Any Business Start-Up

Be fair, attentive, and customers
will return.

A business, start-up or not, demands lots
of time, energy and money. You must,
mentally, understand that there's a
possibility of failure. Life goes on after
a debacle.

Pick an area you're passionate about.
Surround yourself with people who feel
success of the business is important.

It wouldn't be wise to have Bill in
customer service when he excels at
accounting. Or, if Bill works in
customer service, he shouldn't do the
books.

Place each individual according to
their skills. Do you need to brush-up
on you managerial skills? Take a
refresher course. Thumb through
business magazines, books, and/or
visit business blogs.

The requirements to a successful
business: Map out a plan. Ask
questions. Will your product or service
be received well? Don't start a business
with a, single, doubt. Set goals for
the business, in two years? Five years?
Do you have enough to finance it? It's
best to have more than the cost of your
business. An emergency fund? Why
are you starting a business?

How are you going to get the word
out? How will you get the attention
of your target market?

Target market refers to the people
who will buy your product or service.

Find your target market through
research.

Research where?" You tapped your
foot.

Try forums. They are free. Mention your
wares, and get feed-back.

Have an informal idea party. This is
where people share ideas. See
how well they're liked, chance of
success.

Don't be afraid to mention your product
or service on the social networking web
sites. There's lots of traffic, potential,
customers.

Survey people you know about a
particular idea. Ask specific
questions pertaining to your product
or service. One question could be, how
much would you pay for...?

Remember, every product or service
should be geared to the customer.
People want to know, see, how a product
or service will benefit them. Dig into,
find, ways to start-up your business.

In conclusion, your business start-up
must be in an area you care, deeply,
about. Do research to target people you
know need, want, your product or service.
Finance it, and you're on your way.

How To Write An Ad

Be fair, attentive, and customers will
return.

Writing is communication. You know more
about your business, the direction it
should go then anyone. You, first, exposed
your wares to the world. The product(s) or
service(s) formed in your mind. Who else
could know the background information better?
No one explains the product or service
clearer than you.

"I'm not a writer." You complained to a
friend.

Let's look at that point.

Don't get technical as you spell-out your
offers. No one wants to know about your
struggle to find the right packaging. Or,
it will be boring, costly, to mention how
your grandmother helped finance Product B.

Simply, state the benefits, features, as if
you are talking to a friend. Be concise.
Use short and long sentences. Don't clatter.

Remember, advertising is, can be, costly.
The more you describe, the higher the bill.

Also, people are busy, stressed, and prefer
not to read paragraphs. Make your point, and
stop.

The head-line of an ad should be three to
five words long. Its job is to catch the
individual's eye, because the ad offered a
desired benefit. The ad you're presenting
must be interesting, and spark a desire,
need, in us.

It is best that your product or service reach
the right people. If your ad, for example, is
for senior citizens, and it is placed in a
college paper then your ad failed to reach its
target market.

"How do I find my target market?" You questioned.

Research is required to make sure your ad finds
its target market.

Get feed-back from forums about products or services.
You can get an idea of how well offers will be
received. Gain advice on rough spots. Sometimes,
it's advisable to discuss a version of your
business plan.

"Why just a version?" You stared at the last
sentence.

It's a safe-guard. A wise person unveils actual
plans at the right time. Some are more at ease
not talking about authentic business ideas.

There's an advantage with forums.

"Which is?" You asked.

When you introduce wares to forums, it is free
advertising, free ad.

Answer some questions before writing the ads.

How would it benefit a person to purchase your
product or service? Is your product or service
less in price than a similar product? Can
people get a deal on it? Or, order another
product, and shipping is free?

Some head-lines get attention. Buy One, Second
Free, Buy Now, Get Free Shredder, Free Trial,
It Works or Money Back, Buy Today, Free Shipping,
and Sale.

Practice with creating head-lines. After you
decide on which ads are useable, ask yourself,
would they grab your attention?

I chose the following head-line for my five
lesson fiction writing course. Learn Fiction
Writing--Five Lessons...

"Where's the benefit?" Someone asked.

The benefit is someone can learn to write
fiction in five lessons.

Sell your wares with ads that grab the
reader's attention. Those three to five
words are the head-line. The body makes
the point. Easy to understand words are
best to use.

List the benefits and/or features of
your product or service. Why should
anyone buy your product over Product C?
Why is your product/service different?
Better?

Most people look for what's in it for
me.

Most importantly, repeat business happens
when you have been fair with customers.