Startup Professionals Musings

DECEMBER 13, 2019

It’s always tempting to think that more product variations will satisfy more customers and lead to new sales. Some chaos is normal in every new business, but many wait far too long before they install metrics based on “best practices,” and fail to attack obvious bottlenecks with a vengeance. Use multiple small orders at first.

Outsource Development 122

Outsource Development Outsource Metrics Technical Review 122

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 1, 2021

You continually get frustrated with your team members, customers, vendors, and partners. You have tried all the popular initiatives and quick-fix remedies, including social media, search engine optimization, and content marketing. Each must be documented clearly and refined regularly. It’s very frustrating.

Entrepreneur 174

Entrepreneur Search Engine Optimization Satisfaction Social Media 174

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 1, 2019

Don’t get me wrong, it’s always great to see that first surge of customers, but that’s just the beginning of your work. With the real data from that surge, you need to take a hard look at business model realities, cost of customer acquisition, inventory costs, and other key metrics.

Metrics 86

Metrics Startup Training Customer 86

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 25, 2011

But the reality is that sellers are no longer in charge of the customer buying process. Kristin Zhivago, in her new book “ Roadmap to Revenue ,” makes the point that the selling system is broken, since sellers no longer sell the way customers are buying. The best way to do this is with real customer interviews.

Customer 96

Customer Custom Search Engine Optimization Summary 96

Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 8, 2018

As a long-time advisor to entrepreneurs and business owners, I rarely find someone who doesn’t proclaim that the business world is changing rapidly, with new technology, new customer expectations, and new cultures. Others still routinely have phone hold queues for customer contact that can last up to an hour, with no alternative options.

Technical Review 84

Technical Review Customer Custom Startup 84

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 3, 2018

And we all know Facebook didn’t invent social media. Certainly I’m not recommending just one more Facebook, with a couple of features from Twitter, since social media has an unlimited potential for innovation. Market research can thus be based on real customers and a previously tested market. Martin Zwilling.

Startup 65

Startup Social Media Study Research 65

Startup Professionals Musings

DECEMBER 14, 2013

But the reality is that sellers are no longer in charge of the customer buying process. Kristin Zhivago, in her book “ Roadmap to Revenue ,” makes the point that the selling system is broken, since sellers no longer sell the way customers are buying. The best way to do this is with real customer interviews.

Startup 105

Startup Search Engine Optimization Summary Customer 105

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 7, 2017

But the reality is that sellers are no longer in charge of the customer buying process. Kristin Zhivago, in her classic book “ Roadmap to Revenue ,” makes the point that the selling system is broken, since sellers no longer sell the way customers are buying. The best way to do this is with real customer interviews.

Search Engine Optimization 58

Search Engine Optimization Startup SEO Customer 58

Startup Professionals Musings

NOVEMBER 4, 2019

In my experience, the key steps I look for always include the following: Testing the idea against customers who have money to spend. I suggest you use social media, blogging, crowdfunding, or documented research to quantify a real demand from people who can afford it, and don’t have a better alternative already out there.

Ideas 94

Ideas Slides Technical Review Patents 94

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 26, 2018

The intent is to indicate that founder passion is not a substitute for real customers buying the product. The challenge is to convince investors that your business will attract real customers, before you have a revenue stream that exceeds your expenses. Pivoting early, based on real customer feedback, is always cheaper than later.

Customer 59

Customer Custom Pricing Startup 59

Startup Professionals Musings

NOVEMBER 3, 2012

But the reality is that sellers are no longer in charge of the customer buying process. Kristin Zhivago, in her book “ Roadmap to Revenue ,” makes the point that the selling system is broken, since sellers no longer sell the way customers are buying. The best way to do this is with real customer interviews.

Tips 93

Tips Search Engine Optimization Summary Startup 93

SoCal CTO

APRIL 8, 2010

Death By Competitive Analysis - Steve Blank , March 1, 2010 Trading emails with a startup CEO building an iPhone app, I asked him why potential customers would buy his product. How do the sample Series Seed financing documents differ from typical Series A financing documents? In response he sent me a competitive analysis.

Startup 150

Startup Software Review Competition SoCal 150

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 4, 2016

The days of lengthy, text-heavy, business plan documents prepared by expensive experts are behind us. Building a minimum viable product, with customer validation. Establishing your brand with interactive social media. The cost of social media done well is low. Just make sure you can fill in all the details.

Startup 61

Startup Social Media News Tool 61

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 30, 2014

Certainly, I’m not recommending just one more Facebook, with a couple of features from Twitter, since social media has an unlimited potential for innovation. Market research can thus be based on real customers and a previously tested market. Timing is critical, as well as a focus on marketing and customer satisfaction.

Technology 103

Technology Entrepreneur Study Research 103

Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 3, 2015

You continually get frustrated with your team members, customers, vendors, and partners. You have tried all the popular initiatives and quick-fix remedies, including social media, search engine optimization, and content marketing. Each must be documented clearly and refined regularly. It’s very frustrating.

Entrepreneur 111

Entrepreneur Search Engine Optimization Satisfaction Social Media 111

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 19, 2016

For example, early social media startup Friendster was so enamored with their early acceptance that they turned down a $30 million offer from Google, then quickly ran into money woes and tough competition. As the business grows, it pays to learn how to use automated financial tools, and review the key financial metrics daily.

Startup 57

Startup Training Entrepreneur Customer 57

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 21, 2016

Certainly I’m not recommending just one more Facebook, with a couple of features from Twitter, since social media has an unlimited potential for innovation. Market research can thus be based on real customers and a previously tested market. Timing is critical, as well as focus on marketing and customer satisfaction.

Technology 57

Technology Startup Study Research 57

socalTECH

JUNE 25, 2012

How do you sort through all that social media activity you are driving, and figure out who really cares about what you're posting? Mark Sylvester sat down with us to talk about the new project, and how it's applying what they've learned building their visual analysis tools to the world of Facebook and social media.

Social Media 203

Social Media Startup Tool LAMP 203

Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 4, 2016

You continually get frustrated with your team members, customers, vendors, and partners. You have tried all the popular initiatives and quick-fix remedies, including social media, search engine optimization, and content marketing. Each must be documented clearly and refined regularly. It’s very frustrating.

Search Engine Optimization 55

Search Engine Optimization Satisfaction Entrepreneur Social Media 55