I Believe in FREE!
You don’t have to be in debt to start a successful business.
-Nicole “ScOprah” Walters
I was watching Nicole “ScOprah” Walters’ periscope last week and I had an “ah ha” moment. She made the statement, “You don’t have to be in debt to start a successful business.” Yes, I will say that again. “You don’t have to be in debt to start a successful business.” I immediately took out my pen and paper and started taking notes. I actually watched the replay twice to make sure I did not miss any advice. As an entrepreneur, one of my biggest setbacks has been money. Do I have the money to get started? Do I have the money to attend events? Do I have money to purchase marketing materials? Money, money, money…my greatest obstacle. It seemed money, or the lack thereof, was my downfall. I always believed a substantial cash flow was needed to run a successful business. However, I have discovered there are less expensive options entrepreneurs can utilize to start their business.
As entrepreneurs, we often look to what others are doing successfully and follow suit. However, if you are not in that income bracket, you should not purchase items you cannot afford or have no idea how to use. You have to be smart with the money you do have. Make your dollars stretch and work for you until you are able to make greater investments. For me on my personal journey, I began researching self-publishing in 2014. I was pleasantly surprised to find that the investment of self-publishing was not as daunting as I previously believed. So, I dusted of my pen and began working on a romantic suspense novel. Within six months, I had a finalized copy and I was ready to publish my book. I said all of this to say, sometimes our misconceptions can cause us to put our dreams on hold. I could have been a published author years ago. Actually, I could have avoided a lot of student loans if my younger self new that being an author was a tangible goal.
Sure, money is needed to fund a business. Nicole says, we can do what we need for FREE! Everyone raise your hands. Yes, we do believe in FREE! Your dream can be a click away only if you use the tools available to get started. So, how do we start this journey with utilizing FREE tools? For me, my journey to self-publishing was a success. I used a small portion of my paychecks from my nine-to-five to purchase small items. As a writer, my first purchase was a laptop. I love writing on pen and paper, but after the first couple drafts, my book is transferred to a word document. Make sure you are utilizing your funds for items you need for day to day operations.
Here are a few tips to start your business for FREE or with low cost options. The first step to any business is having a clear goal of what it is you want to do. Do not waste your time. If you do not have a clear goal, your business will fail. Next, a website presence is necessary. You can purchase a domain for as little as $.99 from companies like GoDaddy.com. After the domain purchase, you can use a FREE platform such as Word Press to create a website. You can also purchase business cards for as little as $20 from Vista Print or Staples. Do you see where I’m going with this? If you have an idea and you are willing to do the work, you can do it.
For writers, FREE is more than an option, it is a reality. They are so many FREE resources for writers who want to publish their books. Create Space, Kindle, Nook, and LULU are just a few of the platforms that allow you to publish your books for FREE. However, I suggest you purchase your ISBN and barcode separately. Generally, an ISBN cost $125 and a barcode cost $25. FREE marketing can be done on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Periscope, LinkedIn, and Pintrest. Visibility is the key to having a successful visual marketing campaign. Posting and engaging in groups on these various sites can be the catalyst needed to get you in front of your target audience. FREE is in your near future. So, go and be GREAT!
If you would like to per-order my book, Self-Publishing 101, please visit my website www.crystalmyerswrites.com
Crystal Myers
CEO of Crystal Myers Writes
Self-Publishing Diva