5 Things I Did Before I Launched My Startup

It’s not new to you that apart from being a beauty, fashion and lifestyle blogger, I also tend to post about social media marketing things and startup hacks.

With all the tips circulating the web I’m sure you have already read most of them, or probably attended workshops and events. Believe me, I did too!

And I can say they were extremely helpful! So I’m allotting a space here in my humble blog about the things I did first, (I chose the most effective ones! 😉 ) before I finally launched my startup, which is Versaheel.

If you are new to this blog, welcome!

I’m Via and I’m a shoe designer, and here are the things I did first to make it work.

1. I listed all the possible brand names I could think of.

One day, when I was reviewing for a real estate exam, I started to ponder on what name I should call my future shoe brand.

It was the first crucial thing to do, I know. Because the brand name will start and dictate how everything will go about.

I listed them down on a piece of paper, and everytime I think I had IT already, I would send a message to my then-boyfriend-now-fiance to ask what he thinks.

You don’t know how many times he rejected my ideas! But I know it was for the better, he challenged me to create something more.

And when I finally came up with the name, he said, “This is it. It speaks to the brand entirely!”

It took me some weeks, but I was just so happy to finish the very first task.

If your brand doesn’t have it yet, just continue brainstorming! 😀 You’ll get it soon enough!

2. I secured all the social media handles.

I was just lucky I guess. I secured the email account, Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. I was so scared some other might have thought the same thing, but no, all handles were available!

If you ever face a situation wherein you have to edit or maybe even consider to scrape off the whole idea of your chosen brand name, pause for a moment and re-think. Find a silver lining perhaps?

To help you more, here are some tips you can employ. Add either as a prefix or suffix to still achieve uniqueness:

a. Adding a dot (.) or underscore (_)

b. ‘the’ / ‘my’ / plural form (+s)

c. Include ‘ph’ or ‘mnl’ or ‘manila’

d. Add a funky adjective

3. I had a logo created.

I was so excited to put a face in my social media accounts that I had a logo created.

I researched about how to make a logo and I learned so many insights.

I realized that I wanted mine to look modern, elegant and expensive. I want my clients to refer to the brand as something of value and can add an extra feeling of luxury in their whole outfits.

The kind that when people see the logo, they have that idea already that its wearer has good taste, versatile, and take fashion seriously.

That’s why it is important to choose your elements wisely. These will help your graphic artist or logo artist to create the best one for your brand that exceptionally captures your target market and message.

4. I researched and contacted suppliers.

Back in the day where supplier hunting was so tedious, wherein I had to literally knock in every factory door I could find in the street just so I can have media content and stocks, it’s totally different now.

You can almost find everyone in social media today. So I hope you are using your time wisely!

It’s not bad to physically visit their offices too and have a little chitchat, this does wonders as well!

5. I failed, and learn from my mistakes.

I started online marketing in 2009. I was in college, thirsty for a new camera to use, didn’t ask parents for money because was too shy considering that they are already paying for my tuition fee, I have to do everything on my own.

I started, got good clients and suppliers, had bad suppliers who never delivered, had to refund so many payments just so not to be called a scammer, stopped the whole business, got a career, was discouraged to open a startup because it would be time and energy consuming, had to work with minimal budget, resigned, became a blogger, freelancer, social media trainer, and an entrepreneur.

I can say it has been a good roller-coaster ride, but I will never change anything for the world! So my advice is, just don’t be afraid to start and make mistakes, they are all part of the journey!

The question is, how early will you commit those mistakes, and how early are you willing to learn from them as you build the life you’ve always dreamed of?