A New Business - Where To Start
I f you are thinking about starting a new business where to start can become complex if you don't make some decisions at the very beginning.
Before anything is put down on paper, or a website, you should have a definite plan of what you want to show with your new website.
So do I start with a plan or should I set my goals first. This can be a tricky problem! If you start with a business plan then you may restrict your goals to fit in with the plan. If you set your goals you may be over ambitious with your plan. What a quandary!
Well to me the goals should come first. When you have some life goals these are unlikely to change to lower quantities, but as time passes and you start achieving your goals you may change them in an upward direction.
I would set all my goals and then start planning on a piece of paper. What do I want my website to do, and how am I going to accomplish that. This planning stage needs to be written down before you go anywhere near your website.
Without a plan in place you are more than likely doomed to failure, or at least not to succeed. With a plan you have the basis of what you want to achieve and how you are going to go about it.
Not only do you want a plan of what your website is going to do but you also need a business plan in place. That plan should include all your financial outgoings in setting up the business along with your projected income.
As you can see there is a lot to do before you get anywhere near the website setting up.
Derek
Recent Comments
63
Amazing how many people just dive in and try a bit of this and a bit of that without having a plan. A timely reminder
This gives me such hope and affirmation that I actually did something correct with this new venture in my life!! Great information Derek! My website is not created yet. I bought my domain and I picked a theme just to get it up and that's where I stopped.
I've been planning for several weeks and writing down what I want my website to represent and do, what problems I'm solving with my site, what customers and group of people I want to be my target audience and what my site will cover with my content.
I am now in the process of researching themes b/c I want to buy one instead of a free theme. After I've finally made a decision with that, I will get my website created and then begin with content. I'm so excited!
Thank you for such wonderful posts! God Bless!
Randi
Thank you Randi. Too many people don't do enough preparation and then complain when things go wrong.
Derek
This is very true. I didn't have a written plan with goals when I made my website, and I paid for it. I am good now, but my content suffered for a couple weeks.
Hi Derek,
I would agree. I've also noticed that some will take these steps but fail to fully understand their niche, who their audience is, and whether or not the niche is profitable.
Cheers,
Michael
I think you would need to refine the niche to something more specific. Like Kyle says, answer the question "who is it you want to help?". Then you can analyze it further.
Cheers,
Michael
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Hi Derek. I always set goals first, then plans. Unfortunately some business's can become to elaborate with their plans. I remember telling a regional manager once that if I was allowed to do a little bit more action and less action planning my staff and I would reach some higher goals. He disagreed with me but allowed me the benefit of the doubt. I proved myself correct and him wrong. Jim
True Jim, but you will always get those who will try and fit the goals to their plan and possibly not force themselves to work harder.
Derek