Embarking on your entrepreneurial journey is by far the most transformative and challenging experience that requires careful planning. The beginning of this new concept is known to ignite our most idealistic side; however I don’t want you to romanticize this journey. Being your own boss, becoming an entrepreneur is in nature emotionally, physically, and financially taxing. This is no walk in the park but it does not have to be hard, I am sharing a step-by-step blueprint that will allow you to begin this exciting journey the right way.

We are going to assess your personal journey, your unique concept, the people connected to your voice and how you bring it all together by choosing the right communication style and platforms.  This will require a great deal of hardwork, collaboration, resilience and an adaptable mind and a flexible outlook on life and business. Seeing your vision come to life will be all worth it at the end, you are impacting your life and your community at large by creating something of your own, it is going to be incredibly rewarding. So buckle up and brace yourself for the journey ahead, you got this!

Now, as you get ready to implement your idea and turn it into a viable brand, there are the clear steps that you will have to take. They are foundational and help you convey your story and other people’s stories; remember your narrative plays a great role in the choices that you make and the ideas that you choose to pursue. Your brand story should be relatable and inclusive, once people see themselves in your story they will want to join in and be part of your story.

A carefully crafted plan and detailed structure are paramount to the success of your brand; by following these steps you are developing a framework for your brand story to be told most effectively and authentically. As you probe, seek to understand, and serve, you will develop a plan of action and choose an effective mode of communication from the myriads of channels and tools available online.

I hope this seven-step process helps you gain the clarity that you need to start your entrepreneurial journey and create your online brand. Let’s get started:

1. ESTABLISH MOTIVES AND PURITY OF INTENT

This is the time to do some introspective work that will gauge your narrative, intentions for starting your entrepreneurial journey, the uniqueness of your concept, and define the overall vision of your brand. Your timing, your concept, your abilities and, your personal style are all key elements that you have to assess. It is also important that you clearly define your concept and the need that it will address.

2. FIND YOUR TRIBE, PEOPLE CONNECTED TO YOUR VOICE

Your ability to target the right audience and to satisfy their unmet needs will be vital to the success of your startup, by profiling your hero you are humanizing the process. Look at it this way, every great story has a protagonist who is on a journey, so where is your hero on the journey? What are their struggles, pain points and, needs? How are you going to help them reach their destination? Or at least help them get ahead? What are their key touchpoints and how do you reach them? This where you create your dream customer persona and build a sales funnel by using the customer journey and creating an unmatched customer experience for your ideal customers.

3. YOUR VALUABLE OFFER

Through product creation and development, brand experience design, brand building and sales, you get to extend an invitation, make a promise to your hero. Map out the value and sales system and processes that you are providing each step of the way and outline strategies that will entice them to follow your lead, your invitation. This is also where you pick your niche and draft your positioning statement. You will also need to choose the most effective strategies to promote your offer and create a digital marketing plan for your brand, and growing your influence online through content marketing, social media, and email, and sell your offer on the right platforms.