When you start a new business, you won’t become an overnight success. You must have a good plan in place and work hard to achieve what you want, which isn’t easy, as there are so many different things to consider. The first 100 days are perhaps the most crucial, as you need to hit the ground running and reach the right target audience within this time frame to give you a step in the right direction.
It’s not just about creating a great product or offering an excellent service, as you need to become more visible if anyone is going to enquire or make a purchase. Within the first few months, things like a marketing campaign and creating a community will be essential. However, it doesn’t just stop there, as finances and data analysis also have to be up to scratch.
This guide will explore how you can achieve success for your startup through good planning in the first 100 days of operation. Continue reading to find out more.
Days 1-30
Finalise Business Plan
Refine your business plan, including your target audience, to get the best out of your first months as a small startup. You need to find your unique selling point (USP) too, as this will give you the best chance of slotting into your market and finding the right audience. Make sure your niche is well-defined and your products solve a specific problem or fulfil a unique desire.
Legal and Financial Structure
Register your business, secure necessary permits and licenses and open a business bank account to ensure that you can manage everything properly. Consult with an accountant or lawyer to ensure you’re compliant with all regulations, as you don’t want to find yourself in any hot water after finding out you’re not licensed. You should also consider PH credit insurance to keep your business protected from customer missed payments.
Payment and Shipping System
Having more payment options to offer customers can be great for startup businesses, as not everyone can pay the same way and you have a greater chance of generating revenue. Klarna and ClearPay allow customers to pay in instalments. The biggest benefit of this is that you will receive the money straight away ,and the customer will be in debt to these platforms and not your business. You should also be transparent about shipping times and costs to build stronger trust with your customers.
Days 31-60
Develop Marketing Strategy
Create a marketing plan that gives you the best chance for long-term success. You can focus on different aspects, such as email marketing, paid advertising or SEO, depending on your budget. This will help you to define your brand’s voice and figure out how you can take advantage of the gaps in the market.
Social Media Focus
Social media platforms like Instagram, TikTok and Facebook allow you to create profiles for your business and can be great for getting your brand seen by more people. Start posting engaging content that attracts attention and makes users aware of what your brand is all about. It gives you a chance to showcase your products or services to a wider audience.
Search Engine Optimisation (SEO)
SEO is crucial to all types of businesses that operate online, as it can boost your rankings on Google’s results page and make you more visible. Conduct keyword research and optimise your website for relevant keywords throughout to help boost your rankings. Ensure your website is technically sound and loads quickly too, as if it takes a long time to load it can deter customers from completing an enquiry or purchase.
Days 61-100
Create a Community
Using social media properly is very important for how successful you’re going to be within the first few months of your business. You need to be active on your account and interact with your followers to give you the best chance of creating a strong community. While one-time purchases are great, you’ll want a loyal customer base who will return to your website and complete purchases. This gives you the best chance of long-term success.
Analyse Your Data
Tools like Google Analytics can help you track key metrics like website traffic and conversion rates to identify what’s working and what’s not, so you can then make the appropriate changes to your business. You can also see how well you’re ranking for keywords by using apps like SERP Robot.
Plan for the Next Months
While these first few months are the most important, you need to maintain growth for longer than this if you want to be successful. This means that you need to plan your next steps and what changes you might need to make along the way. While it’s impossible to predict the future, you can put things in place that can protect your business
Final Thoughts
The first 100 days are a crucial period that sets the foundation for your startup’s long-term success. You need to focus on laying the groundwork, building your brand and optimising your performance to turn that initial excitement into sustainable growth. A thriving e-commerce business is built on a methodical plan to earn customer loyalty and create a strong brand community where everyone feels welcome. Every decision you make in these first three months will shape the future of your business.