Starting your small business: Mistakes to avoid

You may believe that if you have a great idea then starting a business should not be that hard-right? You simply print some brochures, some business cards, and take out an ad in the Yellow Pages. You pay big money for a website and a domain name that tells everyone about your amazing credentials and experience. You then distribute your fliers at a local grocery store. And then you wait and wait and nothing happens. You may be surprised that many people cannot believe this is what it comes to. However this scenario continues a few of the mistakes to avoid when starting your small business.

Here are the reasons why-

• Making your business to general-Remember you have to stand out in the crowd. Let your customers know why you can do something better for them then all of the other competitors in your market.
  
• Failing to plan-It is important to remember that an idea is not a business plan, or a marketing plan, or even just a goal. It is simply an idea. While the planning process may seem long and tedious now, keep in mind that it will benefit you more than you could imagine in the future. For example, when you are seeking funding, when you are joining an association of professionals, when your goals change, when your business changes, or if you take on a partner or investor. Your plan should guide you, but not constrain you. If something in your plan does not fit just right, then you should change it. It is important to keep in mind that your business plan will never have a final draft.
  
• Spending big dollars right away on advertising-While you may think that simply getting the word out will make your small business a success it is important to remember that you face a great deal of competition and you must find ways to make yourself stand out. This means that every marketing dollar you spend must be spent effectively. Your business will not succeed if you simply throw marketing money out into the wind. It is crucial to determine if the dollars you spending on advertising and marketing are effective before you spend anymore.
  

• Paying for a website-Many prospective small business owner's feel that they must have their own website with all the bells and whistles. First all this is an expensive investment and secondly you can design your own website-for free. If you do not feel that you have the skills to do this then enlist a friend or family member who can or worst case scenario pay only a minimal fee for the complicated stuff and the rest can be done by yourself or someone in the know.
  
• Failing to promote your business solutions-Too often small business owners feel that they should advertise their expertise or their credentials and do not promote how their business can solve their target markets problems. While it may be impressive that you attend Cordon Bleu or an Ivy League school if your business cannot solve your customers need or problems that really will not matter at all. Remember do not promote yourself, promote your solutions.
  
• You are not where your target market is-If you are not marketing where your target market is then how will they find you. It is crucial to determine where and how your customers will be seeking you out. Ask yourself where your customers go for information-the internet, newspaper, trade publications, trade shows etc. and then place you and your business in that location. If you are trying to market someplace just for exposure you may find you are simply just wasting your time and money.