Creating a Presence – Online

Creating an online presence may sound easy – but in reality – it’s time-consuming.

There are some basics that you’ll need – like a website.  Honestly, if your setting-up a business nowadays – it’s better to try to manage some of these things yourself, whilst getting someone to help you, do it.

The internet has evolved, it’s a simple fact.  In user-terms, the biggest growth market is likely to be the elderly; as most kids already use the internet – as natives – and adults increasingly grew-up with it.  Yet, the elderly, our elders – are slowely becoming more and more isolated as their telephone and fax machine (if they’ve got one) continues to become as outdated as their love of writing letters, and sitting down with their family – to look at family photo’s, printed at the local chemist.

There’s a moral to that story; the tools available to set-up and manage websites, is becoming easier, and easier to use, modify and promote.

A good technical person, acting with honesty, should be able to point you in the right direction – and help you set-up your site.    The reality is, WordPress and other related tools – many of which i’ve discussed on this site; do most of the work for you.  It’s most often, almost as difficult as using microsoft word – probably easier than word-perfect (for those who remember those days) and certainly much easier than putting some tape into a machine, to start a computer – or two floppy disks, for that matter…

The difference really is; that although it’s easier, more strait-forward – you still need a helping hand to get onto the right path to begin with – as well as, someone to hold your hand when you get into trouble.

So; assuming you’ve decided that you’ll set-up your own presence.  The first place to start, is probably with a mindmap.  Once you figure out what kinda thing you want to say, and what headings / subheadings you want to use (otherwise known as “information architecture“) then your ready to think about making some pages on a website.

Websites nowadays link into all of these (still emerging) social-web portals.  These portals, described here. all want different information, in-order to maximise your potential in those environments.  There are different philosophies around different sites, and how they should be used.  Generally, start with whatever your most comfortable with, make a plan, and go step-by-step.

One of the most important things really, is content.

Years ago, i / we (can’t remember) coined a term or rule – “the three c’s” – Content, Cash and Customers.

If you’ve got enough to get two of these, then it’s often viable to obtain the other.  With only one, then you have to think about how to get the second – and if you have none – then well, Good Luck!!!

Content, in essence – is intellectual input, formatted into some-sort of “digital” presence; which can be presented to customers.

Cash, is financial resource – the ability to present to a customer.

Customers – people who want to pay for your services.  They’ll pay cash, if the content is right.  If you don’t have the right Content, but you have cash – then you can always use that cash, to develop the right content – and secure the customers.

Creating an online presence, is more than just a presence explaining what the business does.  People like to explore, and a presence is a type of portal in itself, moulding all these different forms of threads, in all there different areas – into a coherent “space” or “network” that can attract customers, attract engagement and help generate more cash, more content, and more customers.

 

MindMapping – Setting-up a business – Identity

When starting a new business, the need to figure out identity is an important factor.

All businesses end-up with their own identity.  The Australian Corporations Act, states that a company – is it’s own legal entity in the eyes of the law.  In most cases, an ABN is sufficient to start a business – stepping up the process to a business name, which later down the track – if the business is successful – turns into a company.

Considering the businesses objectives is always a good starting point when considering how to provide a new business or company, identity.

– What is it that the business seeks to achieve?

– What does it provide that is valued to current and potential customers?

– How will the business scale?

– How does the business – make money…

I often mindmap out the solutions i’m developing, and trying to structure my thought around it.  There are often a multitude of reasons why someone decides to go start a business.  These underlying reasons change the nature of the start-up, the purpose of the business and the aspects in which the founder of the business, focuses upon developing the business.

In many cases; it’s simply an idea of generating revenue.  People decide it’s a “good idea” to start a business, so they decide they’ll have a “crack” at it.  In These cases, i often find it almost more important to explore the underlying personal reasons for setting-up the business – what is the purpose of doing this action – why a business?

What are the critical things the business is expected to provide its founders – and what is the business designed to provide an audience – of customers.  There is obviously a difference between the needs of a business operator, and a business.  By exploring these needs, both personal and professional alike – a business model is more easily established around the skills and needs of its proprietors.

In other cases; a group, or individual has identified a “business opportunity”.  This business opportunity is often a far more calculated start-up process, where the businesses establishment has less to do with the personal identities of the founders  – and more to do with establishing a path for successful commercialisation of a product or services, for which the founders of the business have some sort of unique relationship to; as required, to facilitate the undertaking of setting-up a business.

In both cases, mindmapping is a powerful tool to explore and visualise the very different, alternate and interwoven aspects to a business.  To get a 15,000 foot view on the needs of setting up a business, providing it identity – and ensuring your work with it, encourages the growth – to fullest potential – of both the new business, and the participants involved in establishing it.

If your looking for some other perspectives on mindmapping – check-out the youtube search.