I spent years thinking of different business concepts that I was familiar with and even some that I wasn't, like franchising a coffee company. I thought about writing novels, taking pictures, and even starting my own news outlet. None of which ever panned out, but why? Personally, it's because I was afraid to take that leap.
So after some serious soul searching and consulting with family and friends I decided what I wanted to do when I grew up. I decided that providing simple and reliable public relations solutions was a great starting point and I already had the training.
I spent 20 years in the United States Army where they taught me how to take photos and videos, write content, publish content, develop and design, and marketing. Why not put this training to good use in the real world. It makes sense right?
But how do I take an idea and turn it into a business? Where do I start? Below is a list of things I had to ask myself.
Research your target audience and your competitors.
This is important. Make sure what you're offering resonates with your target audience. My website is geared to veteran owned businesses and small businesses. Everything from the logo, to the motto, and services provided is geared towards that audience.
Look at market saturation. Basically how many competitors do you have.
How is your product or service different from others?
Pick your focus and personality.
Your website should reflect your company's focus and personality. My website appears simple. I didn't want to complicate the website with a bunch of moving parts.
If you have a YouTube page incorporate that into your website design. I have a friend that has his own fishing channel on YouTube and he's been thinking about starting a website. His website would have a lot more moving pieces than mine. The personality would be totally different as well.
Choose your business name.
Choose a name that will be memorable to your customer and fits your company's personality.
For example: Barney Style Media plays on the term "Barney Style" which is used frequently in the military as breaking it down into simple and understandable terms. My focus is to ensure the information I provide to my clients is clear and concise. Simple and to the point.
Write your slogan.
Slogans are great to have especially if they communicate your company's key themes and messages. I chose "Simple, Reliable Public Relations Solutions" because that's exactly what I wanted to provide.
Choose the look of your brand (colors and font).
I would personally suggest using a three color approach and make sure the colors are complementary. After doing a lot of research I saw websites that have a lot of color and the pages looked extremely busy.
Design your logo.
Logo design can be overwhelming. I must've went through 20 different changes to come up with my final design. Don't settle for the first logo you come up with. Try different designs and typography. Ask friends and family to rate your different designs.
Apply your branding across your business and evolve it as you grow.
From the landing page to every page on your website it is important your branding carries across. Whether it is on a desktop or a mobile device, the look and feel should be constant.
At the end of the day it's your website. Run with it. Don't be afraid to try different things and if you need help Barney Style Media is here to provide Simple and Reliable Public Relations Solutions.
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