Business - Success Plan
The International Cheat Sheet for Startups a By Leo Waldenback, co-founder Zutobi
PLAN FOR SUCCESS Starting a small business is an exciting endeavor. But, if you want to see your business succeed, you need to plan in advance. Using our cheat sheet (and keeping your eyes set on your goal) can help get you there. Launching your small business can be a daunting concept. There are a thousand and one things to sort out, and if you’re a brand new startup, it’s easy to feel the extreme force of overwhelm, anxiety, and panic. But, here at Zutobi, we’ve made things simple again with our International Cheat Sheet for Startups and Small Businesses.
can do for free: to taste your food. It’s only through tasting your culinary masterpiece that you’re made aware of the ingredients it’s lacking, what it needs more of, and what you need to dial down on. In your business, this is precisely the same. Monitoring your data within a campaign or project is the number one strategy for growth. Digesting and analyzing your figures is your way of sampling your food. If you go all-in with a kilogram of salt because you felt your dish needed more salt, it’ll quickly become too salty and inedible. Meaning, the dish you worked hard on would go straight in the trash. But, if you were to taste your existing food, you’d Let’s review — What is a Startup? Before we go any further, let’s clear up any know it needed only a pinch of salt to elevate it to the next level of flavor. confusion about the term “startups.” The takeaway? Taste your numbers. It’s only If you’re a startup, it means you: then that you’ll realize whether to spit them out, • Are a young company that is just “starting up.” add more, or start from scratch. • Have less than 100 people working for you. Rule 2: Focus on the Markets That Drive Your • Are one of the following six types of startups: Revenue lifestyle startups, small business startups, scalable startups, buyable startups, large When marketing your business, you’ll quickly company startups, or social startups. discover that each demographic will make a Startups are full of drive, determination, and different dent in your revenue. Again, it’s about analyzing your data regularly passion for their business. But, more often than and understanding which market is purchasing not, they lack the practical experience they need to avoid the pitfalls and reach their goals in a time which product or service. You’ll want to dedicate your time, effort, and that suits them. money to a market that drives your revenue. For International Issues in Your Startup — Don’t fall into the trap of trying to persuade a This Cheat Sheet Comes into Play demographic that they need your product when Rule 1: Test the Waters, But Don’t Commit they’re clearly not interested. Before You Spot Traction Get to know the demographics you’re pitching Any business investment is a risk. That’s why to — and understand the differences — both small it’s so crucial not to overcommit before you can and large – between them. monitor positive progress. You can then fit the puzzle together to why a Think about it like cooking. A successful chef specific group is buying more from you than the will tell you that the most critical cooking method other. amongst any and every cuisine is something you It’s essential that you understand the story behind 16
November-December 2021
DAWN
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