Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 3, 2019

Image via Pixabay 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 96

Social Media Media Marketing Metrics 96

Startup Professionals Musings

MARCH 11, 2023

Savvy entrepreneurs start testing their ideas on potential customers even before the concept is fully cooked. I still hear too many excuses for not working early on the elevator pitch, like wanting to fly under the radar, don’t have the team together yet, or can’t afford an agency. Make your business cards stand out in the crowd.

Ideas 126

Ideas Startup Social Media Blogging 126

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 11, 2013

As I visit the websites of many startups, as well as more mature businesses, I still too often see a “contact” page offering nothing but a sterile form for customers to submit, never to be heard from again. Social media connections, if they exist, are buried elsewhere or reserved for monitoring purposes only.

Social Media 99

Social Media Custom Customer Media 99

Both Sides of the Table

APRIL 19, 2011

He tells the story of how he was out of cash, stressed out, nobody in LA or Silicon Valley would give him money, he had finally found an investor in Minneapolis but his venture bank was going to shut him down for breaking a “covenant&# in their agreement by not having enough cash in the bank. The answer? Something so simple.

Acquisition 304

Acquisition Startup Custom Customer 304

Startup Professionals Musings

NOVEMBER 5, 2021

Yet we have all heard stories about the high turnover, unstructured work environment, lower base pay, and unpredictable expectations from the top. Very few people are willing and able to take on any challenge, and make it work. You can’t outsource that one. And then does it. Stick out and shine.

Startup 125

Startup Journal Outsource Tips 125

Startup Professionals Musings

DECEMBER 18, 2022

Others will work hard on a business plan, and then mail it indiscriminately to every potential investor they can find on the Internet. If you haven’t yet finalized the business model, cost projections, and customer segments, you aren’t ready for investors. Both of these approaches are a waste of your time and theirs.

Technical Review 109

Technical Review Startup Statistics Social Media 109

Both Sides of the Table

OCTOBER 26, 2014

Yesterday I wrote a post about The Silent Benefits of PR in which I pointed out that most young companies I encounter don’t fully grasp the benefits of PR because they are less measurable than product milestones or customer acquisition analyses (like CAC/LTV). When to start PR?

Press 319

Press Startup Writing Training 319

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. The first thing that entrepreneurs need to realize is that the process and framework for making social media marketing work are different from traditional marketing, and trial and error certainly doesn’t work.

Social Media 62

Social Media Media Metrics SEO 62

TechCrunch LA

APRIL 14, 2020

The story behind Frame, the startup aiming to be the nation’s gateway into the world of therapy and mental wellness, seems like a tailor-made story of American entrepreneurial success. The goal is to give a millennial audience a window into how therapy works in an effort to popularize and de-stigmatize the process.

Los Angeles 203

Los Angeles Pacific Palisades Angel Startup 203

Both Sides of the Table

JUNE 17, 2013

The point of PUCCKA was to develop a common methodology to make sure our whole team approaches sales with the same mindset and to give us a language to talk with each other about our prospects, as in, “have you identified your customers pain point yet?”. The goal is to get the customer speaking about their organization.

Sales 367

Sales Slides Startup Custom 367

Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 8, 2020

Savvy entrepreneurs start testing their ideas on potential customers even before the concept is fully cooked. I still hear too many excuses for not working early on the elevator pitch, like wanting to fly under the radar, don’t have the team together yet, or can’t afford an agency. Make your business cards stand out in the crowd.

Ideas 124

Ideas Tips Marketing Social Media 124

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. The first thing that entrepreneurs need to realize is that the process and framework for making social media marketing work are different from traditional marketing, and trial and error certainly doesn’t work.

Social Media 102

Social Media Media Product Metrics 102

Both Sides of the Table

JANUARY 26, 2013

One of the advantages of blogging, using social media, public speaking, etc as a VC is that you get a more nuanced view of these shifts by watching your own successes and failures. I think many board members (including VCs) were trained 10+ years ago when life was very different and their advice often comes from an outdated lens.

Startup 355

Startup Funding News Press 355

Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 1, 2016

Savvy entrepreneurs start testing their ideas on potential customers even before the concept is fully cooked. I still hear too many excuses for not working early on the elevator pitch, like wanting to fly under the radar, don’t have the team together yet, or can’t afford an agency. Make your business cards stand out in the crowd.

Custom 58

Custom Customer Social Media Startup 58

Startup Professionals Musings

MARCH 21, 2020

Others will work hard on a business plan, and then mail it indiscriminately to every potential investor they can find on the Internet. If you haven’t yet finalized the business model, cost projections, and customer segments, you aren’t ready for investors. Both of these approaches are a waste of your time and theirs.

Technical Review 124

Technical Review Statistics Startup Social Media 124

socalTECH

OCTOBER 7, 2009

For this morning's interview, we sat down and talked with Nick Desai , CEO of Global Fitness Media , which runs FitOrbit (www.fitorbit.com), an online site looking to help users put together a fitness and connect with fitness trainers. Most adults by now have figured out that magic pills and juices just don't work.

Media 168

Media Pricing Sites Training 168

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. The first thing that entrepreneurs need to realize is that the process and framework for making social media marketing work are different from traditional marketing, and trial and error certainly doesn’t work.

Social Media 91

Social Media Media Metrics SEO 91

Both Sides of the Table

FEBRUARY 18, 2020

I’ve spent a lot of my career thinking about digital and online video (with investments in companies like Maker Studios) so for that reason amongst many, I was excited to open the Upfront Summit a few weeks ago by interviewing Meg Whitman about Quibi and the digital media space. Between the heavy hitters at the helm, the more than $1.4B

Content 244

Content Netflix Platform Mobile 244

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 7, 2021

I have to point out that the rest of the world looks for you online before visiting your business, finds talk about you on Yelp and social media sites, and what they see can make or break your business. She is an expert in this area, with some great stories to tell. Resist cancelling existing social media accounts.

Social Media 144

Social Media Media Summary Satisfaction 144

Both Sides of the Table

SEPTEMBER 13, 2009

Their post links to a great post by Jason Calacanis ( here ) on how to make the most of your booth experience at the show. If you go to trade shows make sure to read this post. My Story: The public coming out for my first company, BuildOnline, was in early 2000. So journalists were looking for a new story to tell.

Startup 310

Startup Venture Capital Press Journal 310

Both Sides of the Table

APRIL 1, 2014

If you’ve watched any industry in the last 20 years where technology has begun to transform how the industry works the results are always predictable driven by what Clay Christensen appropriately called “ The Innovator’s Dilemma ” (one of the most influential books that changed my thinking about markets).

Truecar 338

Truecar Startup Hulu Pricing 338

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 21, 2019

Colby is a living example of how it works there, starting with his Parengo Coffee Shop in Sikeston, Missouri. In reality, a business plan has real value for every entrepreneur, since most people can’t build and retain a complete plan in their head. Work to build memorable customer experiences today, or the store may be empty tomorrow.

Technical Review 107

Technical Review Entrepreneur Startup Custom 107

socalTECH

AUGUST 27, 2014

We spoke with one of those companies-- El Segundo-based ConsumerTrack (www.consumertrack.com)--which is a $30M, bootstrapped an online marketing company which is driving millions of customers to big name, financial customers. What''s the story behind the company? What is ConsumerTrack all about?

Startup 239

Startup El Segundo Marketing Media 239

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 18, 2019

Yet we have all heard stories about the high turnover, unstructured work environment, lower base pay, and unpredictable expectations from the top. Very few people are willing and able to take on any challenge, and make it work. You can’t outsource that one. And then does it. Stick out and shine.

Tips 100

Tips Startup Journal Outsource 100

Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 1, 2019

The right strategy for branding these days is to create a most memorable total customer experience for customers, rather than a focus on hyping the product and the company name. Here are some key recommendations for building your branding plan: Find out who your customers are through social media.

Social Media 73

Social Media Custom Customer Mobile 73

InfoChachkie

APRIL 20, 2015

This is the approach many startups take when they communicate their story to the market. This is the approach many startups take when they communicate their story to the market. Their best attempts to woo the media will never equal your ability to sing your own praises. Sound crazy? Keep the Passion In-House. Thought not.

Outsource Development 100

Outsource Development Outsource Allegis Startup 100

Both Sides of the Table

OCTOBER 17, 2019

But like the company Kyriba, where we recently sold our position at above $1 billion, it took time until the revenue exceeded $100 million recurring and then the industry really competed to back this amazing company since it had scale, defensible technology and long-term, committed customers.

Venture Capital 223

Venture Capital IP Startup Google 223

Tech.Co

FEBRUARY 5, 2019

Cryptocurrency is rarely out of the news, but the recent case involving Canadian currency exchange QuadrigaCX is a real show stopper. With the sudden death of its founder, Gerald Cotton, customers are owed an estimated $190 million due to a missing password only he knew. What is QuadrigaCX, and Who Was Gerald Cotton?

News 159

News Custom Customer Commerce 159

InfoChachkie

AUGUST 4, 2014

Kurt and his crew can make these, and about 35 of other once-in-a-lifetime treks, a reality. A version of this article previously appeared on Forbes. Kurt Kutay, Founder and CEO of Wildland Adventures , believes that "luxury adventure travel" does not have to be an oxymoron. Ever fantasized about climbing Mt.

Entrepreneur 187

Entrepreneur Startup Social Media Resource 187

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 16, 2015

Many experts are certain that successful entrepreneurs are the ones with the most inspiration (passion and dream), while others will assert that it’s about more perspiration (working harder). Moving a dream into reality requires balancing on a tight-rope of passion supported by unending efforts to move heaven and earth to make it happen.

Satisfaction 101

Satisfaction Entrepreneur Custom Customer 101

Both Sides of the Table

JANUARY 23, 2011

There is obviously no black-or-white answer, but I’ve tried everything from working a large international agency, to hiring in-house people to doing it myself. You help them on stories, act as a source, develop real relationships, read their stories and eventually when you have news they’re more willing to have a conversation.

Startup 349

Startup Writing Press Blogging 349

Startup Professionals Musings

NOVEMBER 4, 2019

As a new business advisor and occasional investor, I get approached regularly by people who have a dream or a new business idea, and are looking for support and money to make it a reality. In my experience, the key steps I look for always include the following: Testing the idea against customers who have money to spend.

Ideas 94

Ideas Slides Technical Review Patents 94

socalTECH

DECEMBER 29, 2020

Analytic process automation platforms are organizing what were once patchwork point solutions that cost customers time and resources, bringing streamlined processes and the human back to the center of problem solving. We'll be posting these throughout the next two weeks. Contact our editors for details.

Southern California 140

Southern California Technical Review Platform Organization 140

Both Sides of the Table

FEBRUARY 28, 2018

This is true whether it’s physical products or media products. Think about the tension between media companies and cable operators like last year when Viacom threatened to pull Nickelodeon, Comedy Central, MTV, BET, etc. This is an age-old marketplace tension where leverage often determines the value captured. So Why Does This Matter?

Product 296

Product Course Custom Customer 296

socalTECH

NOVEMBER 6, 2020

It's been in a bit of reboot since last October, when we had a big downsizing and Softbank got more involved thinking through what parts of the business had been working and what had not. The punchline is, I'm pretty excited about this story. Brad Stewart: The company has been through a few different incarnations.

Startup 124

Startup Pricing Platform Study 124

Both Sides of the Table

NOVEMBER 19, 2009

Entrepreneurs make fast decisions and move forward knowing that at best 70% of their decisions are going to be right. I didn’t have to make many serious decisions. But if everybody is looking for me to make their decisions we’ll never get anything done. This is part of my Startup Advice series.

Entrepreneur 414

Entrepreneur Technical Review Slides CTO Coach 414

Both Sides of the Table

JANUARY 14, 2014

If you follow the tech media you would be subject to a lot of narrative biases that are completely off base – and this includes the value of email and phone calls. In fact 61% of all mobile searches where a customer contacts a business it is via a phone call (source: Google). THE FULL STORY. billion by 2014.

Email 339

Email SaaS Venture Capital Google 339