So You Bought a Business: New Business Marketing Essentials Checklist

So you bought a business. Congratulations! Whether you’ve acquired a small startup or a thriving enterprise, embarking on this journey is a significant milestone.

As you step into the shoes of the previous business owner, there’s a wealth of knowledge and information awaiting you – it can be hard to wrap your head around, and marketing might be the LAST thing on your mind.

However, it’s crucial to gain access to the right platforms, channels, and assets to make sure you are set up for success once the keys have been handed over. Far too often we see a new business owner without access to their own Facebook page, missing credentials for things like Yelp and Google My Business.

That’s why we’ve created this New Business Marketing Essentials Checklist, with everything you should ask the previous business owner for to ensure a successful transition:

New Business Marketing Essentials Checklist

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Logo & Brand Standards (be sure to get the logo as a VECTOR file!)

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ALL Brand-Owned Videos & Images (preferably in a folder like Google Drive)

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Website Admin Access

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Website Hosting Provider Logins (make sure to have this account transferred to you so you are the account owner)

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Website Domain Registrar Logins (make sure to have this domain transferred to you so you are the owner)

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Google Analytics Access (ask them to add you as an Owner/Admin, using any email you have that is tied to a Google Account - if you do not have one, you will want to make one even if it’s a free Gmail account)

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Google Tag Manager

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Google Search Console

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Bing Webmaster Tools

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Google Ads Access (same process as Google Analytics)

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Bing Ads Access

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Facebook (you will want to ensure you gain access to OWN the Business Owner Account if there is one, ensure you do not only get page access! You can also have the previous owner release the account from their Business Owner Account so you can add it to yours and make yourself the owner)

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Facebook Ads Manager

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Instagram Account Login

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LinkedIn Company Profile

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LinkedIn Company Ads Manager

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TikTok Account or Business Account

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Pinterest Account

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YouTube Channel

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Google My Business

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Bing Places for Business

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Email Marketing Login

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Yelp Login (note: you will have to gain access via biz.yelp.com which is their business platform)

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X (formerly Twitter)

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Other Directory Sites, such as: TripAdvisor, Angi, Houzz, Apple Maps, HomeAdvisor, etc. A good rule of thumb is to Google your business name or your ideal keywords (like “marketing agency near me” to see what other potential listing directories show up!)

Additionally, be sure to ask for any licenses regarding purchased photography, videography, and music.

Whether you’re a seasoned entrepreneur or new to the world of business ownership, navigating the acquisition process can be daunting. But armed with the right information and resources, you can set yourself up for success from the very beginning.

Learn more about how to gain access to most of these platforms on our Platform Onboarding Guide.