6 Months Later: What I’ve Learned After Starting a Business

6 months have gone by in the blink of an eye. It seems like just yesterday I was sitting in my living room pondering life when I looked at my dad and said, “What if I start my own company?” And here we are, six months later. These past few months have taught me more than I ever thought possible to learn in such a short period of time. So what have I learned about marketing and entrepreneurship as a 22 year old post grad?

Transparency isn’t always key

This is going to sound blunt, but it is true: at the end of the day, people are always out for themselves. However, that is not necessarily a bad thing because all anyone ever wants is to succeed. It’s just about how they acquire that success. I came into owning my own business and reaching out to potential clients/partnerships very innocently. In my mind, we all wanted one thing and that was to succeed. However, I underestimated what people would do to reach that goal. 

I started networking with full transparency. I thought that if I laid every thought, plan, strategy, platform I had and utilized, it would make people want to work with me. However, if anything, it just made it easy for people to take advantage of me and the knowledge that I presented. You never know what someone’s motive is behind any conversation or meeting, so while transparency is good, don’t make yourself too vulnerable. 

Never assume you will have another client

Things can change at the drop of a hat, but minds change even faster. You can get a verbal commitment or even a signed contract, but nothing is ever guaranteed. When you find a client, don’t just settle into that one and think you’re good. Always look for the next opportunity because things can and will change quickly and unexpectedly.

Figure out a niche, not just “marketing”

One of the worst things you can say when working in marketing is telling someone straight “I work in marketing” without expounding on what that actually means. Marketing is basically an umbrella term for so many different trades. 

If you are starting a business in marketing, figure out what you like, what speaks to you, and then go from there. When someone is interested in working with you and asks you what type of marketing you do and don’t just say “I do all sorts of things.” It is too vague. Details are what set you apart from the rest.

When it comes to content creation and social meda management, try EVERYTHING

There will never be one thing that works. There will never just be one secret sauce. You never know what will work, especially when it comes to advertising and social media, so try everything. One thing that I have learned throughout the last 6 months is the Rule of Thirds for content. This means that your content should be split equally among three categories: educational, promotional, and entertainment. If you do the approportioning correctly then your content will be even. This is a good principle to consider when you are scheduling content and brainstorming new ideas. Your audience should be benefiting in different ways. 

No one will believe in you if you don’t believe in yourself

If you cannot convince yourself why you are good at what you do and why you should be the one to do it, then no one else will believe it either. Belief starts with YOU. No matter how cheesy that sounds, it’s true. At the end of the day, we’re all bullshitting through life. If you don’t believe in yourself, no one else will either.