Startup Professionals Musings

DECEMBER 20, 2019

I believe the days of the “job work” mentality are thankfully waning, with more people looking to get satisfaction by making the world a better place, rather than just tolerating brain-numbing work to fund enjoyment elsewhere. I can remember when creating a web site for eCommerce could easily require a million dollar investment.

Startup 128

Startup Social Media Satisfaction Entrepreneur 128

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 6, 2021

Fight the urge do more things, to attract more customers in a broader market. In reality, too many choices actually dilutes customer interest in your existing market, and makes your job of production, marketing, and support much more complex. Most ecommerce sites highlight this feature.

Technical Review 160

Technical Review Technical Advisors Startup Mentor 160

Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 9, 2020

That means starting your search through contract services sites, rather than conventional career hiring sites. This lets you evolve your strategy with the market. Optimize staffing overhead and flexibility in a fluid market. Today you need that budget for market fluxuations, pandemics, and product updates.

Competition 168

Competition Startup Demand Training 168

Startup Professionals Musings

MARCH 19, 2022

With the power of the Internet, and the impact of the recent pandemic , the world of business services, such as accounting and marketing, have gone more and more remote. I still find too many service organizations that ignore or discount online reviews and satisfaction surveys. Focus on proposals, rather than hourly rates.

Services 121

Services Technical Review Social Media Case Study 121

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 25, 2023

Pick a name, location, and marketing strategy early. Make sure the name and trademarks you want are available, as well as web site address, social media tags, and any other intellectual property. But if you do it right, the joys and satisfaction, as well as financial returns, of your success can’t be beat.

Social Media 98

Social Media Metrics Media Tool 98

Startup Professionals Musings

MARCH 9, 2019

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. He suggests you begin with the “big three” business objectives of higher revenue, reduced costs, and improved customer satisfaction. Get attention and reach your audience.

Social Media 98

Social Media Media Metrics Satisfaction 98

Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 20, 2019

What validates credibility and makes your site memorable in the minds of consumers, and how much does it cost? Put yourself on the site. The presence of a few related advertisements can actually improve your site credibility, since most credible sites have them. Follow-up for customer satisfaction.

Search Engine Optimization 88

Search Engine Optimization eBook Advertising SEO 88

Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 9, 2021

You get great satisfaction from overcoming all obstacles, and you have no problem with living or dying by your own decisions. Within that context, you can delegate or find partners for things that bore you, like marketing, rather than feel that you have been assigned to do the least interesting work.

Startup 168

Startup Ideas Satisfaction Entrepreneur 168

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 29, 2023

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. On the product side, once you have a proven product and business model, all you need is money to build inventory, and a sales and marketing operation to drive the business.

Startup 111

Startup Training Services Writing 111

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 1, 2020

Based on my own experiences in startups, and many years of advising new business owners, I’m convinced that there are a few common frustrations that we all need to anticipate and prepare for, rather than let them be a surprise and a painful dent in your enthusiasm and personal satisfaction from living your dream. Scaling a business is hard.

Entrepreneur 122

Entrepreneur Startup Course Examples 122

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. On the product side, once you have a proven product and business model, all you need is money to build inventory, and a sales and marketing operation to drive the business.

Startup 174

Startup Training Services Writing 174

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 23, 2021

Others are really marketers out to make money fast, and believe that they can entice customers to any offering. A few years ago, I first saw an interesting step in that direction via the classic book “ Entrepreneurial DNA ,” by Joe Abraham , with his assessment web site. Some just want to change the world and make it a better place.

Entrepreneur 134

Entrepreneur Framework Mentor Web 134

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 23, 2013

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 many years. Example sites include StartSomeGood and the Facebook Cause page. A good example site, and one of the earliest in this category, is IndieGoGo.

Funding 99

Funding Satisfaction Sites Outsource Development 99

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 4, 2015

Many soon find that what you do in a personal context doesn’t necessarily translate to your business, and measuring business value is quite different from measuring personal satisfaction. Create an integrated conventional marketing and social media strategy. Manage your expectations, and analyze every marketing channel.

Social Media 108

Social Media Media Startup Tips 108

Startup Professionals Musings

DECEMBER 10, 2018

Most entrepreneurs see their new venture as a fun adventure, until the pressures of a cash flow crisis, or a manufacturing quality problem, or a major customer satisfaction problem hits. New competitors can steal your market, or they can open up new markets. I wish I could, since these often make or break your business future.

Startup 82

Startup Satisfaction Entrepreneur Mentor 82

Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 2, 2019

For example, if your business is landscaping, it’s well worth your time as the owner to make one last call on every customer a week after completion, to check their satisfaction, clear up any oversights, ask for a testimonial, and probably get some follow-on work. Some industry sites will remove comments at your request.

Customer 86

Customer Custom Examples Sites 86

Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 27, 2019

Yet I find that few of today’s workers realize that succeeding as a freelancer requires a whole new focus on “marketing” yourself. As you know, things can change quickly, as businesses try to survive and adapt to an evolving market, so it’s better to be prepared than caught off guard. Start today thinking at least one job ahead.

Startup 98

Startup Outsource Development Competition Social Media 98

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 19, 2015

I believe the days of the “job work” mentality are thankfully waning, with more people looking to get satisfaction by making the world a better place, rather than just tolerating brain-numbing work to fund enjoyment elsewhere. I can remember when creating a web site for eCommerce could easily require a million dollar investment.

Startup 108

Startup Social Media Entrepreneur Satisfaction 108

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 22, 2012

What validates credibility and makes your site memorable in the minds of consumers, and how much does it cost? Put yourself on the site. The presence of a few related advertisements can actually improve your site credibility, since most credible sites have them. Follow-up for customer satisfaction.

Search Engine Optimization 96

Search Engine Optimization Entrepreneur Sites Advertising 96

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 21, 2015

For example, think of all the specialized social-media sites that allow the use of your Facebook or Twitter credentials, instead of forcing a new one. That’s a win-win-win deal, since the ease-of-use attracts more people to the new site, it enhances the Facebook brand, and it simplifies the customer interaction.

Startup 102

Startup Customer Custom IBM 102

Startup Professionals Musings

MARCH 12, 2017

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. He suggests you begin with the “big three” business objectives of higher revenue, reduced costs, and improved customer satisfaction. Get attention and reach your audience.

Social Media 69

Social Media Media Metrics Satisfaction 69

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 25, 2012

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. Example sites include StartSomeGood and the Facebook Cause page. A good example site, and one of the earliest in this category, is IndieGoGo.

Funding 96

Funding Satisfaction Sites Outsource Development 96

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 20, 2013

What validates credibility and makes your site memorable in the minds of consumers, and how much does it cost? Put yourself on the site. The presence of a few related advertisements can actually improve your site credibility, since most credible sites have them. Follow-up for customer satisfaction.

Search Engine Optimization 105

Search Engine Optimization Startup Advertising SEO 105

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 21, 2018

I believe the days of the “job work” mentality are thankfully waning, with more people looking to get satisfaction by making the world a better place, rather than just tolerating brain-numbing work to fund enjoyment elsewhere. I can remember when creating a web site for eCommerce could easily require a million dollar investment.

Entrepreneur 66

Entrepreneur Startup Social Media Satisfaction 66

Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 18, 2017

What validates credibility and makes your site memorable in the minds of consumers, and how much does it cost? Put yourself on the site. The presence of a few related advertisements can actually improve your site credibility, since most credible sites have them. Follow-up for customer satisfaction.

Search Engine Optimization 54

Search Engine Optimization eBook Advertising SEO 54

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 17, 2015

The Founder needs to remember that meetings up to this point have been primarily off-site, with staged demos, and managed personally by the CEO or a small team. Due diligence always involves on-site visits, informal discussions with any or all members of the team, vendors, and good customers as well as bad.

Technical Review 108

Technical Review Startup Satisfaction Entrepreneur 108

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 5, 2013

But very few are talking about how to measure your results, and the right metrics for optimizing your marketing environment. Jim Sterne, who has written many books on Internet advertising, marketing, and customer service, tackled this complex world of social media metrics in his book titled " Social Media Metrics."

Social Media 102

Social Media Media Entrepreneur Metrics 102

Startup Professionals Musings

DECEMBER 26, 2013

I believe the days of the “job work” mentality are thankfully waning, with more people looking to get satisfaction by making the world a better place, rather than just tolerating brain-numbing work to fund enjoyment elsewhere. Twitter was one of the most notable, with a market capitalization now up to $38 billion all by itself.

Startup 109

Startup Entrepreneur Social Media Satisfaction 109

Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 28, 2019

With the cost of starting an online business today at an all-time low, I can’t imagine why everyone doesn’t have a web site and an LLC to mitigate liability and minimize taxes. New tools make it easy create your own web site, and manage accounting. Start networking for potential partners or people who can help.

Startup 73

Startup Tool Study Web 73

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 26, 2012

But very few are talking about how to measure your results, and the right metrics for optimizing your marketing environment. Jim Sterne, who has written six books on Internet advertising, marketing, and customer service, tackled this complex world of social media metrics in his book titled " Social Media Metrics."

Social Media 98

Social Media Metrics Media Startup 98

Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 17, 2016

The proper time to put a formal program in place to improve your customer experience, with measurements of both cost and value, is before your first product or service hits the market. We all know it’s less expensive to automate the support role, through web site forms and touch-tone phone systems.

Customer 56

Customer Custom Startup Satisfaction 56

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 18, 2015

Businesses stopped hiring for lifetime commitments some time ago, as markets change so rapidly and companies need to tune their workforce for changing economic conditions. Simply defining yourself as a specialist or professional minimizes the stigma of a consultant role (think marketing specialist or staffing professional).

Services 100

Services Startup Software Review Social Media 100

Startup Professionals Musings

DECEMBER 5, 2010

What validates credibility and makes your site memorable in the minds of consumers, and how much does it cost? Put yourself on the site. Include links to other sites showing your positives. The presence of a few related advertisements can actually improve your site credibility, since most credible sites have them.

Tips 92

Tips Search Engine Optimization Startup Advertising 92

Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 23, 2018

Luckily, I had always been a “hands-on” professional, and I had learned the pragmatics of people leadership, marketing, management tools, and funding. Simply defining yourself as a marketing specialist, designer, or project leader minimizes the stigma of the consultant role. Market yourself and work at all organizational levels.

Social Media 56

Social Media Software Review Customer Custom 56

Startup Professionals Musings

DECEMBER 22, 2017

Use this opportunity to validate their satisfaction and support for your company and your solution. During that period, it is very difficult for either party to get out of the deal, since there is no public market for the stock, and business divorces normally mean bankruptcy. Update reference customers, partners, and vendors.

Invest 59

Invest Startup Doc Slides 59

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 5, 2017

They expect to find you on the first result page from search engines, and position ranking is driven by relevant keywords, new content on a regular basis, and inbound and outbound site links. Expect to spend your limited budget on marketing. Word-of-mouth and minimal marketing does not drive a sustainable business.

Social Media 57

Social Media Search Engine Optimization Startup Customer 57

Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 11, 2010

But very few are talking about how to measure your results, and the right metrics for optimizing your marketing environment. Jim Sterne, who has written six books on Internet advertising, marketing, and customer service, tackled this complex world of social media metrics in his recent book titled " Social Media Metrics.

Social Media 84

Social Media Metrics Media Satisfaction 84