Guest Post by Julie McKone, JAM Business Support Services
When I started working for myself nearly eight years ago, I was both nervous and excited about what my business could do for me. I had a desire to be my own boss, have flexibility so I could be there for my girls and help contribute to the family expenses.
In the first few months, I met with a business advisor to work out a business plan and help me promote my business – although she didn’t believe in my business idea and thought local businesses wouldn’t be able to afford my services. I am glad I listened to my gut and persisted with my business. Over the years I’ve been fortunate to have worked with some local Blue Mountains businesses, along with other small Australian businesses who have needed assistance.
Things you should know
People will tell you that the first five years of running a business is the toughest. While that rings true, what they don’t warn you of is:
- Running a business as a sole trader can often be lonely
- If you don’t take care of yourself, you are likely to experience burnout
- Make sure you have backups in place for when you are sick or on leave
- Invest in outsourcing so you’re not juggling ‘all the things’ and you can free up your time
- Ensure you have a marketing strategy in place
I’m sure if I worked with a different business advisor they might have helped me work these things out, and I wouldn’t have found things out the hard way.
Work smarter, not harder
Being a business owner was so far outside my comfort zone I was worried that I would fail or not know what to do. Back then I didn’t understand how much I would grow as a person, and all the things I’d learn along the way.
Like any small business owner, I’ve had my share of ups and downs, however through hard work and determination I learnt how to deal with the downs and celebrate the milestones.
Lessons I have learnt in running a business
- Charge what you are worth – despite what similar businesses may be charging, make sure you stand up for what you believe in, and don’t be afraid to charge what you think is reasonable for your skills, experience and abilities.
- Find your tribe – join a community where you feel supported, and with people you can relate with. Working as a sole trader can be a lonely experience, so having a group where you can share worries, ask questions, brainstorm ideas or chat about family life will help you feel less alone.
- Diversify your marketing content – If you use one social media platform solely for promoting your business, and don’t have a website, or a Google Business Profile you are at risk of losing access to your content.
- Be open and transparent with your clients – If you think you are going to be late in delivering an outcome or don’t have experience in a particular tool remember that clear communication, being open and transparent is key to a successful working relationship.
- Work with businesses whose values align up with yours – you will find that dealing with people who have similar values to yours or that align with what you believe in, will make working with them easier, less stressful and more collaborative.
- Backup your website, social media and computer files – Cloud systems like Dropbox are your friend! Remember to back up your files, any social media content that you post, and to regularly backup your website.
- Invest in business insurance – While business insurance is a huge expense there may be companies who require you to have Professional Indemnity Insurance.
- Add self-care to the top of your to-do list – After experiencing burnout and health issues over the past couple of years, I’ve made self-care a top priority in my business and implemented things like reduced business hours and taking regular breaks.
Deciding whether to call it quits
I am proud to be a local business owner and to be able help other business owners with whatever digital marketing support they require. Running my business has given me purpose and a sense of accomplishment when a job went well.
While my business survived the pandemic, I’ve found it hard to attract new clients these past couple of years due to the financial crisis, AI becoming popular with business owners and competing against Offshore VA agencies who offer cheap rates.
It’s hard when you’ve put so much heart and effort into keeping your business going, to decide if you should throw the towel in and give up. You need to weigh up the pros and cons and work out what’s going to be the best option for you in the long term. Running a small business isn’t for everyone!
My advice to the new business owner
When you are putting your thoughts and creative ideas out in the universe it’s easy to feel as though you are not good enough and let self-doubt creep in. Especially when there are other businesses who do the same thing as you but have more staff, a bigger budget, or a similar look & feel to your business. While it could be easy to give it all up. The thing to remember is your ‘why’, and purpose.
Knowing your purpose or your ‘why’ will help you make clearer decisions in your business and give you that little push that you need in continuing to put yourself out there.
It can also help you make more informed decisions, set goals, and prioritise your tasks more effectively.
Lastly having a strong sense of purpose can help you attract and retain customers, as people tend to be drawn to businesses that align with their values.
About Julie
Julie McKone is a Digital Content Specialist and owner of JAM Business Support Services, a small business based in the NSW Blue Mountains, that supports local and Australia-wide artists, creatives and business owners with content creation, website management and digital marketing services.