Published: 3 September 2021
When it comes to becoming an entrepreneur, you’re going to need all the help you can get.
It’s an achievable dream and one for which the University of Sunderland in London will give you the academic tools you need.
But now is the time to think about the others things that will help you on your way.
A huge range of software and programmes exist out there designed for people just like you.
So what kinds of things should you be looking for?
Networking
We talk about the importance of speaking to people often.
That’s because getting to know your clients, customers and competition are extremely helpful in helping you understand where you are in the marketplace.
Even before you launch your company, the first thing you should be doing is learning about where you fit in.
Use professional network platforms like LinkedIn and UpHabit, but make sure you’re getting on other social media sites like Twitter, Instagram and Facebook because that is where your clients are.
Social media
Talking about these sites, you’ll need to be posting regular updates on most, if not all, of the major ones to stay relevant.
Doing that can be challenging so it’s a good idea to use a website like Hootsuite or Buffer.
They allow you to schedule lots of posts across different social media sites meaning you can write your content in advance and have them do the hard work of publishing.
Most of them also give you statistics about your posts so you can see, how popular they are, and how many people were sent to your website from them.
Teamworking
If you’re going to have more than one person working for your company, you will need to keep in touch with them.
Sites like Slack and Teams let you chat and share files quickly and easily.
You might also want to think about group to-do lists like Trello and Todoist where you can break down all the tasks by people doing them and the projects they’re involved in.
Websites
There are very few companies out there right now without a website.
They help you have a presence in the world, telling people what your business is, helping you sell your products and services.
There are lots of sites to help you build your own so make sure you have a look around.
Some of the most popular include WordPress, Wix and Squarespace.
Of course, starting a business takes a bit more than having the right tools.
But taking the time to learn the most important ones now, while you’re still studying, will help you reach your goals faster once you graduate.
Whatever you want to do when you finish your degree, our Careers and Employability office is here to help.
To have a one-to-one chat with them, book a meeting through Compass.
Alternatively, email careers-london@sunderland.ac.uk or visit the website to find out more. Find out more by following #WeAreSunLon on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.