If you are a teen with an idea that could blossom into a business, there’s no reason why you should wait until you are older. No matter what your age, the time is now. Here are four keys to entrepreneurial success that can help ensure a bright future for your ventures according to entrepreneur.com
1. Get a Mentor
Finding a mentor is at the top of the list because it happens to be very important. Even experienced adults look for mentors. You can find mentors among people who run successful businesses in your family and extended family, friends of your family, and even on Facebook and Twitter.
If you feel that your circle of friends and family is lacking in business mentors, consider asking them if they could introduce you to people that could mentor you.
2. Sharpen Your Communication Skills
Much of what you do in business involves getting people to believe in you and your product or service. So as a young entrepreneur, you will need to communicate a lot – both in written form and verbally.
Being able to give a speech or a presentation will greatly benefit you and your business, as will blogging clearly and convincingly about your product. It even pays to be really good at conversing one-on-one. Entrepreneurs who are personable and likeable gain trust faster than those who seem aloof.
3. Earn Credibility
Young people often have fresh ideas and approaches, along with the advantage of learning from successes and failures early in life. However, being young also comes with a greater need to prove yourself. People sometimes question whether or not they should take a teenager’s business seriously. So it’s your job to prove to the world that you are serious about your business, and that your product or service is worth their respect.
One way to boost your own credibility is to be strategic. Regularly post topics related to your particular interest in entrepreneurship, and blog frequently about any ideas you have about doing things differently or better.
To boost the credibility of your product or service, you will need to show potential customers the value it can bring them. Whether by blogging about your product’s benefits, demonstrating your product on YouTube, or even letting people use your product for free, find ways to prove its worth. The longer you stick to your entrepreneurial ventures, and the more positive reviews and testimonials you gain, the more credibility you will earn.
4. Innovate When Possible
Chances are, there are going to be businesses out there similar to yours. That shouldn’t discourage you from your entrepreneurial ventures. It should, however, encourage you to find a way to innovate something about your business.
Do some research about your competition. Are their businesses lacking in anything? Are there gaps between what they offer and what the customer needs? If so, try to find ways for your business to fill those gaps. Even if your innovations seem small and insignificant, go forward with them.
Oftentimes, it’s the little things that customers love about their favourite brands. Also, remember that when two companies are similar to each other, customers favour the one with the best customer service.
