6 Ideas to Consider in Launching Your First Creative Startup

10.9 Million.

Well, I’m not talking about business capital here.

Any guess?

According to a report, that is how many Filipinos lost their job and had lower incomes due to the pandemic.

Can you believe it’s almost twice the population of Singapore?

So perhaps, we have two “Singapores” of people involuntarily out of work now seeking other ways to earn in the Philippines.

Despite this wave of unemployment, let alone a fallible national government, we as a people have always been resilient and creative in navigating our way through situations as such.

Scroll down through Facebook or Instagram and you will see the rise of new business trends, booming start-ups, and innovative business models. Putting up a small business has indeed become one of the popular options.

Many startups, even those that are new in the industry, have achieved a certain level of success despite the pandemic. It shows that business skills are something we can learn and develop—yes, even in uncertain times!

With the right attitude plus an effective business plan, you can now begin your way to launching your first creative startup and eventually to its success.

Here are some tips we learned through the years that we think will help you solidify your project.

Know your passion.

There is nothing more rewarding in business than getting accomplished doing what you love. Work feels like play when we just enjoy delivering our tasks.

We believe that within all of us is a passion running deep that compels us to create something, pursue something, or achieve something. Search for that something within and hold it dear.

If you have been living out your passion then you are on a promising track. Doing something close to your heart will help you keep running in the long run.

Always bear in mind that you are destined to be your maximum potential!

You know what?

Business is a good avenue to cultivate that potential, the same potential we can use to serve others.

Passion becomes service when used to meet other’s needs. Look for business opportunities that fit your crafts and turn your passion into a profession.

Plan ahead.

Once you came up with the most feasible business idea, it’s time to write a business plan. Thinking ahead reduces the chance of future mishaps.

Planning will also get you to the essentials of your business such as branding, business model, mission and vision, goals, and a lot more.

This way, you get a clear picture of what your business is about, why it is different from others, why it exists, and how it operates.

Check out the internet for simple business plan templates that you think will be most suitable for your working style and stick to it. It doesn’t have to be a full-blown business plan like that of big companies. It just has to be clear, precise, and easy to comprehend. Besides, you are planning for yet a small business.

Identify your vibe.

Part of the planning stage is deciding on how you want your brand to feel like for your target market.

This is important because, for one, your mood serves as the lure that will attract your potential customers. If your vibe does not sell, your products might not sell either.

Second, your vibe will give you an ultimate guide to your other branding tasks such as logo concept, publication materials, content, and of course, your products.

Choose the vibe that pretty represents your personality so that work becomes coherent and raw.

Also, your person makes your business unique. And yes, see to it that your brand looks instagrammable!

Learn from others.

Social media opens up a vast learning space where we can just freely access business principles and practices to our advantage.

Attend free webinars, learn from that Facebook post, and get inspired by that success story. Subscribe to meaningful content and watch informative videos.

Observe how others are doing their business. You’ll get a lot.

More is caught than taught! Just be careful not to create a clone of yourself out of them.

Test your idea.

If you got your business essentials ready, it is time for a test. By doing so, you get a gauge of the potential of your business.

There are several ways to do this.

You can start by researching the market for competition within your chosen category.

If the competition is high, you’ll have a hard time penetrating the market. The more unique your business idea, the more focused and hence effective your marketing will be.

You can also present your product prototype to your friends who will give you honest feedback. Talk to them as you would to a client looking closely at your product!

Take note of their suggestions and always leave room for improvement.

Plan your launch.

A powerful way to introduce your new business is to create momentum. Let the people know about your brand in such a way that makes them curious and eager for that tea to spill.

Conceptualize your pre-launch gimmick in a way that primes people to look forward to something.

Just make sure to build it up bit by bit and not drop it all at once. This way, you keep them engaged while gaining traction for your business launch.

Consider writing a blog series, posting sneak peeks of your new business, inviting more people to like and follow your social media accounts. If your budget will allow, throw a simple virtual gathering to jumpstart your business.

But business is not for me.

Many people are uncomfortable with the idea of them doing business.

You might be thinking that business will take time to establish and fully compensate your financial needs, not to mention the risks involved in doing it.

You are right! Business is something that demands a lot of time to establish because it is not something short-lived.

Things that last long require a foundation built strong.

Later on, a business will not just be about the return on investment but about realizing that dream project, something like a legacy you want to start working on now.

So why not give it a try?

Besides, we can always start small...

With a 10.9 million worth of determination, that is.