You are fabulous – spread the word!
Posted by: Alison Bradford on: January 31, 2012
Starting your own business and running your own business requires a good dose of bravery and boldness. You need to be willing to put yourself out there and connect with lots of people.
For some, this is easier than others. Of course, you need all the other good things that everyone will tell you about: a business plan, marketing plan, market research to check that what you are offering will sell, sales targets to achieve, accounting records, business cards, a website etc. But above all this you need to be prepared to get out there and connect with as many people as possible and let them know what you are doing.
I always talk a lot about the ‘know, like and trust’ factor when it comes to marketing and I believe this is especially relevant for mums in business. When you’re running a small business, competing on price is not usually wise – there are always lots of big companies out there who can do it for cheaper. Most small, home based businesses are better to compete on differentiation (i.e. offering something that is different in some way) and a big part of this is YOU! You are what makes your business unique so take a few mins to get clear on what it is about you that makes your business different.
Don’t shy away from this – be prepared to show your customers who you are and what you are about in order for them to get to know, like and trust you, and ultimately, buy from you. Consider how you are doing this in your business – do you have an about page on your website that tells a little about you? Are you connecting with people via social media? Face to face networking? Be prepared to connect with others and spread the word about what you and your business are doing.
If you need some inspiration to do this then please read the following quote from Marianne Williamson – I always find this inspiring whenever I read it:
“Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, ‘Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous?’ Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won’t feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It’s not just in some of us; it’s in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.”
― Marianne Williamson, Return to Love
