Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 10, 2019

Image via Pixabay After a frustrating meeting with a small business client recently who didn’t “have time” for social media, I was surprised to find evidence on the Internet that up to one quarter of small business owners are still hesitant to invest time, money, and effort into a social media strategy.

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Social Media Media Tool Startup 99

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 7, 2021

At the highest level, startups must remember what Jim Barksdale of Netscape and FedEx famously said, “The main thing is to keep the Main Thing the main thing.” Then it’s time to speed up with a set of ambitious initiatives, and finally going all out to engage all the constituents in enduring change. Realign all elements of the plan.

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Social Media Startup Framework Course 143

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 30, 2021

Unfortunately, in my role as business advisor , I don’t see the same response to more common weak signals , like the move to phone texting instead of voice, or politics invading social media. It may be time to start your own home delivery service, or subscription offering, or time to acquire a struggling competitor to scale your business.

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Marketing Social Media Metrics Customer 162

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 25, 2023

The cost of entry has never been lower, with new tools to create your own website , and free social media to get your message out everywhere. Based on my own experience as a mentor and angel investor, I find that as many as ninety percent of startups fail in the first five years, despite their best efforts.

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Social Media Metrics Media Tool 98

SoCal CTO

AUGUST 4, 2011

Almost every day I'm talking to early stage startup founders (see Free Startup CTO Consulting Sessions ) about what they plan to do. Of course, it's way more complex than just these questions. SEO for Startups )? What are your key Startup Metrics ? Do you have a merchant account already set up?

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Develop Development Startup SEO 396

SoCal CTO

AUGUST 4, 2011

Almost every day I'm talking to early stage startup founders (see Free Startup CTO Consulting Sessions ) about what they plan to do. Of course, it's way more complex than just these questions. SEO for Startups )? What are your key Startup Metrics ? Do you have a merchant account already set up?

Develop 384

Develop Development Startup SEO 384

Startup Professionals Musings

NOVEMBER 2, 2013

When my friend’s small business was struggling a while back, I suggested he add some social media marketing initiatives, and his answer was that he was “too busy.” According to a study of 1700 CEOs last year, only 60% of companies today use social media for marketing, and only 12% of those feel that they are using it effectively.

Social Media 106

Social Media Media Startup Social Network 106

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 27, 2023

With interactive social media and video everywhere, everyone needs to feel they have a relationship with their leaders, and every brand needs leader personification for customers to relate. Focus on two or three pertinent metrics in any situation. Keeping it simple is the best course. Never be too busy to talk to real customers.

Customer 140

Customer Custom Social Media Metrics 140

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 1, 2017

Most startups, and many big businesses, still don’t have a clue on how to use social media productively for marketing their business. Valid social media objectives for a business should include one or more of the following: increased brand awareness, lead generation, service and support, or reputation management.

Social Media 62

Social Media Media Metrics SEO 62

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 28, 2012

When my friend’s small business was struggling a while back, I suggested he add some social media marketing initiatives, and his answer was that he was “too busy.” According to a recent Harvard Business Review article , only 60% of companies today use social media for marketing, and only 12% of those feel that they are using it effectively.

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Social Media Media Startup Social Network 115

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 4, 2020

I’m sure you have all seen entrepreneurs and startups with great ideas that never seem to live up to their potential, while others with more mundane solutions seem to take off quickly and never slow down. If you tell me that you have been working on your startup for two years, but can’t quite quantify the progress, I’m not impressed.

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Startup Outsource Development Entrepreneur Outsource 123

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 18, 2013

Most startups, and many big businesses, still don’t have a clue on how to use social media productively for marketing their business. Valid social media objectives for a business should include one or more of the following: increased brand awareness, lead generation, service and support, or reputation management.

Social Media 102

Social Media Media Product Metrics 102

Both Sides of the Table

SEPTEMBER 15, 2022

At our mid-year offsite our partnership at Upfront Ventures was discussing what the future of venture capital and the startup ecosystem looked like. When you look at how much median valuations were driven up in the past 5 years alone it’s bananas. Please follow him & welcome him to Upfront!! <== And reset they must.

Venture Capital 416

Venture Capital Marketing Technical Review Seed Funding 416

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 14, 2023

Cash flow is a basic survival metric for every startup. Yet it always amazes me that I can find two different startups, seemingly working on the same problem, with one having a burn rate several times higher than the other. They understand startup realities. Use social media for early marketing.

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Search Engine Optimization Outsource Development Social Media Equity 103

Both Sides of the Table

NOVEMBER 27, 2011

There are very few people in Silicon Valley who have such a precise grasp on what defines success of early-stage startup companies than Eric Ries. Importantly we also discussed: should startups raise small amounts of money or large? how should you organize teams in a startup? what is the importance of social media?

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Social Media Startup Metrics Media 301

Both Sides of the Table

MARCH 25, 2016

Many startup businesses – tech or otherwise – fail. Trying outrageous new things or even trying mundane things but in new ways but with extreme quality & innovation is what fuels the tech startup industry. But today I want to give you advice on how to decrease your odds of failure in a startup.

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Startup Marketing Study SEO 150

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 1, 2021

In my role as advisor to many startups, I try to prepare them for the inevitable bumps in the road ahead, as well as to provide practical guidance on how to build and maintain the traction needed to survive and prosper. You don’t have enough control over your time, investors, the market, or your startup. It’s very frustrating.

Entrepreneur 174

Entrepreneur Search Engine Optimization Satisfaction Social Media 174

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 22, 2013

It''s a line from an old movie "Field of Dreams" which is still leading to the demise of too many startups, led by entrepreneurs who really started their business to build an exciting new product or service. Of course, for a price, there are many marketing organizations and gurus willing to come to your aid.

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Sales Startup Metrics Customer 105

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 9, 2011

He is not alone, according to a recent study , which concludes that only 47% of companies use social media today for marketing, despite the fact that 78% of executives polled feel it’s critical for success. I suspect that a good part of the problem is that startup and small business owners still don’t know where or how to start.

Social Media 104

Social Media Media Marketing Social Network 104

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 27, 2012

Most startups, and many big businesses, still don’t have a clue on how to use social media productively for marketing their business. Valid social media objectives for a business should include one or more of the following: increased brand awareness, lead generation, service and support, or reputation management.

Social Media 91

Social Media Media Metrics SEO 91

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 29, 2018

Cash flow is a basic survival metric for every startup. Yet it always amazes me that I can find two different startups, seemingly working on the same problem, with one having a burn rate several times higher than the other. They understand startup realities. Use social media for early marketing.

Startup 89

Startup Search Engine Optimization Outsource Development Social Media 89

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 14, 2016

Cash flow is a basic survival metric for every startup. Yet it always amazes me that I can find two different startups, seemingly working on the same problem, with one having a burn rate several times higher than the other. They understand startup realities. Use social media for early marketing.

Startup 108

Startup Search Engine Optimization Outsource Development Social Media 108

TechCrunch LA

FEBRUARY 20, 2019

When should you start a company? What company should you start? Most startups die. It’s obvious that we can be too late to these decisions of course. We can miss the round of financing, we can start a company a year or two behind someone else and lose the first-mover advantage. When should a VC invest?

Venture Capital 202

Venture Capital Startup Technical Review Invest 202

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 21, 2013

At the highest level, startups must remember what Jim Barksdale of Netscape and FedEx famously said, “The main thing is to keep the Main Thing the main thing.” Then it’s time to speed up with a set of ambitious initiatives, and finally going all out to engage all the constituents in enduring change. Realign all elements of the plan.

Startup 94

Startup Social Media Entrepreneur Framework 94

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 19, 2020

Cash flow is a basic survival metric for every startup. Yet it always amazes me that I can find two different startups, seemingly working on the same problem, with one having a burn rate several times higher than the other. They understand startup realities. Use social media for early marketing.

Search Engine Optimization 124

Search Engine Optimization Outsource Development Social Media Equity 124

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 4, 2016

In my view, starting a new business has never been easier, and according to reports from the Kaufmann Foundation , the numbers are finally here to show it. The number of startups rose in 2015 for the first time in five years, with the largest year-over-year increase in two decades. Establishing your brand with interactive social media.

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Startup Social Media News Tool 61

Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 4, 2010

According to this study from last year, over 65% of existing small businesses still ignore social media for marketing, so he is still the rule rather than the exception. Dell announced over a year ago that it had earned $3 million in revenue from using Twitter, and other businesses report daily on increases in web traffic up to 800%.

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Social Media Media Marketing Startup 88

Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 21, 2023

Proof of any business model starts with a finished product or solution, sold to a new customer for full price, with high satisfaction for the value received. Of course, that has be a repeatable event, with enough revenue to sustain the business. Start selling it before you build it. Marketing is everything these days.

Customer 109

Customer Custom Satisfaction Sales 109

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 31, 2020

With interactive social media and video everywhere, everyone needs to feel they have a relationship with their leaders, and every brand needs leader personification for customers to relate. Focus on two or three pertinent metrics in any situation. Keeping it simple is the best course. Never be too busy to talk to real customers.

Social Media 128

Social Media Metrics Customer Custom 128

Tech Zulu Event

FEBRUARY 5, 2014

The Annual TechZulu Startup Forecast is one of our most anticipated events. Peter Csathy – CEO Manatt Digital Media Ventures, accomplished media and digital media entrepreneur. Richard Wolpert – Managing Director of Amplify.LA, startup incubator and Venture Advisor at Accel Partners.

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Startup Google Education Venture Capital 95

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 22, 2022

Usually these are described as revenue growth drivers, as outlined in a new book, “ The Revenue Accelerator: The 21 Boosters to Launch Your Startup ,” by Dr. Allan Colman. In this age of instant communication through the Internet and social media, people remember personal images more than a product or service name.

Marketing 133

Marketing Customer Custom Outsource Development 133

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 20, 2015

Proof of any business model starts with a finished product or solution, sold to a new customer for full price, with high satisfaction for the value received. Of course, that has be a repeatable event, with enough revenue to sustain the business. Start selling it before you build it. Marketing is everything these days.

Startup 107

Startup Sales Customer Custom 107

InfoChachkie

DECEMBER 9, 2013

The empirical evidence highlights the lack of women and minority founders in the startup world. A 2012 Dow Jones'' report entitled Women At The Wheel encompassed 15-years of data on venture-backed startups. I recently asked Tracy why she believes that women are so under-represented across the startup landscape. What Gives?

Customer 185

Customer Custom Study Metrics 185

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 22, 2021

Proof of any business model starts with a finished product or solution, sold to a new customer for full price, with high satisfaction for the value received. Of course, that has be a repeatable event, with enough revenue to sustain the business. Start selling it before you build it. Marketing is everything these days.

Sales 165

Sales Customer Custom Social Media 165

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 24, 2012

At the highest level, startups must remember what Jim Barksdale of FedEx famously said, “The main thing is to keep the Main Thing the main thing.” Then it’s time to speed up with a set of ambitious initiatives, and finally going all out to engage all the constituents in enduring change. Revisit your startup vision and values.

Entrepreneur 93

Entrepreneur Social Media Startup Framework 93

Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 14, 2018

With interactive social media and video everywhere, everyone needs to feel they have a relationship with their leaders, and every brand needs leader personification for customers to relate. Focus on two or three pertinent metrics in any situation. Keeping it simple is the best course. Never be too busy to talk to real customers.

Social Media 96

Social Media Metrics Customer Custom 96

SoCal CTO

FEBRUARY 20, 2007

Ive personally been involved in the start-up world in Los Angeles for about 15 years, and have had the opportunity to work on many early-stage companies (e.g., Of course, thats probably even more true in Silicon Valley. He has been the CTO for several start-ups, most notably eHarmony. eHarmongy) as an acting CTO.

CTO Coach 150

CTO Coach Southern California CTO Hire Social Media 150