it will take to bring your company into the black or when it will start having a positive cash flow. Tools like Fresh Books or Quick Books can help keep track of repeat expenses and can also generate invoices to send out to customers. Here is an unbiased review of Fresh Books and Quick Books from our friends at CloudWards


Quick Books is the tool The City Mix uses and the trends and type of expenses have been nothing short of eye-opening. I have made some changes to refine my spending habits.

You are fired up, you have your product developed, formalized a business structure, your bookkeeping in order and a target to focus on all in place… now, what? Now comes the fun part. You need to start telling people about it.


Do you have a website, do you have your prices or your products clearly displayed and in a format that is easy to consume? Does your logo have the right color scheme to portray your business goals and the emotion you are bringing to the table? You might have thought that a website is a place to put up pretty pictures and a place for visitors to know you exist… and to that point you are right, but it is so much more.
Your website can evoke emotion. It can promote a sense of calm, excitement, fear and much more. It is your calling card. The majority of the people today want to see a great website with easy to find answers to their questions. Create navigation that is easy to utilize and navigate through. The customer should be able to reach pricing or a way to contact you within 2 – 3 clicks.


Majority of the visitors have a short attention span, so you need to grab their attention and keep them there to explore the rest of your site. This is called “Indirect Marketing”. Use something to grab their attention and get them to your web page. From that page, you have many opportunities to promote your products or services. Many people today want to find answers on their own, so let them find it. A big deterrent to people exploring your website and not finding what they want.

Everyone is on guard waiting for the pitch. What if it never comes? What if you give them something for free? Would they start trusting you a little more? Would they start giving you more attention? Would their guard start to come down a little? The long and short answer is Yes!
Building trust is a vital commodity these days. Unless you have a product that delivers more than your competitors, we are all in the field trying to separate ourselves from the competition. One way of doing that is by delivering more, expecting less and fostering open and honest communication. That communication can be the difference in converting a prospect into a customer or a potential client who runs to the competition.

You never know when will meet someone or knows of someone that needs a service you provide. Always have a business card ready and act in public like you would if you were closing a deal.
When you get the potential client’s contact information, set up a time to follow up. When you have that meeting,
make an action plan of deliverable items and follow up on the agreed upon date. You are setting up expectations and showing the potential client how efficiently you work. Every interaction is a job interview. Go above and beyond the call. Provide the expected results to your potential customer and deliver on a timely basis.

When starting a business, we are all elated at the first sale. It is the shining example of all of your hard work and efforts. Never forget that, stay humble and remember who gave you your first deal, who was the first person to pick up your cold call and actually engage with you in a conversation.


These are all examples of a way to establish small, yet achievable victories. Starting a business is a long distance marathon and representative of the small victories you have strung together. Focusing on the details takes perseverance and a thick skin. You will take steps backward before you can find your footing to move forward… but with focus and a positive attitude, you will get there.

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more insights

Marketing Strategies

Unlock Your Brand’s Potential: Top 3 Marketing Strategies to Elevate Your Business

In today’s fast-paced digital landscape, standing out from the crowd is more crucial than ever. Effective marketing strategies can significantly enhance your brand’s visibility, engagement, and ultimately, sales. However, with an overwhelming number of options available, it can be challenging to identify the best avenues for success. To simplify your journey, we’ve compiled a list of the top three marketing strategies that can help unlock your brand’s potential and propel it to new heights.  1 Content Marketing: The Power of Storytelling Content marketing is one of the most effective ways to build a loyal audience and establish your brand as an authority in your niche. At its core, content marketing revolves around creating valuable, relevant, and consistent content that resonates with your target audience. Think blog posts, podcasts, videos, infographics, and social media content.  Why is storytelling so powerful in content marketing strategies? It connects with audiences on an emotional level. Great brands understand that consumers don’t just buy products; they buy stories and experiences. By sharing your brand’s journey, your values, and insights into your industry, you can create an authentic connection with your audience. This authenticity leads to trust, making potential customers more likely to choose your brand over others.  To capitalize on this strategy: Develop a content calendar to ensure a steady flow of content that addresses your audience’s pain points. Use SEO techniques to optimize your content, making it easily discoverable. Leverage social media platforms to amplify your reach and engage directly with your audience. 2 Social Media Marketing: Engage and Connect With billions of users across various social media platforms, social media marketing is an essential strategy for brands looking to engage directly with their audience. Social media allows businesses to build relationships, showcase their personality, and interact in real-time.  One of the key benefits of social media marketing is the ability to target specific demographics with precision. Platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn offer robust advertising tools that enable businesses to reach their ideal customers. Additionally, social media provides valuable insights into consumer behavior, helping you fine-tune your marketing strategies.  To make the most of your social media marketing: Create a consistent posting schedule to keep your audience engaged. Experiment with various content formats, such as stories, live videos, and reels, to create dynamic interactions. Encourage user-generated content by running contests or showcasing customer testimonials. This not only increases engagement but also fosters community and trust. 3 Email Marketing: Nurturing Customer Relationships Email marketing strategies remains one of the most effective methods for nurturing leads and maintaining relationships with existing customers. With an impressive ROI of $42 for every dollar spent, it’s a strategy that shouldn’t be overlooked. Unlike social media, where algorithms can restrict your visibility, email allows you to communicate directly with your audience and control your messaging.  The key to effective email marketing lies in delivering value. Rather than bombarding your subscribers with promotional content, focus on providing information, tips, resources, and personalized offers that cater to their interests. Engaging subject lines, eye-catching designs, and compelling calls-to-action play vital roles in ensuring your emails are opened and acted upon.  To enhance your email marketing strategy: Segment your email list based on demographics, buying behavior, and engagement levels. This allows for tailored content that speaks directly to the interests of each group. Regularly analyze your email performance metrics – open rates, click-through rates, and conversion rates – to refine your approach. Utilize automation tools to send timely messages, such as welcome emails, abandoned cart reminders, and birthday discounts. In a world brimming with marketing options, focusing on content marketing, social media, and email marketing can help you create meaningful connections with your audience, boost engagement, and drive conversions. By integrating these strategies into your marketing mix, you can unlock your brand’s potential and set yourself up for long-term success.  Remember, the key to successful marketing lies not just in selling a product, but in telling a story, building relationships, and delivering value. So go ahead, and let your brand’s journey unfold!  Need Help with your  marketing strategy?

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optimize images

5 Secret Ways to Optimize Images Without Breaking the Bank

In the world of digital marketing, website speed, and performance can make or break your online presence. One of the biggest culprits behind slow loading times? Poorly optimized images. Fortunately, optimizing images doesn’t have to break the bank. In this blog post, we’ll explore five secret ways to optimize images that are both effective and easy on your wallet. 1 Use Online Tools to Optimize Images One of the simplest and cost-effective ways to optimize your images is to use free online tools. Platforms like TinyPNG, JPEG-Optimizer, or ImageResize.org allow you to compress images without losing quality. Simply upload your file, and these tools will reduce the file size, ensuring quicker load times on your website.   The advantage of using online tools is that they often have intuitive interfaces and require no software downloads. This method is perfect for individuals or small businesses that deal with occasional image uploads. Just remember to check the compressed images for quality to ensure they still meet your visual standards. 2 Leverage Bulk Compression Software If you’re dealing with a large library of images, consider using bulk compression software. Programs such as IrfanView and GIMP often provide batch-processing options that allow you to optimize multiple images in one go. Although some software might require a small upfront cost, they typically save both time and money in the long run by speeding up your workflow and reducing storage requirements.  Another economical alternative is to use open-source software like ImageMagick. While it may require a bit of a learning curve, it’s incredibly powerful for batch processing and image optimization. Investing some time initially can yield significant dividends, especially if you regularly handle large volumes of images. 3 Resize, Resize, Resize! One of the most common mistakes is using oversized images. When you upload a high-resolution image (think 3000×2000 pixels) but only display it at 300×200 pixels on your website, you’re wasting storage and bandwidth. This excess data can lead to slower load times and a poor user experience.  Take the time to resize and optimize images before uploading them. Tools like Canva or even your computer’s native photo editing software can help you set the dimensions to what is actually needed for your website layout. This simple step can significantly reduce your image file sizes without compromising the quality of the displayed image. 4 Choose the Right File Format Different file formats serve different purposes, and selecting the right one can make a world of difference. For instance, JPEGs are fantastic for photographs due to their ability to compress well without significant quality loss. PNGs are better for images requiring transparency, while SVGs are ideal for simple graphics and logos since they are resolution-independent.  Taking the time to understand the strengths of various formats can reduce file sizes dramatically. Even better, many optimization tools allow you to change the file format during the compression process. 5 Use CSS Sprites If your website uses multiple small images, consider combining them into a single image file, known as a CSS sprite. This technique reduces HTTP requests and improves loading speed, as the browser loads one single image rather than multiple ones.   While creating CSS sprites might sound complex, there are user-friendly online tools like SpriteSmith or CSS Sprite Generator that can do the heavy lifting for you. This approach is not only efficient but can also be a cost-effective solution for small business sites with limited resources. To optimize images doesn’t have to be an expensive endeavor. By employing free online tools, leveraging bulk compression software, resizing images appropriately, choosing the right formats, and utilizing CSS sprites, you can significantly enhance your website’s performance without overspending.   With a little bit of effort and creativity, you can ensure that your visuals are not just eye-catching, but also optimized for speed, providing an improved experience for your visitors while gearing up your site for better search engine rankings. So go ahead, give these tips a try, and watch as your website transforms into a faster, more efficient platform.  Need Help  Optimizing Images?

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