We truly live in amazing times. Never before has it been so easy to start and build your own business.
The power of the internet eliminates the need for you to deal with banks or investors. You can build a business on your own, without any start-up capital, and be successful in the market.
It is a strategy known as "bootstrapping" , and thousands of entrepreneurs around the world use this approach to create viable and profitable businesses without high-interest loans or demanding shareholders hanging over their heads.
Below we explain the basics of how you can establish your own brand cost-effectively and without significant financial expenditure.
Before you get too bogged down in building your own brand , you should first focus on a fundamental statement. If you start a business in 2019, you'll most likely face a lot of competition. So you need to find a key factor that will help you stand out from everyone else.
Before you start focusing on the key details, you need to develop the big picture. Ask yourself the following three questions: Why do you want your own business? What makes you unique? What is your true passion? Once you've answered these questions honestly, you should have a good understanding of your brand's purpose or mission, what sets it apart, and what makes it likely to succeed.
How can you know if you've truly succeeded? Try the elevator pitch and explain your brand to someone in 20-30 seconds. If you can't do it, it's a sign that your vision isn't yet focused enough. Don't move on to the next step until you've done it right.
02 Develop a name
Once you've identified your brand's focus, choosing a name is the obvious next step. This is usually trickier than it seems. It not only needs to inspire people and explain, or at least hint at, what makes your brand unique, but there are also a number of legal considerations.
If you are a limited company, the most obvious thing to do is ensure that your name is not being used by another company (check this with Companies House using their free WebCheck service ). Even if you are a retailer, it is still useful to do online research to make sure you are not being confused with a competitor.
Also check if you can obtain a suitable domain name for your website through one of the domain name registration sites. And also check social media services to see if your preferred @ handles are available.
03 Develop a logo
You have a name – now you need a logo . This is the foundation upon which you build a visual identity for your brand . You must display it on all your stationery (letterheads, business cards, compliment slips, etc.) as well as on your website, social media accounts, and all other marketing materials you create.
A logo is an immediate way to convey that your brand is not just an idea, but a living entity. Therefore, you need to consider creating a logo as early as possible in the process. Before contacting a bank to open your own business account, you will certainly want to have letterhead featuring your logo.
Graphic designers typically charge thousands of euros for designing a logo . But if you're starting your own business, you'll need to look for more affordable alternatives.
With Adobe Express 's Logo Maker , you can create professional and appealing logos that perfectly represent your company or brand. A meaningful logo is crucial for brand recognition.
With Adobe Express's logo creator, you have the opportunity to immediately design professional logos and use them on all print and digital media platforms.
Adobe Express's Logo Maker offers a wide range of tools and templates to help you easily create your own individual logo – from different fonts and icons to color palettes.
You don't need to graphic design professional to achieve a professional result. The intuitive editor guides you step-by-step through the design process. A successful logo is not only visually appealing but also conveys the identity and values of your brand.
An alternative way to create a professional logo at a low cost is to use an online logo maker . As an alternative to Adobe's Logo Maker, the Logogeist Logo Builder proven effective. It asks you a series of questions—just like a real human designer—and then magically generates a logo for your brand. If desired, you can then easily customize this design in terms of color, size, and spacing.
04 Create a website
Yes, we live in a social media-dominated era. But if you really want your brand to be taken seriously, a professional-looking website still a must-have.
A Facebook page is great for posting your company's latest updates. But people don't have time to scroll through hundreds of social media posts to find specific information: only a website's more user-friendly menu system can offer that. (Also, keep in mind that, shocking as it may seem, not all of your target audiences will actually be on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook.)
Again, if you're starting your business, you won't be able to afford to pay a web design agency to build your website . Fortunately, you don't have to in 2019.
An online website platform like Wix offers a cost-effective and easy way to create your own website . You can use customizable templates that can make your brand look a million dollars, but for just a few euros. It's also a rapid way to get a website up and running, giving you more time to focus on building your brand.
Wix.com is a cloud- based online platform for creating HTML5 websites and mobile websites.
05 Establishing and building your brand
Building a brand means, among other things, creating a visual identity that can be consistently applied to all your marketing efforts , thereby conveying credibility and quality. This starts with a logo , but also includes elements like fonts and colors.
However, a brand is not just about visuals . A successful brand arises from the entirety of people's interaction with it, from the quality of the products and services it offers, and from the way inquiries and complaints are handled.
However customers interact with your brand, successful branding means being consistent, making people happy, and—crucially—encouraging them to associate those happy feelings with your brand. None of this has to cost money; it's more about having a clear strategy and applying it to everything you do.
This could mean, for example, taking ownership of mistakes and complaints by offering a quick and appropriate apology on social media . It could mean joining groups and campaigns that align with your brand's values. It could mean becoming a thought leader in your region by writing guest articles or speaking at conferences on your area of expertise.
There are no right or wrong answers here; the main thing is finding ways to get people to respond to your brand and engage with it on an emotional level. And if you crack that, everything else will fall into place.
Owner and Managing Director of Kunstplaza . Publicist, editor, and passionate blogger in the fields of art, design, and creativity since 2011. Graduated with a degree in web design from university (2008). Further developed creative techniques through courses in freehand drawing, expressive painting, and theatre/acting. Profound knowledge of the art market gained through years of journalistic research and numerous collaborations with key players and institutions in the arts and culture sector.
A fundamental need for every artistically creative person is likely to be the ability to live off their art.
To secure one's own existence, it is essential to earn money with art. In fact, nowadays—contrary to the majority perception—many artists can live well from their creative work. Nevertheless, a significant majority of all freelance artists still rely on additional sources of income (e.g., teaching courses, commissioned work, side jobs, etc.).
Recognition as an artist often does not bring immediate financial security. Therefore, artists are often also life artists.
The opportunities to make a living from one's own art have, however, grown significantly due to the internet and social media. As an artist, however, you must be versatile and flexible to succeed. A certain degree of perseverance is also essential.
Customer relations and self-marketing are also important pillars for success as an artist .
In this section, we compile numerous articles, information, tips, and advice to help you make a living from your art.
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Create and build your own brand on a small budget
J-Line fabric cushion “Amour” with statement lettering (white/gold)
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