Execute Your Plan

Originally published April 29, 2019 on the original SPEN10 blog. The full original was lost when the old site went offline — only its opening survived — so this version was rewritten in October 2026 from that opening.

Once you have a plan of action in place, it's time to get to work building your business.

Keep your target niche in mind at every step. Your messages, colors and branding should all reflect your target audience. These are your people — you need to speak to them.

1. Build your brand around your audience

Your brand is how people recognize and remember you. Before you build anything else, decide on:

A name that's easy to say, spell and remember — and check that the domain and social handles are available.
Colors and fonts that suit your audience. (See 10 required elements of modern web design for tips.)
Your voice. Friendly or formal? Playful or serious? Write the way your ideal customer talks.

2. Set up your social media accounts

Claim your brand name on the social platforms your audience uses, and fill out every profile completely. Post some starter content so new visitors don't find an empty page. I go through this step by step in Social Media: From Start to Followers.

3. Launch your website

Your website is your home base — the one place online you fully control. Start simple: a clear home page that says exactly what you offer and who it's for, plus an about page and a way to get in touch. You can always add more later.

2026 note: you no longer need to hire a developer or wrestle with a page builder. AI coding tools can help you build and launch a fast, modern site yourself — the SPEN10 guides show how.

4. Start your email list on day one

Even before you have anything to sell, start collecting email addresses. Offer something useful for free in exchange — a checklist, a short guide, a template. Your list becomes one of your most valuable assets. Read why in The Importance of Email Marketing.

5. Launch your first offer

Don't wait for perfect. Get your first product, service or offer in front of real people as soon as it's good enough to help them. You'll learn more from your first ten customers than from months of planning.

6. Measure, learn and adjust

Remember the key numbers from your plan? Track them. Check what's working and what isn't every week, then double down on what works and fix or drop what doesn't. Update your plan as you go.

7. Stay consistent

Most new businesses don't fail because the idea was bad — they fail because their founders stopped too early. Show up consistently, keep learning, and give your work time to compound.

Now get out there and execute your plan!

— Spencer