Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 7, 2021

Some pundits argue that the E-Myth principle is now outdated, due to the instant access to information via the Internet, pervasive networking via social media, and courses on entrepreneurship at all levels of education. In this view the product features, cost, and support are the key to success. Hence most fail.

Technical Review 136

Technical Review Startup Social Media Satisfaction 136

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 14, 2021

As a logical and data-driven business advisor, I have long focused on facts, technology, and quantifiable pain in guiding entrepreneurs. I now offer the following additional guidelines for how to attract customers and position your product: Find the latest social trend, or even create it.

Customer 172

Customer Custom Social Media Technical Review 172

Startup Professionals Musings

MARCH 26, 2022

It started with an email survey on your last stay at their hotel, but now includes requests for online product reviews, to social media input on the design of future products. They do it because engaged customers become loyal advocates and buyers. It’s a dynamic customer environment out there.

Customer 107

Customer Custom Technical Review Social Media 107

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 11, 2020

Struggling entrepreneurs are often so happy to get a funding offer that they neglect the recommended reverse due diligence on the investors. Investor due diligence on a startup is not a mysterious black art, but is nothing more than a final integrity check on all aspects of your business model, team, product, customers, and plan.

Technical Review 124

Technical Review Funding Innocal Offshore 124

Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 28, 2023

Charlene Li, in her classic book “ Open Leadership ,” shows leaders how to tap into the power of the social technology revolution and use social media to be “open” while still maintaining control. Employees can share best practices with customers on social network platforms and customers can help each other.

Social Media 112

Social Media Media Software Review Social Network 112

Startup Professionals Musings

DECEMBER 18, 2020

As a long-time business executive and adviser to entrepreneurs, I see a definitive shift away from customer trust in traditional business messages, and the executives who deliver them. I summarize the key elements of the transformation as follows: Customers are seeking control in a run-away world.

Customer 173

Customer Custom Social Media Technical Review 173

Startup Professionals Musings

MARCH 14, 2022

Market your solution and user benefits, not the mysterious technology behind it. There seems to be an insatiable demand from consumers for a better shopping experience, meaning they will pay a premium to a company that can present them a better match in products to their interests, without jeopardizing their good name.

Customer 137

Customer Custom Technical Review Symantec 137

Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 21, 2020

Many of the entrepreneurs I advise or invest with spend considerable time on the Internet, keeping up with technology, customers, and competitors, but very few feel the need for an early personal presence. In fact, some totally avoid it, assuming their product or solution will speak for itself later.

Product 127

Product Entrepreneur Technical Advisors Technical Review 127

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 4, 2017

Not so long ago, every business assumed that the keys to success were the highest quality product, the best value for the buck, and the best customer service. Now all we hear about is providing the best “customer experience.” You have to hear your customer’s dreams, goals, passions, and aspirations.

Customer 85

Customer Custom Product Marketing 85

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 13, 2022

You may feel good when that first burst of customers arrives, but don’t assume that “ word of mouth ” and those early adopters will grow your business to match your dreams of success. In these days of global competition via multiple channels, you need continuous marketing to find more customers. They won’t find you.

Technical Review 142

Technical Review Social Media Conference Customer 142

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 24, 2022

As a business consultant and angel investor, I often ask for your own assessment of marketing ROI , or customer acquisition cost (CAC). Leaders and investors need to know if you have and are tapping into your key sources of relevant data, including web analytics, sales management data, and customer relationship management (CRM) software.

Customer 100

Customer Custom Acquisition Technical Review 100

Tech.Co

JANUARY 3, 2020

Customers are happy, clients are beaming, and the revenue just keeps rolling in. However, as a business owner, you know that resting on your laurels can be dangerous, which is why staying up to date with the latest business technology is a necessity. And if you aren't making good use of this business tech, you're missing out.

Technical Review 91

Technical Review Software Review Social Media Platform 91

Berkonomics

MAY 30, 2019

We are constantly bombarded by ads in multiple types of media, to the extent that we most often tune them out unless particularly entertaining from the first moment (eight seconds.). People are more trusting of unknown third parties endorsing your product that they are of direct ads touting the benefits of the product in large, clear type.

Case Study 120

Case Study Study Customer Custom 120

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 6, 2021

Every new business I know dreams of building momentum in their business, where growth continues to increase, customers become your best advocates, and employee motivation is high. Unfortunately, with limited resources, this isn’t possible, and it frustrates customers and the team. Focus first on finding more of the right customers.

Technical Review 160

Technical Review Technical Advisors Startup Mentor 160

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 1, 2019

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. Authority – the guiding light. Consistency. Reciprocity – pay it forward.

Customer 85

Customer Custom Social Media Technical Review 85

Eric Greenspan

MAY 29, 2010

Using social media to increase your company’s touch and reach with each of your customers may be the most important reason to jump in to this game changing strategy. Social media can help bridge a long standing gap between customers and the companies they trust with their hard earned cash. Eric Greenspan.

Social Media 214

Social Media Customer Custom Media 214

Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 5, 2019

Too many business owners still think of “ customer support ” as an after-sale process to rectify customer problems with completed transactions. With the advent of instant communication and social media, customer service starts at the first hint of interest by you, and never ends for repeat customers.

Customer 84

Customer Custom Company Companies 84

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 22, 2020

Every startup founder loves to prompt for questions from investors and potential key team members about their vision, and the huge opportunity that can be had with their disruptive technology. If the company has been around for more than a couple of years, and still has no product or revenue flow, there better be a good explanation.

Technical Review 174

Technical Review Startup Invest Patents 174

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 10, 2014

Struggling entrepreneurs are often so happy to get a funding offer that they neglect the recommended reverse due diligence on the investors. Investor due diligence on a startup is not a mysterious black art, but is nothing more than a final integrity check on all aspects of your business model, team, product, customers, and plan.

Technical Review 103

Technical Review Innocal Offshore Entrepreneur 103

Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 26, 2022

With social media and smart phone apps, real product information spreads at astounding speeds. Today’s customers are much more proactive in going online for the latest information, rather than simply reacting to the “push” messages that businesses traditionally use to drive commerce. Continually watch for new opportunities.

Technical Review 151

Technical Review Organization Social Media Entrepreneur 151

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 12, 2022

I recommend you review the business startup experiences of some successful entrepreneurs with a heavy military influence, such as R.Riveter, which landed $100,000 from Mark Cuban on Shark Tank a while back, to enlist military spouses from across the country to make fashion handbag components.

Marketing 125

Marketing Technical Review Startup Resource 125

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 4, 2023

The world of marketing is changing faster than technology these days. A UVP sells a product or service because it differentiates it from other products or services that are available. With social media, you can interact more precisely and create custom products and marketing to be almost all things to all people.

Marketing 107

Marketing Technical Review Startup Innocal 107

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 1, 2022

You can have the best technology, but if customers don’t know you exist, or they don’t know how your technology solves a real problem for them, your startup will fail. Yet I see many technology entrepreneurs that focus on the basics of marketing too little and too late. Don’t dumb it down for social media.

Marketing 141

Marketing Startup Social Media Technical Review 141

Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 25, 2019

In my experience as a business consultant, I find than most people still believe that technology drives business disruption. I’m more convinced that technology merely enables disruption, and changing customer interests and needs really causes it. I recommend creating new services and products for existing customers.

Customer 54

Customer Custom Technical Review Design 54

socalTECH

MARCH 25, 2020

Santa Ana-based AWM Smart Shelf (Adroit Worldwide Media), which develops computer vision and machine learning technology, says it has opened up its very first "autonomous micromarket" in Santa Ana, which lets residents of the Nineteen01 luxury apartment community shop for sodas, water, juice, food, and more--all without the need for a clerk.

Orange County 113

Orange County Artificial Inteligence OCTANE Marketing 113

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 10, 2020

The world of marketing is changing faster than technology these days. A UVP sells a product or service because it differentiates it from other products or services that are available. With social media, you can interact more precisely and create custom products and marketing to be almost all things to all people.

Mobile 173

Mobile Marketing Technical Review Startup 173

Tech.Co

MAY 31, 2023

Business tools — from customer relationship management ( CRM ) platforms to accounting software — help to save startups time and money by automating key processes and maximizing efficiency. Best Communication Tools for Startups Communication tools refer to any type of technology that helps businesses stay connected. From its 4.3-inch

Tool 126

Tool Startup Software Review Technical Review 126

Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 3, 2020

Charlene Li, in her classic book “ Open Leadership ,” shows leaders how to tap into the power of the social technology revolution and use social media to be “open” while still maintaining control. Employees can share best practices with customers on social network platforms and customers can help each other.

Framework 159

Framework Social Media Software Review Social Network 159

Startup Professionals Musings

DECEMBER 5, 2014

You can have the best technology, but if customers don’t know you exist, or they don’t know how your technology solves a real problem for them, your startup will fail. Yet I see many technology entrepreneurs that focus on the basics of marketing too little and too late. Don’t dumb it down for social media.

Technical Review 103

Technical Review Tips Marketing Entrepreneur 103

SoCal Tech Calendar

MARCH 21, 2012

Tuesday, March 27, 2012 -- Social Media  Beyond Targeted Ads. More and more, companies feel the need to adopt a Social Media strategy. However, they dont know where to start, what their customers expect, what they can do with the data they collect, and most importantly, how all of the effort will increase their ROI.

Social Media 113

Social Media Media Research Design 113

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 19, 2023

Every startup success is a function of great people, products, and profits. Leapfrog products invent and reinvent markets. Incremental product ideas do not change markets. Focus on the customer for repeated success. Sometimes repeat entrepreneurs forget that they must acquire new customers. Eat your own dog food.

Startup 91

Startup Technical Review Entrepreneur Ideas 91

socalTECH

AUGUST 6, 2012

Santa Monica-based Demand Media (www.demandmedia.com) has seen its share of ups and downs as one of the highest visibility technology and media companies to come out of Southern California's technology ecosystem in recent years. What is Demand Media doing nowadays? Can you explain that process?

Demand 240

Demand Media eHow Content 240

Startup Professionals Musings

MARCH 27, 2016

Struggling entrepreneurs are often so happy to get a funding offer that they neglect the recommended reverse due diligence on the investors. Investor due diligence on a startup is not a mysterious black art, but is nothing more than a final integrity check on all aspects of your business model, team, product, customers, and plan.

Technical Review 63

Technical Review Innocal Offshore Entrepreneur 63

Xconomy

JULY 5, 2018

The “empathy economy” will help define the new reality of human and machine interactions in the customer service industry. A takeoff on the sharing economy, the empathy economy will grow due to brand mania and increased automation in the workplace. Read more » Reprints | Share: UNDERWRITERS AND PARTNERS.

Customer 75

Customer Custom Services Technical Review 75

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 29, 2015

With the advent of social media and the pervasive move to smartphones, even customers who still prefer to purchase in brick-and-mortar stores have dramatically changed their shopping habits. If you refuse to play by their rules, they have the power to easily find alternatives, and actively pull other potential customers away.

Customer 103

Customer Custom Marketing Social Media 103

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 16, 2022

Yet I find, as a mentor and outside consultant, that many of you focus only on working conditions and compensation as the key factors determining team engagement , health, and productivity. I will summarize these here, with my insights, for your review and implementation: Physical health. Emotional stability. Spiritual connections.

Technical Review 141

Technical Review Mentor Social Media Customer 141

Tech.Co

JANUARY 10, 2018

In the Harvard Business Review Female Economy 2009 report, women purchasing power was predicted to control about $28 trillion in annual global consumer spending, if not more. Purchasing products from a brand you trust can be more of an emotional buy, and trust is one of the key factors to attracting the female shopper. Tasteful Humor.

Tips 71

Tips Customer Custom Dollar Shave Club 71