Startup Professionals Musings

DECEMBER 5, 2010

Publish a daily blog, contribute to relevant social networks, and write a “white paper” on your technology. Advertising presence. The presence of a few related advertisements can actually improve your site credibility, since most credible sites have them. These are all minimal-cost survival marketing efforts.

Tips 92

Tips Search Engine Optimization Startup Advertising 92

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 31, 2014

The alternatives range from giving it away for free, to pricing based on costs, to charging what the market will bear (premium pricing). Here is a summary, with some of the pros and cons or special considerations for each: Product or service is free, revenue from ads. Freemium model. Subscription model. Product line pricing.

Startup 114

Startup Pricing Customer Custom 114

Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 15, 2011

Do basic Search Engine Optimization (SEO) and Marketing (SEM) yourself. Sales and marketing costs. Print your own collateral and marketing materials until the business is rolling. Use the Internet and social networking instead of public relations companies and advertising agencies.

Entrepreneur 94

Entrepreneur Startup Search Engine Optimization SEM 94

Startup Professionals Musings

MARCH 17, 2017

I found a good summary of these attributes in a recent book, “ The Old School Advantage ,” by an expert on interpersonal communication, J. Facebook initially capitalized on exclusivity by allowing only Harvard students to join their social network. You are your own brand, and the brand for your business.

Social Media 58

Social Media Customer Custom Entrepreneur 58

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 23, 2013

The alternatives range from giving it away for free, to pricing based on costs, to charging what the market will bear (premium pricing). Here is a summary, with some of the pros and cons or special considerations for each: Product or service is free, revenue from ads. Freemium” model. Subscription model. Product line pricing.

Pricing 116

Pricing Product Customer Custom 116

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 21, 2012

The alternatives range from giving it away for free (like Twitter), to pricing based on costs, to charging what the market will bear (premium pricing). Here is a summary, with some of the pros and cons or special considerations for each: Product or service is free, revenue from ads and critical mass. Freemium” model. Portfolio pricing.

Pricing 112

Pricing Competition Customer Custom 112

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 13, 2012

Industry & market sizing. Start with the evolution of the overall industry, market segmentation, market dynamics, and customer landscape. Data from accredited market research groups like Forrester or Gartner is required for credibility. Avoid any statements like “All we have to do is get 1% of the market.”

Competition 113

Competition Metrics Startup Invest 113

Startup Professionals Musings

DECEMBER 26, 2010

The alternatives range from giving it away for free (like Twitter), to pricing based on costs, to charging what the market will bear (premium pricing). Here is a summary, with some of the pros and cons or special considerations for each: Product or service is free, revenue from ads and critical mass. Freemium” model. Portfolio pricing.

Pricing 98

Pricing Product Startup Competition 98

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 13, 2011

Industry & market sizing. Start with the evolution of the overall industry, market segmentation, market dynamics, and customer landscape. Data from accredited market research groups like Forrester or Gartner is required for credibility. Avoid any statements like “All we have to do is get 1% of the market.”

Competition 116

Competition Metrics Startup Sales 116

Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 13, 2010

Do basic Search Engine Optimization (SEO) and Marketing (SEM) yourself. Sales and marketing costs. Print your own collateral and marketing materials until the business is rolling. Use the Internet and social networking instead of public relations companies and advertising agencies.

Startup 50

Startup High Tech Search Engine Optimization SEM 50

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 22, 2010

Industry & market sizing. Start with the evolution of the overall industry, market segmentation, market dynamics, and customer landscape. Data from accredited market research groups like Forrester or Gartner is required for credibility. Avoid any statements like “All we have to do is get 1% of the market.”

Invest 74

Invest Tips Competition Metrics 74

Both Sides of the Table

AUGUST 9, 2011

I spent my days meeting companies, figuring out what areas of the market interested me and trying to get a sense for how VCs thought about fair valuations. I started showing my partners more deals that I found interesting and doing loads of analysis on the future of markets I thought were ripe for disruption. The market had tanked.

Marketing 305

Marketing Venture Capital Funding Technical Review 305

Both Sides of the Table

DECEMBER 22, 2011

It’s true that I have a functional focus on three areas: Performance-based marketing, digital television and mobile computing. If you’re a startup and you haven’t read my summary of Clay Christensen’s seminal work please do. Often it turns out that the market is greatly expanded by having a lower price point new entrant.

Startup 386

Startup Pricing Marketing Product 386