Are You Ready to Be a Solopreneur?
Are You Ready to Be a Solopreneur?
As the world becomes increasingly unplugged from the traditional workplace, many are striking out on their own to start businesses and define their work life on their own terms. Are you ready to become a solopreneur? Here are five steps to get started.
Dig Deep
Being a solopreneur takes drive, commitment, and above all, passion. You have to have what it takes to keep yourself striving. Before you start out on your own, engage in significant brainstorming to clearly define what your talents are, what one-of-a-kind services or goods you have to offer, and how you can stand out from others in your prospective field. Research the competition and assess clearly what your unique value is. Clarify your personal brand for yourself, first, and then begin to put it out there.
Give
Businesses aren’t created overnight. It takes time to build a loyal customer base and to connect with clients and partners. As you are starting out, look for ways you can volunteer or give away free goods and services. You’ll generate good will, get your name out there and start to build trust and interest in your community.
Connect
Just because you are your own boss doesn’t mean you have to go it alone. Sole proprietors gain contacts, bolster customer base, and are more likely to thrive when they make connections to other small businesses and entrepreneurs. Arrange informational interviews and networking events with others in your field. Bolster your online presence in a variety of platforms in order to maximize your reach. Essential sites for solopreneurs include:
- A regularly-updated business blog
Educate Yourself
Stay informed about your field. Read relevant articles and news items (and share them with your online networks to inform and connect). Watch online tutorials and take free online classes. Attend conferences and conventions in order to stay informed about the latest innovations and practices in your field. These events are also gold mines for networking and increasing your name recognition. Also stay informed on the most valuable tools available for solopreneurs.
Get the Right Tools
From services that help you prioritize your workload to information management systems, there are a wealth of tools out there to streamline your workload and give you time to focus on the bottom line. Use technology to your advantage and ensure that you are always available to those who may be interested in what you have to offer. Virtual office plans bundle many of the most crucial tools for a fledgling small business. From mail and phone service to WiFi access and conference rooms, virtual office services help solopreneurs feel as supported as a large company while remaining as free as any digital nomad.
Being a solopreneur is not easy, but if you’re willing to put in the work, it’s very rewarding. Knowing yourself and your product, giving to your community, connecting on and offline, staying informed, and arming yourself with the right tools are solid ways to ensure your small business will be a success.