Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 3, 2020

If your forte is a service, like consulting or web site design, it’s harder to find guidance on what will get you funded, and how you can scale your business. With services, scaling the business often implies cloning yourself, since you are the intellectual property and the competitive advantage. Capture your “secret sauce.”

Startup 174

Startup Training Services Writing 174

Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 27, 2014

If your forte is a service, like consulting or web site design, it’s harder to find guidance on what will get you funded, and how you can scale your business. With services, scaling the business often implies cloning yourself, since you are the intellectual property and the competitive advantage. Capture your “secret sauce.”

Services 105

Services Startup Training Writing 105

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 18, 2021

This is the last step of the process, where surprises in the evaluation of the management team, documentation, and personnel problems can derail the investment. If there are financial anomalies, or someone on the team doesn’t know the current strategy, or is unhappy with you or the company, the investment will be jeopardized.

Technical Review 152

Technical Review Startup Satisfaction Summary 152

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 18, 2015

Specialists today can justify their cost based on more direct return on investment calculations at all operational levels. It also highlights all aspects of required customer service, satisfaction, loyalty and referrals to peers. Treat a startup as a customer, not a client. Deliver results rather than recommendations.

Services 100

Services Startup Software Review Social Media 100

Startup Professionals Musings

NOVEMBER 26, 2022

Many times friends and family have been broken by failed investments. Pivoting early brings satisfaction and saves money and time, except when you don’t pivot due to investor evidence required, and the pain of explaining your mistakes. Usually it pays to move a startup slower rather than risk relationships.

Funding 107

Funding Startup Satisfaction Venture Capital 107

Startup Professionals Musings

DECEMBER 12, 2021

There are many ‘experts’ out there telling you how to do it, or even offering their services. But very few are talking about how to measure your results and return on investment (ROI), and the right metrics for optimizing your marketing environment. Get attention and reach your audience. Get buy-in from your colleagues.

Social Media 127

Social Media Media Metrics Satisfaction 127

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 23, 2023

After you have heard a few startup success stories, like Google, Facebook, and Microsoft, you may be tempted to invest some money yourself, maybe by pooling your funds with other investors who claim to have a great track record. My advice is to leave the investing in startups to the professionals (or friends and fools). By commission?

Startup 92

Startup Funding Offshore Invest 92

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 17, 2016

If your forte is a service, like consulting or web site design, it’s harder to find guidance on what will get you funded, and how you can scale your business. With services, scaling the business often implies cloning yourself, since you are the intellectual property and the competitive advantage. Capture your “secret sauce.”

Services 61

Services Startup Training Writing 61

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 20, 2010

But recently I was asked about success factors for services startups, and I quickly realized that there is very little published to help the thousands of startups that fall in this category. The distinction between product companies and services companies is easy to see. Scaling services means cloning yourself.

Product 91

Product Services Satisfaction Patents 91

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 22, 2013

After you have heard a few startup success stories, like Google, Facebook, and Microsoft, you may be tempted to invest some money yourself, maybe by pooling your funds with other investors who claim to have a great track record. My advice is to leave the investing in startups to the professionals (or friends and fools). By commission?

Invest 96

Invest Startup Offshore Tips 96

Startup Professionals Musings

DECEMBER 22, 2021

Too many businesses I know still see customer service as a burden, rather than an opportunity to gain loyalty and advocacy. Your goal must be to make every aspect of a customer interaction a joy to both you and them, starting from the shopping experience, to the sales close, to delivery and service.

Customer 114

Customer Custom Satisfaction Metrics 114

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 3, 2023

More than ever before, people want to buy from, work for, and invest in companies that matter. It is no longer enough to just have a great product or service. Start with a market segment that you need to understand more deeply, and invest in the success of your joint customers.

Company 116

Company Companies Customer Custom 116

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 20, 2020

The crowd gets the satisfaction of helping, with minimal risk, and no expectation of any high return. No startup ownership or financial return should be expected, but contributors can enjoy the satisfaction of furthering non-profits or causes with a passion to change the world. Product pre-order model. Interest on debt model.

Entrepreneur 129

Entrepreneur Outsource Development Satisfaction Equity 129

Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 8, 2023

While they are looking, you can benefit with new services or an expanded product line. Also, you must focus on business model innovations that cut costs for your customers, such as self-service, un-bundling your pricing, and selling directly to the customer. Outsource functions outside your core competency. Make it a win on all fronts.

Outsource 95

Outsource Customer Custom Sample 95

Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 29, 2020

Many times friends and family have been broken by failed investments. Pivoting early brings satisfaction and saves money and time, except when you don’t pivot due to investor evidence required, and the pain of explaining your mistakes. Usually it pays to move a startup slower rather than risk relationships.

Startup 124

Startup Satisfaction Venture Capital Entrepreneur 124

Startup Professionals Musings

MARCH 10, 2023

Entrepreneurs need to document a process of responding to a market need, sizing opportunity, assigning a specific business model, and planning for marketing, sales, and customer satisfaction. Even if you are not requesting outside funding, I would expect a clear process for sourcing and managing the investment you plan to apply.

Outsource Development 115

Outsource Development Startup Competition Ideas 115

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 30, 2011

After you have heard a few startup success stories, like Google, Facebook, and Microsoft, you may be tempted to invest some money yourself, maybe by pooling your funds with other investors who claim to have a great track record. My advice is to leave the investing in startups to the professionals (or friends and fools). By commission?

Invest 92

Invest Startup Offshore Tips 92

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 11, 2022

Think of value propositions as bundles of services or products that create benefits (value) for customers. Then there is the follow-up to provide customer support and satisfaction. Every startup looking for investment needs a solid partner story. Value propositions. Key partners. No startup or entrepreneur is an island.

Funding 133

Funding Activity Customer Custom 133

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 13, 2022

Effective scaling and growth often requires more investment than is available from early organic returns. You need to evaluate the tradeoffs of getting investment capital from angel investors and crowdsourcing. These also will keep you better informed on new technologies, trends, and likely competitors.

Technical Review 142

Technical Review Social Media Conference Customer 142

Startup Professionals Musings

DECEMBER 20, 2020

More than ever before, people want to buy from, work for, and invest in companies that matter. It is no longer enough to just have a great product or service. Start with a market segment that you need to understand more deeply, and invest in the success of your joint customers.

Customer 167

Customer Custom Satisfaction Marketing 167

Tech.Co

DECEMBER 4, 2020

Under Hsieh’s leadership, Zappos revolutionized the apparel industry, and e-commerce in general, by being one of the first to prioritize customer satisfaction and service. And removing time constraints on customer service team members so they could give customers the time they need, and delight them with special, unexpected offers.

Commerce 206

Commerce Statistics Customer Custom 206

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 28, 2021

I recommend a trial run with an experiment or MVP (minimum viable product), at full price and cost, before the big bang launch, risking your investment money and a major time commitment. Culture and environmental changes come quickly, or take longer than anticipated, as the number of markets you must service increases.

Technical Review 131

Technical Review Case Study Mentor Software Review 131

Startup Professionals Musings

MARCH 9, 2019

There are many ‘experts’ out there telling you how to do it, or even offering their services. But very few are talking about how to measure your results and return on investment (ROI), and the right metrics for optimizing your marketing environment. Get attention and reach your audience. Get buy-in from your colleagues.

Social Media 98

Social Media Media Metrics Satisfaction 98

Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 3, 2016

Affirming and rewarding team members for key actions creates more momentum, commitment, and satisfaction. A business must be all about listening to customers, delivering value, and customer satisfaction. Execute processes and metrics around customer requirements, loyalty, satisfaction, and service.

Entrepreneur 106

Entrepreneur Satisfaction Metrics Ideas 106

Startup Professionals Musings

MARCH 28, 2022

But because they can’t project excellent returns on investment, no investors will likely be interested. million collected National Veterans Service Fund - 7.8% Do it because you love the cause, the service, or the product, and the challenges will get lost in the satisfaction and results you achieve along the way.

Organization 100

Organization Satisfaction Class Startup 100

Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 22, 2013

The more conventional VP of Marketing role should cover branding, as well as other marketing advertising, design, public relations and customer service requirements. They should get their satisfaction from building their business, rather than building their title. Chief Risk Officer. Marty Zwilling.

Startup 97

Startup Invest CTO Hire Cloud Computing 97

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 1, 2020

Don’t attempt this model without high automation and a big investment up front. Tech-focused service that solves complex problems. Companies in this realm typically are thought of as services business, even though they may offer product components as well. Service businesses to find the best solution.

Customer 123

Customer Custom Technical Review Examples 123

Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 7, 2020

Entrepreneurs need to document a process of responding to a market need, sizing opportunity, assigning a specific business model, and planning for marketing, sales, and customer satisfaction. Even if you are not requesting outside funding, I would expect a clear process for sourcing and managing the investment you plan to apply.

Entrepreneur 131

Entrepreneur Outsource Development Startup Competition 131

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 2, 2022

Perceived authorities guide decision making, by investing time, resources, and activity in earning a position of influence, leading to a community of loyalists who follow their recommendations. The result is that over 60% of online shoppers are brand loyal due to other online satisfaction data. Authority – the guiding light.

Customer 122

Customer Custom Social Media Technical Review 122

TechEmpower

OCTOBER 9, 2023

With Generative AI and LLMs, new avenues for improving operational efficiency and user satisfaction are emerging every day. Content Recommendations in Streaming Services While many streaming platforms suggest content based on viewing history, LLMs have the power to significantly elevate this experience.

Generative AI 346

Generative AI Artificial Inteligence Tool Knowledge Base 346

Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 21, 2015

The crowd gets the satisfaction of helping, with minimal risk, and no expectation of any high return. No startup ownership or financial return should be expected, but contributors can enjoy the satisfaction of furthering non-profits or causes with a passion to change the world. Product pre-order model. Interest on debt model.

Venture Capital 108

Venture Capital Angel Satisfaction Equity 108

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 31, 2012

But recently I was asked about success factors for services startups, and I quickly realized that there is very little published to help the thousands of startups that fall in this category. The distinction between product companies and services companies is easy to see. Scaling services means cloning yourself.

Satisfaction 91

Satisfaction Patents Outsource Development Services 91

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 23, 2013

This new model (now only legal in the UK) will allow large numbers of “regular” people to invest small amounts each online to get an ownership position in early startups. People can invest (donate) money to a project which has good moral/ethical value. This is not a get-rich-quick vehicle for consumers. Good-cause crowd funding.

Funding 99

Funding Satisfaction Sites Outsource Development 99

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 13, 2019

Think of value propositions as bundles of services or products that create benefits (value) for customers. Then there is the follow-up to provide customer support and satisfaction. Every startup looking for investment needs a solid partner story. Value propositions. Key partners. No startup or entrepreneur is an island.

Activity 100

Activity Customer Custom Resource 100

Startup Professionals Musings

MARCH 12, 2017

There are many ‘experts’ out there telling you how to do it, or even offering their services. But very few are talking about how to measure your results and return on investment (ROI), and the right metrics for optimizing your marketing environment. Get attention and reach your audience. Get buy-in from your colleagues.

Social Media 69

Social Media Media Metrics Satisfaction 69

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 25, 2012

This new model will allow large numbers of “regular” people to invest small amounts each online to fund early startups. As a current Angel investor, I can attest that any investments in startups are more risky than the commodity markets, and you shouldn’t expect to see any return for five years. Proceed at your own peril.

Funding 96

Funding Satisfaction Sites Outsource Development 96

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 26, 2013

This is the last step of the process, where surprises in the evaluation of the management team, documentation, and personnel problems can derail the investment. If there are financial anomalies, or someone on the team doesn’t know the current strategy, or is unhappy with you or the company, the investment will be jeopardized.

Technical Review 97

Technical Review Startup Satisfaction Summary 97