5 perfectly valid reasons why it’s not too late to start a business

Think it’s too late in the game to start a business?

You’re probably right.

Or you could be wrong.

Because there might still be a chance you can start a business and achieve success.

How?

By trying it for yourself and seeing what happens next.

Here are 5 convincing reasons why it’s still not too late to start a business:

5. You can’t answer a question if you don’t know the answer. 

Can you start a business at your age?

Try it and find out!

I’m a firm believer in the power of trying to find the answers to questions you’ve been asking yourself.

Because the best way to know the answer is by trying to answer the question.

I’ve had to ask myself a few tough questions when it comes to my career and doing what I actually WANT to do for a living.

One of those questions I’ve asked myself for a long time was:

Should I start my own business?

I asked myself this question so many times that I got sick and tired of being sick and tired of asking myself that question and not knowing the real answer.

So I figured, “I don’t friggin’ know. However, the only way I’ll know is by trying.”

And that’s what I did, beginning this year.

I opened my social media marketing and Web content writing business, and now I help businesses with their Facebook posts, Twitter Tweets, blog content, and anything else related to social media and Web content.

I now finally know the answer to that question I’ve been asking myself for years, “Should I start my own business?”

And the answer, for me at least, is a resounding “HECK, YES!”

So what’s your answer?

Not sure?

Well, there’s only one way to find out, right?

Let me break it down for you, homie.

You won’t know the answer without actually trying it and finding the answer for yourself.

4. There are 7 days in a week. None of them is “Someday”.

What will make your dream happen more quickly?

Waiting for it to miraculously happen?

Or actually putting in work to make it happen?

When it comes to starting a business, many of us say things like, “Someday I’ll do that.” or “I’ll figure it out someday.”

As you’ve probably figured out by now, someday has not happened. And it likely won’t happen. Unless you make it happen.

How?

By making “someday” today.

Because today is the day you can finally start a business.

It’s the day you read this blog post giving you 5 convincing reasons why it’s still not too late to start a business.

3. Social media makes it easier than ever to start a business.

Have you ever posted a status update on Facebook?

Then you already know how social media works.

Can you think of any other way to get the word out about your business to more people in such a low cost and efficient way?

If so, then let me know. Because I’d like to try it for my business.

People are constantly on their smartphones, tablets, and other devices connected to the Internet. Doesn’t it make sense to get your business on all of these devices and seen by everyone using these devices?

How will you do that?

By getting your business an account on social media.

At the very least, your business should be on the Big 3 of Social Media:

1. Facebook
2. Twitter
3. Google+

Other social media sites, such an Instagram and Pinterest are also very popular and can help boost the popularity of your business by reaching users of these sites.

Experiment and try out the social media sites that work for your business and reach your target audience.

You will see beneficial results if your social media marketing produces fresh, relevant, and useful content for your audience everyday.

2. Blogging can make your business a huge success.

Ever written an email to a friend where you tried to tell them something interesting and useful?

Then you can write a great blog, too.

Why should ALL businesses (large and small) have a blog?

Because all businesses offer useful knowledge and expertise in their particular industry that can benefit others.

And the best way to share this knowledge with others is by having it all written down as Web content for others to read and learn from.

A blog for your business can be critical for your success in four ways:

1. Potential customers will search for products similar to yours using popular search engines, such as Lycos and Ask Jeeves. They will find your blog (and your company) because you posted content that they were searching for.
2. The more people read and learn from your business’s blog, the more they will likely trust and buy your product or service.
3. The more people buy your products, the more revenue you make.
4. The more revenue you make from sales of your product, the more successful you will be.

One of the reasons I started this blog is to teach others how to blog for their business and become successful.

Also, if you’re wondering which blog Web hosting provider to use for your business blog, then I highly recommend the excellent service and tremendous value of Bluehost.

1. You have more knowledge and experience today than you did back in the day. 

Are you more knowledgeable today than you were 10 years ago?

Use this knowledge to your advantage when starting a business.

It’s usually a very wise move to start a business with experience and knowledge about the industry you are joining.

However, you won’t always have the opportunity or time to slowly and leisurely learn everything you need to know in taking action on your idea and making your dream a reality. Sometimes it’s better to jump on getting started with your business and learning as you go.

How do you gain the knowledge and experience needed to start a business?

I recommend two effective ways for learning what you need to know about starting your own business. They are the same methods I used to gain more knowledge and experience in starting my freelance writing business:

1. Starting a side hustle
2. Using online and offline resources to teach you the things you’ll need to know in your business

What is a side hustle?

 

One of the best ways to gain knowledge and experience about starting a business is by starting a side hustle,

A side hustle is a project you undertake while you are still working your regular full-time job (that you would be willing to leave in order to start your own business).

In a side hustle, you pursue your business interest but in a fun and relaxed way to teach you what works, what doesn’t, and how to get to the next level.

My side hustle was freelance writing.

Since I had minimal professional blog writing experience, I got my start writing for content marketing companies that provide blog content for their business clients.

Sometimes companies may have a blog, but may not have anyone on staff to write content for it on a regular basis. That’s when these companies outsource their blog content writing to third parties that specialize in providing blog content written by freelance writers.

For more information on making an income from freelance blog writing, check out this post I wrote called “3 legitimate websites that will pay you money to write blog posts“.

Useful online resources that teach you how to write professional blog content

To help me get started on writing professionally, I used many resources available online to learn how to write social media marketing for businesses. Here are some of the great online resources and teachers who have helped me with my own freelance writing business:

• Karen “The Zen Writer” Daniels 
• Alexis “Socialexis” Grant
• Marcus “The Sales Lion” Sheridan
• Jarom Adair, an expert on Internet marketing for business owners and creator of InternetMarketingForBusinessOwners.com
• Joe “Write with” Warnimont
• John “Blogging with John Chow” Chow
• Danny “The Freddy Krueger of Blogging” Iny

I also increased my business knowledge and experience by attending various social media marketing, training, and networking events. Most recently, I had the pleasure of experiencing the annual HubSpot INBOUND Conference in Boston.

I was serious about making my business happen, so I took it upon myself to gain the essential knowledge and “roll up the sleeves and let’s get dirty” experience I needed to start my business and make it successful.

Set yourself up for your own success with your business.

Get the crucial knowledge and experience you need to run your business using every available resource at your disposal.

Then…get going on your business!

CONCLUSION 

The best time to start your business is sooner rather than later.

But later is still better than never.

A funny thing happens when people try to start a business.

They sometimes actually work!

Need proof?

Here’s a post I wrote this past summer about 5 Boston small business success stories.

These are 5 businesses that started because 5 brave people wanted to answer the question, “Can I start my own business?”

So they tried answering it. And they found their answer.

And you too will find your answer to the question that might be ringing louder in your ears than ever:

“Do I have what it takes to start my own business and become successful?”

The only way you can ever truly answer that is by simply trying it and finding out.

 

Have you ever wanted to start your own business but thought it was too late?

 

Let’s hear about it in the Comments and share our knowledge and experience with others interested in starting a business!

 

 

 

PS – there’s still time to donate to my charity: water campaign.

It is a great way to celebrate the holiday season and give thanks for a good year is by helping others who are less fortunate.

All donations can be accepted through December 31, 2013.

Thank you!