Startup Professionals Musings

DECEMBER 8, 2021

Engaging in social media and blogging on a regular basis is a low-cost way to achieve visibility, and become the “go-to” person for that topic and the voice that people trust in your industry. Keep up with the competition. Almost 40% of small businesses that sell on Facebook say it is their sole sales channel.

Social Media 142

Social Media Media Platform Customer 142

Xconomy

JUNE 24, 2020

The competition for Tetraphase Pharmaceuticals now has a new winner : La Jolla Pharmaceutical. San Diego-based La Jolla (NASDAQ: LJPC ) has pledged to pay Tetraphase shareholders $43 million in cash now plus another $16 million tied to sales goals for Tetraphase (NASDAQ: TTPH ) antibiotic eravacycline (Xerava).

San Diego 101

San Diego Competition Sales Develop 101

Xconomy

MAY 10, 2019

An April report from Evaluate Pharma predicted sales of orphan drugs to rise 12 percent a year between now and 2024, when they will account for an estimated 20 percent of worldwide prescription drug sales. The field has gotten so competitive that multiple products are on the market for some diseases.

Pricing 97

Pricing Sales Competition Report 97

Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 4, 2021

With PPC, the goal is for the search user to not only see your ad, but to click on it to get to your website (click-through), and buy your widget (conversion to sale). Both have the same end goal of getting people to your website. Campaign setup and ad copy writing. Tracking and performance reporting.

PPC 154

PPC SEO Paid Search Search Engine Optimization 154

Both Sides of the Table

MAY 13, 2018

The most important advice I could give you before you set out in fund raising mode is to understand that fund-raising a sales & marketing process and needs to be managed. Somehow many first-time founders equate “sales” with something that is beneath them. In sales there are also three rules: Qualify, qualify, qualify.

Venture Capital 332

Venture Capital Funding Startup Sales 332

Both Sides of the Table

JANUARY 26, 2010

You can always tell during this discussion whether the entrepreneur has logged into their products, talked to their customers, read all the news stories and gotten all of the back channel info on the competition. You can tell if they have a deep-seated competitive spirit. Can’t go a mile deep on competition?

Entrepreneur 286

Entrepreneur Startup CTO Hire Sales 286

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 19, 2019

A couple of years ago, I saw a classic primer on the key elements of great online content that I like, in “ Launch: How to Quickly Propel Your Business Beyond the Competition ,” by Michael Stelzner, founder of SocialMediaExaminer.com. Lacks a sales angle. They are a shortcut that can put you far ahead of your competition.

Customer 93

Customer Custom Marketing Tips 93

Both Sides of the Table

AUGUST 24, 2011

On this blog I’m often trying to combine lessons for entrepreneurs and market commentary. What matters is that this is a great team with two really hardworking founders that have always stayed positive about their competition. Yesterday it was my turn for the lesson. It’s my personality to do this. Congrats, GroupMe team.

Email 270

Email Writing Blogging Competition 270

Both Sides of the Table

MARCH 27, 2011

By definition, you read blogs. If you care about accessing customers, reaching an audience, communicating your vision, influencing people in your industry, marketing your services or just plain engaging in a dialog with others in your industry a blog is a great way to achieve this. People often ask me why I started blogging.

Blogging 373

Blogging Startup Writing Venture Capital 373

Startup Professionals Musings

NOVEMBER 11, 2019

There is still infinite room for new startup sales modes and models. Surdak emphasizes that the goal is to either mitigate some of the pressure caused by data growth or to put that pressure to work for you in growing your startup and remaining competitive: Focus: play to your strengths. Make strategic versus opportunistic decisions.

Technology 97

Technology Social Media Startup Entertainment 97

Both Sides of the Table

NOVEMBER 1, 2009

We spent time out in the marketplace talking with customers, looking at their solutions, comparing ourselves with our competition and then squirreling ourselves away in our offices designing our next set of features. Our sales guys were on the front line and heard what they needed to win deals. Tim started to change our processes.

Organization 280

Organization Customer Custom Tips 280

Startup Professionals Musings

MARCH 16, 2014

In fact, the average spent by Inc 500 companies for sales and marketing expense continues to hover around 10% of overall revenues. There are many more, but these should get you started: Create a professional website and blog. A blog is critical, and essentially free (your cost is creating content). Marty Zwilling.

Marketing 102

Marketing Funding Social Media SEM 102

Both Sides of the Table

NOVEMBER 28, 2010

Recently I wrote a blog post about how I hated losing, but I embrace it as a way to learn, improve and increase my win rates. It’s been more than 5 years and I still think about that sales campaign and get pissed off at how much I took for granted. In every sales campaign of any substance (e.g.

Organization 309

Organization Blogging Startup Sales 309

Both Sides of the Table

MAY 6, 2018

“I know that our repeat purchase rate is lower than the industry average now, but …” “I know that our margins are lower than VCs like to see, but …” “I know our revenue decelerated in the last 2 quarters of 2017, but …” Remember that fund raising is a sales process. What to do about that chip on your shoulder ? Remind me why I love you?

Funding 236

Funding Venture Capital Startup Entrepreneur 236

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 17, 2013

In fact, the average spent by Inc 500 companies for sales and marketing expense continues to hover around 10% of overall revenues. There are many more, but these should get you started: Create a professional website and blog. A blog is critical, and essentially free (your cost is creating content). Marty Zwilling.

Marketing 106

Marketing Startup Social Media SEM 106

Startup Professionals Musings

MARCH 2, 2019

Engaging in social media and blogging on a regular basis is a low-cost way to achieve visibility, and become the “go-to” person for that topic and the voice that people trust in your industry. Keep up with the competition. Almost 40% of small businesses that sell on Facebook say it is their sole sales channel.

Social Media 98

Social Media Platform Media Customer 98

Both Sides of the Table

SEPTEMBER 15, 2013

I agree with YouTube (that they provide more (hosting, ad sales, etc.) Of course it’s a competitive market so MCNs competing for top talent not only compete on rev share to talent but also to services that they provide talent. I will talk about these strategies in my next blog post. ” Don’t.

Networking 366

Networking Media Content Customer 366

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 5, 2013

It’s important to stand up to competition and wear your reputation on your sleeve. Accreditations, licenses, and certification – for your business or for individual employees – can set you apart from your competition. The challenge here is to generate more sales, while reducing expenses and tweaking costly administrative processes.

Entrepreneur 93

Entrepreneur Startup Outsource Development Sales 93

Both Sides of the Table

NOVEMBER 25, 2010

I believe that it is part of the DNA of an entrepreneur – being so competitive that you’re practically sick when you lose. They’re competitive. It’s one of my favorite blog posts. I later learned one of my biggest lesson in sales. They decided to re-open the competition for 3-4 more weeks.

Outsource Development 333

Outsource Development Software Review Technical Review News 333

Both Sides of the Table

FEBRUARY 20, 2017

They are tasked with “getting deals done” so they race around talking to tons of potential partners inking anything from channel sale deals , product integration, international distribution agreements, co-marketing arrangements, M&A discussions, etc. Here’s how it goes: You have a business development group with two people.

Activity 164

Activity Conference Press Case Study 164

Both Sides of the Table

NOVEMBER 25, 2010

I believe that it is part of the DNA of an entrepreneur – being so competitive that you’re practically sick when you lose. They’re competitive. It’s one of my favorite blog posts. I later learned one of my biggest lesson in sales. They decided to re-open the competition for 3-4 more weeks.

Outsource Development 328

Outsource Development Software Review Technical Review News 328

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 14, 2017

A couple of years ago, I saw a classic primer on the key elements of great online content that I like, in “ Launch: How to Quickly Propel Your Business Beyond the Competition ,” by Michael Stelzner, founder of SocialMediaExaminer.com. Lacks a sales angle. They are a shortcut that can put you far ahead of your competition.

Content 67

Content Marketing Newsletter Writing 67

Both Sides of the Table

JANUARY 4, 2014

But I would posit that in order to sustainably build great products in an intensely competitive industry with skills shortages – people management is one of the most critical soft skills organizations need. – while the other might want a quick sale and pocket some bucks while the tech market is hot.

Startup 340

Startup Technical Review Course Press 340

Both Sides of the Table

OCTOBER 26, 2014

It’s why in this article I advise that people “market today not futures” because you don’t want your playbook in the hands of the competition. And you need somebody who is committed to keeping up your presence in blogs, social media and other online forums. It’s OK to push out extra ones on your website or blog.

Press 319

Press Startup Writing Training 319

SoCal CTO

JUNE 9, 2010

Kathy Sierra at Business of Software 2009 - Business of Software Blog , May 4, 2010 "In the old days, getting customers was easy. Through advertising or direct sales, these sites harvest intent. 50 Ways to Expose Yourself to Randomness - Ben Casnocha: The Blog , May 16, 2010 Cal Newport's three step way to become interesting: 1.

Startup 248

Startup Venture Capital Conference Social Media 248

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 4, 2019

As an introvert myself, I remember worrying that I could never be comfortable giving a sales pitch, or networking to find clients. These days, by starting a blog or publishing on the Internet, you don’t have to be a social butterfly to get supporters and be recognized as an influencer.

Entrepreneur 104

Entrepreneur Mentor Activity Startup 104

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 26, 2014

A couple of years ago, I saw a modern-day primer on the key elements of great online content that I like in “ Launch: How to Quickly Propel Your Business Beyond the Competition ,” by Michael Stelzner, founder of SocialMediaExaminer.com. Lacks a sales angle. They are a shortcut that can put you far ahead of your competition.

Startup 103

Startup Content Newsletter Writing 103

Both Sides of the Table

JANUARY 13, 2011

I wrote the summary notes in this blog post. And did I really just try to drop an SAT word into my blog post? In reading the comments on Bijan’s blog and having discussed this so many times, I know some entrepreneurs only want to talk with VCs that think that Powerpoint causes leprosy. Mobile app? It’s subtle.

Venture Capital 299

Venture Capital Slides Technical Advisors Startup 299

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 6, 2012

It’s important to stand up to competition and wear your reputation on your sleeve. Accreditations, licenses, and certification – for your business or for individual employees – can set you apart from your competition. The challenge here is to generate more sales, while reducing expenses and tweaking costly administrative processes.

Startup 94

Startup Outsource Development Sales Social Media 94

Startup Professionals Musings

DECEMBER 17, 2013

For starters, here is my selection of some key metrics that every six-sigma joint like GE tracks without thinking, but that too many small businesses haven’t yet formalized: Sales revenue. Sales data needs to be correlated to advertising campaigns, price changes, seasonal forces, competitive actions, and other costs of sales.

Metrics 100

Metrics Technical Review Sales Customer 100

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 2, 2018

On the product side, once you have a proven product and business model, all you need is money to build inventory, and a sales and marketing operation to drive the business. With services, scaling the business often implies cloning yourself, since you are the intellectual property and the competitive advantage.

Services 72

Services Startup Training Writing 72

Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 13, 2015

None should be considered competitive mutually exclusive to any other. The big three, which have 90 percent of everything you need, include blogging (Wordpress or Blogger), microblogging (Twitter), and social networks (Facebook or LinkedIn). Traditional marketing is sales-focused, one-way push.

Social Media 108

Social Media Media Marketing Resource 108

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 4, 2015

Add a blog to give yourself a voice, show your expertise, but skip the sales pitch. Customers see what their peers are saying in blogs and product reviews, and how you respond to these, and this impacts their buy decision more than any advertisement. Create an integrated conventional marketing and social media strategy.

Social Media 108

Social Media Media Startup Tips 108

Tech Coast Venture Network

AUGUST 11, 2015

Public relations sets you apart from the competition. Coverage in important publications or on TV can ensure your organization stands out from the competition as a clear market leader. Public relations helps you attract future sales opportunities. Public relations builds third-party credibility.

Organization 100

Organization Social Media Competition News 100

Tech Coast Venture Network

AUGUST 11, 2015

Public relations sets you apart from the competition. Coverage in important publications or on TV can ensure your organization stands out from the competition as a clear market leader. Public relations helps you attract future sales opportunities. Public relations builds third-party credibility.

Organization 100

Organization Social Media Competition News 100

Both Sides of the Table

SEPTEMBER 28, 2014

I was reading Danielle Morrill’s blog post today on whether one’s “ Startup Burn Rate is Normal. Gross margin (GM) is the amount of profit you make per sale of your product or service taking into account your total costs of selling that product or service. ” I highly recommend reading it.

Startup 383

Startup Company Companies .Net 383

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 31, 2015

There is still infinite room for new startup sales modes and models. Surdak emphasizes that the goal is to either mitigate some of the pressure caused by data growth or to put that pressure to work for you in growing your startup and remaining competitive: Focus: play to your strengths. Make strategic versus opportunistic decisions.

Startup 106

Startup Social Media Entertainment Metrics 106