So, You're Starting a Business?

Picture this…

It’s 2022, you’re dealing with the remnants of a pandemic, and you have this amazing idea, “I’m going to start my own business!” There is a quick moment of absolute bliss that takes over. You feel this energy through your body, almost like it’s Christmas morning as a kid all over again. But then after a few minutes, something else kicks in; reality and logistics.

Sure, it’s admirable you would like to start your own business, but aside from a passion and dream, do you have the tools you need to turn this passion into a reality? Listen, you’re reading a blog entry from someone who was in your shoes, so who better to learn from or at least take advice? I was working for myself for 10 years before I decided to jump into the 9-5 role. After 2 ½ years, I realized I was

never going to be happy unless I was truly living out my dream and passion to help others. This is exactly why I started my own business. I’m not saying I studied the ‘Starting Your Own Business 101’ encyclopedia, but I knew I had a passion, a drive, the motivation, and the will to not take no as an answer. It really started with a dream and if that’s where you are right now, then take a few notes, because it’s about to get more exciting than you thought it was going to be…not to mention a whole lot more work!

Before you start building a business, be sure this is what you want to do. What I mean by this is, it can’t be something you want to do today, this week, or just for the summer? Are you in it for the bigger picture of making a change and impacting your industry or are you just in it for monetary reasons? Starting a business takes a whole lot of time, money, and energy. How do you know if you’re ready to dive into the deep end with your new product or service? Here are a few questions you need to ask yourself:

I think you see what I’m getting at here…

Your new business becomes your life. You take risks daily. You spend more money than you thought you would. Your time is now primarily dedicated to seeing your business thrive. Does this scare you or does it get you excited? It should be both. But if you’re more excited than scared, then you’re on the right path and it’s time to jump into the first step of creating your very own business.

Remember, you’re starting this because you can’t live without it. Something is telling you the world needs what you have to offer, and it has come down to you to act. We’re here to help you navigate those first couple of steps to really build a solid foundation to get your business off the ground. So, let’s get started.

First, brand recognition. What is brand recognition? Having your brand known and recognized by the public is a major step in solidifying what your product or service represents. This can be a lengthy process and you really want to give it the love and attention it deserves.

After all, this is the rest of your life, and the savings fund we are talking about here. The least you can do is navigate who you are and what your brand represents.

We are going to leave you with three important steps to get started on when building your business. Without these first three steps, you’ll have less of an understanding of your own business and what it means to you. Take these three steps seriously because it outlines why you’re about to put everything into getting this off the ground. We believe in you.

A Good Place to Start…

1. What is the name of your business?

Do you have a name for your business? Are you juggling around some ideas? Write them all down and brainstorm what has the best ring to it when you say it? What looks the nicest? Does the name represent the product or services you offer? Talk it over with family and friends. Create a voting system and put ten names on the table and see which is most popular amongst your family and friends.

When we created Capital Content, a few things were clear to me right off the bat. We are based out of our nation’s capital, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, and the primary service we offered when we created the business was a major focus on content. It was a no-brainer, Capital Content. It looked good, it sounded good, and I didn’t have any other reason to change it to anything else. I will admit at first, we juggled the name “Capital Content Creator” and “Capital Content Creations”, but it became a mouth full.

We knew one day we wanted to build and grow to be one of the top agencies in our field, so we didn’t want to limit ourselves to one “creator” per se. Capital Content was final and it was what our heart was telling us that made the most sense. Your business name can be a calling, or it will require some serious in-depth soul searching. Luckily, you have us to help you navigate each of these steps!

2. What are your brand’s colours?

Your brand colours can truly say a lot without anything really being said at all. Colours are the first impression and are a staple to your business. They are the face and overall mood of your brand. Do you want something light and airy? Vivid and bold? Dark and moody?

It’s all up to what you love and what represents your brand, the product, or services you offer. For Capital Content, we wanted something that was bold, made an impression, looked sleek and professional while still having some personal flair to it. These shades of yellows and blues are a constant reminder to me of the ocean and sands where I’m originally from, and where I love to vacation around the world to the most beautiful beaches.

Capital is also a strong word that is tied in beautifully with yellow or the gold feel to really show status and success. This is a whole navigation on its own and it’s important you find what speaks to you. You will have your primary colours along with complementary colours. We can help you navigate through this process!

3. Do you have a logo?

Logos become the iconic visual to your brand and are the most prominent decision you might have to make. With that being said, don’t get too caught up in creating the “exact” logo that you will have for the next 40-50 years. Logos adapt and change with time.

Look at Apple for example. Apple stands for knowledge and discovery referring to Newton’s Law of Gravity. Have you seen the first logo from 1976? It’s unrecognizable compared to today. Within a year, Apple already redesigned the simple apple outline we see today. But over the last 50 years, it’s changed its texture numerous times bringing us to today with a minimalist, simplistic design. If you don’t know the brand Apple from their logo, then you must just simply avoid fruit!

Have a plan to strategize your logo so people recognize it for the long term. You can always adjust your logo as you go, but the sooner you put your logo in front of others, and often, the more they think of you for that next service or product. It’s important so don’t overlook this, but again, don’t overthink it to where you are running in circles getting nowhere. At the end of the day, if you have good service, or a good product with good customer service and are in it for the right reasons, then you’ll be thriving sooner than you know.

There you have it. Once you have your business name, your colour palette, and your logo, then it’s time to start navigating even deeper into your business. What is your vision? What’s your mission? Do you have a strategic narrative? The website, social media, and fun stuff will come but what is substance if no substance is put into it? Be patient. Your time is coming, and we are here for you one step at a time.