Laying foundations and thinking ahead

[Sally]

After reading and reading, it's quite clear that I'm a long way off making a business out of selling soap products. I need to research, read, practice and practice, read and research for a good while yet. I have done a few business courses a couple of years ago, so I'm confident I know what to do in a general business sense ... I just need to get on with it.

While I'm doing this, I have also read that a good blog is a step in the right direction and that life will be easier in the long run if my blog name is the same as my eventual business name. Does this mean I need a name for my business even at this early stage? :? (Although I'm much nearer ready to sell paper goods - and they don't require a long testing process, so theoretically I'm much nearer to actually starting a business in that respect. I'm hoping to use the soap as ANOTHER product to sell, rather than selling soap products alone.) Either way, I do have a lot to learn about blogging, so there's something for me to be getting on with. I already use Facebook a LOT and while I'm registered with Twitter, I hardly ever use it, so more practice required there....

Sorry to ramble........ my head is now spinning with ideas!! My main questions are:

Do I need a business name to apply to my blog already?
Apart from general business research, blogging/tweeting/facebooking and researching/practising soapmaking, is there anything else I can be getting on with that will help lay good foundations now for when I AM ready to start selling?

If you've actually read all this, thank you for your patience!!

 

[Karri]

Hi Sally -

Blogging is definitely a step in the right direction, especially if you plan to use online channels to drive business/sales. While it would be beneficial to have your biz name chosen before you put up a blog, I would not let the fact that you don't have this in place yet stop you.

My reason for saying this: I sense you're seeking some much needed momentum and a blog might give you this. In my opinion, THAT is more important than getting the exact biz name figured out. You may, through your blogging, zero in on your voice, your brand, and ultimately a biz name that you couldn't have figured out otherwise.

So pick a name/domain that fits right now and is related to your main topic (soaping/paper products/etc) and/or what will make you unique and go for it!

Karri

 

[citymouse]

I use blogger for my blogs and find it very user friendly. In the settings then under the publishing tab you actually can change the name of your blog (the actual heading on the page as well as the http://"my blog name here".blogspot.com. You also have the ability to export it or import one to blogger. Check it out, it may be what you are looking for as far as flexibility goes.

 

[Lindy]

I am so not dedicated enough to blogging - I've tried but no discipline on it....