Both Sides of the Table

SEPTEMBER 15, 2013

For much of 2013 I watched the press write articles about how the YouTube “MCNs” (multi-channel networks) were doomed and tried to square that with the data I was watching at the one I invested in, Maker Studios, who has had one hell of a year. I agree with YouTube (that they provide more (hosting, ad sales, etc.)

Networking 366

Networking Media Content Custom 366

socalTECH

MAY 16, 2019

For our interview this morning, we caught up with Isaac Garcia , a serial entrepreneur who previously founded and sold his last company, Central Desktop, and now is working on a new startup, Sales Insider. What is Sales Insider? Isaac Garcia: Sales Insider is a talent marketplace for hiring software sales reps.

Sales 133

Sales Startup Software Marketing 133

Both Sides of the Table

FEBRUARY 16, 2015

recently wrote a post talking about how some VCs meddle in operating company decisions or some executive teams are too reliant on VCs to jump in and make hard calls for them. At times I wanted the engineering team to produce features to support our sales efforts to I occasionally leaned on them a bit. I did this. ” PR.

Startup 150

Startup Sales CTO Coach Course 150

Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 3, 2020

Today’s customers are much more in control of their buying decision, as they have more choices and more information than ever before. Bloom’s classic book, “ The New Experts: Win Today's Newly Empowered Customers.” This is a key moment where your customer acquisition costs go way down, and your profits go way up.

Custom 124

Custom Customer Startup Course 124

Both Sides of the Table

JANUARY 19, 2015

We have made 5 online video investments in total – some we will talk about later this year. Best is if you have a combination of ad revenue, sponsorships and some forms of non ad revenue (subscriptions, merch, music sales, etc.). I’ve written about that, too. But think of this. But think of this.

SEM 150

SEM Content Platform Acquisition 150

Berkonomics

FEBRUARY 9, 2023

Offering too little in an acquisition to satisfy the seller? Satisfy the seller’s need to claim a higher sales price victory by moving a substantial part of the price into a future earn–out or using the target company’s own cash to pay part of the price, or asking the seller to finance a significant piece of the sale.

Pricing 156

Pricing Sales Examples Tool 156

socalTECH

AUGUST 8, 2016

Tell our readers who haven't heard of Wpromote, what your business is all about? Mike Mothner: The business today, is we are a digital agency focused on customer acquisition and growth for businesses of all types. If it's a digital channel, and there are customers to connect with, we are looking to help those companies grow.

Acquisition 100

Acquisition Paid Search El Segundo SEO 100

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 21, 2023

Whether we are talking about startups or corporations, innovation requires a leader who can inspire others to step into the unknown. It starts with a vision, but benefits quickly from a structured process of idea generation, evaluation, prototyping, customer feedback, and success metrics. Followers and linear thinkers need not apply.

Coach 137

Coach Metrics Competition Ideas 137

Startup Professionals Musings

DECEMBER 17, 2022

I’m not talking here about a small pivot. I’m talking about the kind of change that moved Apple from personal computers to music distribution to consumer electronics, and Amazon from books to e-Commerce to cloud computing services. The first customers are early adopters who are the least price-sensitive.

Startup 106

Startup Pricing Cloud Computing Custom 106

TechCrunch LA

SEPTEMBER 13, 2021

The latest investment is being used to finance the acquisition of another company in the space — Appetize, a digital and mobile commerce payments platform for enterprises such as sports and entertainment venues, theme parks and zoos. The acquisition of Appetize extends SpotOn’s reach to the enterprise space in a major way.

Technical Review 296

Technical Review Software Review Invest Acquisition 296

InfoChachkie

SEPTEMBER 20, 2016

However, savvy startups can leverage LinkedIn to create a customer acquisition and a churn reduction tool. Not knowing about a paper they have published, a talk they have given, or a job change they’ve made is just laziness. However, in some cases, especially with its larger customers, the company displaces a competitor.

Custom 100

Custom Customer Software Review Technical Review 100

socalTECH

OCTOBER 2, 2012

We thought it might be interesting to talk with one of the fund's managing directors, Jeb Spencer about the fund's success in technology investments, plus how it managed to raise another fund in this kind of environment, plus its unique goal of getting companies to an acquisition--and not an IPO.

Acquisition 168

Acquisition Software Review Technical Review Equity 168

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 11, 2022

The canvas is a visual chart with elements describing your value proposition, structure, finances, and customers, to help companies identify and align business activities. I look for evidence of the nine major elements of the model canvas, as paraphrased here from the author’s key points and how they apply to teams: Customer segments.

Funding 133

Funding Activity Custom Customer 133

Berkonomics

NOVEMBER 24, 2022

Well, even though that acquisition is still playing itself out on the field of battle, it appears quite clear that the new parent has directed its new subsidiary to abandon the lower end of the market and focus upon the larger sales, corporate customers, and major brands. Been skewered for slow customer service?

Resource 156

Resource Competition Examples Custom 156

Startup Professionals Musings

DECEMBER 18, 2015

Image via Pixabay Making more sales quickly today is no longer about selling. It’s all about getting customers to make a buy decision. They don’t want to be pushed into a sale, but they love to be pulled in by what is important to them. Get the view from the customer early by talking to real people.

Custom 65

Custom Customer Sales Social Media 65

Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 30, 2020

Every aspiring entrepreneur I know is talking about the fact that there are over 2,000 billionaires in the world today, and how their innovative idea could make them one of the next ones. I suggest looking for painful problems to solve, rather than “easier to use” or “nice to have” solutions, for customers with money.

Outsource Development 154

Outsource Development Social Media Software Review Custom 154

Both Sides of the Table

APRIL 26, 2016

There has been a lot of public debate over the past several weeks about whether it’s a good thing to be “gross margin positive” or not and commentary always reminds me that some people at startups don’t quite understand financial metrics or even how to think about which ones are healthy. Gross margin positive != End of story.

Metrics 150

Metrics Startup SaaS Course 150

TechCrunch LA

OCTOBER 5, 2020

“The only success criteria of my startup career is whether GrubMarket can eventually make $100 billion of annual sales,” he said to me over both email and in a phone conversation. ” I don’t doubt that he means it. ” I don’t doubt that he means it. He also is focused and relentless in his work ethic.

Technical Review 343

Technical Review Startup Marketing San Diego 343

Both Sides of the Table

NOVEMBER 16, 2014

But if you level up , raise capital and grow customers, revenue and staff – life changes. Eventually you need a VP of Product to handle your product roadmap, a CTO for engineering leadership and VPs of sales, marketing & biz dev. Adjudication is about resolving intractable disputes. Do you hire more sales people?

Entrepreneur 385

Entrepreneur CTO Hire Startup Sales 385

Berkonomics

JUNE 4, 2015

When I hear a company pitch a business model which I believe has the potential to acquire a customer once, and keep the customer paying for a multi-year period without further marketing expense, my ears perk up. There are so many things to love about a company with this kind of subscription model.

Acquisition 120

Acquisition Custom Customer SaaS 120

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 19, 2014

Today’s customers are much more in control of their buying decision, as they have more choices and more information than ever before. Bloom’s recent book, “ The New Experts: Win Today''s Newly Empowered Customers.” This is a key moment where your customer acquisition costs go way down, and your profits go way up.

Custom 98

Custom Customer Entrepreneur Startup 98

Both Sides of the Table

OCTOBER 25, 2014

I have written many times about PR so if you want a deep dive on the “how” of PR you may enjoy reading some of these posts. It is possible, of course, to recruit great people as an underground startup but it is 10x easier when qualified candidates whom you may not even know read about your company and are excited by your vision.

Press 415

Press Google Course Writing 415

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 29, 2022

In my experience, there will always be growth challenges that you can’t predict, including new technologies, economic downturns, and political changes, but I’m talking here about changes in the market that every good business leader should anticipate, including the following: Your targeted customer segment has a limit.

Marketing 110

Marketing Pricing Startup Custom 110

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 30, 2015

Today’s customers are much more in control of their buying decision, as they have more choices and more information than ever before. Bloom’s classic book, “ The New Experts: Win Today's Newly Empowered Customers.” This is a key moment where your customer acquisition costs go way down, and your profits go way up.

Custom 101

Custom Customer Startup Course 101

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 6, 2021

Every new business I know dreams of building momentum in their business, where growth continues to increase, customers become your best advocates, and employee motivation is high. Unfortunately, with limited resources, this isn’t possible, and it frustrates customers and the team. Focus first on finding more of the right customers.

Technical Review 160

Technical Review Technical Advisors Startup Mentor 160

Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 17, 2013

Every startup lucky enough to get some traction gets to the point where they decide to hire some “regular employees” for sales, marketing, and administrative tasks. It’s what every customer looks for in every transaction. Employees will care only about work they create.” Sales will be the organization’s sole focus.”

Entrepreneur 97

Entrepreneur Training Sales Technical Review 97

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 23, 2022

Every startup lucky enough to get some traction gets to the point where they decide to hire some “regular employees” for sales, marketing, and administrative tasks. It’s what every customer looks for in every transaction. Employees will care only about work they create.” Sales will be the organization’s sole focus.”

Startup 134

Startup Training Sales Entrepreneur 134

Startup Professionals Musings

MARCH 20, 2020

I’m not talking here about a small pivot. I’m talking about the kind of change that moved Apple from personal computers to music distribution to consumer electronics, and Amazon from books to e-Commerce to cloud computing services. The first customers are early adopters who are the least price-sensitive.

Pricing 123

Pricing Cloud Computing Custom Customer 123

Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 18, 2023

Her focus is a bit more on mature companies, but I believe the following eight steps, paraphrased from hers, are especially applicable to every startup and the entrepreneurs who create them: Think about the end game as you start. Mature your business processes and customer base. Listen carefully and act accordingly.

Startup 99

Startup Entrepreneur Metrics Acquisition 99

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 25, 2020

Whether we are talking about startups or corporations, innovation requires a leader who can inspire others to step into the unknown. It starts with a vision, but benefits quickly from a structured process of idea generation, evaluation, prototyping, customer feedback, and success metrics. Followers and linear thinkers need not apply.

Coach 144

Coach Metrics Social Network Competition 144

Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 5, 2020

Let me be a bit more specific on how follow-up trumps ideas for success in the key challenges of a startup, or any small business: Networking with investors, partners, and customers. Meeting people and talking about your ideas won’t get you very far. Managing marketing metrics and the sales pipeline.

Ideas 122

Ideas Entrepreneur Startup IBM 122

Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 12, 2018

Today’s customers are much more in control of their buying decision, as they have more choices and more information than ever before. Bloom’s classic book, “ The New Experts: Win Today's Newly Empowered Customers.” This is a key moment where your customer acquisition costs go way down, and your profits go way up.

Custom 52

Custom Customer Startup Course 52

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 11, 2021

One or more of the following parameters are viewed by most investors as traction indicators, but good entrepreneurs are often creative and define their own to supplement these: Start with sales to-date for a priced offering. As an investor, I would like to see one month of sales, and see how that compares to your projections.

Startup 121

Startup Metrics Custom Customer 121

Tech.Co

MAY 6, 2022

Ecommerce company Shopify supports small businesses with technology like ecommerce website builders and retail Point of Sale systems. Now, it's dramatically expanding capacity in another area, fulfillment, with the acquisition of Deliverr. It's the biggest acquisition in Shopify's history. Shopify is paying $2.1 newsletter.

Networking 123

Networking Press Newsletter Startup 123

InfoChachkie

DECEMBER 2, 2009

As noted in Pour and Stir Part I , the key to the successful execution of this strategy is managing the following equation: The cost to acquire a customer < lifetime value of a customer. Decreasing Your Customer Acquisition Costs. Unattributed – There is no such thing as organic customers.

Custom 164

Custom Customer Advertising SEM 164

Both Sides of the Table

APRIL 4, 2011

4 times / 100 means if a customer uses your app frequently (say 10-20 times / day) then they are crashing nearly every day. And if you’re not meeting as a team to discuss these metrics and have a regular debate about how you’re doing and what needs to change then I can assure you that you’ll never reach your destination.

Metrics 346

Metrics Startup SEO Custom 346

TechCrunch LA

SEPTEMBER 13, 2021

When people talk about “online food delivery” services, chances are that they’ll think of the Uber Eats, Instacarts and Getirs of this world. “We are still the first mover in this space,” Xu said when I asked him in an interview about rivals. It is currently is the company’s biggest customer.).

Startup 249

Startup Platform Software Los Angeles 249