Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 13, 2023

Your people on the customer front lines have the input you need on institutional changes required. Listen to them, garner their trust and support, and assimilate your transformational vision for the organization. Synthesize empathy with customers with new trends. Motivate volunteers for rapid-change teams.

Case Study 117

Case Study Outsource Development Outsource Customer 117

socalTECH

MARCH 23, 2018

San Diego-based Scientist.com , which operates an outsourced research marketplace, says it has received a data security certification this week. According to the company, it received the SOC 2 certification, which certifies that the company adheres to rigorous information security policies and procedures regarding customer data.

Outsource 100

Outsource San Diego Hollywood Research 100

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

APRIL 29, 2023

For example, both need to provide exemplary customer service, build customer loyalty, and provide real value for a competitive price. If you don’t have a high level of commitment and passion, you customers won’t seek you out. Customers can touch and see a great product, but services are a bit ethereal.

Startup 111

Startup Training Services Writing 111

Startup Professionals Musings

MARCH 10, 2023

I’m not suggesting that you model your startup after the complex corporate organizations you hated in your last job, but there are at least eight key functions and activities that every investor expects to find in a startup proposal with any real potential to change the world. Customer receivables collection and vendor payments.

Outsource Development 115

Outsource Development Startup Competition Ideas 115

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 19, 2020

I see too many business plans that are really product plans for customers, touting free services and long feature lists. No product, even with a large opportunity, is ready to scale until you can show it working, with multiple customers paying the full price, to validate the business model. Word-of-mouth does not scale.

Startup 154

Startup Outsource Ideas Research 154

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 3, 2020

For example, both need to provide exemplary customer service, build customer loyalty, and provide real value for a competitive price. If you don’t have a high level of commitment and passion, you customers won’t seek you out. Customers can touch and see a great product, but services are a bit ethereal.

Startup 174

Startup Training Services Writing 174

Startup Professionals Musings

NOVEMBER 5, 2021

You can’t outsource that one. When the organization changes, be the first to help the new organization work, even when it costs extra hours and sweat. If you see a customer service problem hurting the company, step up proactively with a proposal to fix it. Be a builder … and a rebuilder. Pay attention to your image.

Startup 125

Startup Journal Outsource Tips 125

Both Sides of the Table

MARCH 19, 2013

While I have some sympathy with not investing too heavily in sales people until the product has properly been tested and commercialized in the enterprise environment, in the end it’s a fact that it takes sales people to move product through large organizations. These are the lifeblood of your sales organization.

Startup 403

Startup Sales Software Review Technical Review 403

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 12, 2021

In my experience as a business advisor and occasional investor, many of you won’t make it that far, succumbing to the high costs of getting those first customers, funding an initial inventory, and building an operational support process. Use “white label” or custom contract for extra income. Everyone wins with this approach.

Startup 161

Startup Resource Customer Custom 161

Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 7, 2020

I’m not suggesting that you model your startup after the complex corporate organizations you hated in your last job, but there are at least eight key functions and activities that every investor expects to find in a startup proposal with any real potential to change the world. Customer receivables collection and vendor payments.

Entrepreneur 131

Entrepreneur Outsource Development Startup Competition 131

Both Sides of the Table

APRIL 20, 2010

A few people have asked me to try and define the perfect startup organization chart. If you don’t have somebody inside your organization who is setting the technology direction then I’m convinced you’ll never head for greatness. They care about the quality of what is build more than they care about end customers.

CTO Hire 400

CTO Hire Fractional VPE Startup Outsource Development 400

InfoChachkie

DECEMBER 2, 2009

As noted in Pour and Stir Part I , the key to the successful execution of this strategy is managing the following equation: The cost to acquire a customer < lifetime value of a customer. Decreasing Your Customer Acquisition Costs. This is equivalent to being handed a free customer for every ten customers you acquire.

Customer 164

Customer Custom Advertising SEM 164

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 5, 2023

A business startup is not an academic environment, or a big company research organization. Outsourcing to expert freelancers or business partners is often a better solution for startups than managing everyone into the inside team. They are attracted to people who agree, but may not be able to help.

Entrepreneur 104

Entrepreneur Technology High Tech Startup 104

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 18, 2019

You can’t outsource that one. When the organization changes, be the first to help the new organization work, even when it costs extra hours and sweat. If you see a customer service problem hurting the company, step up proactively with a proposal to fix it. Be a builder … and a rebuilder. Pay attention to your image.

Tips 100

Tips Startup Journal Outsource 100

InfoChachkie

JUNE 4, 2012

Fallacy: Startup ventures tend to evolve, especially after you begin speaking with pesky customers and demanding partners. Fallacy: Most large organizations are driven by the fear of loss, rather than hope of gain. Rationale: My idea is so mind-blowingly fantastic that I must immediately spend some of my precious capital to protect it.

Entrepreneur 272

Entrepreneur Outsource Ideas Technical Review 272

Tech Zulu Event

NOVEMBER 18, 2011

Having paying “Customers” is what makes the cash register roar. An entrepreneur having low self worth is the number one deterrent for a potential customer not buying into what you are selling. Using your service or owning your product isn’t why a person buys, it’s the experience your customer will have. Second, how to get leads.

Customer 85

Customer Custom Marketing SEO 85

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 27, 2020

Yet if that leaves you with no documented business plan or unclear strategy, most investors and even customers will walk away. As a result, he missed opportunities, and the whole organization suffered. Don’t forget the wealth of “gig” experts for outsourcing at a low cost. Use technology and tools, but don’t let them sink you.

Product 123

Product Startup Tips Entrepreneur 123

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 10, 2020

A business startup is not an academic environment, or a big company research organization. Outsourcing to expert freelancers or business partners is often a better solution for startups than managing everyone into the inside team. They are attracted to people who agree, but may not be able to help.

Competition 174

Competition High Tech Startup Social Media 174

Southern California Edison Blog

FEBRUARY 11, 2020

While some organizations may have the resources to manage their own network, an in-house team without the right technical prowess may still struggle to handle their networks in the most cost-effective and productive way. By partnering with an MNSP, organizations can receive four main benefits: Cost Savings. Improved Network Quality.

Networking 54

Networking Services Organization Technical Support 54

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 2, 2018

For example, both need to provide exemplary customer service, build customer loyalty, and provide real value for a competitive price. If you don’t have a high level of commitment and passion, you customers won’t seek you out. Customers can touch and see a great product, but services are a bit ethereal.

Services 72

Services Startup Training Writing 72

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 11, 2015

I see too many business plans that are really product plans for customers, touting free services and long feature lists. No product, even with a large opportunity, is ready to scale until you can show it working, with multiple customers paying the full price, to validate the business model. Word-of-mouth does not scale.

Startup 103

Startup Outsource Invest Ideas 103

Southern California Edison Blog

FEBRUARY 28, 2018

Any interruption in service can have drastic effects on productivity, customer service, and on your bottom line. For specific organizations that are part of the critical infrastructure for our community, the costs can be even higher. Scalability and Flexibility. Economies of scale almost always result in up-front cost savings.

Services 64

Services Southern California Alhambra Technical Review 64

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 7, 2013

I see too many business plans that are really product plans for customers, touting free services and long feature lists. No product, even with a large opportunity, is ready to scale until you can show it working, with multiple customers paying the full price, to validate the business model. Word-of-mouth does not scale.

Tips 111

Tips Startup Outsource Ideas 111

InfoChachkie

AUGUST 26, 2013

Stealth mode” occurs when an organization intentionally flies under the radar, obscuring its true purpose and shunning public exposure. Moderate persistent can be purchased, but passion can never be outsourced. Creating marketing awareness requires passion and persistence, two attributes that are in short supply at most PR firms.

Marketing 247

Marketing Entrepreneur Journal Media 247

Jason Nazar

JULY 1, 2016

It’s hard to fully appreciate the complexity of keeping an organization with thousands of employees moving forward. Add in public company demands, lawsuit targets, & millions of customers to continually satisfy, and you have to have great respect for those doing it well. But that doesn’t mean that they have it all figured out.

Entrepreneur 55

Entrepreneur Company Companies Outsource Development 55

Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 14, 2016

I see too many business plans that are really product plans for customers, touting free services and long feature lists. No product, even with a large opportunity, is ready to scale until you can show it working, with multiple customers paying the full price, to validate the business model. Word-of-mouth does not scale.

Funding 67

Funding Startup Outsource Ideas 67

Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 27, 2014

For example, both need to provide exemplary customer service, build customer loyalty, and provide real value for a competitive price. If you don’t have a high level of commitment and passion, you customers won’t seek you out. Customers can touch and see a great product, but services are a bit ethereal.

Services 105

Services Startup Training Writing 105

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 24, 2015

I’m not suggesting that you model your startup after the complex corporate organizations you hated in your last job, but there are at least eight key functions and activities that every investor expects to find in a startup proposal with any real potential to change the world. Customer receivables collection and vendor payments.

Outsource Development 99

Outsource Development Startup Competition Ideas 99

Southern California Edison Blog

JUNE 11, 2021

Businesses that don’t outsource network maintenance tasks put the onus on their internal teams, which can quickly max out their bandwidth. Enterprises with in-house IT expertise can leverage wavelength services to meet their network performance, security, and customization needs. Addressing Security Concerns. Dark Fiber.

Networking 88

Networking Services Design Demand 88

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 17, 2016

For example, both need to provide exemplary customer service, build customer loyalty, and provide real value for a competitive price. If you don’t have a high level of commitment and passion, you customers won’t seek you out. Customers can touch and see a great product, but services are a bit ethereal.

Services 61

Services Startup Training Writing 61

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 25, 2017

Opportunities to meet investors and support organizations. Meeting the new consumer demand for customization. Customers today increasingly demand solutions that are customized just for them. There are already more than 2000 hackerspaces worldwide, as listed on the Hackerspace Wiki.

Ideas 61

Ideas Outsource Development Startup Education 61

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 6, 2013

You can’t outsource that one. When the organization changes, be the first to help the new organization work, even when it costs extra hours and sweat. If you see a customer service problem hurting the company, step up proactively with a proposal to fix it. Be a builder … and a rebuilder. Pay attention to your image.

Startup 103

Startup Entrepreneur Journal Outsource 103

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 9, 2016

Now you have real customers who can quickly turn off hundreds of potential customers if you ignore their feedback. Now it’s time to make decisions from analytics, customer reviews, and financial results, rather than letting your passion and perseverance convince you that customers will soon see it your way.

Social Network 59

Social Network Startup Demand Entrepreneur 59

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 14, 2017

You can’t outsource that one. When the organization changes, be the first to help the new organization work, even when it costs extra hours and sweat. If you see a customer service problem hurting the company, step up proactively with a proposal to fix it. Be a builder … and a rebuilder. Pay attention to your image.

Startup 58

Startup Journal Outsource Tips 58

socalTECH

APRIL 30, 2018

For this morning's interview, we caught up with Elizabeth Cholawsky , the new CEO of Santa Barbara-based HG Data (www.hgdata.com), which develops software which helps marketers and salespeople understand the "technology stack" of their potential customers and prospects. That took quite a bit of investment in organic growth and acquisitions.

Santa Barbara 113

Santa Barbara High Tech Outsource Development Startup 113

InfoChachkie

MAY 5, 2016

Two Virtual Organizations That Worked. Dan is now CEO of Mobile1st , makers of Mobilizer, the mobile customer experience optimization platform. He then started several successful companies, including FastSpring, a company that provides outsourced e-commerce services to over 3,000 software companies. FastSpring.

Entrepreneur 100

Entrepreneur Santa Barbara Email Outsource Development 100