A friend recently asked me for some advice on setting up a small business from scratch. Let’s call her April. She had a few ideas; and simply needed someone to help her frame her thoughts. In a bid to make her life – and yours – a little easier I cobbled together 10 questions to help steer April to shore.
Telling your personal story
1 How did you get to where you are now?
2 What’s inspiring you to go in this new direction?
3 What values and beliefs are important to you (and what you want to offer people)?
4 What have been your key successes so far?
Telling people what you’re offering – the benefits
5 Imagine you’re in a non-work situation and someone asks you what you do for a living, how would you describe your (fledgling) business?
6 What benefit(s) are you giving to your clients that your competitors aren’t?
7 One of your dreams has come true: you have a room full of hand-picked clients, who would they be?
Getting into the digital mind-set – finish off these sentences
8 People know me because I know about . . . .
9 People like me because I have these values and beliefs . . .
10 People follow me because I can help people . . .
Some useful things to do if you’re thinking of setting up a new venture.
Attend one of Daniel Priestley’s strategy workshops. Very helpful!
Take a peek at The Rooted Guide and Penny Power’s book Know Me, Like Me, Follow Me. Full of inspiration and creative thinking.
I hope you’ve enjoyed reading this. I’d love to hear your ideas about what you’d like me to write about. Perhaps there’s a burning communication, campaign or lobbying issue that you’d like a bit of help on? Or perhaps you’d like to share one of your public relations successes? Please do drop me a line at sofija@creativepublicaffairs.com or @businesses4good. Happy Days!
Creative Public Affairs 