If you’re opening a new business, you probably have a mile-long list of tasks. Unsurprisingly, this can be extremely stressful. One of the best ways to combat this is by creating priorities. If you want some weight off your shoulders, here are three things to focus on when opening a new business.
1. Security
While it may not be the first thing on your mind, security should be a priority from the beginning. Unfortunately, it can be very easy to lose information, especially online. Make time for establishing security and cybersecurity precautions.
Start with physical precautions. If you have a business location, ensure that any valuable items there are locked away, preferably in a safe. Talk with your building’s security personnel to establish the next steps.
On the other hand, your cybersecurity may require the use of outside professionals. You’ll need to make sure that you have firewalls and similar protections in place. This is especially important when it comes to federal information. At some point, you’ll need to undergo a CMMC audit. This refers to your cybersecurity maturity model certification. If you’re unsure about your business’s current standing, you might want to have a third party take a look.
Finally, be sure to communicate any and all security precautions. Every employee should have intricate and unhackable passwords. If something goes wrong, your workers should know how to handle it. Since this is so important, you may want to dedicate a training session to security.
2. Team-Building
Team-building is essential for any new business, no matter what you specialize in. No one can run a business alone. When creating a team, start with the management. Find people with plenty of experience and responsibility. While history in your field is helpful, someone with management experience elsewhere could still be useful. Don’t be afraid to contact former employers.
Once you’ve found your management team, you’ll need to conduct highly thorough training sessions. Managers should know practically everything about a business. In fact, a manager should be able to take over if an employee is indisposed.
Next, you’ll need to start hiring employees. This selection depends less on experience. Instead, focus on responsibility and education. If a potential employee is knowledgeable but not experienced, you’ll probably have an easier time training him or her.
After you’ve put a team together, you can start to foster unity. While icebreakers and office parties may seem annoying, getting to know each other is essential to building a cohesive team.
3. Marketing
Last but certainly not least, you must focus on marketing. Ignoring this aspect of the business could lead to a bad opening. When considering marketing, you’ll need to stay modern. Sure, buying billboards and handing out fliers can be effective. You could even make a television ad. However, nothing beats advertising online in this day and age.
Start by buying ads on major websites. Consider platforms like YouTube, Google, and Facebook. Next, start creating social media accounts. Since these platforms are highly popular, it’s both cheap and easy to gain a following on one.
When making your account page, be sure that it encapsulates your brand image. A user should click on your page and immediately know your vibe. It’s also vital to highlight basic information. Make sure that your contact info, address, hours, company mission statement, and website link are available. Once your page is set up, make posts on a regular basis. The more posts you make, the more likely you are to go viral. Try to mimic current social media trends. For instance, dance videos and viral audios are popular on TikTok.Â
Opening a new business is no easy task. However, it doesn’t need to cause too much stress. Create a list of priorities and do one task at a time.