Starting a business is a mixed bag of emotions, successes, and setbacks. You are excited about what you have to offer. There is a passion and an innovative fire that gets you up every morning. But, sometimes, the road can be difficult for small business entrepreneurs. You need to utilize whatever strategic advantages are available to you.
Take Advantage of Someone Else’s Infrastructure
As you know, Amazon is everywhere. It is probably one of, if not the first place you go when you want to make a purchase. Their search tools, filters, and ease of checkout options make it a seamless and simple process.
With that in mind, you need to consider taking advantage of what they offer through their Fulfillment by Amazon program. They have a tried and true business model designed to meet the needs of small businesses.
You need to conduct product testing before bringing your goods to Amazon’s market. This is where Amazon FBA sourcing will prove invaluable for your bottom line. The process encompasses a checklist of tasks that must be accomplished to achieve success with your product. Some of these include:
- Quality-checking products for specific criteria before going to market.
- Assessing consistency of production results.
- Product safety inspections and ratings.
- Monitoring customer reviews and comments for satisfaction or critiques.
During the initial phases, your company must closely watch everything from production, outcomes, packaging efficacy, shipping timelines, and customer assessments. Any feedback should be used to make the next rounds of production even better or more efficient on every level.
Of note, always respond to every customer comment, even throughout the research and development phases. Showing attention to your customer’s opinions, comments, and suggestions is one way of providing excellent customer service, and it shows that you care.
Be Active on Social Media
While Amazon FBA has a good template for advertising within their website and app, they do not have you, and you can always do more. You know your product better than anyone. You are probably more than willing to sing the praises of your goods to everyone who will listen.
What that means is that you are the best person to reach the masses to help market your brand. To that end, you need to have a business website and a presence on social media. Block out time to create company accounts for the main social media platforms. If there are any others that you use personally and can see the value in using for your business, create accounts there, as well.
Next, you will need to attend to these accounts routinely and with action. If you do not have time, hire an employee or outsource this responsibility to someone who can proactively assist you in advertising and engaging via social media.
Watch this video for expert tips on how to create a successful social media strategy.
Work with Others
Creating a mutually-beneficial business relationship is not a new tactic. There are partnerships, agreements, and exclusive collaborations. Now there are influencers. It is imperative that you do your due diligence in advance and determine whether any business or person you wish to work with is aligned with your overall value set. You need to research their online presence and business practices to ensure they act with integrity as they will be representing your brand via any agreements.
As with any arrangement, always have the necessary legal documents prepared and reviewed by all parties. Ensure photographs and recordings are allowed at any events and are allowable for use on your or any collaborators’ respective websites, etc.
- Influencer Promotions – Influencers are social media personalities with a large following on at least one platform. They have honed their ability to influence and sway their followers or subscribers to purchase products they promote on their channels. The influencers are usually monetarily compensated for endorsing someone else’s goods.
- Donations – When you donate your products to a school raffle, a shelter, or any organization that will positively benefit from what you have to offer, you have a two-fold opportunity. First, you and your business can help others proactively. Second, you get the chance to spread the word about what you have and the good works your business aspires toward.
Take advantage of business opportunities that come your way. If nothing is on the horizon, create your own path. Find resources for ensuring your products are safe, as advertised, and ready for market. Next, utilize the assets available to you to market and ship your offerings. Collaborate, innovate, and make things happen.