Alumni-owned business spotlight: Ciara Roman (B.A.’14)
VCU Alumni is highlighting Ram entrepreneurs listed in our alumni-owned business directory. Here, Ciara Roman, owner of Write Away Docs LLC, shares her advice.
What was the biggest challenge to maintaining your business?
The biggest challenge is staying relevant. We aren’t a brick-and-mortar business, so marketing and creating promotional content is like another full-time job for small business owners. A lot of my business was fueled by referrals. Never underestimate the power of word-of-mouth referrals.
What tools helped you the most when you started out?
Believe it or not, Facebook groups have been one of the most helpful tools for my business, now and when I first started out. There are groups for everything you can imagine. You can learn ways to perfect your craft and improve many aspects of your business, from marketing to creating new products and services. If you want to learn more about something, definitely consider getting in a community with others who are doing the same thing or those who have a need for your services.
What advice do you have for people considering starting a business?
My advice is not to let the fear of an oversaturated market or others with similar businesses make you think there isn’t a need for yours. You offer something unique that similar companies can’t. I know several people with similar businesses and trust there are plenty of customers to go around.