Both Sides of the Table

OCTOBER 12, 2010

A while back I wrote a bunch of posts on Sales & Marketing and have been meaning to get back to that theme for a while. Even if you don’t have “direct&# sales I would tell you that “everything is a sale&# including fund raising, hiring, getting press and doing business development. You learn by asking.

Sales 346

Sales Startup Technical Review Customer 346

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. According to ReachLocal, it has launched three new products, ReachSite , ReachConvert , and ReachCommerce.

ReachLocal 178

ReachLocal Woodland Hills Search Engine Optimization Services 178

Berkonomics

OCTOBER 5, 2023

Since this number is budgeted and pre-authorized, managers tend to focus upon other things such as sales, marketing and product development issues. There is an art to efficient management of a process, whether that is the process of bringing a product to market from R&D to production or developing a new product’s launch program.

Venture Capital 296

Venture Capital Product Marketing Resource 296

Both Sides of the Table

FEBRUARY 3, 2010

I’d like to talk about Crocodile Salesmen in 3 scenarios: 1) when YOU are selling (or someone on your team), 2) when you are trying to recruit a sales person. But how to apply “listening&# in a sales meeting? Beware of Crocodile Sales. They are seldom productive. I still do this sometimes, too.

Sales 314

Sales Startup Venture Capital Customer 314

Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 4, 2021

Does your business have a visible positive strategy, or do your customers and employees still see your primary focus as closing more sales and killing competitors? I just remember the classic book, “ The Strategic Leader’s Roadmap ,” by Harbir Singh and Michael Useem from the Wharton School, which provides some specific steps along the way.

Competition 110

Competition Sales Customer Custom 110

socalTECH

SEPTEMBER 15, 2015

Los Angeles-based e-commerce retailer Newegg said this morning that it is expanding its lineup of products, and has expanded into textbook sales for high school and college students. Newegg said that the effort is one of the elements of an effort by the company to broaden its product portfolio.

NewEgg 100

NewEgg Sales Commerce Los Angeles 100

InfoChachkie

JUNE 3, 2013

John Lusk, along with his Co-Author Kyle Harrison, leveraged their humble company''s newsletter into The MouseDriver Chronicles , a New York Times bestselling book. Upon graduation from Wharton, John and Kyle launched a startup based upon a simple, pedestrian product: a computer mouse shaped like the head of a golf driver.

Newsletter 133

Newsletter Startup Entrepreneur Writing 133

InfoChachkie

JULY 4, 2011

There are a number of other children’s books that also serve as good platforms from which you can impart entrepreneurial values and lessons. One such book comes from a surprising source, the notoriously left-leaning Theodor Geisel, better known as Dr. Seuss. He continues smiling and deploys a rudimentary sales technique.

Sales 219

Sales Entrepreneur Startup Product 219

Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 27, 2017

You may think this is only important to your marketing and sales people, but in reality it doesn’t matter how great your product or technology might be, you won’t succeed if you don’t understand your target customer decision process. Every aspect of your business must be about sales. This is the growth equation for a startup.

Sales 82

Sales Entrepreneur Customer Custom 82

TechCrunch LA

MARCH 23, 2021

The company aims to have its first product approved by European regulators by 2023 and notching commercial sales by 2025. These products don’t get at the full potential for cellular technology according to Daan Luining, Meatable’s chief technology officer.

Chief Technology Officer 261

Chief Technology Officer Technical Review Software Review Product 261

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 29, 2023

In my experience in large businesses as well as years of advising startups, I see far too much focus on product skills, and too little on people and process skills. His focus is on sales, but I see the same skills needed for entrepreneurs. Great entrepreneurs are able to think on their feet, and are always prepared.

Startup 154

Startup Sales Entrepreneur Customer 154

Both Sides of the Table

JUNE 22, 2021

You can listen to the entire conversation above or via this link , but I also wanted to highlight one topic we discussed that I feel strongly about, which is how I think enterprise sales and venture fundraising are basically the same muscle. And again, just like in enterprise sales, this is all about differentiation ?—?what

Sales 375

Sales Startup Invest Funding 375

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 21, 2023

Overall I like the principles in the classic book “ Robert’s Rules of Innovation: A 10-Step Program for Corporate Survival ,” by Robert F. New product process. From time to time, include customers and sales members in ideation sessions. In my experience, finding real innovation in existing company environments is even tougher.

Coach 137

Coach Metrics Competition Ideas 137

socalTECH

MAY 2, 2017

We spoke with Andrew about how the company pivoted from its original model after finding a huge amount of traction for its sales software and data, and its ability to guide brokers on the best practices for them to close more deals, which it is now offering as software-as-a-service. What is Digsy?

Sales 145

Sales Startup Email Tool 145

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 11, 2015

Yet in this age when customers have a thousand alternatives, and are overwhelmed by a multitude of messages, sales efforts can make or break a business. In fact, I believe modern entrepreneurs need to be super sales people, in the most positive sense, to their team as well as customers. No pain usually means no sales.

Sales 106

Sales Entrepreneur Customer Custom 106

socalTECH

JANUARY 13, 2010

Los Angeles-based CyberDefender , a developer of PC security, antispyware, and antivirus software, reported today that the firm saw a boost in sales in Q4, boosted by its anti-malware products. CyberDefender said it saw strong growth from new customers in the area of anti-malware products, as well as tech support services.

Product 162

Product Sales Los Angeles Software 162

Startup Professionals Musings

DECEMBER 25, 2021

You may think this is only important to your marketing and sales people, but in reality it doesn’t matter how great your product or technology might be, you won’t succeed if you don’t understand your target customer decision process. Every aspect of your business must be about sales. This is the growth equation for a startup.

Customer 136

Customer Custom Sales Social Media 136

Startup Professionals Musings

NOVEMBER 18, 2016

When entrepreneurs introduce new products to the market, their passion and conviction often leads them to assume that every potential customer will see the immediate need and value, and will quickly adopt the solution. Yet most of the startups I see these days are providing a solution that is easier to use, more fun, or more productive.

Product 95

Product Case Study Customer Custom 95

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 25, 2013

In my own effort to keep up with the times, I explored Julie Steelman’s book on selling, “ The Effortless Yes: Demystifying the Selling Process.” Don’t hope that a miracle will happen and your products and services will sell themselves. Generate leads using social media, but don’t rely on it alone to make sales. Marty Zwilling.

Sales 105

Sales Entrepreneur Mentor Customer 105

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 30, 2022

Early-stage entrepreneurs rightly keep their focus on creating an innovative product or service. In his classic book, “ Second Stage Entrepreneurship ,” Daniel J. Growth is more than simply repackaging existing products, and adding bells and whistles or slick incentives. Switch your attention from product development to sales.

Sales 147

Sales Metrics Guide Startup 147

Berkonomics

APRIL 16, 2020

Do you still need marketing costs when there is no-one out there buying new product? Are you salespeople making few if any sales because your prospective customers are distracted by their own problems? It is easier to keep them off the books than increase overhead again, especially with come of your payroll lay-offs.

Layoffs 218

Layoffs Sales News Marketing 218

Startup Professionals Musings

DECEMBER 2, 2022

There are dozens of sources to help you construct your business model, and a good example is a classic book by venture capital investor Elizabeth Edwards, simply named “ Startup ,” which is really designed as a handbook for launching a company for less. This segment should have specific demographics, and the means to buy your product.

Sales 102

Sales Customer Custom Outsource 102

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 18, 2014

Most technical entrepreneurs I know demand the discipline of a product specification or plan, and then assume that their great product will drive a great business. Serious investors, on the other hand, look for a professional business plan or summary first, and hardly ever look at the product plan.

Product 101

Product Entrepreneur Summary Activity 101

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 30, 2022

In fact, it’s all about the “focus” required to get early stage technology products across the deadly chasm from early adopters to mainstream customers. Missions and products that are too broad confuse your team, your customers, and potential investors. Product development chasm. Marketing and sales chasm.

Startup 150

Startup Technical Review Customer Custom 150

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 9, 2023

When entrepreneurs introduce new products to the market, their passion and conviction often leads them to assume that every potential customer will see the immediate need and value, and will quickly adopt the solution. Yet most of the startups I see these days are providing a solution that is easier to use, more fun, or more productive.

Case Study 89

Case Study Customer Custom Study 89

Both Sides of the Table

SEPTEMBER 28, 2011

That great productivity drain that we somehow all buy into. I shifted my thinking a few years ago after I read Tim Ferris’s book The Four Hour Workweek (link is to a short summary I wrote). I spent a late morning meeting with a product exec at one portfolio company. ” Brilliant! Is that OK? I think so. [I

Email 314

Email Product Startup Writing 314

Startup Professionals Musings

NOVEMBER 15, 2020

When entrepreneurs introduce new products to the market, their passion and conviction often leads them to assume that every potential customer will see the immediate need and value, and will quickly adopt the solution. Yet most of the startups I see these days are providing a solution that is easier to use, more fun, or more productive.

Case Study 174

Case Study Startup Customer Custom 174

socalTECH

DECEMBER 17, 2008

Aliso Viejo-based Buy.com is continuing to report good sales this holiday season, saying today that it has seen its revenues grow over 40 percent for the first 15 days of December, compared with 2007. Buy.com sells consumer electronics, hardware and software, books, games, clothing, music, toys, and more on its online site.

Sales 100

Sales Software Review Report Sites 100

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 4, 2021

Much has been written about this subject in the world of manufacturing, stemming primarily from the 1990’s work by Taiichi Ohno, called the Toyota Production System (“Lean”). More recently, the concepts have been applied to the general business management context, in a classic book by Certified Turnaround Professional, Thomas H.

Startup 161

Startup Resource Training Entrepreneur 161

Berkonomics

AUGUST 27, 2020

First, what’s a “deal book?”. Maybe you have not heard the term, “deal book.” The question is whether to start this exhausting process early in the life of a corporation, or rush to complete it when a deal is identified or the run to a sale is imminent. Your data room and its contents. first appeared on BERKONOMICS.

Software Review 156

Software Review Startup Patents Email 156

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. Then they are surprised to see productivity and creativity take a big dip. Sales will be the organization’s sole focus.” Again, you get what you demand and reward.

Startup 134

Startup Training Sales Entrepreneur 134

Startup Professionals Musings

MARCH 31, 2023

In the classic book, “ Driving Demand: Transforming B2B Marketing to Meet the Needs of the Modern Buyer ,” top marketing consultant Carlos Hidalgo updates the old guidelines on how to set up demand generation processes, keep them current, and measure results. Understanding culture is paramount, but measuring results is even better.

Metrics 102

Metrics Demand Paramount Content 102

Both Sides of the Table

MARCH 31, 2012

If you haven’t read Adam Lashinsky’s awesome new book about Apple , you should. Jeff (also an HBS alum) co-teaches the LTV course with Professor Eisenmann about a student of theirs who had written a blog post about sales taking on some of my previous assertions. My guess is that we are likely in total agreement.

Startup 319

Startup Sales Course Competition 319

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 21, 2022

The case for zero paid media as the new marketing model was highlighted a few years ago in the classic book, “ Z.E.R.O. ” New products and startups often require a culture shift to drive acceptance, which can best be accelerated by zealots or a visible chief disciple, like Steve Jobs. Long-term sales. Earned media.

Marketing 127

Marketing Framework Social Media Media 127

Berkonomics

FEBRUARY 23, 2023

Competitors, seeing a successful development of a niche, flock into the competitive void with products or services built with a fresh view of the current environment. Not so long ago, Basil Peters wrote his book, “Early Exits,” after analyzing 150 young companies and their exits.

Pricing 156

Pricing Invest Equity Entrepreneur 156

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 25, 2020

Overall I like the principles in the classic book “ Robert’s Rules of Innovation: A 10-Step Program for Corporate Survival ,” by Robert F. New product process. From time to time, include customers and sales members in ideation sessions. In my experience, finding real innovation in existing company environments is even tougher.

Coach 144

Coach Metrics Social Network Competition 144

TechCrunch LA

JANUARY 20, 2020

Dooley has worked at a number of robotics companies including, most recently a stint as the VP of Product and Business Development at iRobot. Early Bird tickets are now on sale for $275, but you better hurry, prices go up in less than a month by $100. Students can book a super discounted ticket for just $50 right here.

Technical Review 134

Technical Review Los Angeles Google Research 134