With many start ups, it takes more than just having a great product or service to really succeed. You need to have the right employees in key positions, good advice from mentors, a sound marketing plan, etc... This list could go on forever, but here are 4 ideas to help push your start up towards lasting success.

1. Mission Statement & Blog Post?

                Once you have your dream start up in place, create a mission statement for your company. This is obvious, Business 101. However you should aim to make this mission statement a blog post, or its own page on your website.

                I do not think anyone can argue in this day and age how important the internet is to 95% of current businesses. By creating an online presence early, you do two things. First off, you create some great SEO content that Google will value highly for being unique content with a real purpose.

                The second thing to keep in mind, is that your business may flop horribly with a storefront store. But it could be a booming success online. Maybe your items are not for the folks of Nashville, Tennessee. If you did not have an online presence, this could put your start up in a tough bind. With the help f the internet though, you can track online sales and realize your making a ton of sales to the state Florida.

                With this information in hand, you could focus more efforts on purely selling online, or possibly even setting up shop in Florida.

2. Growth!

                Most start ups are not lucky enough to sit around and wait for customers to come strolling on in to them. The startups that last and turn into real businesses are the ones that are proactive in everything. Creative marketing plans (next day printing on posters directed at your target audience), tried and true business setups, and one of the most overlooked traits in successful businesses; growth.

                The growth of your business requires someone to not look to far into the future so that it is affecting the present. At the same time, this owner must have a vision on what they are trying to grow the business to, so that steps can be taken along the way to create a solid foundation for success.

                Don't count your eggs before they hatch, as the saying goes, but create a step by step plan to achieve your visions for your start up. Once every 6 months, take a look at this plan and see if you are on track. See if your core values have changed and if you now have a different vision for the company. Adapt and keep moving forward!

3. Avoid the "Shiny Objects"

                First time entrepreneurs can get swept up in starting a new business. It is very important to stick to the goals you set in place. You put in all this work to create the best outdoor grill in the world, and 1 month before you launch you see your friend making a ton of money selling lawnmowers.

                Do not start selling lawnmowers! Because once you jump over to lawnmowers, maybe 3 months later you have a friend selling a ton of homes. So now you become a realtor. Stick to the dream you have, and see it through.

                If you want to pursue other ideas once your business is started (and running profitably) go ahead and spend some free time exploring other ventures. But take care of your business first!

4. Learn from others mistakes

                There are a ton of businesses that start up each day, and a ton of businesses that shut down each day. You do not have to reinvent  the wheel, but you should be asking what happened before the wheel. Did they try a square shaped wheel? What about an octagon shaped? Why was the circle the final shape?

                Obviously this is a very basic example, but check out other competitors in your niche. The businesses doing the best in your niche, what are they doing that no other company is? If all the businesses in your niche are somewhat successful, what is the common link between all of these businesses?

                Pour your heart and soul into this business! Constantly be gaining more knowledge on the products or services you are selling and become an expert in your field. The hard work has just begun!