START UP: A Quick Guide on Your New Business 1

Table of Contents
____________________________________________________________________________

Maintain Your Productivity While Working From . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3

Home With These 3 Simple Tips

5 Mistakes Entrepreneurs Do When Starting a Business . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8

5 Tips to Become a Great Startup Leader . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13

Successful Startup Business: What Are the Right Steps? ................... 18

Why Should a Startup Consider Working With an Agency? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22

7 Important Tips For a Successful Startup Launch . ...................... 27

5 Main Reasons why Job Seekers should Join a Startup . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32

6 Easy Steps to Get Funds For Your Startup Business . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37

The Uniqueness of the Startup Culture . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42

3 Effective Ways To Grow Your Startup Business . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49

6 Factors Towards A Successful Startup . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54

The Top 6 Crucial Roles of a Customer’s Voice . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60

in Startups’ Content Marketing Strategy

8 Common Problems of Startup Business . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 67

8 Reasons Why Creating a Growth Roadmap . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 76

is Essential for Startups

Workplace Friction in Startups: What Causes it ... ...................... 82

and How to Solve it

8 Useful Tips To Avoid A Failed Startup . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 88

 START UP: A Quick Guide on Your New Business 2

5 Things To Consider Before Starting A Second Business Today . . . . . . . . . . . . . 96

4 Easy Ways To Generate Leads For Startup Businesses . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 102

3 Amazing Tips To Providing The Best Customer Service . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 107

For Startups Businesses

4 Vital Benefits of Explainer Videos for Businesses . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 112

How To Make Excellent Video Content Without Breaking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 116

The Bank For Startups
 START UP: A Quick Guide on Your New Business 3

Maintain Your Productivity While

Working From Home With These 3
Simple Tips

During the pandemic, most people tend to prefer working at home than
working in the office. The preference for a work-from-home setup is
reasonable since safety and precautions are at the top of everybody’s current
priorities.

But while working from home may be ideal and timely amid the ongoing health
crisis, it also presents specific disadvantages. For instance, the motivation to
work and concentration needed to complete the task at hand is significantly
affected. When it gets out of hand, it compromises the quality of deliverables
expected from the staff.

How is 100% productivity maintained while working remotely?

 START UP: A Quick Guide on Your New Business 4

One of the best ways for employees to stay motivated while working from
home is by implementing a personal reward system. By rewarding themselves
for completing big or small tasks, employees can propel themselves to finish
tasks and projects on time with the highest quality possible.

How to start?

Remote employees can start off by creating a breakdown of all their

objectives along with the corresponding rewards. Keep in mind that these
rewards do not have to be fancy. Finishing off their shift an hour or two earlier
than usual (after hitting deadlines) for them to bond with their loved ones,
watch a movie, or even play their favorite video games are a few great
examples of using a personal reward system.

With that in mind, here are a few more simple yet useful tips to help
work-from-home employees maintain productivity through a self-reward
system:

Tip 1. BE ORGANIZED AT ALL TIMES

Maintaining an organized, step-by-step process for completing tasks can be

challenging in a work-from-home setup. Aside from the presence of more
distractions, there are also additional matters that keep employees’ attention
divided. These factors can range from household chores to family-related
matters that significantly affect their overall work performance.

As an employee, it is their job to accomplish every task delegated to them on

time. An effective way for employees to stay on track with their daily tasks is
to set clear goals ahead of time.

It is proven that a person who organizes tasks and outlines a detailed plan on
how they will reach point A to point B and so on ahead of time will less likely
 START UP: A Quick Guide on Your New Business 5

experience stress. In contrast, employees who are prone to rushing work at

the last minute have a higher tendency of suffering from being burnout.

Tip 2. MAINTAIN A HEALTHY LIFESTYLE

Most of the time, employees tend to strain their physical and mental
capabilities to finish a project (especially when it is a critical one). It is
common for employees with hectic schedules to drink excessive amounts of
caffeinated beverages and energy drinks to stay alert and focused.

Excessive caffeine levels in the body can lead to severe complications. There
are certain nutritional deficiencies that can mimic physical and mental
stressors and trigger depression, fatigue, and anxiety. The combination of
psychological, emotional, and physical distress often leads to unhealthy
coping habits and stress management practices at work.

Employees should always ensure that they are mentally and physically well
enough to accomplish their tasks. By eating a balanced diet, following a
regular sleep cycle, and actively distancing themselves from situations and
ideas that promote negative and counterproductive thought processes, they
can stay healthy and fit to work.

Aside from getting enough rest and maintaining a proper diet, it is also
important to adopt a proactive lifestyle. Exercising regularly fuels the body
and promotes hormones that aid in productivity and achieving a positive
mindset.

Tip 3. DON’T WAIT FOR PAYDAY (TO REWARD YOURSELF)

Most of the time, workers tend to reward themselves during payday. Thus, it is
not surprising to encounter “one-time billionaire” co-workers, or those who
impulsively splurge their salaries in one go. The problem with employees
rewarding themselves only during payday is it makes them forget how to
 START UP: A Quick Guide on Your New Business 6

cherish and appreciate their daily achievements in a more appropriate

manner.

Indeed, rewards and incentives are effective reminders of one’s hard work and
effort. However, this should not justify overspending paychecks. Budgeting
one’s hard-earned money promotes better discipline and instills money-saving
habits in the lifestyles of employees.

MOMENTUM, LOSE NO MORE

The ongoing health crisis has truly shed light on the pros and cons that come
with working from home. At best, it remains to be one of the best choices for
businesses to stay afloat while keeping their employees safe. It should also be
noted that employees deal with different situations at home. Some are single
parents, some have poor internet access. In worst-case scenarios, some
employees are victims of domestic abuse (in this case, the intervention of
authorities and professionals is needed).

A concise checklist of all the tasks that need to be done in conjunction with an
internal rewarding system can help staff pinpoint and resolve task-related
issues more easily. This combination helps alleviate stress and improve
productivity.

There may still be several other ways that employees can stay motivated while
working from home, but following the three simple steps elaborated in this
article will help them concentrate and overcome the distractions and
stressors that affect their performance.
START UP: A Quick Guide on Your New Business 7
 START UP: A Quick Guide on Your New Business 8

5 Mistakes Entrepreneurs Do When

Starting a Business

The future is filled with uncertainties, making it seem as though starting a

business is filled with nothing but endless drawbacks. In truth, most of these
pitfalls are commonly caused by inadequate funds and legal disputes
involving the business or company.

It is true that with the proper assessment, decision making, and tracking of all
the factors that can possibly lead to legal disagreements and shortage of
funds will help lessen the risk of both dilemmas taking place. On the other
hand, this does not guarantee that it will consistently protect the business
from encountering these pitfalls.
 START UP: A Quick Guide on Your New Business 9

There are other elements that can still slip through the cracks and be left
unnoticed. Some of these elements include small issues on production,
quality of service, and even communication among the different departments
of the company. When these small concerns are not duly addressed, it will pile
up and eventually lead to the business’ downfall.

That said, it is essential for aspiring entrepreneurs to keep an eye out on the
following possible startup mistakes listed below and use it as a reference for
how they will prepare and adjust their business strategy in the long run.

1. NOT KNOWING YOUR TARGET AUDIENCE IN TERMS

OF PREFERENCES AND PAIN POINTS

This is by far one of the most common mistakes that first-time entrepreneurs
commit. They tend to overlook the value of defining and knowing the people
who comprise their target market. Knowing the type of audience that the
products and services served is crucial in devising cost-effective solutions to
customer concerns.

It is essential for both established companies and startups to consistently

monitor the preferences of their target demographic. It is a must to help
determine whether their products can solve or address their target market’s
pain points or not.

By carefully researching various customer problems, needs, and wants

through surveys, entrepreneurs will be able to come up with a good strategic
approach not only for their campaigns but also for the improvement of their
products as a whole.

2. FAILURE TO PLAN AHEAD

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Planning for a business may take a significant amount of time. Without

careful planning in advance, the business becomes more likely to experience a
series of pitfalls that will eventually affect its operations.

Operating without a business plan is like traveling the sea without a compass.
Keep in mind that without a concrete plan, the efficiency of the business will
be compromised as there is no systematic or step-by-step process to use as a
guide.

It is best to plan ahead of time in order for the business to foresee the
possible outcomes of every action and decision involved in managing the
company. While the end result may be negative at times, the important part is
businesses will have a more reliable point of reference for improvement.

3. LACK OF CLEAR GOALS FOR THE BUSINESS

Setting up a clear objective provides directions on how the business can

operate more smoothly and deliver services according to what the customers
demand.

Also, setting the right goal can help the business owner track how the
business performs on a daily, weekly, and monthly basis. As a result, it makes
thinking of new ways to enhance productivity and efficiency among the staff
easier. More importantly, crystal clear business objectives are instrumental in
implementing the appropriate countermeasures in the instance of a dispute or
complaint.

4. CHOOSING NOT TO INVEST IN INNOVATION

This is the digital era, and it is the job of every business to embrace the new
norm. The failure to adopt innovation means that the business is losing
 START UP: A Quick Guide on Your New Business 11

several opportunities for increasing audience reach and expanding the

breadth of services and products it can offer.

Innovations on technology may require a significant amount of time to

understand as well as additional expenses, but it is essential for opening new
profitable business deals and boosting the business’ competence. At best,
advancements on how support services, sales, and marketing approaches are
carried out likewise help the business save more money.

5. BEING THE JACK-OF-ALL-TRADES

In the first few phases of the business operations, the desire to become the
jack-of-all-trades is not bad at all. However, as the business flourishes, it is
best to build a team composed of well-positioned individuals to take care of
the different key areas in the business. Shouldering all the integral aspects of
managing the business is a no-no. The better alternative is to identify the
strengths and weaknesses of the business and align strategies for
improvement with the existing workforce and their individual skills.

The core objective of this is to help the business owner free up a considerable
amount of time to focus more on the business’s development. After all, what
good is being well-versed in a variety of fields, if it hinders business owners
from setting a clear path for their company?

THIS IS JUST THE BEGINNING

Launching a business entails different issues that budding entrepreneurs tend

to miss. With the right knowledge on the different factors that can hamper
business success, entrepreneurs can use it as a head’s up. In this manner, it
becomes easier for them to devise ways on how to steer their business in the
right direction.
 START UP: A Quick Guide on Your New Business 12

Benjamin Franklin once said, “By failing to prepare, you are preparing to fail.”

Indeed, there are still tons of other possible mistakes that entrepreneurs may
commit, aside from the ones listed in this blog. The key is to have a good
grasp of what to avoid during the initial phase of starting the business and
formulate better, more sustainable sales, marketing, and management
strategies beforehand.
 START UP: A Quick Guide on Your New Business 13

5 Tips to Become a Great Startup

Leader

Every establishment needs a leader to rely on at all times. Everybody can be a

leader, but most of them do not truly have what it takes to be one.

It is important to have the right person to lead the whole crew on how to
navigate through the ups and downs of a business’s operation as this helps
achieve success and long-term stability. A true and great leader must be
equipped with the right mindset and a vast arsenal of knowledge and skills.

For aspiring individuals that aim to become “the” leader that a business needs,
there are specific qualities that must be considered. These qualities are often
exhibited by excellent and reliable leaders and serve as the foundation of a
healthy and positive working relationship among co-workers.
 START UP: A Quick Guide on Your New Business 14

A leader’s work ethics are reflected in the team or staff they are handling. If a
supervisor is able to take the reins and promote efficiency among their staff, it
will inevitably show through the team’s performance and cooperation at work.

That said, here is a list of the core factors that can help aspiring individuals
become a great leader in their respective teams:

1. STAY POSITIVE AT ALL TIMES

One of the requirements for becoming a good leader is to have a positive and
confident mindset.

It is true that exuding and embodying a confident aura at all times is so

contagious that it empowers the workforce and eventually renders the whole
team to be more passionate and motivated to work.

Positivity also includes being passionate about the nature of the work involved
in the company where a leader is employed. Showing and sharing a healthy
attitude among the team can leave a positive impact on the work lifestyle of
each subordinate.

2. BE A TACTICIAN

A good leader must know the meaning of the word “plan”. It is important to
have a clear vision of all objectives for a particular project or task, along with
its entailing consequences.

They should be able to set clear goals carefully and in advance with
corresponding contingencies to enable the whole team to work smoothly.
Since contingency plans are included, the chances of being slowed and
disrupted will be lessened.
 START UP: A Quick Guide on Your New Business 15

3. MAINTAIN A RESPECTFUL AND OPEN

COMMUNICATION AMONG THE TEAM

A great leader should always be a good communicator as well as a good

listener. It is a core element that can help the whole team accomplish its
goals. Fostering open communication within the workplace is a very effective
way to improve not only the efficiency of the business but also the rapport
among employees.

A leader should always welcome positive and constructive feedback and

viewpoints from other members of the team, rather than sticking with the “me”
mentality. This way, the leader will easily understand and pinpoint every
problem associated with each concern. It will also enable the leader to get
familiarized with the potentials of each of their staff.

Generally, possessing good communication skills that transcends difference

in rank, background, and work experience make a great leader that employees
will follow wholeheartedly.

4. WORK WITH ENOUGH RESOURCES

Another responsibility and important quality of a leader is to provide the

resources required in order for their employees to work accordingly. This is
especially true when the team is delegated with a task that entails a specific
type of resource in order to complete the project. This can be in the form of
either money, equipment, or an additional set of skills.

On the other hand, leaders should ensure that they are working harmoniously
with resource management and should always keep track of the expenses.

5. KNOW YOUR RESPONSIBILITIES

 START UP: A Quick Guide on Your New Business 16

This is by far the most important factor to consider if an individual wants to

lead effectively. Be responsible.

It is important for leaders to always show their personal integrity, intricate

decision making, selfless action, all while providing insightful and constructive
feedback before putting plans and strategies into action. It is important for
leaders to show their team that they are worth following.

DO YOU HAVE WHAT IT TAKES TO BE A GREAT

LEADER?

Being a leader does not mean to carry all the burden inside the workplace.
Rather, to be a great and efficient leader means possessing the capability to
use challenges and hurdles to leverage the team. Excellent leaders do not
break under pressure. They systematically devise ways to foster teamwork
among the entire crew.

More importantly, a true leader is not just someone who gives out orders or
commands all the time. They work hand-in-hand with their staff while keeping
them motivated. A leader is the one who learns from their members while
nurturing the strengths of their members.

With the pointers listed above, even newly assigned supervisors and team
managers can prepare themselves more adequately as they continue working
towards becoming one of the finest leaders that their company could ever
have.
START UP: A Quick Guide on Your New Business 17
 START UP: A Quick Guide on Your New Business 18

Successful Startup Business: What

Are The Right Steps?

“Success is not final; failure is not fatal; it is the courage to continue that
counts.”

̶ ̶ Winston Churchill

Aspiring entrepreneurs often feel the excitement whenever they visualize

having many customers purchasing their products upon launching their
business. However, their excitement instantly dies down once they realize that
their expectations turn out differently in reality.

For instance, they may not have enough sales to cover their expenses during
the first week. Low sales can, indeed, be frustrating and disappointing; thus,
 START UP: A Quick Guide on Your New Business 19

triggering startup owners, particularly young entrepreneurs to consider halting

their operations.

What they should understand is that generating sales may not come easy in
the beginning. It involves hard work and a concrete gameplan. Even with huge
capital and investments at their disposal, new and your entrepreneurs should
not get carried away immediately as they open their business.

There are crucial factors that must be considered in order to ensure the
success of your business upon its opening day.

Read: 7 Important Tips for a Successful Startup Launch

1. Provide a Solution

Passion is important. But, it is not enough if entrepreneurs wish to truly

succeed. There are a lot of customers searching for products that could help
them ease their burden, and this should be the main focus of launching and
advertising the brand. It is crucial to brainstorm business ideas, as this
induces new concepts. It is likewise necessary to ask the question, “How can
these ideas help others?” Analyzing the impact of the ideas once they are
implemented will be beneficial when choosing the right product for the target
audience. This step enables having a solid customer base when the needs of
target customers are met.

2. Listen to Feedback

Before starting a business, conduct surveys and interviews. Present a plan to

ideal customers, and ask questions such as “What additional features should
the product have?” and “How would you rate the product on a scale of 1-10,
and why?” If money is not an issue, it would be ideal for entrepreneurs to
create product samples and send them to those who would be interested in
 START UP: A Quick Guide on Your New Business 20

their product. When customers have real experience with the product, they are
able to provide constructive feedback, which contributes to improving the
characteristics of what a startup plans to introduce to the market.

3. Create a Business Plan

A great business plan should contain lists of what the business’ goals are. The
plan must also elaborate on the methods that will be carried out to attain each
step. It helps businesses stay on track with their goals as well as their future
decision-making processes. Generally, a well-summarized business plan is
about 30-40 pages long. It should include the name of your business and its
description, the problem aims to solve and its corresponding solutions, the
target market and the marketing strategies that will be implemented to reach
the intended audience, as well as the goals for the company’s operations and
management. As startup owners go about their business, they need to update
the business plan continuously with every change they encounter with the
initial plan. These changes will include both unfulfilled objectives, goals that
were achieved, and new goals set for the business.

Read: 8 Reasons Why Creating a Growth Roadmap is Essential for Startups

4. Produce the Product

Developing a product entails finding an engineer for technical products or a

manufacturer for mass production. If manpower is an issue, outsourcing part
of the operations to a company that provides great service helps guarantee
that the product is created with the highest quality. During the development or
manufacturing of the product, it is essential to hire developers or
manufacturers who have extensive experience in the same industry. Make it a
point to receive updates from the developer or manufacturer regularly to
ensure product accuracy, and have a trustworthy person supervise the quality
of the product.
 START UP: A Quick Guide on Your New Business 21

5. Invest in Marketing

Make marketing a priority when starting a business. It is not enough to make

target customers aware of the product. Informing them about the benefits and
importance of using the product is just as essential. Customers need to gain a
clear understanding of how it can make their life better before they decide to
spend their money on what a business offers to them. Ideally, entrepreneurs
should concentrate on social media marketing and content marketing, both of
which can be outsourced to a reliable service provider to keep customers
informed and to increase brand awareness and visibility,

Read: 5 Key Reasons Why Digital Marketing is Important for Startups

Final Thoughts

Being a business owner requires the utmost attention to the strengths and
weaknesses of the business. This means scrutinizing everything, from the
biggest part down to the smallest details. Through constant monitoring,
startup owners and young entrepreneurs will be able to identify areas in their
brand that need improvement along with the appropriate solutions for each.

As a business leader, it is likewise crucial to keep pace with new trends or

methods that can be adapted for product innovation as customer preference
may change over time. Always lend an open ear and an open mind to
feedback and suggestions to achieve business growth.

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 START UP: A Quick Guide on Your New Business 22

Why Should a Startup Consider

Working With an Agency?

Startups, as a business venture, are in an unstable position in terms of the

assurance of thriving and making it big in the industry. With limited resources,
startups have a high risk of failure compared to other established businesses.
Thus, owners are expected to do everything in their power for their company
to strive.

During a worldwide health emergency like the rapid spread of the COVID-19
virus, for instance, small companies are the first to be affected. They are at a
high risk of facing bankruptcy as the economy. Seeking assistance from a
reliable outsourcing company is a tried-and-tested option that startups should
consider. It is an excellent option that addresses constraints brought by a
finite number of resources and manpower.

Outsourcing agencies help startups meet increased

demands for productivity
 START UP: A Quick Guide on Your New Business 23

While it cannot be helped for small companies, limited manpower can often
lead to employees extending their shifts and performing extra tasks just to
achieve the daily goals of the enterprise. Even business owners will have to do
extra non-administrative or non-managerial duties to assist their team.

By teaming up with an agency offering outsourcing services, startups get to

distribute the workload more evenly and diminish the pressure on their staff.
After all, unmotivated and mentally exhausted staff can further lead to a
dramatic decrease in the team’s overall efficiency.

Regardless if there is an ongoing widespread health crisis or not, the solutions

offered by outsourcing agencies are very timely and suitable for startups.

Below are the two main factors that often pose pressing issues for new and
small companies that outsourcing companies help address:

WORKFORCE

The need for additional workers is a common problem for small businesses,
yet many still cannot afford to hire additional employees to work for their
company. The options for business owners are narrowed down to either
letting their company suffer from a slow-paced development or find a solution
to deal with the problem. Outsourcing some of the tasks is a viable and wise
option.

Startup employees are often faced with the dilemma of taking on multiple
roles aside from the job title that they originally applied for. This kind of setup
diminishes the quality of work delivered by the staff. Delegating some of the
tasks to an outsourcing company will leave in-house employees with more
time to focus on their field of expertise. It effectively brings out the potential
and skills of the workers as their attention and efforts are no longer divided
between fulfilling their assigned roles and taking on additional responsibilities
in the company.
 START UP: A Quick Guide on Your New Business 24

Outsourcing agencies often have a lineup of virtual assistants with a broad

range of skills and experiences. The sheer number of additional workforce
and expertise that can supplement a startup’s limited operations makes the
outsourcing setup very practical and flexible for small companies.

TASK DELEGATION

It is almost impossible for a small business to have a complete set of

employees to fulfill each and every task needed to continue the company’s
operations. More often than not, the management is left with no choice but to
divide additional tasks among the staff. Some might say that taking on
multiple roles is a common scenario in startup companies. Still, that does not
make it a true sign of efficiency and well preparedness for long-term goals.

There will still be tasks that are way beyond the normal capacity of anyone in
the group such as content writing, video production, and social media
marketing, for instance. These are specialized tasks that require sufficient
work experience, knowledge, and familiarity with the tools or software needed
for it to be carried out.

Rather than forcing somebody to do something that they are not familiar with,
it will be a better choice to outsource tasks and responsibilities that entail a
certain level of expertise to agencies highly knowledgeable in the field. It will
guarantee superb outputs that are instrumental in marketing the company and
reaching more potential customers.

Along the way, employees will also be able to learn new techniques and
strategies from the outsourcing agencies they have partnered with. Most of
the time, radical ideas are difficult to find within the company since all of the
members are leaning towards the identity of their business. Agencies,
however, will lead them to new doors and perspectives. There will be
continuous learning and improvement for everybody.
 START UP: A Quick Guide on Your New Business 25

THE TAKEAWAY

It is not yet too late for startups to realize the benefits that they can get from
availing the assistance of outsourcing companies.

The most important aspect for a startup to survive is sustainability. Startups

must have a realistic business strategy that will help them get by even through
challenging times. Small business owners must think of every possible way
they can use to help their firm and employees in the least costly method
available.

Emergency situations that limit operations and interaction with customers

pose big challenges for small businesses. Fortunately, outsourcing continues
to save several startups by allowing them to continue production despite the
community restrictions implemented in many cities and countries.
START UP: A Quick Guide on Your New Business 26
 START UP: A Quick Guide on Your New Business 27

7 Important Tips For a Successful

Startup Launch

For business-minded people, new business ideas are never-ending. If someone’s passion is in
the craft that they do, then they will always find a way to display it to the world. But venturing is
not an easy task, and

A common question is always “when is the right time to start a business?”

This is crucial as there is really no perfect time, business is all about
risk-taking. A person may be financially, physically, and emotionally ready but
if they are not willing to take the risk then they will not be able to establish
their own startup.

Among the most important things to do before starting a business is

researching and business planning. An aspiring entrepreneur must know their
target market, competitors, and have a feasible business strategy at the very
 START UP: A Quick Guide on Your New Business 28

least. This can be helpful especially in unanticipated situations where things

do not go as planned as the business will be able to strive.

After securing the initial steps, here are some other important tips for
business owners to successfully launch and grow their startup:

1. Proper investment

An extremely small percentage of business owners are able to start their

business big, but most of the time, startup owners begin with nothing but
passion and determination. There is nothing wrong with starting small, as long
as it is done with utmost care.

When starting a business, it is the owner’s responsibility to decide on the

initial movements of the business, and it can be quite overwhelming and
confusing. Primarily, they must know their priorities. Regularly consulting on
the business plan can be helpful in determining the decisions that can be
helpful for the company and those that can be set aside for the meantime.

Before investing, owners must be assured that it will add to the growth of their
business. Not everything that is offered should be grabbed. They must keep in
mind that they are at an intricate stage of business venture, one wrong move
and the business may fall.

2. Be realistic

Business owners always want the best for their business, but keep in mind
that perfection is not realistic. Businesses are delicate and there will be a lot
of challenges and mistakes along the way. What is important is how a
company will overcome such challenges.
 START UP: A Quick Guide on Your New Business 29

It is imperative to dream big, but make sure to veer away from the
impracticable. It is better to take little steps slowly but surely. Make it your
mindset that there is always room for improvement, then from there, owners
can grow their business securely.

3. Never neglect the importance of marketing

Marketing can come in many forms. Owners must first determine the suitable
marketing strategy for their business, then formulate a plan to execute it.
Creating content for marketing and promotion takes a big part in business
success.

Many do not consider it, but hiring professionals for marketing tasks is just as
important as hiring employees to do other office tasks. It requires marketing
skills and an understanding of the business for a favorable outcome.

4. Long term perspective

A person starting a business needs to have long term plans and goals for the
company. If not, then the initial effort and investment will be wasted. All
business decisions will have a lasting effect on the company.

Having such a mindset also allows for more time to grow the skills of the
employees of the company. It will give everyone a chance to improve in their
own craft and learn new ideas and techniques to help the business in the long
run.

5. Building local presence

For startups, it is important to create a community base. Before they are able
to expand their business, they must first have a strong foundation in their own
 START UP: A Quick Guide on Your New Business 30

community. Building a support system can be helpful and beneficial for

business owners.

Initially, the community around a startup is its target market. For that reason,
they must make sure that these people know and recognize the business.
Joining associations and participating in various local activities can be a good
start in introducing the company.

Building relationships with people around them is the best way to create loyal
customers. It may not be visible at first, but eventually, owners will see the
result of having support from the community. During tough times, the
community will be there to catch them.

6. Maintain customer relationship

Customers keep the business alive, they are the most important source of
leads and sales of a company. A business’s main goal is always to attract and
maintain customers. For startups, the most effective way is to create
relationships with their customers.

Customer satisfaction is very important in retaining loyal consumers. It can be

attained by establishing personal relationships with them. Do not make them
feel as if they are just a number in your business, but rather, owners should
treat them as friends.

Using informal, simple, and friendly conversations can be an effective tool.

Also occasionally giving promos and discounts can attract people to a
company. Furthermore, it is also a good idea to accept feedback from
customers, as this gives the company room for improvement.

Despite the terrifying stories of failing businesses, creating a startup is still

worth it. With proper planning and decision making, business owners will
surely meet success. It can be risky and challenging, but if an entrepreneur
 START UP: A Quick Guide on Your New Business 31

has determination and passion (and understands the above tips) they will not
have a fear of failure.
 START UP: A Quick Guide on Your New Business 32

5 Main Reasons why Job Seekers

should Join a Startup

It is every job seeker’s dream to find a company that will provide them with
countless opportunities to showcase and enhance their skills while providing
them with compensation that is suitable to their experiences and
expectations.

With dozens of job opportunities awaiting, a common trend among job

applicants is to choose a company that is more established and well-known.
As a result, a huge chunk of aspiring applicants become skeptical about
joining a startup company.

Indeed, there are certain risks and disadvantages coupled with opting to work
for a startup. However, not all startups are bad. Startups can also be very
 START UP: A Quick Guide on Your New Business 33

beneficial for job hunters, and it also has the capacity to provide a meaningful
work experience that its employees will happily include in their resume for
future references.

Below are the five main reasons why joining a startup can be advantageous
for a job seeker and employee:

1. Startups Develop New Skills in Employees

In large organizations, employees have specific job descriptions; thus, their

responsibilities are limited. Meanwhile, in small organizations, employees may
be required to perform different tasks as the company expands. They will be
increasingly involved in generating innovative ideas that would greatly
contribute to the success of the company. Pushing employees to go beyond
the initial lineup of tasks assigned to them drives them to develop additional
skills that make them more adept at a wider range of expertise.

While it is true that the budgetary allocation of startups is limited, skill-building

is the opposite. It is significantly a more worthwhile experience because once
leaders in the company notice an employee’s potential, they can assign bigger
projects to the employee which will all the more enhance the skills of their
staff. The ups and downs of working in a startup that welcomes ideas and
suggestions, while supporting employee growth usually generate a positive
learning experience.

2. Startup Employees Have the Opportunity to

Advance Their Career

A startup company that has a clear vision and mission is the one that
achieves success in the business industry over time. As the company
advances, its employees also advance. Being in a young company, employees
who have massively contributed to the achievements of the company can
 START UP: A Quick Guide on Your New Business 34

easily attract the attention of managers. As such, employees who stay loyal
and have made an impact will be given a major breakthrough in their careers.
When there are available higher positions that fit the qualifications of a
deserving employee, there is a tendency that managers will offer the said
employee the position.

3. Startup Employees Create a Stronger Bond

Being in a smaller environment enables employees to work closely with one

another; hence, it is only natural to develop trust and a closer relationship with
colleagues from different levels of superiority. The increased chances of
getting to know the strengths and interests of one another in the company
leads to camaraderie.

Other than that, this paves the way for employees to work closely with
company leaders and even with the CEO themselves. It creates an
atmosphere where both staff and superiors get to share different yet effective
strategies to solve a problem. For this reason, startup leaders can directly
mentor an employee directly, and in turn, the employee will be able to adapt
the leaders’ mindset. In the long run, the employee develops the mindset and
skills that will make them capable to handle bigger responsibilities
independently.

4. Startup Employees Can Compose a Compelling

Career Summary

Employees who have been with the company have certainly been asked to
engage with different roles as startups prefer to appoint individuals with
experience in the industry to achieve greater results and reduce hiring and
training costs. The contributions of these employees are critical to the positive
results achieved by the company.
 START UP: A Quick Guide on Your New Business 35

It is therefore not surprising that employees entrusted with different roles in

the company are likely to contribute and achieve more when compared to
employees fulfilling a single job role in a larger corporation. For instance, a
startup employee can be honed to become an effective HR Manager, while
also handling sales-related tasks. These experiences are incredible
information and experiences that can be shared with future employers if one
decides to embark on a different journey career-wise.

5. Startup Employees Learn How to Be an

Entrepreneur

Some employees may hope to avoid the 9-6 rat race in the future and the
solution to that is for employees to build their own business. Starting a
business can be terrifying, but with the knowledge and skills learned by
observing or watching how colleagues and leaders solve problems in the
company, run a business, and innovate products or services, employees will
little by little adapt the expertise needed to run their own business in the
future.
START UP: A Quick Guide on Your New Business 36
 START UP: A Quick Guide on Your New Business 37

6 Easy Steps to Get Funds For Your

Startup Business

Getting funds for your business is a roller coaster ride as there are rises, falls,
twists and turns.

Have you ever experienced that situation where countless of your brain is
clouded with innovative ideas that it makes you want to jump and start that
business in a snap? You may be prepared to take the next step, but your
amazing ideas are hampered by the inefficiency of funds that you currently
have.

Seeking for funds to start a business is obviously a difficult path. Investors

who lack familiarity with a certain business may hesitate to shell out money
for a relatively new venture. Due to inefficient funding, there are young and
 START UP: A Quick Guide on Your New Business 38

brilliant aspiring entrepreneurs who experienced rejection from potential

investors.

Whether you like it or not, money is a huge part of the equation between
starting a business and attracting the right investors and business partners.
Thankfully, there are feasible solutions for newbie entrepreneurs like you who
are struggling to get enough funding for their startup.

Here’s how:

1. Seek Help from Local Banks

One of the tried-and-tested ways to generate funds for a startup is to
approach loan officers in your local bank of choice. It would be best to choose
a bank that you are currently using for your personal banking needs. Set an
appointment with a loan officer.

When setting an appointment, first impressions can influence how well your
business proposal will go. Remember to look neat and professional. Do be
mindful of the following tips as well:

● Choose your clothing. Do not wear your tattered jeans or your

Hawaiian shirt. A business casual attire should do the trick.
● Prepare your business plan. Your business plan should be a
breeze to read. It must also enumerate your startup’s forecast of
future revenues and expenses.

During your appointment, make it a point to explain the reason behind the
amount that you intend to loan. If possible, explain in detail how you intend to
use the full percentage of the money you wish to borrow.
 START UP: A Quick Guide on Your New Business 39

2. Seek Help from Venture Capitalists

A venture capitalist (VC) is an investor that provides capital to companies that
have a strong potential to thrive amongst a sea of competitors in the industry.
Venture capitalists are willing to take risks since they know that the money
they will be investing will yield them massive return especially if these
companies will flourish successfully. Normally, VCs prefer investing in
businesses that belong in the software and technology industry. Still, there is
no harm in trying.

3. Seek Help from Angel Investors

Angel Investors, or more commonly known as private investors, seed investors
or angel funders, are a bit different from venture capitalists. While venture
capitalists get funds from investment companies, large corporations, and
pension funds, angel investors use their own money. Before an individual or
company can be considered as an angel investor, they must first meet the
minimum qualifications. Among these qualifications include earning at least
$200, 000 in their yearly income and possessing at least $1 million as their net
worth.

Angel Investors can also act as your mentors and decision-makers in terms of
running your business. This is a role that not all VCs take on. If you’re lucky,
angel investors can also introduce lawyers, accountants, and banks who can
serve as viable connections in growing and gearing your business for
long-term success.

4. Seek Help from Friends and Family

It can be pretty tricky to borrow money from family and friends. Stick to
people who you feel and know will support you through thick and thin. Try
seeking financial backing from your parents or siblings or even your closest
 START UP: A Quick Guide on Your New Business 40

friends and spouse. You can also offer them a partnership deal if you deem
them suitable for running a company or business. It would also be best to
approach friends and family members who are well-off and are free from any
outstanding debt.

5. Seek Help from People Through

Crowdfunding
Crowdfunding is the process of raising funds online with the help of family,
friends, customers and individual investors. This approach is possible through
social media and crowdfunding platforms such as Kickstarter, CircleUp,
CrowdFunder, and Fundable. You can showcase your resources to a large
number of interested investors and other individuals. When crowdsourcing,
encourage your audience to interact with and share your fundraising
campaign. Doing so will boost the likelihood of reaching potential funders.

6. Seek Help from a Business Partner

Having a business partner who is trustworthy and has the same ideology as
yours will make your business thrive in the years to come. That said, if you can
look for a strategic partner who has enough funds to support your business,
then the more likely that you can position your business for positive growth.
Around 85% of companies claim that working with a business partner is
fundamental to their company’s long-term growth.

The Bottom Line

Venturing into a new business is a smart and bold idea, especially if your soul
wants to escape the 9-5 rat race. On the other hand, becoming a business
owner is not always a milk-and-honey kind of scenario. There are a number of
 START UP: A Quick Guide on Your New Business 41

significant factors that need careful consideration, from funding and building
your business from the ground up to hiring the right individuals for your team.

As long as you have a solid business plan and you carefully choose the
funding option that best suits your business’ needs, then you will likely
increase the possibility of scoring more than enough to support your very own
startup.
 START UP: A Quick Guide on Your New Business 42

The Uniqueness of the Startup

Culture

Each year, the trends and cultures of the working society undergoes constant
change. Unknowingly, its changes have always been fashioned to keep up with
people’s needs and preferences. An emerging trend among these changes in
business ventures is the choice of putting up a startup.

Basically, a startup is a business venture that literally starts from nothing.

Mainly, it risks a high failing rate and a low ROI. There are a number of
startups wherein owners were unable to sustain their business; making it a
requirement to have a thorough business plan and a flexible yet solid strategy
to survive.

Startups are a very attractive choice for millenials. Tagged as a “rebellious

generation”, individuals who belong to this generation are actively rejecting
traditional norms in both in their career choices and in the businesses that
they wish to establish. They are no longer limiting themselves into the usual
 START UP: A Quick Guide on Your New Business 43

opportunities such as work involving the corporate world. Most of them take a
fresher alternative path that is more liberated and creative in nature.

What is so unique about startups that people are choosing it

over opportunities based in corporate settings?

Startups are booming because its owners are passionate about the products,
services and core message that their startup business promotes. Another
factor vital to the success of a startup business is its unique company culture.
It is what makes a particular company standout among other startups.

Startup owners are the ones who develop and create the internal culture for
their business. It is pivotal for the loyalty, motivation, efficiency, and positive
attitude that employees or staff will develop and foster as they become part of
the company. A startup’s culture can also be based on the niche where it
belongs. Choosing a specific niche for a startup requires self-evaluation.
Self-evaluation helps aspiring entrepreneurs determine which types of
businesses would fit their personality and interests the best.

To help explore in more detail the distinctive flair that the culture of almost
every startup possesses, below are 6 of the most common elements that one
can find in a small business setup:

1. Ingrained Company Value

Company values are the standards of behavior implemented in the entire

startup. Company values should be the stepping ladder towards attaining the
startup’s core goal. Every member must know and understand it well for them
to cope and get along well with fellow employees.

Company values should be a reflection of the main essence and identity that a
startup embodies. The best way to present and embed a clear set of company
values is by making employees and workers feel involved in the organizational
 START UP: A Quick Guide on Your New Business 44

management and the attainment of the startup’s goals. It gives workers the
reason to enjoy and continue working. Employees who carry with them the
core values of a startup will also influence other workmates or colleagues
with a positive attitude.

With a properly integrated company culture, employees will not be lost with
what they do even after the company’s growth and expansion.

2. Willful Productivity

Every startup begins with literally nothing and this is why it becomes twice
more challenging to run one. It takes time for a startup to establish a fixed
identity, routine, rules and regulations. Each and every employee has an
impact on their co-workers’ work habits, as well as on the company’s
environment, growth and failure. Since traditional rules are out of the question
in a startup setting, it is often assumed that employees are free to work at
their own pacing for as long as it does not affect the business negatively.

Increasing the team’s productivity is a struggle for corporate owners due to

the sheer number of staff that needs to be managed and monitored. As such,
encouraging other people to work harder and step up their game can be
frustrating most of the time.

Problems in an employee’s performance can be traced back to the existing

company culture and environment. There is a simple math in the company’s
productivity; and it includes variable of happiness, fear, and productivity. It
goes like this:

Happiness = increased productivity

If employees are happy in what they do and in their workplace, it increases

individual productivity and eventually, the team’s total output. But fear can
always ruin growth. If terror is what owners implement in the office, people will
 START UP: A Quick Guide on Your New Business 45

likely opt to leave. It also decreases productivity. A positive vibe and

atmosphere in a startup can likewise foster collaboration and teamwork. If
people feel that they belong to a group or that they are friends with their team
members, they build connections with one another and easily communicate
with each other. Startups have a relatively small team. Smaller group sizes
make it less of a hassle for staff to speak for themselves and spark creativity
and innovation. Small workspaces tend to foster a higher level of flexibility
and involvement among staff members. Young team members and newbies
will likely have the chance to share their ideas and suggestions while fresh
points of view are encouraged.

Fear = decreased productivity

3. Enforced Flexibility

Flexibility is also a unique selling point in a startup business compared to the

corporate world. Startups are less formal and rigid in terms of its internal
operations. There is bigger room available for creativity, imagination, and
originality. Since it is only a small group, members will share a closer bond
and express their goals, ideas, and space with each other. While the workload
may be doubled, teamwork is relatively practiced more readily and happily
among employees.

Also an advantage of having a small staff to work with is that startups have
the ability to adapt to different situations and circumstances thrown at them.
Startup employees are taught to do work outside of their actual work
description.

4. Open Communication and Teamwork

 START UP: A Quick Guide on Your New Business 46

It is common in every business for multiple employees to work on one project.

In order to generate favorable results for a specific project or goal,
communication within the team must be transparent and unbounded.
Otherwise, projects will not be able to push through smoothly without clear
and open communication within the team.

Often times, a startup is likened to a family where everyone is affected by

each other’s failures and achievements. Diversity is a selling point because it
opens doors for more ideas and suggestions for the betterment of the
products and even the company itself.

Startup employees are more comfortable expressing their ideas; a trait that
fosters a healthier office environment. Transparency also becomes more
apparent especially if a distinct nature of communication is developed within
the company. This is an advantage that startups have over their big-time
competitors.

5. Fearless Risk-taking

For business owners who opt to open a startup, the first thing they need to
consider is their willingness to take risks. They must first be knowledgeable
that a startup has a high risk of failing. As a venturer, once they make the
decision to push through with their business plan, they must be ready to make
sacrifices.

But it is not all the time that startups actually fail. A successful startup is
usually backed by innovation and creativity comes in. Startup owners should
be able to think of ways on how to handle different situations in a creative and
practical way. Nevertheless, no businessman has ever succeeded without
even trying to face the uncertainties that come with their company’s journey.

6. Unrivaled Passion
 START UP: A Quick Guide on Your New Business 47

The most important among all the elements that segregate startups from
established companies and corporate giants, is the exhibition of overflowing
passion. Passion in a startup setup not only refers to that of the owners’, but
also that of their employees. Before entering a startup, they must first love
what they do and be committed to what their products and services have to
offer. Aside from the salary, everyone must enjoy the experience of being in a
startup business so much that they are willing to stay and do extra effort for
the company to succeed.

The structure and culture of a startup is relatively different and unique. Its
informal and compact environment can be used to the advantage of its owner
and the staff employed under it.
START UP: A Quick Guide on Your New Business 48
 START UP: A Quick Guide on Your New Business 49

3 Effective Ways To Grow Your

Startup Business

Every business’ aim and dream, whether it is a startup or an established firm,

is for their company to grow and gain huge profit. Owners will do every move
possible to achieve their goal.

Achieving growth is particularly a problem for startup companies. These

enterprises will do everything to gain profit using their initial capital, all while
competing with other businesses around their market.

Some business owners get overwhelmed by the stress and disorder entailed
by building a startup. It has too many rooms for improvement, innovation,
expansion and marketing that businessmen sometimes feel uncertain over
which steps are appropriate for them to take.
 START UP: A Quick Guide on Your New Business 50

For startups, it must be kept in mind that rapid growth is not necessary.
Secured smaller steps is much preferred because it veers the company away
from failure. Usually, those who take high-risk and unrealistic decisions are
more likely to be unsuccessful.

While there is no single effective advice that will suit all forms of businesses,
here are some proven tips to grow a startup business:

1. Learn Your Business’ Niche

There will be numerous instances while managing a business where the

market needs will have to be adjusted. These adjustments are usually
noticeable in the changes involved in business trends that emerge every now
and then.

Unless startup owners can notice how most companies, especially the
mid-class companies, follow the same trend that competitors follow as a
comeback strategy from being left out, their business’ success will spiral out
of their control.

Locating a business’ niche means figuring out what is the suitable position for
your company to win in the business race. It is the perfect spot where
businesses can grow and be successful in their venture.

More often than not, inventing new products is not the secret to business
success. Rather, it is knowing what products and services meet the market
needs and being able to provide a solution for each.

Having plenty of fresh innovative ideas is also a good entrepreneur’s attribute,

but having no demand for it can be stressful and will cost more for a startup.

Better yet, startup owners must be able to anticipate future demands to be

prepared for future changes along with following present business trends and
 START UP: A Quick Guide on Your New Business 51

market needs. The goal is for the startup to emerge and be recognized as one
of the new leaders in its respective industry.

2. Keep Growth Plans Aggressive But Realistic

Not to be pessimistic, but in reality, not all startups reach the top in the same
triumphant manner that their owners imagined them to be. Startups are very
delicate firms. The various challenges that they encounter can either drive the
business into its vulnerable corner or aid in its resiliency and growth.

Reducing impulsive decisions may help the business survive its early years in
the industry and lead to more possible growth. Slow and steady steps is the
winning action in a startup. Growth can be slower, but it is relatively more
secure. It distances the enterprise from probable misfortune.

It is a common act among many startups to try to chase their target market
too much that it costs them to exhaust a big portion of their resources.
Keeping up with unrealistic plans will surely cost businesses to:

● Acquire big expenditure which the startup’s small capital cannot

sustain
● Drain the company’s resources
● Anticipate an unguaranteed return of capital

Focusing on smaller and more defined decisions, investments and target

market. Doing so will be the winning shot to success. Being aggressive is
always needed but owners must make sure that they stay realistic when
setting their goals.
START UP: A Quick Guide on Your New Business 52
 START UP: A Quick Guide on Your New Business 53

3. Maintaining Quality Product

As a business enterprise, their products and services should be one of the

finest factors that define their company.

Unfortunately, some startups cut their services and product quality to aim for
a higher profit. Surely it will return a higher profit at first but it will also be the
reason why the business will fail eventually.

Reducing product quality also cuts off a large chunk of a startup’s loyal
customer base. Thus their consumers will more likely not become a repeat
customer because of dismay, frustration.

Worse, existing customers will seek companies that offer better products and
services. Such a situation will also lead to a decrease in profit in the long run.
It will just take whatever additional profit the company had during its
honeymoon stage.

It is better to create and sustain a quality product or service for the target
market. It guarantees assured and sturdier business. Building a reputation as
a startup through products and services that customers can positively testify
for will help small businesses to grow and be successful.

There is really no secret recipe in a successful business. As the owner, they

should be the ones who are mainly in-the-know when it comes to defining
what their business is all about and who their market is.

It is always healthy to find a specific niche be aggressive and realistic, and

focus on boosting the quality of products to make sure that they do not lose
the road towards growth and success.
 START UP: A Quick Guide on Your New Business 54

6 Factors Towards A Successful

Startup

“The road to success and the road to failure are almost exactly the same.” –
Colin R. Davis

Some people start their own business to fulfill a dream or to realize their
vision for success. While startups or new businesses may have quite a lot of
room for improvement, it also nestles within it more opportunities to
encounter different perspectives and innovative ideas.

Startups also provide a thrill and a challenge, something that may not be as
enticing for people who are used to the more automated and highly
demanding atmosphere of the corporate world.

It is not a secret that running a startup also entails different strategies and
tons of risks. At times, new businesses encounter hurdles that are simply too
much to handle with limited resources, preparation and background on how to
navigate through large-scale challenges.
 START UP: A Quick Guide on Your New Business 55

On the brighter side, there are certain qualities that new entrepreneurs can
develop in order to gear themselves better for their goal.

These are action-oriented qualities that, regardless of startup owners’

experience, can aid them in boosting their business and be closer to success.

1. Be realistic

Everyone who starts a business has probably fantasized about making it big,
achieving high amount of sales for their products and gaining an equally ROI.

It is to be expected that startup owners aim highly for their company. But, too
much optimism can sometimes be unpleasant and even crippling for a
startup.

Business owners may have foreseen their enterprises reaching the top of its
sales, however, that is not always the case. Unfortunately, most startups do
not actually reach the level of success that was originally expected or aimed
for.

In other cases, success was a long, winding journey full of ups and downs.
Some also just end up as another typical mid-level company.

In fact, there are only a small number of startups that actually undergoes full
development and blossoms into a successful company that can join the ranks
of today’s biggest brands.

To avoid this circumstance, owners and startup workers must be able

recognize fantasy from reality. Focusing on more achievable ideas is a
healthier habit. Setting realistic goals should not be mistaken for possessing a
negative outlook.
 START UP: A Quick Guide on Your New Business 56

Rather, it is about ensuring that goals can be broken down into practical steps
and a clear game plan.

2. Work extra harder

Multitasking is a common sight among startups. People in startups are

required to do extra work to achieve sustenance and growth for the company.

One of the realistic yet unsavory truths about startups is that an employee can
take on more than 2 or 3 roles all at the same time. Compared to a corporate
work setup, employees usually have their job descriptions and roles clearly
defined.

Employees are also made to concentrate on the role or job assigned to them.
They have a superior that shows them the ropes and most importantly, the
boundaries of each employee’s duties are usually defined in a clear and
concise manner.

In startups, the job description is often blurry and indistinct because members
are the first persons to handle the job in that particular company. They are yet
to define and set boundaries depending on their capabilities and preferences.

Also, given that manpower is often limited, some employees are asked to go
beyond their respective roles and take on tasks that exceed the position that
they originally applied for.

This aspect is sometimes branded as the “Roll-up-your-sleeves mentality”

because of the extra effort it requires.

As a member of a small team, employees must also be passionate about the

product of the company. Everyone’s contribution is crucial for the company’s
success. Since there is only a number of workers, one weak member may lead
to the fall of the business.
 START UP: A Quick Guide on Your New Business 57

“That’s not my job mentality” should never be present inside new and small
enterprises. Everyone starting from the owners down to their employees need
to exert extra effort in fulfilling their job.

Others may see this as a sign of disorganization or lack of proper authority

and direction. However, this also shows how teamwork can help achieve big
milestones.

In other words, the success of the startup depends heavily on the cooperation
and flexibility of the owner and their respective staff.

3. Be consistent

Maintaining a healthy work-life balance is very hard and sometimes

unattainable especially for startup owners. Startups have little resources to
hire additional workers, which implies that current workers will be working
beyond their supposed job.

Luckily, there are cheaper yet efficient alternatives available that help startups
double their workforce without having to spend much.

Remote hiring, or more commonly known as hiring virtual assistants leverages

the scarcity of resources and manpower in startups. Virtual assistant services
are all over the internet nowadays, and there are also those that offer their
services at a lower price range.

4. Take risks

There is a big risk of failure for startups; therefore, owners and workers must
be ready to face terrible circumstances. Not to be pessimistic, but the
unpredictability of market trends and customer demands can put the stability
of startups and its workforce at risk.
 START UP: A Quick Guide on Your New Business 58

Without proper strategizing and careful decision making, every step done in a
business may result in more failures than success. Taking risks still remains
to be essential despite the bigger consequences that it poses for new
businesses.

Staying within one’s comfort zone will leave startups more vulnerable to
external pressures from the industry and from customers.

By challenging the hurdles that are often avoided by most startups, business
owners are also able to learn more about the market and equip their business
for long-term survival.

5. Anticipate ups and downs

Startups are often chaotic in nature. There will always be changes in the
company’s structure and branding, products, benefits and even in the
employees’ salary rates.

It all depends on the firm’s present condition. If resources and funds run dry,
members need to accept setbacks along with the possibility of being cut off
until such time that the company finally recovers.

Extra privileges, such as free snacks, insurance and employee benefits may
not also be given or shouldered consistently in a startup setting. Job
descriptions may also change often depending on the needs of the company.

Since small and new businesses are just starting, stability is not yet
established and thus solid countermeasures must be prepared in case of
possible threats and risks to the startup’s longevity.

6. Realizing one’s calling and vocation

 START UP: A Quick Guide on Your New Business 59

For some businessmen, all of the trials, challenges and ups and downs are
worth it because they are passionate about what they do. It is important and
crucial for a business venturer to believe in their craft to keep them going.

When a person decides to open a business, it is a pivotal move to concentrate

on a venture or industry that they really want and care about.

Without passion and genuine interest in the products and services that a
business owner sells, it is impossible to immerse and commit oneself fully to
the development of the startup.

It is also vital for employees to care for the company, its products and the
roles that they hold in order to help bring the business closer to success.

Building a startup does not really require a person to be well-experienced in

business. In fact, even young and aspiring entrepreneurs can start their own
company.

As long as they are willing to go the extra mile for their chosen venture, have
set clear objectives for their business and are well-prepped with the
must-have attitude and marketing strategies, then they’re all set.

Money may take the bulk of what makes a startup successful, but attitude will
take a startup to new heights. By exuding the right perspective and attitude,
those who are currently running their own small business, along with those
who are still planning to do so can create a foolproof roadmap towards
success.
 START UP: A Quick Guide on Your New Business 60

The Top 6 Crucial Roles of a

Customer’s Voice in Startups’ Content
Marketing Strategy

What does the term customer’s voice refer to? How can startup businesses
benefit from it?

A customer’s voice is a terminology that refers to the positive and negative

feedback that a customer has regarding the products and services a company
is offering.

There are three different types of customer feedback: Direct, Indirect and
Inferred.

● Direct feedback is used to describe a scenario where a customer

gives their opinion about a company via the company’s customer
service, Net Promoter Score(NPS) and other online surveys. The
 START UP: A Quick Guide on Your New Business 61

form of communication could be through phone call, chat, or

email.
● Indirect feedback is the term used when a company does not
have direct access to a customer’s complaints or favorable
responses because they were posted through social media and
other platforms.
● Inferred feedback is based on the frequency and quantity of a
customer’s purchase.

If only every customer feedback is analyzed

and responded to, the possibility for a startup
business to flourish is limitless.
Below are the main reasons why startup businesses can benefit from the
‘voice’ or feedback of their customers:

1. Feedback Enhances Products and Services

New products and services may seem to have every unique feature that a
customer has been desiring, yet garnering error-free results are still not fully
guaranteed. Thus, unsatisfied customers would express their disappointment
either through blogs, social media, forums, or customer service.

It is disheartening to receive negative reviews but if the reviews are taken into
consideration, business owners will realize that constructive feedback from
customers is a treasure worth dedicating their time and attention to.

It is the act of using customer feedback to learn the weak points of the
products and services being offered by determining the bad points, it helps
 START UP: A Quick Guide on Your New Business 62

startup owners and their staff have a better understanding of what should be
improved or changed.

While people often think of customer feedback as negative, it is not always

the case. If a customer is satisfied, more often than not, they will give a
commendation and mention the attributes of products and services that they
like the most.

This kind of feedback should not be disregarded, for it leaves an idea

regarding features that are widely accepted by customers. As a result, those
features should remain as part of the products and services.

2. Feedback Allows a Company to Stay Ahead of

Competitors

Customers are smart buyers who customarily compare prices and qualities of
a company’s products and services with another. For subscribers, it is easier
to gather their reason for leaving when they call or send an email to cancel
their subscription.

Hence, this method makes it manageable for businesses to adjust to the

needs and demands of existing customers. Customers who leave normally
divulge their reason for canceling their subscription.

The most common reasons given by customers would always involve the
cost, quality, or location (e.g. moving to a different state or country).

There are times when customers directly mention that another company’s
offer is better; thus, questions should be elicited properly in order to gain a
better understanding of what another business is offering. In this manner,
ideas that enhance customer retention will be created.
 START UP: A Quick Guide on Your New Business 63

On the other hand, businesses that don’t have subscribers can find the
reasons customers prefer another product and services by collating indirect
feedback.

It is deemed important to check forums, social media posts, and blogs as

these platforms have active customers who inform their readers regarding the
advantages and disadvantages of products and services offered by specific
brands or companies.

3. Feedback Identifies Customers Interest and

Perception

When starting a business, the needs and wants of customers should always
weigh over the needs and wants of the entrepreneur. There are cases wherein
in-depth surveys were administered at various locations yet later on, business
owners discover that the information gathered is still not sufficient to
determine what a customer’s interests are.

Customer interests vary over time as trends change. One method to identify
what buyers want is to solicit comments through a one-on-one interview. It is
more effective to interview buyers who have purchased products from
different businesses.

This approach may be costly, for the right prospects have to be identified and
they have to be persuaded to agree for an interview. In addition, researchers
have to brainstorm suitable questions, and the location of the business and
the customers that will be interviewed has to be considered.

Regardless of how tedious and challenging it may be to solicit valuable

feedback from customers, startup owners must remember that uncovering
the truth will ultimately play a huge impact in learning the desires of buyers.
 START UP: A Quick Guide on Your New Business 64

As a consequence, a company’s marketing department will have the capability

to innovate ideas that will surely capture their buyers’ attention.

4. Feedback Gives Ideas About the Startup’s Future

Content or Strategy

As mentioned previously, the customers’ interests and perceptions are vital to

the growth of startups. Item number three likewise proposes conducting a
face-to-face interview to obtain the wants and needs of buyers.

This method also gives useful insights in relation to the next strategy that has
to be executed to entice more customers to purchase products and services.

Even if a product is already widely accepted by many buyers, it is unwise to be

complacent. There are risks coupled with staying too relaxed especially when
several other startups are growing rapidly. What should be done is to motivate
innovators in a company to invariably break new ground to remain relevant in
the competitive market.

Before doing so, customer feedback has to be analyzed and grouped into the
following categories: product and brand health, customer satisfaction, brand
loyalty, sales, and customer preference.

It is fundamental to incorporate customer feedback in every fresh or new

content that will be introduced to the free market as this implies that business
owners are listening and receptive to what customers demand. For this
reason, customers will be impressed and they will likely continue to be loyal.

5. Feedback Allows Companies to Acquire Customer

Testimonials
 START UP: A Quick Guide on Your New Business 65

TechValidate disclosed that customer testimonials was evaluated by 94

percent of B2B marketing and sales specialists as extremely effective.
Positive customer testimonials strengthen a startup’s public reputation.

It will also help persuade new buyers to purchase from a particular startup
with a considerable number of positive customer reviews. What they have in
mind is that a company’s products and services have been proven to be
effective, and thus they feel ensured that their money will not be wasted.

Every constructive feedback has to be collected and be posted by a

company’s representative either on their social media page or on the section
of the website where customer stories or testimonials are featured.

Constructive feedback is not the typical, short positive or negative comment.

Instead, it includes detailed and useful information about the products and
services, which, in turn, compels other customers to hit the purchase button.

The useful information should include the benefits, help boost the brand’s
credibility, list concrete and objective comparisons between the startup’s
product/service and the ones offered by competitors, and most of all, support
a company’s claims.

6. Feedback Gives Tips On How To Win Previous

Customers

Customers leave if they are dissatisfied and there are many reasons that can
make them feel frustrated with a company’s products and services.

By using tools and software designed to analyze customer feedback, all the
information that customers have posted on different channels will be collated.
This information will give an insight to people in-charge of customer retention
 START UP: A Quick Guide on Your New Business 66

regarding the various reasons behind why customers have seized to purchase
from a particular brand.

At the same time, company representatives can systematize each reason and
strategize how to recover lost clients. If the reason is about pricing, offer
discount coupons (ex. one month free subscription for new customers).

If the reason involves one or more of the product’s features, solve the problem
and send an email marketing explaining the process of fixing the issue. If the
reason is about customer service, train customer service representatives to
handle calls professionally and ensure that every customer concern is
resolved efficiently.

The bottom line: Ignoring customer’s feedback may

hinder a company from maximizing its sales.

“A customer talking about their experience with you is worth ten times that
which you write or say about yourself.”

― David J. Greer, Wind In Your Sails

Billions of funds are spent to market a company’s products and services. This,
in turn, increases brand visibility and boosts conversion rates.

The customers’ voice is very crucial to the growth of a business as it helps

lessen the chance of failure. Moreover, it is an effective tool for marketing
strategy.

Truly, it is not the companies’ claims over their products and services that
matter, but rather it is the voice and words of their customers that holds the
weight of truth and validity for how effective and wonderful their products and
services are.
 START UP: A Quick Guide on Your New Business 67

8 Common Problems of Startup

Business

“What do you need to start a business? Three simple things: know your product
better than anyone, know your customer, and have a burning desire to succeed.”
–Dave Thomas, Founder, Wendy’s

Every business faces many challenges as they continue venturing into their
chosen industries. Anticipated or not, companies should always formulate the
answer to every question and the solution to every problem that their business
encounters.

Regardless of how big or small the obstacle is, every startup must have the
capacity to overcome these hurdles. Every enterprise encounters problems
and that includes startups. Startups struggle for many reasons.

In some cases, these struggles can be highly difficult that it could even lead to
the closure of some businesses.
 START UP: A Quick Guide on Your New Business 68

Starting and running a business entails a level of

preparedness and endurance that can thrive in a
cut-throat industry where “survival of the fittest” is the
general norm.

While the belief and notion that only the toughest survive, and the smartest
succeed, it would be unfair to deem startup businesses as the least
competent in surpassing the big and small challenges of managing a
business.

In order to help business owners of startups gain a better analysis of how they
can keep their business failure-proof, identifying the most common problems
faced by new ventures is a good start.

Below are the 8 common problems that startups come across as they
continue to develop and strive for bigger success:

1. INSUFFICIENT AND INAPPROPRIATELY ALLOCATED

FINANCES

As Richard Harroch, a venture capitalist and author would say it: “It’s almost
always harder to raise capital than you thought it would be, and it always takes
longer. So plan for that.”

Funding will be a headache in the early years of a business and during the
expansion stage. Financial management will be crucial to business owners.

Startups should always keep in mind that being a new name in the industry, an
imbalance of cost, capital, and profit will be normal during their business’
 START UP: A Quick Guide on Your New Business 69

initial stages. In other words, they must imagine and expect having to release
capital without the expectation of gaining profit, yet.

During this phase, cash flows can possibly be continuous. It is best that
businesses prepare for such a situation in order to avoid failure. To be
specific, here are some of the things that may acquire a portion of every
startup’s funds:

1. Hiring staff
2. Building a physical store and adding new offices
3. Purchase relevant software for the service or spend for product
development
4. Invest in marketing strategies

When one or more of the above are left unanticipated, it can cause delays in
rolling out products and even lead to the removal of a huge chunk of the
company’s employees.

During startup, owners need to exert all efforts to minimize their cost to
prevent these unfortunate events from taking place.

2. UNPLANNED BUSINESS EXPANSION

Every business owner’s dream is for their company to grow. Thus, expansion
is not really a problem but rather an accomplishment and a challenge.
Expansion is a sign of growth and development for a startup.

Every accomplishment has a responsibility and challenge coupled with it.

During expansion, owners should expect that additional capital will be needed
because companies will be needing new employees, new office/s, more
supervisors (for their HR and admin departments, for instance), and some
may also consider putting up other offices abroad or in other cities.
 START UP: A Quick Guide on Your New Business 70

Unfortunately, problems emerge when some startups cannot cope with

growth. Planning and financing is crucial for businesses to be able to expand
properly.

3. LACK OF CONCRETE MARKETING STRATEGIES

The problem with startups and marketing is that there is a tendency of failing
to understand the true importance of a well-defined marketing strategy to the
company’s long-term success.

At times, owners exhaust energy on aspects that are unnecessary to the

business’ development and branding. Without effective marketing tactics that
will help boost the brand and entice customers, introducing the startup’s
services and enhancing its features will be useless if there are no customers
to patronize and support the business.

Some startups fail because they neglect the significance of marketing. Often,
businessmen fall under unrealistic expectations that their startup will grow
eventually and naturally. Worst, some rely only on word of mouth and the idea
that their business will eventually grow as the years go by.

The best way to get started with a marketing strategy that befits the startup’s
goals and progress is to locate a specific target market, provide opportunities
for customers to gain higher familiarity with the brand’s products or services,
gather valuable feedback from new customers and use it as a reference to
improve the product or service and devise ads that will speak more personally
to customer needs.

In this manner, not only will onlookers be transformed into actual customers, it
is also more possible to earn their loyalty. Winning the trust of customers is
the goal of every business—a feat that becomes harder to attain without the
help of a suitable marketing approach.
 START UP: A Quick Guide on Your New Business 71

4. INEFFECTIVE BUSINESS PLANNING

Forgetting to establish a concrete business plan is a rare occurrence for

business owners. Even so, there are budding entrepreneurs who commit the
mistake of skipping this vital step, thinking that they can simply craft a plan as
they go along managing their newly opened business.

A business plan serves as the backbone of every company. It will be the

guiding platform towards achieving the company’s goals and targets.

Another possible scenario is that some owners have indeed created a plan but
failed to consider all the important factors of sustaining the business and
keeping the products up-to-date with changing customer demands and
industry trends.

A good business plan must anticipate all positive and negative possibilities
that the enterprise might encounter. Among the crucial factors that should be
included in a business plan are:

● Sales
● Development
● Staffing
● Skills shortage
● Funding

Business owners, as the leader of a company, must refrain from unrealistic

expectations. Optimism alone does not always imply positive results. Instead,
business owners should practice smart optimism. In addition, startups will
most probably succeed if can handle challenges well.
 START UP: A Quick Guide on Your New Business 72

During planning, business owners and their team should make sure that the
plan will be ready and flexible enough should there be any unanticipated
problems.

5. HIRING SUITABLE VS UNSUITABLE EMPLOYEES

The workforce will be the key to business’ growth.

Hiring people to help business owners attain their objectives is a critical

decision to be made. They should be able to find suitable candidates for each
and every position to be filled.

Reviewing the business plan and locating the skills needed in operating the
business is a must. It is likewise vital to know where to locate or find
candidates bearing the skills and qualifications that the startup needs.

Every business requires a particular set of skills that will aid in its success and
progress. That said, owners must avoid hiring people not fitted for the job.

A tip for startups: Don’t hire people with the same skills. Rather, create a group
composed of a variety of talents to complement each other.

In addition to fostering diversity in the workplace, supervisors and team

leaders should also be able to create a company culture that will allow staff to
work together harmoniously in attaining the company’s objectives.

Delays should be avoided at all costs because ideally, startups must have no
room for delays. Hiring the wrong people may cost the company more. It will
be a wasted investment and will ultimately lead to the startup’s downfall.
 START UP: A Quick Guide on Your New Business 73

6. CHOOSING THE WRONG PARTNERS TO DO

BUSINESS WITH

Before considering working hand-in-hand with a fellow business owner,

owners of startups should reflect on whether a partnership is an immediate
requirement for the business or not. If it is, then it must be secured that the
partnership that will be established benefits both parties.

Not all business partners are helpful. At times, there are business partners
that become the source of delays in carrying out campaigns and strategies.
This is often the scenario for when the partnering business lacks the skills
and resources needed to make the partnership symbiotic.

Every business or business owner has their own share of selling points.
However, business partnerships should only last for a specific duration in
order to maximize what the collaboration aims to achieve.

More specifically, a business partner may have helped in developing the

company’s main lineup of products but may not be the best fit for providing
resources and references to enhance leadership in the partner company’s
work environment.

7. POOR MANAGEMENT

Several of the successes behind the most sought after brands of today are the
result of hard work and not of status, fame and/or existing wealth.

Budding entrepreneurs should be knowledgeable that leading a company does

not end in conceptualizing alone. It also requires them to act outside of their
comfort zone.
 START UP: A Quick Guide on Your New Business 74

At first, it may seem as though preparation alone will help them make the cut,
but the harsh reality of opening up a business is that sadly, not everyone
simply has what it takes to emerge and make a name for themselves in their
chosen industry,

Startup owners must ask themselves first how far they are willing to push
themselves to attain their vision and goals. They must also reflect on whether
they are capable of actually going out to approach and entice clients and
present themselves and their business to potential leads.

Some startups also fail because of ineffective management. Knowledge,

skillset, and passion is not enough for a startup to thrive.

Sometimes, the assistance and input of experienced mentors are needed in

operating the business. Business mentors help entrepreneurs with great ideas
devise better marketing campaigns and learn more about the trends in their
industry of choice.

Their wisdom enables startup owners to see the bigger picture and enforce
management approaches that highlight the unique culture and branding that
they want for their business.

8. FAILURE TO KEEP UP WITH COMPETITORS

The reality that established and new competitors are present everywhere is
perhaps the most crucial challenge that every startup has to face. As a
starting business, businesses are yet to establish their name within the pool
or many other better-known firms in the industry.

When competing against a well-established business, startups often focus on

how to prove their relevance especially if they share the same target market
with their big-time competitors.
 START UP: A Quick Guide on Your New Business 75

After all, why should customers try a new brand when they clearly already
have a business or company that they patronize? During tight and tricky
situations like this one, startup owners are advised to be assertive in obtaining
recognition for their brand.

Customers may have brand loyalty, but it is also undeniable that some will not
be afraid to try something new. In fact, there are customers who wish to go
against the norm and go for something that none of them has ever tried
before.

At the end of the day, customers are more impressed by brands that exude
authenticity, perseverance and ingenuity—qualities that are usually more likely
to be exhibited by new and humble companies.

Startups should always take note that there is not

enough time in business to sit back, relax and wait for
things to fall into place.

They must learn how to manage their resources well and seize a good
opportunity when they see one. More importantly, startup owners must always
be on the lookout for changing business trends, as it will help them make
more viable decisions for their company.

Try to minimize all factors that could possibly delay any progress, and above
all, set clear, realistic priorities.
 START UP: A Quick Guide on Your New Business 76

8 Reasons Why Creating a Growth

Roadmap is Essential for Startups

A growth roadmap is a visual record that provides specific and significant

milestones of young companies. It acts as a marketable profile to powerful
investors, performing employees, and loyal customers.

Think of it as the well-crafted resume or LinkedIn profile of the most sought

after employee whom established companies aim to hire.
 START UP: A Quick Guide on Your New Business 77

To have an in-depth knowledge about growth strategy, there is a helpful list of

reasons for creating marketing tactics specially tailored for young
entrepreneurs below.

1. Vision and Mission Builds Effective Branding

As the business’ journey begins to set sail, having a clear set of goals helps
startups by determining whether it is fulfilling its short and long-term
aspirations or not. This leads a company to a straight path as long as its
vision and mission is understood by its employees.

During analysis, these questions should be asked:

● Is the service enough?

● Are the customers satisfied or do they need more?
● What beneficial innovation activities can be put to practice to
retain customers?

After the critical observation, the company can improve customer perception
of the product and services which may lead to sales generation and
purchases.

2. Builds an Astounding Business Profile

If over a period of time, startups decide to expand with the absence of capital,
approaching influential investors is the best option. However, marketing to a
capitalist is excruciating without deliberate preparation.

In this situation, a growth roadmap can be used in business presentations to

attract potential investors. Financing is a gamble that not many businessmen
 START UP: A Quick Guide on Your New Business 78

plan to take as some fear to lose their hard-earned money; therefore, it is

imperative to build a name through business successes to easily close a deal.

3. Provides Opportunities for Highly Skilled Employees

Business expansion requires workers who are socially competent, loyal,

trustworthy, curious, analytical, problem solvers, leaders, and efficient.

Finding the right person to appoint in a new business venture is daunting as

one cannot afford losing. With the help of the roadmap, companies can keep a
record of staff members who have been performing well from the very
beginning. In due course, choosing the suitable person becomes effortless.

4. Effectively Measures Failures

Managing a business is an experiment. A business plan may look perfect, but

once it is executed it has the possibility to fail. Write down failures or ask
reliable employees to do so. As the old adage goes, “Failure is a person’s
perfect teacher.”

Recording fiascos can help the company determine what failed to work during
product launching, deals with investors and employee management, so it will
be avoided in the future. In this manner, business owners and employees can
recognize business aspects that should be improved.

When addressing problems, it is highly recommended not to overlook small

details. No matter how minor the issue is, there is a high probability that it will
cause a major setback to the organization if it is not settled properly.

Learn More: 8 USEFUL TIPS TO AVOID A FAILED STARTUP

5. Measures Successes
 START UP: A Quick Guide on Your New Business 79

Successes are the results of failures and hard work on which every company
values itself. Documenting achievements through infographics that are
accessible to the public is another strategy to trigger customers to purchase
products and services. Customers put more trust in companies that thrive
despite adversities.

It should also be noted that progress assesses the readiness of a business to

open branches globally. If it is stable enough based on reviewing its roadmap,
then it can start allocating its funds to a new enterprise.

6. Provides Skills Gap Analysis

Skilled employees breathe life to a business. With their diverse knowledge,

they can deliver results while working independently. On the other hand,
inexperienced staff may not be able to communicate work-related concerns
and ideas effectively; thus, the reputation of a company can be tarnished.

Skills gap analysis paves the way to discovering whether the competencies
that workforce possess is adequate to sustain business growth or if training
or hiring is necessary to meet what employers need.

7. Encourages Employee Gratification

It is not always about the company. There are times when employees feel less
compensated in exchange for their work. As a result, some of the best
employees demand for a raise while others leave.

Before this happens, use the growth roadmap and other supporting or relevant
documents to analyze if the business has enough funds to finance salary
increase.
 START UP: A Quick Guide on Your New Business 80

Other compensations such as reward and recognitions should always be

awarded to exceptionally performing employees to keep them motivated at
work. Motivated workers are happy, and happy workers exceed expectations.

8. Enforces Eco-Friendly Cost-cutting Practices

Global problems continue to emerge due to improper use of inventions and

resources. Several materials used in most companies are produced from
plastic and paper. With the evolution of technology, human beings can limit
the number of waste being contributed.

Having said that, it is appropriate to use technology to cut company

expenditures that only contribute to the degradation of the environment.
Instead of buying paper for the office, computers can be used as a medium to
communicate messages to employees and customers.

After all, pen and paper will likely be obsolete by the time people belonging to
Generation Z will be dominating the consumer population. Gen Z’ers will likely
be more highly dependent on social media and search engines to find
products and services that they need and learn more about the companies
they support.

Overall, growth roadmap is an important factor to consider when competing

with businesses that are in the same industry. It will show the potholes that
must be addressed and resolved along the road and it also helps pave the
right path to take to attain success.

Bear in mind that a growth roadmap is highly applicable to established

companies as well. A thriving company that started from nothing should
continue to monitor its growth to determine what marketing strategies it
needs to adapt in order to keep up with the inevitable changes in the evolving
business market.
START UP: A Quick Guide on Your New Business 81
 START UP: A Quick Guide on Your New Business 82

Workplace Friction in Startups: What

Causes it and How to Solve it

Starting a business means having a broad scope of knowledge and

experience on how to handle people with distinct personalities and the
possible circumstances commonly taking place in every work environment.

A business owner can be likened to a shepherd while employees can be

compared to the sheep that the business owner tends to on a daily basis. As
the shepherd, they must be able to handle and organize each and every one of
their “sheep” or subordinates to improve the productivity of their team.

However, due to the distinct personalities that comprise every company or

team, the rate of workplace conflict continues to remain at a noticeably high
level.

Workplace conflicts are negative outcomes brought by human reflexes that

discourage or go against the flow of positive interactions. Conflict in the
 START UP: A Quick Guide on Your New Business 83

workplace can either be work-related or it can also be the result of personal

differences and misunderstandings.

When left unresolved, among the most common outcomes of conflicts among
co-workers include:

● Compromised productivity
● Long-term avoidance
● Loss of communication
● Unhealthy competition
● Unnecessary adjustments in socialization

Resolving conflicts and misunderstandings among employees is necessary;

otherwise, companies will not be able to reach its core goals and aspirations
for success. For owners of newly established businesses, dealing with
employee conflicts can be difficult and overwhelming.

One of the best ways to minimize or deal with office disagreements is by

knowing some of the common reasons behind why employees tend to clash
and engage in altercations with each other.

What are some of the most common causes of conflicts in the workplace?

1. CONTRADICTING BELIEFS AND PERSONALITIES

This is perhaps one of the most common causes of conflicts in the

workplace. At times, certain personalities tend to not blend well together,
making it difficult for co-workers to harmonize and get along with each other.

In other cases, co-workers may get along at first, but once they find out that
they have opposing views on certain issues or topics that they are passionate
about, they tend to avoid the workmate who contradicts their perspective.
 START UP: A Quick Guide on Your New Business 84

What to do?

As the boss, it is important to be all ears when tackling these issues and get
to the bottom of the disagreement.

It is best to implement events like team-building exercises and hold regular

meetings where utilizing opposing views and different personalities becomes
instrumental in reaching a common goal for the team.

Meetings and team building activities serve as a great avenue where

employees get the opportunity to get to know each and every team member
better.

Another way to solve contradicting beliefs and personalities is by giving

employees the freedom to show their point of view in a particular situation,
while ultimately encouraging a culture of respect and openness among the
staff.

2. FAILURE TO GIVE PROPER RECOGNITION AND

CREDIT

Failing to recognize or credit employees for their hard work instantly triggers
negative responses and conflicts. It is an unfortunate truth that some
supervisors and even co-workers have the tendency to assume
acknowledgement for work and effort that they did not contribute.

When this happens, employees become less motivated to work due to the
shaping mindset that their superior will not appreciate their work no matter
how good they are in their given task.

What to do?
 START UP: A Quick Guide on Your New Business 85

Always ensure that proper credit is given where it is due. Recognizing each
employee for the hard work that they put into their job shows that the
company values them as an important part of its continuous growth.

Otherwise, not being able to acknowledge their efforts reflects a lack of

appreciation from the management and this can potentially lead to
employee-boss conflict. It can likewise affect a company’s productivity on a
long-term basis.

3. OVERWORKED AND UNDERCOMPENSATED STAFF

Every company has its own “peak season”, wherein work, projects and
deadlines come together in bulk. During these times, it can’t be helped that
some employees get to receive double the work on their plate. However, on
days where client demands are not that hectic, then the workload of
employees should also be lessened.

There are bosses and companies that tend to transform their employees into
an all-around staff. In other words, employees are bombarded with several
tasks that are not even included in their job description. The worse part is,
these employees are strikingly underpaid for all the work and excess working
hours they are asked to complete.

What to do?

The best way to resolve this is by creating a complete and detailed job
description for every job title. The job description should enumerate all the
tasks and responsibilities that each job title entails.

This way, employees will have a concrete basis for what type of tasks and
additional responsibilities are still aligned with their main role in the company.
Should there be any changes in the job descriptions, it is the company’s
responsibility to inform the employees.
 START UP: A Quick Guide on Your New Business 86

If the boss or company wishes to make their staff more flexible and capable
of fulfilling a wider range of tasks and responsibilities, then holding seminars
concentrated on developing skills and expanding employee knowledge should
be prioritized.

Skill-building seminars enable business owners to be better at identifying their

employees skill sets and limitations. After all, employees are not machines.
They each have their own limits, strengths and weaknesses.

4. LACK OF CONSTRUCTIVE FEEDBACK AND

COUNSELING

Not providing feedback—whether positive or negative—on employees’ outputs

greatly affects team performance. Constructive feedback is what helps
employees learn and improve.

Without it, employees will have no idea on whether they are doing their job
properly or not. Failure to provide feedback on employees’ work performance
often leads to misunderstandings.

This is because the supervisor or person in-charge of managing the team

chooses not to communicate what every team member’s strengths and
weaknesses are. Feedback and counseling are great ways for the
management to express what is expected of each employee as they complete
the tasks assigned to them.

When not communicated in a clear and concise manner, employees will find it
difficult to assess the objective of every project or task that they are being
made to handle.

What to do?
 START UP: A Quick Guide on Your New Business 87

Providing feedback to employees’ work is highly valuable. Feedback enables

employees to identify which part of their work and performance need
adjustments or improvements.

Feedbacks likewise help resolve brooding conflicts related to the performance

of each employee. For example, if an employee is habitually tardy, then
supervisors or team leaders should tell this particular staff how their poor
attendance is affecting the productivity in the workplace.

There are instances where employees need someone to actively take notice of
their imperfections and bad habits for them to start realizing that they need to
change their unbecoming ways. As mentioned in the introduction, conflicts
are natural. It can come in many forms.

However, with the solutions depicted in this article, business owners and team
supervisors in every company should be able to gain a better understanding of
how and why conflicts in the office take place.

More importantly, it provides a keener eye and wider perspective on how

conflicts among employees can be resolved in a peaceful and healthy manner.

Always make it a point to communicate, set realistic and rational goals for the
team, assign workload at an acceptable amount and prioritize activities that
promote the overall well-being of employees in order to nurture a positive and
enjoyable work environment.

To win the marketplace, you must first win in the workplace. – Doug Conant
 START UP: A Quick Guide on Your New Business 88

8 Useful Tips To Avoid A Failed

Startup

Every entrepreneur’s fear is for their startup business to fail due to

unanticipated circumstances. Usually, this happens after their newly
established business reaches past the “honeymoon stage”.

It’s been said that the most crucial time in a business takes place within its
first five years. It determines whether the business will make it or not. The
initial years of every startup are full of hope, drive, and learnings. For some, it
may even seem as though all things are falling perfectly into place.
 START UP: A Quick Guide on Your New Business 89

But there will be a time where profits will take a downward projection and
customers will begin shifting their focus and look for something new. It is
during this crucial turning point that some startup businesses fail during this
period.

During this period, there are important factors involving the structure of the
startup business that need to be considered. It will eventually be helpful in
sustaining the company and eventually reaching the core goals for starting
the business.

Listed below are the 8 factors that play a crucial role in the long-term success
of a startup business:

1. Efforts

Creating a feasible business plan will always be the key. It serves as a guide to
know what the business’ priorities and objectives are. Entrepreneurs often get
caught by the excitement of venturing into things that they tend to stray from
their main goals.

It is important to always focus on the business’ strategy!

There will always come a time when new doors of opportunity will open.
Having new ideas is always acceptable for as long as the business owner can
determine the right time to implement these new strategies or assimilate
additional ventures.

As a new businessman running a startup business, it is helpful to avoid tasks

that are heavy on time and effort but deliver little results. Instead, energy and
resources must be concentrated on tasks that will help the business grow and
sustain itself.
 START UP: A Quick Guide on Your New Business 90

Focus on the business’ objectives. There will always be a time where the
business will require additional innovations, and during that period, business
owners should maximize all the time to give their startup the ‘metamorphosis’
or positive transition that it needs.

2. Churn Rate

Churn Rate is defined as the yearly estimate or rate where employees leaving
their jobs or customers putting a stop to the services and subscriptions they
have signed up to, reaches its peak.

This particular period is considered as a nightmare for every business or

enterprise, most especially startups. It is the responsibility of the startup
owner to hire and invest in the best and the most loyal employees.

Many factors affect or influence the probability of a churn rate in a company.

For startups, it may be the result of a personal choice of the employee. Their
choice may be due to the kind of work environment provided for them. People
tend to leave if they do not feel secure or valued or if they are not happy with
the surroundings where they are supposed to work.

When a startup has a high percentage of employees leaving the company on a

regular basis, it reflects badly on the business. However, business owners
have the power and capability to resolve the increasing rates of resigning
employees.

If business owners do not want the possibility of employees leaving, they

must come up with an engaging and healthy work environment where their
staff can perform aptly and provide positive feedback about it. Make them feel
that their contributions matter and that they are part of every success that the
company has.
 START UP: A Quick Guide on Your New Business 91

Sometimes, an enterprise’ success is because of the management and

employees’ unity.

3. Location

The location of startup businesses is a big factor in determining whether it will

attain big success or not. Proper location can merit additional revenue to a
startup business.

There are two considerations that need to be pondered when deciding on the
startup’s location:

1. The business owner’s personal location

2. The target market’s location

When it comes to finding the best location for a startup, visibility and
accessibility are key. A strategically located office or establishment that sits
near the business owner’s residence is convenient because it enables the
owner to reach their office or store more easily should there be emergencies
that arise.

Taking note of how accessible the store’s location will be to the target
customers is also vital. Initially, startups will have to decide on a specific
market to target then determine certain areas or locations in town that they
frequent.

For instance, if a startup targets customers who belong to the working class,
then it would be best to situate the business within or near economic centers
or central business districts. If the target audience is comprised of students,
find a location near schools or universities.
 START UP: A Quick Guide on Your New Business 92

4. Business Persona

Always keep this in mind: the startup’s persona will become the face or image
of the business that will be imprinted in the customers’ mind.

It is important to ensure that customers will recognize the startup in every

endeavor or promotion that the business decides to take on. Establishing the
most suitable persona for a startup can be achieved with the help of a proper
marketing strategy. It will likewise be an advantage if startups know well who
the target customers are.

Take note of customer feedback as it will assist in formulating the startup’s

persona. There are several methods where customer feedback can be
collected. One of the most effective methods involves conducting a survey
among the target customers.

Startup owners can create a persona based on the responses of their

customers. Doing so helps entice customers more and ensure that the
branding or image created for the business will really respond well to the
intended audience.

A startup’s goal is to ensure customer retention and acquisition is constant

that it eventually lead to the attainment of loyal customers.

5. Cost

In every startup, beginnings will always be the hard part. It is a period where
businesses have to pay for several costs but gain little profit. During this
phase, some businesses are forced to close down because it can no longer
handle the cost-profit imbalance.

Some factors affecting cost are: Rent, bills and payroll.

 START UP: A Quick Guide on Your New Business 93

Always remember that one of the goals of business is to make profit. Any
business will have a hard time sustaining itself if the cost is higher than the
profit. In that case, costs need to be reduced.

Try applying money saving measures such as looking or negotiating for a

store location with lower rent fees, using energy-saving appliances, or simply
avoiding unnecessary expenditures. Sacrifices are needed in order for the
company to survive during hard times.

Allocate funds only for items and services that are needed. Avoid
overspending at all costs.

6. Sudden Capital Increase

A pleasant part of growing a business is when people start recognizing the

brand. During this stage, businesses can expect an increase in the number of
clients interested in availing the product.

On the other hand, some businesses fail to survive this phase or stay long
enough to get to this point. Businesses who were unable to anticipate this
situation become unprepared and unable to meet the growing market
demand.

An increase in market demand will require startups to release more capital in

order to meet what the client dictates. This also means making the necessary
adjustments to give way for the company’s development.

Some enterprises lacking extra funds to meet the sudden boost in market
demand are unable to keep up with the continuous growth.

7. Market demand
 START UP: A Quick Guide on Your New Business 94

There will always be a time when things reach a sudden decline and no one
seems to be liking or responding well with the products offered by the startup.
During this period, as the owner, it is helpful to gather customer feedback in
order to be more knowledgeable of what the target market wants.

The secret ingredient to a successful product or service is maintaining

uniqueness while also following market trends.

Stay updated with the latest trends in the industry and in the purchasing
behavior of customers. Focus on consistently evolving and innovating the
services and products. When sales drop down, take this as a chance to review
the products.

Check whether there are things that need to be changed with the appearance,
construction or packaging. Better yet, be open to devising new versions of
products that require total replacement. After all, remodelling and creating
new products requires the constructive feedback of customers.

8. Leadership

The final factor that can save a failing startup is proper leadership. Regardless
of the size of the company, every business owner must be ready to lead and
manage their team, especially when the business goes through challenging
and tough times. The cooperation and efficiency of a group of employees
usually depend on how the CEO or leader reacts to and handles varying levels
of stressful and positive situations.

It is better to work with optimistic and passionate people. The people and
environment surrounding a startup or a team comprising a particular startup
have the power to influence the team’s mood and perception of things. It may
not always directly help in solving the company’s pressing problems, but still,
the psychological and emotional support that it brings leads to better
decision-making and performance.
 START UP: A Quick Guide on Your New Business 95

Once everything is settled, construct a leadership structure that fits the

startup. Business owners of emerging companies should avoid assuming an
all-around role. This is an unhealthy habit that most business owners tend to
practice a lot.

The better alternative is to select the best people for the job needed and
designate time and concentration on building the personal development of
each and every employee. Train employees in a nurturing manner where they
can exhibit their skills and knowledge. Learn how to communicate and
motivate employees.

A great percentage of their motivation for work depends on their leaders and
the environment where they are working. More importantly, initiate an ideal
company culture that employees will eagerly want to be a part of.

A business plan will always save the day but there will also be several
adjustments that will arise as the startup continues to develop. Things will not
always go according to plan, and that is why taking note of all the eight crucial
factors mentioned in this article will help prepare the business for any hurdle
that it may face in the future.
 START UP: A Quick Guide on Your New Business 96

5 Things To Consider Before Starting

A Second Business Today

There is nothing wrong with owning 2 or more businesses. It all just depends
on how one handles and balances both.

Having more than one business is usually a common goal for every
businessman because it signifies expansion and achievement. It is not
unusual as well to own a second company in a different industry because
venturing into a new market is deemed as exciting and challenging for
business owners.

It will take a lot of extra effort to maintain two or more companies at the same
time. There will always be risks present in every move or decision made that
involves all the businesses owned.
 START UP: A Quick Guide on Your New Business 97

The successes and failures of one business may significantly affect the
growth and expansion of the other. In some ways, business owners should
find a way to harmonize both businesses using a cohesive management style
despite the two belonging in different industries.

There are indeed several pointers that need to be considered when starting a
second business, Listed below are the 5 most significant factors to consider
before opening or launching a second business:

1. Proper management and Adjustment

Every business owner should ask themselves if they have the capability to
manage both of their businesses with much efficiency.

Adjustment period is very crucial in starting a second business. The time

spent by a business owner on one business is now divided compared to when
a singular venture was the only main focus.

In many cases, those who try to expand and create new companies
unconsciously focus on the newer company, leaving less time and effort on
the first company. Instances wherein there is a striking imbalance in terms of
focus and attention on each business is something that must be avoided.

It is important to balance one’s time.

Running two businesses will sometimes require moving at a pace slower than
usual in order to ensure that the right decisions are made and each venture is
operated smoothly. Consider all possible results that could affect both
businesses. Take note of the pros and cons of each business. Weigh options
and always keep track of short and long-term goals without being biased and
negligent.

2. Having a Business Partner

 START UP: A Quick Guide on Your New Business 98

Some may think that having a partner will be helpful in maintaining their
business and that it will also help lighten the responsibilities. But having a
business partner is not always the best answer. Not all business partners may
be the right fit for the company’s objectives. When this happens they tend to
add more problems than solutions.

Before choosing a company or entity to team up with, assess their

compatibility with the business core objectives and structure by asking the
following questions:

● Are they knowledgeable about the nature of the business?

● Do they have the necessary resources and manpower that will be
very beneficial for the success of the business?
● Do they have visions and goals that are similar to that of the
business’?
● Have they teamed up with other brands and companies before? If
so, how successful were these past partnerships?

Another factor to consider is the willingness of business owners to lessen

their power or authority over the company. Some people like to be in control of
everything in the business because this way, it eliminates disagreements and
inconsistencies in decision making.

However, this type of mentality will obviously not work in a partnership.

Seeking the approval and opinion of the business partner will now be vital in
carrying out crucial turning points and changes involved in operating and
maintaining the businesses.

It is likewise necessary to note that business partners need not be the same
or universal for all the businesses owned by the entrepreneur. Choosing a
business partner will ultimately depend on the kind of management and
direction that the company requires.
 START UP: A Quick Guide on Your New Business 99

3. Schedule

Working on more than one business requires making necessary adjustments

to the business owner’s schedule.

Fixing a balanced schedule does not always mean rendering the same number
of hours for each business. Time and effort should be divided according to
what each business requires. At the same time, take time to sit back and
observe the progress and challenges of each business.

There are instances wherein one business may require a bigger chunk of time
to attend to certain pressing circumstances. Such a situation is unavoidable
but can be compromised by ensuring that there are trusted staff who can help
handle business operations especially during critical periods.

4. Business Plan

Starting a new business will always entail a clear vision for the brand,
possessing the right skills, having extensive knowledge of the industry where
the business belongs, choosing the best location, allocating the funds for the
business and budgeting the money according to the business’ needs,
implementing the most effective marketing strategies and hiring the most
suitable and experienced workforce.

There should be a clear vision and objective for starting a second business.
Take time to build and work on the vision for the upcoming business. Once the
vision is finalized and settled, that’s where creating a clear, detailed, and
attainable business plan comes next. The business plan must be able to
define the industry being planned to venture into and the logical steps on how
to execute every step of the plan.

The location of the businesses, along with the marketing plans for each
should also be well-thought of. Location can be crucial especially for the
business owner because it can affect how the businesses are simultaneously
 START UP: A Quick Guide on Your New Business 100

managed. For instance, if the businesses are situated on opposite sides of the
city, then navigating back and forth between the two businesses or companies
will be quite a hassle.

When launching another business, seek the help of advertising experts and
use different outlets such as social media to reach target customers. Proper
marketing strategy will be a big help in the success of the new business.

Lastly, expansion also means expanding all of the aspects of the business,
including the workforce and the budget. Make sure to review resources
particularly. The basic rule before starting a second business is to check
whether the existing budget allows the addition of another venture or
business.

Remember, opening a new business is no walk in the park. It also entails hiring
new staff and supervisors to take care of the fundamental operations for the
business. It may take a lot of sacrifices from the business owner to be able to
do this.

5. Passion

Among all the things, this is the most important factor needed for a
businessman to succeed. Just like in the business that was first opened,
business owners have to be equally passionate about the second. Make the
business an extension of the business owner’s personality and a reflection of
themselves.

Lastly, pick an industry where new ideas and opportunities are overflowing
and inspiring. This will help provide stronger motivation and drive to attain
bigger successes not just for the new company but for both businesses.
 START UP: A Quick Guide on Your New Business 101

The level of passion that the business owner provides to each of their
business will be the backbone of the companies being developed and geared
for prosperity.
 START UP: A Quick Guide on Your New Business 102

4 Easy Ways To Generate Leads For

Startup Businesses

In every business, generating leads should be among the top priorities. For a
business to grow, having sufficient knowledge on the most suitable methods
of generating additional leads is of the utmost importance.

But, if a startup or a business simply does not have enough lead generation
strategies at its disposal, implementing the right tools and resources to carry
out these tactics may not be as effective.

In truth, there are several available strategies for lead generation. However, the
sheer number of strategies available can be overwhelming. That said, startups
and businesses with no clue of how and where to start can always kickstart
with these 4 simple and easy techniques for generating leads:
 START UP: A Quick Guide on Your New Business 103

1. Content Marketing

Creating high-value content is a great method to establish SEO for the brand’s
website. Apart from reinforcing the brand’s visibility on the internet, relevant
content likewise showcases the extent of knowledge that the business has
about the industry where it belongs.

Content marketing aids in enhancing the business website’s online presence

by hiking up its ranking on search engines.

Content marketing should not only be limited to the use of blog posts as the
lead-driving tool. Other forms of content, such as ebooks, explainer videos,
wiki guides, and in-depth case studies can also contribute to making the
business more relevant and credible.

The content must also be relevant to the target audience. For example, if the
target audience belongs to the marketing industry, Send out content that is
relevant to them. Adapt to them by giving pieces of content that are best
suitable for their needs.

Determine what specific topics are relevant to them and take note of the
different writing formats that they prefer. Marketing-savvy individuals or
groups may prefer content with eye-catching visuals, or articles that feature
statistical graphics to help them absorb the information more easily.

2. Email Marketing

After building a palpable presence on the internet, it is time for the business to
venture into other methods of generating more leads. Email marketing can be
a great channel for businesses to connect with customers.
 START UP: A Quick Guide on Your New Business 104

Choose an email platform that is most suitable for the business. Use the
email platform to create personalized emails that will include all service or
product-related information that the customer will benefit from.

A single, personalized email alone can generate up to 6 times more leads as

compared to when effective email marketing is not utilized. When creating
customer-centric emails, remember to link the content to the brand’s website
or social media page(s).

Doing so significantly drives higher click rates and traffic to the website or
page, thus increasing the probability that the business will appear more
frequently on search results and page suggestions.

When employing email marketing, it is important to keep track of the progress

and success of each email campaign sent. This will help test, modify, and
improve future email marketing approaches to ensure that the right audience
is targeted and retained.

3. PPC through Facebook Ads

Aside from email marketing, the constant improvements on social media

platforms, particularly on Facebook, provide an effective channel where
businesses can keep in touch with their audience.

Facebook Ads provide businesses with the capability to customize their ads to
suit the interests and preferences of their customers. Ads on Facebook can be
aimed and filtered more specifically based on categories such as age, location
and interests.

Be more specific in creating ads. Avoid creating ads that are not relevant to
the service being offered or promotions that do not highlight what the
customers need and demand. Otherwise, it will only confuse the intended
 START UP: A Quick Guide on Your New Business 105

audience and drive away potential customers. Worse, irrelevant ads may push
customers to tag or report the business as a scam.

Presentation matters as well. An engaging ad helps bolster the number of

potential customers that will avail the services or products offered by the
business. Lastly, run ads based on what is called a ‘lookalike audience’, or
social network users grouped together using a specific set of algorithms.

A lookalike audience is tailored to resemble a particular group of customers.

Fashion Facebook Ads to respond to a lookalike audience. This helps in
extending the business’ audience reach and promoting the brand to a wider
range of Facebook users who may possibly be interested in engaging with the
business.

4. Discounts

People are usually enticed by affordable rates or discounted prices. Offering

discounted rates to coincide with a startup’s opening or an upcoming holiday
is a smart way to entice more leads. Discounts suggest the idea of saving
more money for customers.

As such, when strategically paired with a particular holiday or event,

discounted rates have a higher probability of shifting the spotlight from
competitors to the brand. After all, carefully planned discounts are usually
irresistible for most customers.

Distributing discount coupons is also effective in generating leads. In the

coupons, include the business’ logo, along with the business’ address, website
and social media page(s). Add the business’ tagline or a short, promotional
message to leave a more lasting impact to the customers.
 START UP: A Quick Guide on Your New Business 106

Promotions and discounts can also be disseminated digitally by creating

banners and pop-ups that will be featured on the business’ website and/or
social media page(s).

Every successful business started out as a beginner, and generating leads is

no exception.

It does not matter what type of services a business is offering or what

demographic of customers are being targeted. All businesses should spend
time improving lead generation rates and employing better, more innovative
ways to make it possible.

A systematic and effective method of generating leads means being able to

respond to the audience’ demands while staying true to the business’
objectives.
 START UP: A Quick Guide on Your New Business 107

3 Amazing Tips To Providing The

Best Customer Service For Startups
Businesses

“The customer doesn’t care how much you know until they know how much you
care” – Damon Richards

What is the first thing that comes to mind when the words ‘Customer Service’
are introduced? Though answers may vary from people to people, there is one
idea that rings as a universal truth for the majority of customers and business
owners:

Customer service exists to deliver 100% customer satisfaction.

It may seem like a simple undertaking to fulfill, but the process it takes to
deliver customer service that people will positively respond to is a lot more
complicated and intricate than it seems. This leaves owners of startup
 START UP: A Quick Guide on Your New Business 108

businesses questioning whether providing the best customer service is truly

possible.

Truth be told, there are 3 amazing, tried-and-tested tips that startup

businesses can use to deliver the best customer service:

1. Listen

Listening is very important if business owners wish to deliver the best

customer support among their competitors. The act of listening with an open
ear and mind is a vital key that shows business owners are one with their
customers.

The first step to ensuring that proper listening skills are exercised to all types
of customer concerns is hiring support representatives with the right
qualifications. Ideally, support representatives must have the ability to convey
empathy and leave a positive impact on customers—the kind that will leave
them satisfied and looking forward to another amazing experience with the
next support representative that will correspond to their queries in the future.

The best support personnel is able to comply with customers’ requests,

resolve varying levels of customer-related issues, and accept constructive
feedback.

Customers come in different personalities. At the same time, customer

demands differ from time to time. By consistently lending each customer
query and feedback an open ear, it is not impossible to deliver high quality,
round-the-clock assistance.
START UP: A Quick Guide on Your New Business 109
 START UP: A Quick Guide on Your New Business 110

2. Maintain Customer Service Ethics

Picture the business as a person and customer service as its default

disposition. It is every business’ responsibility to know the value of putting the
customer first. A business cannot last long without a solid community of
customers. They have the power to make or break a brand.

On the contrary, it cannot be denied that the slogan, “The customer is always
right” can, at times, be abused by some customers—to the point where the
business gets the short end of the stick for trying to appease customers who
are obviously in the wrong.

However, not all customers abuse their limitations. There are still a great many
customers who are able to provide objective criticism and honest-to-goodness
feedback to the businesses that they support. These types of customers are
to be considered a gem.

Customers who are able to provide unwavering support should be the reason
why startup businesses need to exert efforts in delivering fast and reliable
service every time a customer reaches out to them. Customers tend to get
impatient whenever they are met with sluggish service. Seamless assistance
and transaction should be practiced at all times.

Treat customers with respect and with full honesty. Make them feel
comfortable when they are communicating with support representatives.
Show them that that brand is a name they can trust. Enhancing the business’
reputation with good customer service ethics should be the first thing that
startup businesses want to attain.

3. Connect
 START UP: A Quick Guide on Your New Business 111

A support representative cannot be considered as one if people or customers

find it difficult to connect with them. It is important to have a direct connection
with the customers. Connecting positively with customers plays a vital role in
all types of businesses.

Connecting with customers means knowing and understanding what their

needs are. It likewise translates to consistently and promptly notifying them
on updates about their requests and complaints. It is about being relentless in
helping customers find the most suitable solution to their concerns.

Support representatives of startup businesses who are able to communicate

well with their customers do not wait before customers complain about the
same type of unresolved problem. That said, startup businesses need to make
sure that their customer support services is always at its best to efficiently
preempt additional questions relevant to the customer’s concern. This can
help resolve the issue faster.

Bonus tip: Customer assistance with round-the-clock service availability is a

must-have. There is no telling when exactly a customer will be in need of
assistance. That is why, enabling 24/7 availability makes businesses better
equipped to meet customer’s demands.

Customers are the reason why businesses exist. Without customers, there will
be no profit or income. They are the lifeline of every business. Giving them the
quality service that they deserve is crucial because it is one of the best ways
brands can reciprocate their patronage.
 START UP: A Quick Guide on Your New Business 112

4 Vital Benefits of Explainer Videos

for Businesses

64% of business owners say explainer videos boosted sales.

By consistently crafting visually appealing and animated explainer videos, you

persuade, entertain, and inspire people to discover more about your brand.
The average attention span of online audiences is 8 seconds, and explainer
videos are effective to grab and keep the interest of most users. Particularly, it
is a useful method of providing information to users who want to learn more
about a certain product or those in search of specific solutions to their needs.

There is no doubt that explainer videos are an excellent marketing tool at

present.

Your business needs to establish its brand identity to continuously acquire

new customers. By explaining your main purpose and the beneficial effects of
 START UP: A Quick Guide on Your New Business 113

your products through a video with an easy-to-digest format, customers will

have a weighty reason for giving their full trust and support to your brand.

However, there is more to what explainer videos can do for your business.
Explainer videos, which have exhibited a dramatic increase in popularity in this
digital age, have many benefits to businesses of all sizes.

How Can An Explainer Video Help Scale Your

Business?

1. It Improves your Google Ranking

Google loves videos. If your site has explainer videos, it is crucial to leverage
tags, titles, meta descriptions, rich snippets, and thumbnails to your
advantage. Doing so enables customers to find your videos instantly and use
it as a reference for the information or solution that they seek. The interesting
videos embedded in your site can likewise influence customers to remain on
your site for a longer period of time. As a result, Google’s algorithm will
interpret this as a positive message that your site contains valuable
information and reliable answers to customer queries and issues. Increased
credibility and customer trust help your website rank higher.

2. It Increases Conversion Rates and Sales

Explainer videos serve as your elevator pitch. If your video content has a
compelling narrative and provides all the important details that customers
need in their buying decision process, customers will trust your business.
When customers begin trusting your business, it will often lead them to make
a purchase within 24 hours.
 START UP: A Quick Guide on Your New Business 114

Explainer videos uploaded or posted on social media platforms such as

Facebook or YouTube provide useful end-user data. Each video displays the
number of views, average view duration, likes, comments, and shares it has
garnered from its audience. All these information are valuable in helping you
create more engaging and relatable videos in the future. For instance, video
insights provide reports about the most popular products, thereby enabling
you to pinpoint which products need to be improved.

3. It Portrays your Brand’s Unique Personality

Did you know that you can use explainer videos to showcase your brand’s
culture and personality and connect with your customers on a deeper level?
One benefit of producing videos is that it enables brands to convey the
emotion that captures the right audience. Thus, when creating one, remember
to make it entertaining and visually stunning regardless of the tone you will
choose to use.

It is important for businesses, especially for those mainly operating online, to

note that customers will not be able to have direct contact with them.
Explainer videos are a golden opportunity for businesses to create meaningful
connections and solidify customer relationships. Portraying a brand’s distinct
culture or personality increases familiarity among customers. The more
familiar customers become with your brand, the more comfortable they will
feel about interacting with you in an effort to learn more about the products
and services you offer.

4. It is Shareable

Social media allows the sharing of content across all other platforms. It is
crucial to share your explainer videos to all of your social channels every time
that you have a new video to upload. Consistently updating your social media
pages with new videos relevant to your services enables your business to
reach a wider audience. Even better, social media and search engine
 START UP: A Quick Guide on Your New Business 115

algorithms may suggest your videos to customers who may potentially be

interested in your products. The best part is that your explainer videos have
the possibility to go viral when potential leads and existing customers share
your explainer videos on their feed and recommend it to their friends and
family.

Here’s a helpful tip: Make an effort to create powerful captions when sharing
explainer videos on your pages. Captions with clear CTAs and proactive words
increase click-through rates. An impressive caption should be able to tell
viewers why the video is worth their time.

Closing Thoughts

With the tough competition in the market, you need to keep up with the major
trends in digital marketing, and that includes producing explainer videos. Your
explainer videos must be tailored to help your customers understand the
usefulness of your product better. More importantly, introducing your product
and explaining its advantages will compel customers to choose your business
over your competitors.

If you don’t have sufficient manpower to create explainer videos, the best way
is to outsource it to professional video editors who possess the right skills
needed to produce engaging content and effectively convince your customers
to make a purchase.
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How To Make Excellent Video

Content Without Breaking The Bank
For Startups

Today, the majority of worldwide consumers prefer video content

over written content. A 2017 report by Magisto stated that
businesses spend more than $20,000 annually for creating video
content.

This is due to the fact that Video Content for advertising is easier to
comprehend and remember. The trends in digital content marketing continue
to change as newer channels for advertising businesses are being developed.
These trends include the need to adapt to an increasingly fast-paced and
enticing way to get customers’ attention and ensuring they get the brand’s
message across.
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How can startups produce quality video content for their business? The
answer is simple: Form a team of professionals specializing in designing
branding and promotional videos.

Hiring a professional video production crew can be expensive especially for

startups whose budget is being maximized for other fundamental parts of the
business. But today, businesses can already produce great video content even
with a minimal budget.

That being said, to be able to successfully maximize the business’s budget for
video content production, it is important to have these 4 key members for their
ideal video content marketing team:

1. CAMERAMAN

Video content production is impossible without having the person-in-charge

behind the camera. Hiring a good cinematographer is a good way to start
this—that is, if the business has enough budget for this.

However, working with low to zero budget can give a tough time for
businesses to employ a professional cinematographer. One way to solve this
is to find someone within the four walls of the company with the strongest
command on the camera. Given the fact that the current generation is so
obsessed with social media, there is a possibility that business owners don’t
need to look too far to find someone who is good at operating the camera.
They can actually give the business advantages when it comes to conveying
the company’s unique structure and story.

2. WRITER

In order to execute each video systematically, it is important to have a writer.

Writers can easily plan out the details of the video content. They are able to
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provide a message that the video will help convey to the audience in a more
appealing manner.

Meanwhile, when planning and writing video content, there are factors that
should be considered, such as:

● Key Message
● Type of Video Content to be used (Interview, product review,
company culture, presentation, etc.)
● Call-to-action
● Duration
● Bonus footage (Behind the Scenes, Teasers, etc.), if any

Another thing to keep in mind is how the content in the video is conveyed to
the audience. It is also important to predetermine the approach of the video.
Will it be professional-looking to grab the attention of investors and CEO’s? Or
will it be a fun-filled approach to appeal to a younger audience? The best way
to determine these is to look for videos on Youtube, Vimeo or other video
streaming platforms to know how to make effective techniques in creating
more expressive video content.

3. SOUND EFFECTS ARTIST or SOUND DIRECTOR

Sound is one of the fundamental factors in video content making. It helps the
video penetrate not only the sense of sight but also the auditory senses of the
audience. However, some filmmakers, especially amateurs, usually overlook
the power of sound in their video not knowing that it gives a great impact on
the intended message of their video. Imagine filming an interview with a guest
while kids playing and laughing can be audibly heard in the background. It
causes an unnecessary distraction on the part of the viewers.
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A sound effects artist can add the right background music or sound to add
impact to a video. A sound director, on the other hand, can ensure that the
video has the right scoring for its audio and background noise is likewise
minimized segments for the video are being shot.

Startup’s working with a minimal budget should consider adding a sound

effects artist or sound director when creating their very own video content
marketing team.

If the video content requires interviewing a public figure or official, startups

should be able to sign a model release form that enables the video content
creation team to show their footage publicly under legal structures.

4. VIDEO EDITOR

Editing comes last in making video content. Although hiring a professional

editor is a great way to nail this, their service charge can be expensive as well.
As for businesses that operate with a minimal budget, editing can be done
in-house.

Being a professional video editor is not required as video editing software has
become cheaper and more user-friendly today. This can help the business to
edit their content in-house.

Here are some basic steps on how to edit a video content:

● Upload all the footage into the editing platform.

● Sync up the recorded sound, if there are any to the footage.
● Sift all the footages and pick the usable ones from those that are
not.
● Arrange all footage in the proper sequence to help the video tell
the story in the most compelling way possible.
● Add relevant sound for the intro and outro of the video.
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● Add graphics and designs. Consider adding the company logo or

name. Consider adding lower thirds to the interview as well.
Lower thirds introduce the person being interviewed in the video
by appearing at the bottom part of the video that contains the
name and position of the one being interviewed.
● Plan how the video will end. Remember to add the business’
website and social media accounts to boost site traffic and
audience engagement. Adding calls-to-action can make it even
accessible and clear throughout.

Possessing the right team and tools in making video content is one way to
thrust a startup’s brand to the top. Startup owners must always remember
that there are practical alternatives to video content creation which they can
use to help maximize their resources and extend their full potential.
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