Top 10 ways to get your
business heard
1. Make it something you love. Just So Films turned a film-making hobby into a career, and now work with legends such as Brian Wilson and My Bloody Valentine. Everybody wants to listen to someone who talks about what they do with passion and enthusiasm.
2. Make it something that’s needed. If you’ve ever struggled to find a product or service, or felt that the existing options aren’t up to scratch, chances are you’re not the only one. Instead of just grumbling about it, you could make it the first step to business success. Adam Arnold at Smarter Housing (http://www.smarterhousing.co.uk/) set up his student-friendly property search site after years of frustration dealing with estate agents while at university. Adam’s talent for spotting an opportunity saw Smarter Housing entered for Make Your Mark’s Enterprising Young Brit awards, a national competition to discover and recognise some of the most enterprising talent in the UK.
3. Work on your “elevator pitch”; a short, snappy summary of your idea. Imagine you only have 60 seconds to explain who you are, what you do, and what makes your idea great. Ideally, you should be able to get across all the benefits of your business in the time you normally spend in a lift staring awkwardly at your feet. Having a prepared sound bite lets you capture the interest of people you might meet professionally, and also helps you talk confidently to friends and family about your idea. The better your pitch, the surer you’ll feel of yourself every time you deliver it.
4. Once you’ve honed your elevator pitch, talk to everyone – in lectures, in the pub, on the bus... You never know who might be a future customer, mentor or business partner: Spinvox CEO Christina Domecq met co-founder Daniel Doulton while queuing for a burger at a ski resort.
5. Get yourself connected, and find a business mentor. Tutors, student enterprise groups and professional associations like your local chamber of commerce are all good places to start.
6. Don’t be afraid to ask for help, from anyone. Everyone knows that people love talking about themselves, but if there’s one thing people love more, it’s giving advice. There’s a world of knowledge out there, if you ask the right people the right questions. You’ll be surprised how much advice and support local business people are willing to provide to an enthusiastic young entrepreneur – all you have to do is ask!
7. Do your homework. As a student, you have access to one of the most desirable research markets around. Sign your friends up as guinea pigs, bore them senseless about your idea, ask them for feedback, carry out surveys on campus. When you come to write up a business plan, you’ll need to know about your target customer base – use your time as a student to practice your research skills.
8. Build a virtual fanbase. Social media is your very best friend when starting up in business. James Clegg, founder of fundraising charity Operation Hoodie, depended on thousands of online supporters to boost the organisation’s profile, and even to come up with its name. Why run around trying to generate publicity when a horde of fans can do it for you?
9. Get involved in Enterprise Week . Enterprise Week is a national celebration of enterprise with thousands of events and activities happening across the UK. Last year there were over 5,000 events and more than half a million people took part. Get involved in an event near you (or even run one) to meet contacts, hear great ideas and advice and get support. It’s a great time to launch a new business!
10. Persevere. Be positive, determined and persistent in everything you do. “Believe in yourself and ignore every negative comment that comes your way,” says Wealthy Student’s own Stephen Burford. “Self belief is key to your success. Keep making small steps every day and you’ll become closer to your big dream.”
For more advice on turning your ideas into reality, visit www.makeyourmark.org.uk