When you’re starting a business, you must do your best to account for several outcomes, both financial and professional. For example, there’s plenty to account for between finding office space and developing project management strategies before you start taking on clients or receiving purchase orders.
Since you may have a small team—or even a single team member—you must be able to nail down your workflows and cover all of your bases. But, unfortunately, the reality is that a dedicated small team can still overlook some critical details and core competencies when establishing a brand.
To streamline your workflows, empower your team members, and set your brand up for success, here are a few areas of your business that you shouldn’t overlook.
1. Invest in capable project management software.
When you’re running a startup or small business, it’s necessary to have ways to track and review project management metrics. That’s why so many small-business owners rely on project management software. The right project management tool can help you with resource management, allocation of teammates, and complex project time management. In addition, the best project management software can typically integrate with tools like Slack, making it that much easier to push notifications to teammates, stay on top of emerging business opportunities, and please any stakeholders.
If you’re looking for the best project management software on the market, it’s helpful to narrow your focus down to project management apps that provide strong file and data management options. When you’re juggling due dates, spreadsheets, templates, and invoices, your files can get a bit muddied. An effective project management app makes it easier to leverage your files to your advantage and organize your data in more intuitive ways.
2. Develop branded materials.
While your company letterhead may seem like a low-priority item, it can actually leave a lasting impression upon existing and potential customers. Materials like company letterhead, business cards, or flyers can establish a visual reference to your business. Then, when customers spot your branding again, they’re more likely to remember you should the need arise. You don’t have to worry about retaining a graphic designer or hiring an agency, either. Plenty of templates can empower you to develop a custom letterhead that works for invoices, official correspondence, and mailers.
Suppose you don’t see yourself requiring company letterhead that often; you can consider other branded materials, including apparel, pens, gadgets, or collectibles. It’s a chance to forge that initial connection whenever you can get customers to interact with tangible materials bearing your branding.
3. Establish your social media channels early.
Social media can have a real-time impact on how your business operates, which is why it’s so important that you’re on the same channels as your consumers. Depending on your products, services, and business solutions, you’ll need to leverage different project data to determine which channels are suitable for your brand’s growth. Before you start receiving orders or filing invoices, you should establish these channels so you can expand your digital presence and start interacting with your prospective customers.
Beyond this, it’s a great way to tease product launches, generate hype, and develop pre-order estimates. Plus, social media mobile apps mean that your brand is only ever a few taps away from the customer. This convenience can lead to increased conversions and greater brand visibility.
To effectively start a business, you should consider taking a second pass at these sometimes-overlooked areas. While they might seem like no-brainers to some, you’d be surprised how many fine details a business owner might miss when they’re focused on big-picture concerns. With these tips and to-do lists in mind, it’s easier for you to set reminders, tackle your task list, and follow project templates to promote business success.
