If you’ve been thinking of starting your own ‘mompreneur’ business, here are some great tips from Alan Douglas, MD & ‘Chief Supporter of Moms’ at Dubai-based business start-up digital growth specialists, Imidal.
There are endless possibilities that the online world provides for mothers who want to be based at home and run their own business. Many ‘mompreneur’ ventures are ‘virtual companies’, meaning that they can gradually create a team of staff who work remotely. Adding to the allure is that mompreneurs have the flexibility to attend their child’s school events, look after them when they’re sick, as well as be able to take care of family and personal errands during the day.
Alan Douglas, Managing Director and Chief Supporter of Mums at Imidal says: Mothers are the best problem solvers in the world, which I think gives them some natural business advantages, as every successful business needs to ‘solve a problem.’ In this case ‘problem’ means an ‘issue’ that your customers have. Your goal is therefore to provide a solution for another person’s…
- Wants / Desires
- Needs
- Frustrations or
- Aspirations
Paying attention to what your ideal customer wants, needs, or aspires to have to solve their issues means that your customer will be happy, grateful and willing to pay for your product or service. Remember to focus on how your products impact your customers by using those customer needs within your sales copy, adverts, social communications and website. These are Alan Douglas’s other tips for business success for mothers aspiring to run their own business in the new year.
Failing to plan is planning to fail!
Business success doesn’t happen by accident – you need to plan for it. This is especially important as a busy mother with other demands on your time! A good starting point is to write an outline of each moving part of your business – the products, what it costs to produce them, how you will approach marketing (letting your potential customers know about your business), and how you will keep all of your accounting records – just to name a few! Do some research on your competitors and figure out their advantages / disadvantages over your business.
If your business is already up and running, then be sure to include business planning as part of your continual evolution as you move forward in each phase of your development.
Set aside a designated place for work
A dedicated desk or office-like space in your home goes a long way in helping you to respect your work/life boundaries and reminding your kids and spouse to do the same. Another alternative is to base yourself in a co-working space, so you can keep all the flexibility you want while also having access to a workspace free from distractions… and toddler toys.
Create a routine and set a schedule
While having kids makes it seem difficult to schedule your time, having structure is the key. Make a daily routine that includes getting up before your family in order to take time for yourself or get things done. If you’re looking for tools to better understand how you allocate your time, consider using a time management spreadsheet to schedule what you’d like to achieve each hour.
Set boundaries
Working from home can be a tricky prospect in many ways. You could either feel lonely without colleagues to collaborate with, or at the opposite extreme, it can be easy to think of yourself as ‘always at work.’ It’s therefore important to set boundaries for yourself that include meaningful human contact with clients, supplies and potential customers. In the name of boundary setting, also set yourself a reasonable bedtime. Aim to disengage from your computer at least a full hour before you go to sleep, as the blue light effect of digital devices can impact the quality of your sleep. This will also help you clear your mind of work before bed.
Dress for work success
Maybe it feels a little silly but getting dressed as if you were headed to work is good for your routine and helps you to establish your working mindset. Studies have also shown that clothing affects your work. Researchers found that participants in one study reported feeling more “authoritative and competent” when wearing formal business attire. Another similar study from Northwestern University found that certain clothing can influence the wearer’s psychological processes. Plus, if you’re already dressed for the part, an impromptu video chat with suppliers or customers won’t suddenly catch you out!
Make yourself visible
At some point you may need to work with an accountant, staff, freelancers, or other suppliers, as well as maintaining contact with your key customers. If you work remotely it’s therefore a good idea to show your face in person, via video Zoom and be available to any co-workers. This way, you’re more likely to be better positioned to stay in the loop and to nurture the stronger working relationships you’ll need to set you on your path to success.
The power of your business card
Imidal’s Alan Douglas explains: “In business, it’s normal to get your business card into the hands of as many prospective customers and contacts as possible. Imidal’s most popular product for mompreneurs is the virtual business card. The biggest benefits to mothers who start their own businesses is that they can share their business card on their social media and the information it contains can include links to a website, embedded videos, images of products, links to a contact page and other marketing materials, such as your social media platforms. The virtual business card gives you lots of clever and engaging ways to be highly visible to your potential customers. I love the way this helps entrepreneurial mothers in particular, because their time is so precious.
Stay social
Working from home can be isolating, so it’s a good idea to find local groups or networking events that help you stay connected to people in your industry with shared interests. Using a co-working space even once or twice a week keeps you engaged with other people and helps to stave off feelings of isolation. If you need to ask a supplier or a customer a question, make a call and talk to them, rather than sending an email.
Take daily time out
The life of a mother can be all-consuming, so it’s easy to forget that you need personal time to help create a balance. Ensure that you make time to do the things that make you happy, relaxed, connected, beautiful, fun and healthy. It’s important! This could be something like going for a manicure, meeting a friend for lunch, reading a book, going to the gym (or taking other exercise) or going for a massage. Focusing on looking after yourself and meeting your own needs helps to keep you energised, focused and balanced. There is even neuroscientific research that says taking a little regular time out from work each day helps to keep blood flowing to your brain, which in turn helps you keep your stress levels down and boosts your productivity.
Avoid the kitchen!
This might sound like a strange tip to include in business advice, but it can be an important issue in time management. The constant access to the kitchen can pull your focus away from your business and instead use work time to do family meal prep or indulge in some snacking. Treat working for yourself as if you were working from any other professional office, plan your designated lunch time and prepare some healthy snacks in advance if you feel the need to snack as you work.
Final word – mobile first!
“My final advice for mothers who want to launch their own business is to think ‘mobile first’,” says the Imidal MD. He points out that as video content has fast become one of the most popular ways for customers to consume content. “In 2019, Google defaulted to prioritising mobile first indexing for every new website created. This means that websites that have great performance on Mobile, will now perform better in the Google search results. Supporting new businesses in their mobile visibility and digital presence is one the main responsibilities I have as ‘Chief Supporter of Moms’ at Imidal.
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