We all know that starting your own business isn’t always wine and roses. There will be tough times, some of which may seem to last forever. The better prepared you are to manage your own business, the easier it will be to weather the bad times and the quicker you can get into the good.

• Build your own website or hire web developers to build and maintain a site for you
  • Your website is your business’s virtual storefront. In a day and age where more and more businesses exist entirely on the web, your site needs to welcome visitors with the unique voice and atmosphere of your company.
• Make sure your site is optimized for mobile use, tablets and e-readers
  • Users today use a range of devices to surf the web. In fact, mobile use has surpassed desktop use, meaning mobile optimization is not an option for your business.
• Blog
  • Businesses that blog generate several times the revenue of businesses that don’t. You should post on your business blog at least once a week, but multiple times a week is even better. Blogging is a great way to create a voice for your brand, develop a relationship with your audience, and build brand loyalty.
• Use social media
  • Social media is another great way to develop a relationship with your audience. Use sites like Facebook, Twitter and Instagram to post new blogs, images, funny memes related to your industry, special offers, and updates about your company. The more shares, the better!
• Prepare free deliverables
  • Free deliverables can come in the form of an e-book, a webinar, a podcast or a case study — anything that your leads might benefit from. Deliverables work to build interest in your brand, but they also serve you by exchanging them for email addresses, which you can then add to your contacts list. Anyone who downloaded your free e-book in exchange for providing their email address can now be targeted with similar material, special offers, and business updates.
• Revise and repeat
  • Marketing for your business is never a completed task. If you’ve checked everything off this list and still aren’t seeing the ROI you’re looking for, go back to the beginning and see what you can adjust, revamp or change for better returns. Don’t forget that getting a little help from the professionals could be just what it takes to make a splash with your target market.

Elizabeth Proctor is a writer and traveler who loves fishing, chess, camels, and the X-Files.