Welcome back! Last week, we talked about starting a business from the ground up using your goals, your website, and your blog. Today we're going to move into the content.

"So my business is more than a blog, but I'm worried I don't know where to go with it. How do I know if I have enough ideas for a business?"

First of all, I believe in you. The world is big enough for all of us to be successful. If someone is already doing something you are interested in, that's awesome! That means you already have information on proof of concept, audience, and market. If no one is already taking on your turf, that's okay too! Maybe you've hit on something the world is waiting to see. Just believe in yourself and think about what you're going to bring to the table.

I suggest something that always makes me feel better. Make a list. If you're starting a career as an author, write down little one-sentence snippets of your story ideas. For non-fiction, you can consider the topics you wish to address, and see if any ideas for additional or related research that could follow. If you'd like to create content such as a YouTube channel or Podcast, you could write down the topics and ideas for your next recording. If you keep coming up with some after the first ten, I'd say you're pretty passionate and probably on to something. If you'd like to start something with sales, such as a furniture refinishing business or something trading at local craft shows, write down the products you can sell, with an estimate of how much investment of time and money each product requires to determine if the profit is worth it and so you can settle on a price. From there, you can compare your price to competitors and see where you measure up. If you have at least ten products and the numbers work out, great! Let me know when your shop opens.

I believe the rules are the same for a service, such as a photographer. Make a list of services, including start-up costs, determine price, compare to competitors, and you're off.

"Okay, I have my list. There are only five things on it. Is that enough?"

Short-term, yes. Long-term? You're going to want to get creative. As you work in your business, you'll develop a sense of what works and what could be better. Some content and products will naturally attract more engagement, and others might be less attractive. If you're lucky, you'll even hit on something that you weren't sure would attract a lot of interest. When that happens, you're going to want to advertise and adjust your marketing strategy, which we'll discuss next week. When you're first starting out, constructive feedback is everything. Keep an eye on your analytics from social media and your website. If you notice a spike, make a note of it, and consider what you could do or offer that is similar but different. Over time, you'll see what your following enjoys and where you excel.

"What if I run out of ideas?"

You know many people worry about that, and the best advice I can give to you is to seek out like-minded people and connect. Build relationships and have conversations.

As a recovering introvert, this is still hard for me, but the benefits outweigh any negatives. For example, I went to a national conference in NYC and met many friendly people in the various sessions. It felt like home, so when I returned from the conference, I joined the Virginia Romance Writers. I was incredibly nervous, but after the first time sitting in the back, I realized I had found my people, so I took the next step, and not only did I keep coming, but I started volunteering, where I could meet people and get to know them. From those conferences and relationships, so many new ideas, industry trends, advice, and overall great information has come to me. I probably would've run out of ideas by now if I had reached out and educated myself. There is a reason many professions require continuing education credits. Don't be shy and connect!

I hope you've found this week's advice on how to run a business useful. If you have specific questions about an idea you have in mind, don't hesitate to reach out and drop me a message. I'm happy to chat with you about plans you may have. I want to think I make a pretty good cheerleader, metaphorically speaking. Never could do the splits.

Y'all come back next week when we'll be digging into marketing and social media advertising.

Kathryn

PS - Got an idea or business you're contemplating? Drop a link below! I'd love to see it.