So you got a brand new business idea. Maybe you actually took the jump already! Either way, here’s the deal. This is the beginning of a whole lot of work to do and tasks to cross off your list. Although it is insanely tough to start a business from the ground up, it’s also one of the most fulfilling and exciting things you can do.

Daily, I hear so many new business owners ask me: “Do you know of a checklist of the most important things I need to do to get this off the ground”. Earlier in my business, I pointed them to other sites with massive lists of vague tasks. I have encountered that for a majority of people just getting started on their journey, looking at these checklists that look like CVS receipts can be insanely intimidating.

So I made simplified checklists that may make everything a little more straightforward. Hope it helps.

Brand Design Checklist

A brand presence online, meaning a website, social media, and other online customer facing mediums, is extremely important for small business owners who want to continue to grow their business. When businesses have a good grasp on brand design, it can make the internet an excellent way to create awareness and advertise their products.

Research has shown that the majority of customers who make purchases online start with an internet search, which means your company needs to be in the top few results on Google if you want people to find you. Additionally, another one of the best ways to get started is by using social media ads, which are targeted at specific audiences based on demographics like location or interests. They're also affordable - you can set up campaigns as low as $5 per day!

The key takeaway here is that brands need a presence online because it will help them gain customers and grow their business. It's no wonder more than half of all U.S. businesses have some sort of online presence, but is that enough?

To get a better understanding of where to start, here is a checklist for brand design foundation.

SEO Strategy Checklist

Search engine optimization (SEO) involves optimizing your website content, link structure, and other on-page elements in order to improve your site's rankings in search engines such as Google. The goal is usually to achieve a high rank that would place your site higher than competing sites when someone searches for keywords relevant to your business. Keywords are truly the foundation of your marketing strategy.

Every day there are more people searching online than ever before - which means that now more than ever, search engine traffic can be key for driving new customers to your website or service. Setting the solid foundation is incredibly important to your business’ online growth.

To get a kickstart on this foundation use the checklist below. If you want some more information regarding SEO and what goes into having success with the search engine check out our guide here.

Marketing Materials Checklist

Traditional marketing such as TV, radio and newspaper ads can be costly. Digital marketing such as social media is a much cheaper alternative to traditional advertising methods. It's also more targeted in terms of reaching your target audience, making it easier for you to reach the people who will buy your products or services. However, digital marketing requires time and effort on your part which may not be possible with so many other commitments taking up your time. If you are willing to learn how to use digital marketing tools effectively then you will absolutely see the advantages to your business. However, you should never completely dismiss using traditional marketing. They may not be as popular now but they are still just as effective. You should connect it with digital marketing tools so you can get the most out of these strategies and save yourself some time.

To help you lay the groundwork, you need to learn the basics. Here is a checklist to understand the most important time saving digital marketing tools to bridge the gap with traditional marketing in your strategy.

Social Media Marketing Checklist

I am by no means a social media expert. There are thousands of social media consultants that may better deserve your business in reference to building social media awareness on your chosen platforms. First, you need to get a solid foundation built. Know what you’re getting into before jumping on social media and posting. Figuring out your platforms and posting strategy before you even start may greatly benefit how your audience and potential customers identify you on social media. Figure out how to mix and match your platforms, audiences, and ads to get the most engagement and build value for people who may be interested in your business. Do not post just to post, post with meaning.

Marketing Audit Checklist

All of these things we have touched on culminates in understanding the data that is flowing in the background of everything. Who are the people that are engaging with the content your creating? Are people clicking through on the Landing Page you set up? Are the social ads you are paying hundreds of dollars a year for even getting clicks?

Figuring out the tools you need to monitor this stuff can exponentially help the effectiveness of all of your marketing strategies. Before you start tracking how people are moving through your marketing channels, it may make sense to draw a workflow on paper to see what you believe your channels will look like. Use that as a standard when considering these strategies.

Last Thoughts

So here is the deal. This is a big journey. You are going to make plenty of mistakes. I’m still making mistakes too. But you’ve got this. Hopefully this made things a little bit simpler. You deserve it.