Are you a budding entrepreneur? Here's some advice
June is Entrepreneur Month, and if you've just graduated with a business degree, ideas may be buzzing around your head as to where your career may take you. Forbes gives us a handful of industry secrets for people like you who want to start their small business on the right track.
First off, Forbes contributor David K Williams said future entrepreneurs must be willing to put everything they have into their new venture, giving it the effort and attention it deserves.
"The business is not about you," wrote Williams, a lifelong entrepreneur and founder of email marketing service Fishbowl. "For your business to prosper, you must put your entire focus on helping your customers succeed."
Instead of forcing your clients to enjoy your product, make them a product they will likely enjoy. This fundamental concept has been the foundation of success for numerous start-ups, including Williams' Fishbowl, which specializes in restaurant promotion.
Consider Kevin Systrom and Mike Krieger, who, within just two years, turned their mobile phone application Instagram into a $1 billion goldmine. Keeping their customers in mind, Instagram is not only free, but allows users to upload and share vintage-looking digital photographs - tapping into a growing market of hipsters and college-aged youngsters trying to stay connected with friends and family in a unique way.
Even if you're thinking of starting a simple online magazine or maybe a blog about your travels abroad, focusing your language and voice on what the consumer wants is the key to making your website grow exponentially. Refine your business model to cater to a smaller audience (i.e. if you're writing a blog about being a student traveler, write for people your age), and above all else, avoid blatantly presenting your product as the next best thing - let it speak for itself.
