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By Michelle Wanjiku

After graduating in 2017, Joanna Kinuthia started looking for a job, just like all her classmates.

However, a month into her new job, the excitement was over.

“I didn’t like being employed. I felt like I should have been on the other side of the table, running my own venture,” she says.

She quit her job and went into vlogging, something she had already started while in school. she now decided to turn it into a full-time job.

“Before I started, I laid out potential income-generating ventures that I could pursue. In the process, I realized that the regular woman could hardly relate to the existing content creators and digital influencers.”

She would create content and share it on different social media platforms in a bid to increase viewership.

For the next six months, she did not make a single coin out of her new business.

A few months back, she launched her own makeup line; Joanna K Cosmetics and this has turned her into the successful businesswoman she is today.

She has managed to use her YouTube channel and social media audience to market her business and it seems to be paying off.

Starting a business is the easiest part of being an entrepreneur but there is no guarantee that your business will succeed. It doesn’t matter how good your business idea is, your business can still fail unless you take measures to ensure it becomes successful.

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So how can you ensure your business succeeds?

1. Have a good business idea

It may not be all it takes to have a successful business but having a good business idea will increase the chances of your business doing well.

A good example is if you live in an area where there is a water shortage, starting a business where you deliver water to the residents is a good idea, however, you cannot choose the same business if you live in an area where everyone has easy access to water.

When coming up with a business idea, you need to look at what are the needs of the people you want your business to serve. In Joanna Kinuthia’s case, she saw that very few regular women could relate to the existing content creators and digital influencers.

So the content on her channel was geared towards the regular woman and this is what helped grow the channel.

READ ALSO >>> 5 Easy Tips On How To Generate A Good Business Idea

2. Use your networks

When starting a new business, getting your name out there can be very tricky unless you have a lot of money to spend on marketing.

Chances are you don’t have a lot of capital and so you should rely on the people you know either personally or your social media following.

The easiest way to grow your business is through word of mouth. so having people recommend your services will grow your client base.

I’m sure you have seen all those Instagram shops where people sell about everything, if those shop owners didn’t use the power of social media to market their goods, they won’t be getting as many clients as they are.

3. Choose something you are passionate about and good at

When Joanna Kinuthia started her YouTube channel, she had content revolving around make-up and fashion, this is what made her famous and it was an area she was passionate and knowledgeable about.

So when she decided to start a make-up line, people trusted her products because they knew of her due to her make-up and fashion videos.

She was able to produce good products because she knew what she was talking about and what people were looking for and because her products were good, people recommended them to their friends and families.

If you are good at baking, there is no point in starting a business where you repair electronics unless you are also good at that. When you do something you love, you are more likely to succeed because you will give it your all.

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4. Always keep learning

The world is always evolving and what people like today may not be what they like three months from now.if you want your business to survive these changes you need to ensure your business is keeping up with the trends.

You cannot afford to be lazy and assume you know everything; it will lead to the failure of your business.

5. Be resilient and take risks

Just because you have a good business idea that solves a problem doesn’t mean that you will not face any challenges. In fact, it can be difficult when you start your business and don’t start earning a profit from it.

However, this shouldn’t stop you from taking risks don’t limit yourself when it comes to your dreams. If Joanna Kinuthia had not taken a risk and quit her job to start a YouTube channel, she would not have the success she currently has now.

Exercise patience and understand that it may take a while for you to get your business to where you want it to be. don’t give up when things become tough.

Finally,

Starting a business is not an easy thing, and you need to be prepared. many new businesses fail, but this shouldn’t prevent you from becoming an entrepreneur. All you can do is to take steps to ensure you give your business a chance to succeed.

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When you decide to go into business, it is important to remember that planning is vital to your success and you should not expect instant results. It takes time, patience and effort to grow a successful business.