Entrepreneurship Natural Products

Finding the Niche for Success Preview 04:11

Decide what type of product you want to market. We will go through several examples of natural product industries that are doing well. Get insights on what makes a product successful.

Refining Your Niche Preview 01:52

Learn how you can refine your niche to stand out in the crowd. This important first step will help you attain success throughout your entrepreneurial journey.

[Activity] Defining Your Niche Preview 00:08

This activity will walk you through honing in on a niche with a unique concept. This is an important activity to set you up for success in the particular industry you select.

Market Research: Your Customers Preview 05:28

The lesson will get you to think about who your customer will be and who you are trying to market to. You will begin to think about your customer demographic such as age, gender, income level and place of residence. These are all important factors.

Market Research: Your Product Preview 05:34

Learn how to market research the product you are considering. We will discuss different ways that you can accomplish this without spending a great deal of money. There are helpful resources that we will walk though to help you decide if your product idea is viable.

Market Research: Your Competition Preview 02:41

Understanding your competition is key to a successful product launch. We will go through what you need to know and what you need to do to get started. Again, valuable resources will be discussed so you will know where to find the information you are looking for.

Market Research: Sales Channels Preview 03:36

Now that you have an idea of the product you are going to market and who you are going to market it to, it's time to begin thinking about you sales and distribution channels. This will be how you customers find you and is an important part of you overall business plan.

[Activity] Market Research Preview 00:51

In this activity, you will create a worksheet containing two lists. The first list will include any possible connections that you have. We will discuss ideas to get you thinking. The second list will look at where your interests lie. The goal of this activity is to help you refine your market ideas.

Branding Overview Preview 01:43

This lesson discusses the importance of building a brand presence and building a brand message. We will also go through the topics covered throughout this section.

Corporate and Brand Names Preview 08:13

We will cover corporate naming versus naming of a brand and what makes a good name. Issues addressed will be how to research trademarks to make sure you are not infringing on an existing name, domain name searches and related results, checking google name search results, and finally consulting your community for name feedback.

[Activity] Finding the Perfect Name Preview 00:28

This activity will help you find the perfect name.

How to Get a Logo Preview 04:03

We will look at ways to get logo ideas and concepts going such as checking out the current marketplace and looking at imaging sites. We will also explore the different places where you can get a logo created for your company.

Websites for Various Needs Preview 03:57

Your type of website will depend on your sales channel. This lesson covers where to find a website for your online presence whether you are selling online or via some other way.

Printed Marketing Materials Preview 02:26

This lecture covers how to most efficiently produce printed marketing materials for your business. We will first discuss why you want to print small quantities in-house at the beginning. We will also look at a resource for making this easier for you.

Pricing Preview 02:06

How to price your product is one of the most frequently asked question. There are a number of considerations when selecting the price of your product. Where do you want to position it in the marketplace? What will bring you the most success?

Setting Up Your Legal Identity Preview 02:15

Learn how to set up your legal identity to structure your company. We will discuss doing this yourself versus hiring a professional.

Obtaining Insurance Preview 02:00

Insurance offers legal protection. Learn where is the best place to shop for insurance and the different options that insurance provides. Also learn what you will need in order to complete an insurance application 

Record Keeping Preview 02:19

There are several different types of records that you will need to keep. We will cover what is important and the best way to make sure you are tracking everything necessary.

Trade Groups Preview 03:12

Joining a trade group provides valuable resources that you would not otherwise have access to. See what they offer in this lesson. Benefits include insurance options, marketing services, networking, events, trades how services, development, warehousing, logistics, credit card processing, and various discounts.

Product Development Overview Preview 00:37

You will want to carefully consider development of your product. This is a brief overview of that process.

Navigating Regulations Preview 09:24

Government regulations can add complexity and surprises to your business if you are not aware of what they are. This lecture provides highly insightful information about what to look for and where to find it.

Ingredients Preview 02:14

There are a number of considerations when you are developing your product and deciding on your ingredients. We will discuss those in this lecture. We will also discuss sourcing of your ingredients which is important to the overall quality of your end product.

Packaging Preview 02:57

We will go through ideas for what types of packaging is best and where to find it. We will also address secondary packaging.

Labeling Considerations Preview 05:02

A good product label will truly help promote your brand. Learn about different label requirements and what you will need to know.

Great Product Photography Preview 01:32

You should have professional photographs of your product for both online and print purposes. Discover how to make that happen.

Private Label and Contract Manufacturers Preview 05:44

There are numerous benefits to outsourcing your product manufacturing. This can be beneficial whether you are just starting or have grown to the next steps.

Outsourcing Fulfillment Preview 03:06

Rather than doing your own warehousing, packing and shipping, you may wish to have a company do this for you. In this lesson, we will go though the details related to engaging a fulfillment center.

Online Presence Preview 14:05

Online distribution is one of the most successful way to get your product to market. Learn where to look for the best options and how to implement them.

Retail and Wholesale Environment Preview 03:39

Do you love the idea of running a retail store where you interact directly with your customers? Or maybe you love the idea of seeing your product on shelves, but prefer someone else handle the overhead. Either way, I introduce you to the idea to see if this might be the right fit for your sales channel concept.

Direct Channel Preview 03:51

Selling direct offers many benefits. Learn why this may be a good option for your product and your company. We will go through the various options.

Distributors and Reps Preview 04:18

Learn how it's helpful to enlist the help of a distributor or sales representative. There are several resources for both. We will go through the important insights and considerations.

Marketing Overview Preview 00:27

This is a brief overview of grabbing your potential customers attention. This can be applied to each mode of marketing your product and your brand.

Getting Found Online Preview 07:07

Let's dive into Search Engine Optimization (SEO) to discover how it works and why it is so important to your online presence. This discussion will include the tasks and tools you will need. We will also touch on a few other beneficial ways to get your product website noticed.

Content Marketing Preview 04:31

Content marketing is creating and publishing your content online. Learn where you can use content marketing and how to get it out there. We will also address the importance of developing an email list.

Seals and Certifications Preview 03:13

Although seals and certifications are not a marketing tool, they should be a big part of your brand messaging if in fact, they are a part of your corporate philosophy. Will will look at some of the certifying organizations in the natural products industry and talk about why they are so valuable.

Editorial Exposure Preview 01:53

One of the best ways to get your product and brand in front of a large audience is to get editorial exposure. We will discuss the ideas to get you there.

Bonus Lecture Preview 00:51

Thank you for your participation in this course. You are well on your way to success! I sincerely hope you enjoy the process and find freedom and happiness in your work.