In recent years more and more companies in Kenya are procuring branding and marketing services from agencies. And for every marketing guru, it’s an ultimate dream to own a branding and marketing company. But most people are stuck there at the ‘idea stage’ because of a lack of information or the right guidance on where to begin.
Below we highlight the process to go about starting a branding and marketing agency in Kenya that will guarantee you success.
1. Branding And Marketing Company setup and registration
Before anything, it is important to register an entity.
Sole Proprietorship; Easiest to operate. Here the owner and the business are considered to be one entity. Therefore the owner assumes all the liability.
Limited liability private company(LTD); This is a business structure that is privately owned, and it limits its owners’ liability to their shares, limits the number of shareholders to at least one director and 50 members, and also restricts the shareholders from publicly trading shares.
Limited Liability Partnerships; This is an entity that combines the benefits of a Limited liability Company and the flexibility of a partnership. The Entity is a separate legal entity and the liability of the partners is limited to the extent of their contribution to the LLP.
Unlike most companies, a branding and marketing agency does not require additional compliance with the authorities. However, if you are a foreigner, or would like to have foreign employees, then you will be required to apply for the relevant work permits.
2. Identify Your Target Market
Before you pitch yourself to clients, you need to identify your target market. Specify your ideal clients This should at least include the following;
Business model– Identify the type of companies you would want to work with for a start. (Local companies, SaaS, service companies)
Industry-(Healthcare, manufacturing, real estate, etc).
company size – ( Small businesses, fortune 500, big organizations).
Once you identify your ideal clientele, determine what service you will offer. Before you employ a whole department of people you are most likely going to start with a few people, so you need to start with a service you are good at, be it SEO, PPC, graphic design, and then scale from there and hire experts.
3. Build your team
When looking to start a branding and marketing company in Kenya, you will need to hire the right people to help you grow your company. Depending on the services you are offering, you will hire graphic designers and specialized people who will run certain campaigns. In the beginning, it might be hard to budget for many employees, but as the company grows you will be able to hire more people to work for you.
4. Come Up With A Business plan
A business plan outlines your ideas, and defines your objectives as well as provides information on how your business will achieve the goals you have set. Studies show that businesses with professional business plans are 2.5 times more likely to achieve their goals as they have their plans written down.
5. Come Up With A Marketing Strategy For Your Branding and Marketing Company in Kenya
Now, this is where the rubber meets the road, You will need to stand out from your competitors so that your company will be the go-to marketing and branding company for clients. When looking to start a marketing and branding company, you will need to market the heck out of your agency. You will be offering the services you are looking to render to other companies.
To stand out, you have to do it exceptionally well so that other companies will be confident giving you the business. This is a perfect case of “which shoemaker walks without shoes? ” you will require expert advice on this to help your company stand out.
You will need client testimonials as well. If you have worked as a freelancer before you could contact your previous clients for testimonials, if not, you could start offering some services for free in exchange for testimonials. Social proof is a good way to get new clients as people know they can rely on your services.
6. Get Connected With People in Your Branding and Marketing Industry
Networking is the best way to get to understand the branding and marketing industry in Kenya. Attend events held in the marketing space, Get to know people in the industry. Follow them on social media you will need these connections if you are going to build a successful company.
You are also most likely to get referrals and new clients from such spaces. So network and foster these relationships. They are going to be beneficial.
Summary
When looking to start a branding and marketing company in Kenya, you are of course looking to be successful. These easy-to-follow tips will help you on that journey, especially if you have a background in marketing then building the company will not be too hard as you understand the service you are offering and the best thing about it will be, it comes from the passion for marketing. And of course, a business that comes from passion and experience will be successful.
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