Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 1, 2023

Having the best solution is a good start these days, but a solution alone is no longer enough to keep customer attention and loyalty. I remember the classic book, “ Driven to Delight ,” by Joseph A. Your competition is global, so today’s customers are demanding world-class service. Then let them apply their own input.

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Customer Custom Startup Competition 106

socalTECH

AUGUST 17, 2010

San Luis Obispo-based MINDBODY , a developer of software-as-a-service for the yoga, pilates, wellness, and spa market, said today that wellness businesses are signing up for its MINDBODY Finder product, technology which allows consumers to book and pay for fitness classes and wellness appointments online.

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Customer Custom Tech Coast Angels Technology 223

socalTECH

SEPTEMBER 15, 2015

San Diego-based HouseCall , which develops mobile software to let consumers book home services appointments, along with offering up home services contractors with scheduling and related tools, has raised $6M in a funding round. The company disclosed the funding on Tuesday, saying that August Capital led the funding.

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Mobile Services Software San Diego 100

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 15, 2023

Entrepreneurs have always believed that their product or service must show real value to customers, but today the smart ones are even able to make their marketing valuable. Now customers seek out people who are willing and able to add value, with expertise and insight, even before they have a product. The key is consistency.

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Content Customer Custom Marketing 104

Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 30, 2022

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.” Great startups manage to continually improve the relationship through outstanding follow-on support and service.

Customer 146

Customer Custom Startup Course 146

socalTECH

AUGUST 19, 2014

Flywheel , the venture backed startup offering up an Uber-like experience for users--except via licensed taxi and transportation services--is rolling out advanced booking to Los Angeles users this week. According to Flywheel, the new service lets customers pre-book a ride to the airport, via either its iOS or Android apps.

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Los Angeles Services Customer Custom 200

Startup Professionals Musings

DECEMBER 23, 2020

Today’s customers demand more than a good product; they expect a great customer experience. A few companies are leading the way, including Apple with their iPad and iPhone, offering irresistible stores with friendly experts, elegant packaging, and customer service that never ends.

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Customer Custom Design Product 150

Startup Professionals Musings

DECEMBER 22, 2021

As I talk to many of you in my role as business advisor, I still often hear the concern for maximum return to the business and stakeholders, more than a passion for sustainably enriching the lives of your customers and team. This applies to your own team, as well as customers. Make every customer experience memorable.

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Customer Custom Satisfaction Metrics 114

TechCrunch LA

JULY 9, 2019

Doctours , a Los Angeles-based online platform for booking trips and treatments for medical and dental care around the world, is expanding its services to 35 countries. The company also offers specialized medical tourism insurance to all of its customers, according to O’Shaughnessy.

Customer 225

Customer Custom Training Los Angeles 225

Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 4, 2023

Businesses see this as the Holy Grail for finally being able to predict who, where, and when customers will buy their existing solutions, and what their future solutions must look like to be attractive. I found some help in this regard from a classic book, “ Humanizing Big Data ,” by leading consumer researcher Colin Strong.

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Customer Custom Social Media Research 115

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 16, 2020

For decades, efforts to satisfy customers have been built around demographics – capitalizing on race, ethnicity, gender, income, and other attributes. Customer personalities define customer experience, and sets what they love, and what they hate. There is no one set of exceptional experiences that will work for all customers.

Customer 158

Customer Custom Social Media Satisfaction 158

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 2, 2022

Many entrepreneurs think that adapting to the new technologies, like smart phones and Internet commerce, are the key to attracting new customers. High-technology product startups, without customers, don’t make a business. Solis outlines the heuristics of social psychology that are key to building positive customer experiences today.

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Customer Custom Social Media Technical Review 122

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 22, 2021

Every business I know is intimately familiar with outbound marketing, or pushing your message out to customers through email, newspaper, and television advertising. Only a few really understand the process and value of inbound marketing, for pulling customers to your brand. Don’t just monitor – engage customers.

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Customer Custom Marketing Social Media 172

Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 17, 2020

Selling services has always been about relationships, but the challenges of building relationships with services clients have exploded. In addition, as every business becomes instantly global via the Internet, it’s virtually impossible for you to touch every customer personally. Relationships are a function of customer culture.

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Services Social Media Technical Review Media 128

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 22, 2020

Entrepreneurs have always believed that their product or service must show real value to customers, but today the smart ones are even able to make their marketing valuable. Now customers seek out people who are willing and able to add value, with expertise and insight, even before they have a product. The key is consistency.

Customer 127

Customer Custom Marketing Content 127

socalTECH

DECEMBER 20, 2018

According to AvanStay, it will use the funding for accelerating expansion of its service. The company says its service only features "hand-selected" properties, which include such amenities as in-home games and personalized recommendations. The startup currently has around 60 vacation properties with a total of 300 rooms.

Los Angeles 113

Los Angeles Capital Sites Services 113

Both Sides of the Table

DECEMBER 7, 2014

I spend a lot of time with startups and thus hear many companies talk about their approach to sales and their interactions with customers. From these meetings you can really tell the leaders that care deeply about their customers and those the look down on them. You’d be very wrong. Contrast that with a VC conversation I had.

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Customer Custom Venture Capital Software Review 341

Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 24, 2023

Customers buy from people, not companies. That means relationships with team members, investors, customers, and vendors. One of my favorite authors, Brian Tracy, in his classic book “ No Excuses!: Think back on your own recent experiences as a customer or contractor. Investors invest in people, not ideas.

Customer 90

Customer Custom Outsource Development Entrepreneur 90

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 28, 2017

With the advent of the Internet, social media, and instant communication via texting, customer expectations for service, as part of their entire customer experience, have changed. They expect you to be there, to know their history as a customer, and to treat them with priority and respect.

Customer 57

Customer Custom Services Social Media 57

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.” Great startups manage to continually improve the relationship through outstanding follow-on support and service.

Customer 124

Customer Custom Startup Course 124

socalTECH

JUNE 6, 2013

ClubLocal , the home services booking company which is owned by ReachLocal, said today tha tit has launched its services in the Bay Area. As part of the launch into the Bay Area, ClubLocal said its first 1,000 customers will get $100 in free home services to try out the new service. READ MORE>>.

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ReachLocal Services Mobile Screening 178

socalTECH

FEBRUARY 26, 2013

Woodland Hills-based ReachLocal said today that it has launched three, brand new services today, including a new website focused on the booking of home services. ReachSite helps provide search engine optimization, content optimization, and lead capture for companies, to help companies convert visitors into customers.

ReachLocal 178

ReachLocal Woodland Hills Search Engine Optimization Services 178

socalTECH

DECEMBER 7, 2015

Los Angeles-based VolJet (www.voljet.com) is looking to solve that puzzle, with its online system for booking charter jets, just as you would a commercial flight. Susan Sloan: It's very similar to a commercial, online booking system, like Expedia.com. You can also get commercial results for commercial bookings. What is VolJet?

Pricing 100

Pricing Sites Services Customer 100

Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 6, 2012

Customer service has always been reactionary, meaning someone to wake up and answer website email requests. That’s just not sufficient to hold today’s fickle, less loyal, and ready to jump customer. Self-service technologies, social media, and smart phones have created a new set of expectations for high-tech consumers today.

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Customer Custom Services Startup 97

socalTECH

APRIL 21, 2015

Los Angeles-based venture investor Upfront Ventures has lead another round in San Francisco-based online appointment booking site MyTime , as parto f a $9.25M Series B. Upfront Ventures led an earlier round for MyTime, which had originally only offered its service in Los Angeles. READ MORE>>.

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Sites Tool Venture Capital Los Angeles 100

Berkonomics

NOVEMBER 19, 2015

Customer empowerment is moving so fast nowadays that many of us are running to just catch up. Blame the Internet for this rise in customer expectations. But don’t close your eyes to the fact that your customers have grown to expect your products or services in the form of…. WHAT I want, WHEN I want, and WHERE I want.’.

Customer 120

Customer Custom Demand Email 120

Startup Professionals Musings

NOVEMBER 17, 2018

For decades, efforts to satisfy customers have been built around demographics – capitalizing on race, ethnicity, gender, income, and other attributes. Customer personalities define customer experience, and sets what they love, and what they hate. There is no one set of exceptional experiences that will work for all customers.

Customer 100

Customer Custom Social Media Training 100

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 20, 2020

Contrary to popular opinion, viral marketing has not eliminated the need for old-fashioned lead generation to bring customers to a startup. Scott, published a classic book that I recommend, ” The New Rules of Lead Generation ,” highlighting the changes wrought by the internet and social media. One of these experts, David T.

Customer 146

Customer Custom Marketing Startup 146

Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 21, 2013

Most leaders agree that poor customer service is a business killer today, in terms of lost customers, reduced profits, and low morale. Yet the average perception of customer experience continues to decline. You have to start with hiring only people who are willing and able to make serious customer service happen.

Customer 92

Customer Custom Startup Services 92

Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 11, 2023

For decades, efforts to satisfy customers have been built around demographics – capitalizing on race, ethnicity, gender, income, and other attributes. Customer personalities define customer experience, and sets what they love, and what they hate. There is no one set of exceptional experiences that will work for all customers.

Customer 131

Customer Custom Social Media Training 131

Startup Professionals Musings

MARCH 4, 2019

Is your marketing focus product-centric or customer-centric ? With a wealth of products now available, customers look for the most memorable experience , not just the best product. Amazon is very customer-centric, but it can make all the difference in retail as well as online. Status factors are more important than demographics.

Customer 85

Customer Custom Product Metrics 85

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 15, 2013

Customer service has always been reactionary, meaning someone has to wake up and answer website email requests. That’s just not savvy enough to hold today’s fickle, less loyal, and ready to jump customer. This exemplary customer service is just savvy marketing. Self-service needs to have escape hatches.

Customer 89

Customer Custom Services High Tech 89

socalTECH

JUNE 10, 2009

Santa Monica-based Cornerstone OnDemand , which develops software-as-a-service for managing employee learning and other human resources functions, announced today that it had its best, first quarter results in the firm's history. million users using its services in March, which it said was a 250 percent jump from 2008. READ MORE>>.

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Cornerstone OnDemand Customer Custom Santa Monica 100

TechCrunch LA

NOVEMBER 23, 2020

Founded four years ago by Matt Danna and Sean Stavropoulos, Boulevard was inspired by Stavropoulos’ inability to book a haircut and Danna’s hunch that the inability of salons and spas to cater to customers like the busy programmer could be indicative of a bigger problem. billion transaction by Vista Equity Partners.

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Software Beverly Hills Los Angeles Equity 323

Startup Professionals Musings

DECEMBER 15, 2017

Have you ever noticed that some of your business owner friends get all the bad customers, and yours all seem fairly reasonable? I’m always amazed that, in my role as a business advisor, bad customers somehow seem to gang up on certain businesses. Unwilling or too cheap to spend for good service. Or is it the other way around?

Customer 89

Customer Custom Demand Pricing 89

TechCrunch LA

SEPTEMBER 21, 2019

Founder and chief executive officer David Sunde tells TechCrunch a ride on Landline is booked through its partner airline Sun Country Airlines. Postmates, the popular food delivery service, raised another $225 million at a valuation of $2.4 HappyOrNot nabs $25M for its customer satisfaction terminals .

Services 207

Services Startup Venture Capital Redpoint 207

socalTECH

AUGUST 13, 2015

for an on-demand, massage service, the company said this week. Soothe currently lets customers in the Los Angeles and a few other areas book a massage from a network of independent massage therapists. Los Angeles-based Soothe has raised $10.6M The funding was led by The Riverside Company. The startup is led by Merlin Kauffman.

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