If you’re one of the many people who have turned to gardening as a coping mechanism for the COVID-19 pandemic, you’re not alone. You also wouldn’t be the only person looking for alternative sources of income in a time of economic crisis. If both of these apply to you, why not try to solve them by using your green thumb to make money? But before you get too excited, here are a few things you’ll need.
Assess the situation
Before you move forward, you need to know what you’re getting into. Hiring a branding consultant will help you get to know the market and the competition. They will inform you about the market you’ll be dealing with and the best way to put your brand forward to appeal to your target market. It’s also worth doing your research on everything there is to know about vegetable gardening.
Build your brand
We’ve all heard the phrase “never judge a book by its cover”, but it doesn’t apply to brand marketing. Today’s consumers are exposed to a myriad of data and they’ve learned to filter out what doesn’t excite them. You have little more than a few seconds to catch their attention and make a good impression. Hiring a graphic designer will help you communicate your brand’s message in a clear and eye-catching way and help people to remember your brand.
Formulate a plan
This is where it gets a little more complicated, especially if you have little to no experience with running a business. You need to create a business plan and have someone look it over for you. One of the best professionals to seek help from at this point is an accountant. Most people think that accountants are only helpful when it comes to bookkeeping and payroll services but that’s not the case. Accountants can be of great help to you even in your planning stages. They can advise you on your proposed business plan and structure, help you secure the necessary licenses, and plan for your brand’s long-term growth.
Hiring an accountant early on will also allow you to learn how to track your expenses and plan for taxes. When you’re an employee, you’re lucky enough to have your taxes deducted from your paycheck before you even receive it. But when you’re self-employed, taxes are something you’ll have to D.I.Y. An accountant will also help you plan for cash flow emergencies. 18% of startups fail because of cost issues and this can be avoided by consulting an accountant.
Market your brand for today’s consumers
This is very important. With our constant exposure to screens in our daily lives, digital marketing is your best bet for getting people to know about your brand. Digital marketing is the use of the internet and virtual tools to interact with consumers and raise awareness about your brand. It’s cheaper to implement than traditional marketing tools, such as print, TV, and radio. It also has a wider reach than traditional platforms, which are limited to certain areas or regions.
Because digital marketing is rooted on the internet, it allows you to reach consumers around the globe. Tools such as social media marketing, search engine optimization, and pay-per-click advertising allow you to maximize your reach without spending too much money.
Not only does digital marketing allow you to reach a wider audience, but it’s also measurable. This means that you will be able to track views and engagements on your campaigns, allowing you to see which of your materials are most effective. This is known as analytics. Digital marketing helps you to gather data about your target market so you can create personalized – and more effective – marketing content.
Create social media pages for your brand to help get the word out. With many of us today spending hours per day on our social media feeds, this cannot be overlooked. You will also need to create a website for your brand. Contrary to popular belief, you shouldn’t rely on social media platforms to establish your online presence. Platforms such as Instagram and Facebook are great and helpful for your brand’s marketing, but at the end of the day, they’re mainly marketing tools. You’ll be limited to the platform and what it can do. But if you create a website, you’ll have a range of many tools within reach depending on your business needs.
Starting a small business is a serious venture and needs to be thought through. If you’re feeling clueless, don’t hesitate to consult professionals for help. Being a small business owner can easily feel overwhelming. Seeking the guidance of experts will help you to more efficiently run your business.
