5 innovative ways to launch your small business

Starting your own business is the ultimate roller coaster, but once you have your concept and your finances in line, it starts to get exciting and the next step is the big launch. Below are five ways in which you can effectively launch your new business:

Hold an event

Why not hold an event to launch your business or product? A successful launch can be very effective for small businesses in building awareness, but it does involve a lot of organizing. You’ll need to think about everything from the venue and food to collateral and logistics. It’s also important to make sure you have a sufficient budget first before you start promoting it.

Build a website

Creating a great website is vital in running a successful business. Think of it as your shop window; it’s the first chance to sell yourself and make a good impression. The style of your website will depend on your products/services. If you’re directly selling products, you may require an e-commerce site that includes a shopping cart and payment processing utility like PayPal. If your website’s aim is to provide information about your company including who you are, what you do, your background and the types of products/service you offer, a brochure/general information website is for you.

Use social media

Social media has changed everything when it comes to marketing and can really be effective when launching a new business or product. Not only does social media allow you to connect with thousands of people, it doesn’t cost unless you choose to advertise and only a small amount of effort is required.

There are a couple of things you’ll need to do before you start to share and engage on social channels including clearly defining your target audience, deciding exactly what you want to accomplish and putting together a content plan before building a following. According to The Hamilton Spectator, a recent research poll revealed that Facebook is still by far the most popular social networking platform for Canadians. It found that 59 per cent of Canadians use Facebook, about nine times a week on average.

Networking

Networking with other businesses and communities is a quick and easy way of making valuable business contacts. When starting out, it is also a great way to share and gain new ideas from other entrepreneurs. Business networking events take place very regularly; you can check online for the nearest ones in your area. Order plenty of business cards beforehand and if you’re going to include your website address on it, make sure yours it is fully functioning first!

Create a viral video

It doesn’t take much these days for a video to go viral, especially if it’s humorous or evokes emotion. Have a brainstorm with your team about ideas to launch your business through a video. Even if your idea is simple, it will require careful planning and you’ll need to know the triggers that affect your audience. Forbes shares six top tactics to make your videos go viral.