To become an entrepreneur as a marketing professional is something that requires hard work and excellent business sense. You need to be able to identify any niche markets, offer a service people will want, appear professional at all times, build a marketing strategy and come up with new ideas that can change the market. Becoming an entrepreneur in any business is no easy feat, but particularly in marketing. If you don’t have the necessary commercial knowledge and have a service that doesn’t work, then you can fall flat on your face. Marketing is about results and profit, and unless you are achieving such goals then you will be deemed a failure. You need to be ready to take failure on board, and to learn from it if you are to become a true entrepreneur.
Things to think about
An idea is not enough to become an entrepreneur. You also need to consider other important factors:
- You will need broad business knowledge and a specialised interest in marketing.
- You will need to know the international context when it comes to marketing.
- Self-employment may seem appealing but it requires hard work and dedication.
- You will only succeed if you plan and prepare for any shortfalls.
- Know the risks, the current economic climate, what marketing strategies are out there, who are the top dogs, the cost of failure, the market, how to be your own boss, the way in which running a business can take over your life and how to stay afloat during difficult periods.
- Research your audience and ensure their needs are met.
- If you are to become an entrepreneur you will need excellent presentation and business skills to succeed.
- Will you need funding from the bank or a business to get your venture off the ground?
- Know when to pounce and when to get out of a business venture.
- Do not give in when you suffer setbacks. This is the time when entrepreneurs can really stand out in the crowd.
- New ideas could have something to do with a fresh marketing strategy, offering a service that operates around the world, a new form of marketing management, a client-centred service or the creation of a new marketing agency.
Marketing is a difficult industry to break into with a new idea, but if you can make it work and get agencies on board then you can offer something revolutionary to the market.