One of the big questions you should ask yourself when creating a brand - why should people choose you? What is it that makes you special? Why should consumers even consider buying your products or services? What is the purpose of your brand? What do you have to offer that is different from all your competitors?

The freelancing economy is undoubtedly on the rise in the United States and beyond. In fact, from 2016 to 2017 alone, the US saw a 47% increase in the number of entrepreneurs who claimed they would be hiring freelancers during the calendar year.

Entrepreneurs have often been compared to iron men, to soldiers and even to marathon runners, but there is another much less evident occupation in which entrepreneurs could benefit tremendously from modeling their craft after - teachers.

Becoming an entrepreneur is one of the most rewarding and fulfilling experiences you could ever have. Between building something that is completely your own, growing with your founding team and more, there is a tremendous amount of benefits to being an entrepreneur. Yet, one of the biggest misconceptions when it comes to becoming an entrepreneur is you will never have another boss again - that you'll be a free man or woman until you eventually retire.

It’s no secret that creating a loyal base of customers is a difficult task as an entrepreneur. In years past, holding a sale or a BOGO (“buy one get one free”) offer oftentimes was enough to entice prospective customers to become paying customers. While there are certainly instances nowadays where these strategies are still effective, for most companies, it simply isn’t enough due to the amount of options consumers have at their fingertips in the current online marketplace.

When it comes to building a business, one of the most significant steps during the process is creating a well-polished, securely established brand. If you take a look around, the most iconic companies in the marketplace are more than just the logo and name they put out into the world. Instead, they have a captivating brand and message that goes beyond the products or services they sell to customers.

There are plenty of ways to ensure your business strategy will become one that leads to a succesful business. But, what about all the things you shouldn't do when starting a small business?

Keep reading for six mistakes that successful entrepreneurs avoid when starting and building their own small business.

Launching your brand is arguably the most important part of building your company. The process of introducing yourself to your target market is an activity that can make all the difference in your company’s future. An unsuccessful launch can be difficult, if not impossible, to overcome. It is imperative that you devise a launch strategy that will maximize your company’s chances of success.

According to Jenna Hanington, senior content strategist at Pardot, “Brand messaging refers to the underlying value proposition conveyed and language used in your content. It's what makes buyers relate to your brand by inspiring them, persuading them, motivating them, and ultimately making them want to buy your product.” In other words, the purpose of your brand message is to connect with your target audience and thereafter convert them to customers.

The advent of social media has allowed people to communicate with each other in an unprecedented manner. It is now possible to chat with someone on the other side of the globe in mere seconds. Families that are scattered across the country can stay in touch with each other daily. Yes, social media has changed communication forever.