When I was growing up of course the internet was not around, and going shopping meant just that, getting up, getting dressed and going out! Reading the ads in the paper, hearing the ads on radio or watching commercials on TV was the only way you could learn about new products or see what the current sales were without stepping out the door, but of course the advertising was expensive so you only really heard from those companies that could afford to advertise. How the world has changed.
Having recently started Little Leaf Eco, I have discovered first-hand exactly how things have changed. A brick and mortar business was not a viable option for me given the initial cost of setting up and neither was the idea of a traditional marketing campaign for the same reasons.
I had to learn fast that in today’s world of social media and on-line shopping it is all about engagement.
It’s not enough to have a good idea or even a good product, I had to connect and engage with my potential customers if I was to get my message and branding out there and I had to do in ways that would get my ‘voice’ heard.
I built my website myself, I didn’t want some generic looking thing, I wanted it to reflect who I was and what Little Leaf Eco is really about. I figured that the only way to do this was to learn how to do it and invest my own time and effort to make sure it was what I wanted and needed. But that was only the start, quickly I learned that a website is not a static being, it needs to evolve and change. It needs to relevant and interesting and it needs to be dynamic. Every day I try and see if there are ways I can make it fresh and attractive and make sure that it keeps track with the business.
Then I had to get people to my site. First was my Facebook page, soon followed by Instagram. Facebook I was familiar with as I had used it for years for my own social network but Facebook for business is very different. It’s not about me or my family, it’s about Little Leaf Eco. It’s about making it be something that people would want to follow with articles they would want to like. And it's not always about the products, it has to be bigger than that. It has to connect at a deeper level with things that people from all areas of life would like to keep informed on. As for Instagram, well I had to learn that from my 14 year old son. Apparently it’s the tool of the younger generation which I am now proud to be a part of. Again, like my website, being active is the key. Being engaged is a two way street if you expect people to engage with you then you must engage with them and often.
From there I have joined and actively participate in a number of relevant on-line market places and learned how to write blogs. At times I feel like my business is actually more I.T. related than designing and manufacturing really cool products!
Maybe one day I will have that brick & mortar shop front, but for now I am really enjoying being engaged in an on-line world and connected to people all over the world with different experiences to share. It’s this engagement that helps me understand what is important to my customers and how I can meet their needs. And isn’t that the most important thing in building a successful business?.
starting a modern business
Maileen Martin is a mum of two fast growing boys and a self-motivated individual with an interest in design. She established Little Leaf Eco NZ to design, manufacture and retail a range of family friendly and environmentally friendly products.
www.littleleafeco.com
www.facebook.com/littleleafeconz
By Maileen Martin
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