Holy crap, I’m really launching this business
You've validated your idea. Filed the paperwork. Secured the funding. Now comes the moment that makes your stomach flip: telling the world you exist.
Welcome to launch week, where excitement meets terror and imposter syndrome shows up uninvited. But here's the thing: you're more ready than you think. And you don't need a Super Bowl ad budget or a viral TikTok to make this work.
Let's talk about launching your business without losing your mind or your savings.
Marketing is not advertising (and other truths nobody tells you)
First, let's clear something up thanks to StartUP 365's Jennifer Korfiatis, who has an MBA in marketing and actually knows what she's talking about.
Marketing is about creating change. Changing what people know, believe, or feel about your business. Advertising is just one tool in the marketing toolbox, and it requires money. Marketing? That can be free, strategic, and wildly effective if you do it right.
The goal isn't to yell about your business from every rooftop. The goal is to tell a story so compelling that people can't help but listen.
The four Ps you actually need to know
Before you post a single Instagram story or design a business card, you need to nail these fundamentals:
Positioning
How do you solve your customer's problem? What makes you different? If you can't explain this in one sentence without using buzzwords, keep working on it.
Product
What are you actually selling, and what value does it bring? Think beyond features. People don't buy drills, they buy holes. People don't buy gym memberships, they buy the feeling of confidence in their jeans.
Pricing
Low prices don't guarantee sales. Value does. Are you the budget option, the luxury choice, or the sweet spot in the middle? Own it.
Promotion
This is how you get your message out there. Social media, word of mouth, events, email, partnerships. Pick the channels where your actual customers hang out, not where you wish they hung out.
Part 5 of a 6-week series on business entrepreneurship
Welcome to launch week, where excitement meets terror. Photo by Christina @ wocintechchat.com.
Support women entrepreneurs building their brands
“When you donate to Woman of Wonder, you’re helping Southwest Washington women access the marketing and business education they need to successfully launch and promote their businesses. Your tax-deductible contribution helps women tell their stories, reach their customers, and build brands that last.
Support women entrepreneurs in Clark, Cowlitz, Skamania, and Wahkiakum counties as they launch businesses that strengthen our entire community.”
Your pre-launch timeline: Build buzz without burning out
Here's what most successful launches have in common: they don't happen overnight. They build momentum.
Three months out: Set up your social media profiles on the platforms that make sense for your business. You don't need to be on every platform. Instagram and Facebook work great for visual businesses. LinkedIn crushes it for B2B. TikTok is gold for reaching younger audiences. Pick two or three and commit.
Start posting behind-the-scenes content. Show the creation process. Share your inspiration. Introduce yourself. People connect with stories, not sales pitches.
One month out: Increase your posting frequency. Start building your email list with a landing page that offers something valuable (a discount, early access, insider info). Send press releases to local media. Contact your local Chamber of Commerce about a ribbon-cutting ceremony (free publicity!).
Create your own content calendar so you're not scrambling at 11 p.m. wondering what to post tomorrow.
Two weeks out: Post daily on your main platforms. Create a Facebook event for your grand opening if you have a physical location. Pin an announcement about your launch date at the top of your profiles. Start running Facebook or Instagram ads if you have the budget (even $5 a day can help).
Create an event on The Coumbian Newspaper’s website (again, it’s free publicity!).
Reach out to local influencers or micro-influencers in your niche. You'd be surprised how many are willing to help small businesses, especially women-owned businesses, in exchange for free products or genuine relationships.
Launch week: Go all in. Post multiple times a day. Go live if you're comfortable. Document everything. Share customer testimonials if you have early adopters. Thank everyone who supports you. Engage with every comment and message.
And breathe. You're doing this.
The website situation (because you need one)
Your website is your virtual storefront, and in 2025, it's non-negotiable. The good news? You don't need to hire a developer or spend thousands. We have some tips on our blog post: Every southwest Washington entrepreneur needs a website.
Platforms like Squarespace, Wix, and WordPress make it ridiculously easy to build a professional-looking site. Your website should include:
What you do (in plain English)
Who you help
How to buy from you or contact you
Social proof (testimonials, reviews, features)
Your story (people buy from people they like)
If you're not ready for a full website, start with a landing page. One page that collects email addresses and tells people what's coming. Mailchimp and other platforms let you build these for free.
Pro tip: Make sure your domain name matches your social media handles. Consistency builds trust and makes you easier to find.
The social media game plan (without the overwhelm)
Social media can be your best friend or your biggest time suck. Here's how to make it work for you:
Consistency beats perfection. Posting three times a week consistently is better than posting 10 times one week and ghosting for a month. The algorithms reward consistency, and so do your followers.
Behind the scenes beats polished ads. People are tired of perfect. They want real. Show your workspace. Share your mistakes. Talk about the challenges. Authenticity builds trust faster than any ad campaign.
Engagement is everything. Respond to every comment, DM, and question. Social media is social. You’re not the queen. Treat it like a conversation.
Video wins. Short-form video (Reels, TikTok, YouTube Shorts) gets more reach than photos. You don't need fancy equipment. Your phone and good lighting work fine.
The Woman of Wonder edge: Marketing classes
Want to know the secret weapon most successful entrepreneurs have? They never stop learning. Marketing changes constantly. What worked last year might flop this year.
If you're feeling overwhelmed by digital marketing, SEO, content creation, or social media strategy, take a class. Woman of Wonder scholarships can fund marketing courses, digital strategy training, or communications classes at Clark College, Lower Columbia College, or WSU Vancouver.
Understanding marketing fundamentals means you're not at the mercy of expensive agencies or wasting money on tactics that don't work. You can make smart decisions, track what actually matters, and pivot when needed.
Apply for scholarships: Visit womanofwonder.org/scholarships to learn about opportunities for marketing and business education.
Your Launch Week Homework
Action Step 1: Take the marketing course
Take Jennifer Korfiatis's Marketing course on mystartup365.com. She breaks down the four Ps, storytelling, and customer-centric marketing in a way that actually makes sense.
Action Step 2: Set up your website or landing page
Even a simple one-pager with your story, contact info, and email signup works. Use Squarespace, Wix, or WordPress to get started.
Action Step 3: Create a content calendar
Plan what you'll post for the next month and when. Batch-create content on Sundays so you're not scrambling daily. Include a mix of educational content, behind-the-scenes, customer stories, and promotional posts.
Action Step 4: Engage, engage, engage
Spend 30 minutes a day responding to comments, following potential customers, and building relationships. Marketing is not just broadcasting, it's connecting.
Action Step 5: Track your metrics from day one
Which posts get the most engagement? Where are your website visitors coming from? What's your email open rate? You can't improve what you don't measure.
Use free tools like Google Analytics for your website and built-in insights on social media platforms.
Remember: Launching your business doesn't mean everything has to be perfect. It means you're brave enough to start before you're ready.
Next Week: Now let's grow this thing
We're talking growth. You've launched, you have customers, and now you want to scale. We're covering hiring, expanding, managing growth without losing your sanity, and resources specifically designed to help established businesses level up.
This is where your side hustle becomes your empire. You ready?
See you next week, officially launched entrepreneurs. You did the scary thing. Now let's do the exciting thing.
Resources for Launching Your Business
StartUP 365 - Marketing Course
Free training with Jennifer Korfiatis on marketing fundamentals
mystartup365.com/tools/academy-landing/lesson-7-marketing
Squarespace
Build your website without coding
squarespace.com
Mailchimp
Email marketing and landing pages
mailchimp.com
Canva
Design social media graphics and marketing materials
canva.com
Google Analytics
Track your website traffic
analytics.google.com
Woman of Wonder Scholarships
Support for women pursuing marketing and business education
womanofwonder.org/scholarships
Woman of Wonder Donations
Help fund business education for women in Southwest Washington
womanofwonder.org/donate
