Top Five Mistakes Entrepreneurs Make when Promoting Their Business

Common Pitfalls for First-timers

You are an entrepreneur ready to hustle and tell the world about your amazing product or service, but your "team" is a comprised of a sister who kind-of knows how to design websites and a friend with a stint as a telemarketer. These folks are wonderful, supportive cheerleaders to have in your corner. However, nepotism isn't always the wisest strategy when choosing a team to work on your "creative baby."

Entrepreneurs need to be cautious with money while getting started, and hiring someone costs money. Totally get it! Here is another way to think about it; money wisely spent is also an investment in the business, and is equally critical in the beginning stages. Creating a strategy to reach your target market through promotional opportunities takes time and energy, which also translates to money out of your pocket (your time as a entrepreneur is billable by the hour).

Its also easy to get carried away by the enthusiasm and eagerness to get started, which may translate into a lot of time spent on promotional efforts that create no results. And trust me, even though it might not seem like it in the short term, hiring that relative or friend can end up costing more in money, time and frustration in the long-run - unless they are a professional.

There are very basic things to look out for that can help you make wise investments on where to spend your time and money in the beginning stages. Here are the top five mistakes entrepreneurs make when attempting to build awareness and find clients:

Neglect to hire a professional for key services such as website design, content writing, marketing or public relations

Look...people do this for a living because most of them are good at it. Do your research, hire a professional from the get-go (you can often get free-consultations to see if they are a match), and invest in a little professional expertise up-front. It will go a long way, and create a solid foundation to move forward on a clear path and reach target markets effectively.

Create different looking materials for each promotional piece without using a consistent and defined identity