This Month in the Gig Economy: 5 Simple Steps for Growing your Biz

Starting your own business can seem like a daunting or even impossible task. Many people lack experience in launching their own venture and struggle to figure out the first step. No matter the type of business you’re looking to start, there are a few key decisions you’ll have to make.

At Humans.net, we’re here to help. Check out these five simple steps for kickstarting and growing your business.

Step 1: Define who you are

The first and most difficult step is defining who your company is and what it does. This includes not only deciding which passion you want to pursue, but also which services you’ll offer and which geographic locations you’ll serve. You’ll also need to come up with a name for your company and define the key problems your business will help solve.

Tip: Sometimes less is more. Don’t try and provide every type of service at once. Instead, pick a few and do them right.  

Step 2: Do your research

Get to know the space you’re about to enter. This means studying your competitors and taking note of what they’re doing right and what they’re doing wrong to identify key challenges and opportunities. This will also help you determine ways in which you can differentiate yourself. It’s also important to get to know your client demographic so you can figure out what services or marketing tactics will most appeal to them.

Tip: Set a realistic budget for everything you want to accomplish, and stick to it. This will be especially important during your first few years.  

Step 3: Increase visibility

In today’s growing gig economy there are countless ways for getting your name out there. Use social media and build your own website to interact with clients, create awareness and convey key information. Most importantly, utilize online talent platforms (like Humans.net!) in order to easily connect with clients as well as interact with other freelancers.

Tip: Ensure all your channels are aligned. Link to your Humans.net profile on your website and social media accounts.

Step 4: Build a portfolio

Once your business starts gaining traction, it’ll be important to build a comprehensive portfolio that highlights who you are and what you can offer. Showcasing work samples that visually represent what you do will attract more clients. Additionally, generating and displaying customer reviews will highlight your company’s transparency and popularity.

Tip: Be sure to also link to business milestones, company features in media outlets and even things like Yelp pages.

Step 5: Grow and adapt

The business world is ever-changing, and in order to achieve long-term success, you’ll have to grow and adapt with it. Stay up to speed with new trends and technologies that can enhance your business or attract new clients. Create a set of long-term goals to help steer you in the right direction and keep you motivated through the tough times.

Tip: Always look for ways to improve your business and services. A good way to do this is to listen to your customers’ feedback.