Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 26, 2020

a leading researcher on consumer behavior and the impact of digital, reports that decision makers, social media users, and younger demographics are more and more comfortable sharing data in order to close the gap between thought and action. In his classic book, “ Digital Context 2.0: Norton, Ph.D., No-comfort consumers – 17 percent.

Social Media 131

Social Media Startup Tool Google 131

Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 21, 2023

Proof of any business model starts with a finished product or solution, sold to a new customer for full price, with high satisfaction for the value received. The conundrum is that once you have really proven the business model, you no longer need the investor money you asked for to start the business.

Customer 109

Customer Custom Satisfaction Sales 109

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 5, 2020

As an advisor to entrepreneurs, I find that I often have to remind them that the world of customers has changed since they started their last business. But even the older Boomers have learned to use technology and social media as the source of expectations from your business, more so than your own traditional marketing.

Customer 133

Customer Custom Social Media Startup 133

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 3, 2020

The critical success factors for a product business are well known, starting with selling every unit with a gross margin of 50 percent or more, building a patent and other intellectual property, and continuous product improvement. Start with a service you know and love. Capture your “secret sauce.”

Startup 174

Startup Training Services Writing 174

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 9, 2022

A common request I get while mentoring entrepreneurs is for a copy of the startup checklist they need to follow, in order to build a successful new business. The challenge is that every new business needs to be innovative and different, in order to rise above the crowd, bring real change to the world, and give you the satisfaction you seek.

Technology 133

Technology Cloud Computing Social Media Networking 133

Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 11, 2023

Today, in this age of pervasive social media and two-way communication, the focus needs to get beyond demographics into personalities. Customers react poorly when they hear your value claims for them, and see more value to you (bottled water in your hotel room at a high price as a “convenience” to you).

Customer 131

Customer Custom Social Media Training 131

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 25, 2020

The world keeps changing, and visible business strategies that worked well in the past, including being the premium brand or low price producer, simply don’t get the customer loyalty they once did. Today, customers are looking for real relationships, a memorable shopping experience, and satisfaction of a higher purpose.

Customer 133

Customer Custom Satisfaction Examples 133

Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 26, 2014

The E-Myth (“Entrepreneurial Myth”) is the mistaken belief that most businesses are started by people with tangible business skills, when in fact most are started by “technicians” who know nothing about running a business. Perhaps an innate business savvy is no longer a requirement for starting a successful business.

Entrepreneur 107

Entrepreneur Startup Social Media Technical Review 107

Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 8, 2023

Most business professionals I know have been conditioned to think of inflation as highly negative, driving up their costs, and reducing customer buying. I recommend using digital channels, including email and social media, personalized, if possible, with promotions. Outsource functions outside your core competency.

Outsource 95

Outsource Customer Custom Sample 95

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 16, 2020

Today, in this age of pervasive social media and two-way communication, the focus needs to get beyond demographics into personalities. Customers react poorly when they hear your value claims for them, and see more value to you (bottled water in your hotel room at a high price as a “convenience” to you). Marty Zwilling.

Customer 158

Customer Custom Social Media Satisfaction 158

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 17, 2015

For the elite startups and entrepreneurs who manage to attract the investor they dream of, and survive the term sheet negotiation, there is still one more hurdle before the money is in the bank. That might start with the CEO giving the investor pitch to the whole organization, and distributing the current business plan document to everyone.

Technical Review 108

Technical Review Startup Satisfaction Entrepreneur 108

Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 23, 2022

a leading researcher on consumer behavior and the impact of digital, reports that decision makers, social media users, and younger demographics are more and more comfortable sharing data in order to close the gap between thought and action. In his classic book, “ Digital Context 2.0: Norton, Ph.D., No-comfort consumers – 17 percent.

Social Media 107

Social Media Tool Google Yahoo 107

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. Today your reputation online is more important than your price, service, or location. Be selective in how you communicate.

Social Media 144

Social Media Media Summary Satisfaction 144

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 22, 2021

Proof of any business model starts with a finished product or solution, sold to a new customer for full price, with high satisfaction for the value received. The conundrum is that once you have really proven the business model, you no longer need the investor money you asked for to start the business.

Sales 165

Sales Customer Custom Social Media 165

Startup Professionals Musings

MARCH 28, 2015

A common request I get while mentoring entrepreneurs is for a copy of the startup checklist they need to follow, in order to build a successful new business. The challenge is that every new business needs to be innovative and different, in order to rise above the crowd, bring real change to the world, and give you the satisfaction you seek.

Startup 107

Startup Cloud Computing Social Media Entrepreneur 107

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 17, 2016

The critical success factors for a product business are well known, starting with selling every unit with a gross margin of 50 percent or more, building a patent and other intellectual property, and continuous product improvement. Start with a service you know and love. Capture your “secret sauce.”

Services 61

Services Startup Training Writing 61

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 26, 2013

The E-Myth (“Entrepreneurial Myth”) is the mistaken belief that most businesses are started by people with tangible business skills, when in fact most are started by “technicians” who know nothing about running a business. Perhaps an innate business savvy is no longer a requirement for starting a successful business.

Startup 94

Startup Technical Review Social Media Satisfaction 94

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 20, 2015

Proof of any business model starts with a finished product or solution, sold to a new customer for full price, with high satisfaction for the value received. The conundrum is that once you have really proven the business model, you no longer need the investor money you asked for to start the business.

Startup 107

Startup Sales Customer Custom 107

Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 18, 2017

A common request I get while mentoring entrepreneurs is for a copy of the startup checklist they need to follow, in order to build a successful new business. The challenge is that every new business needs to be innovative and different, in order to rise above the crowd, bring real change to the world, and give you the satisfaction you seek.

Cloud Computing 61

Cloud Computing Startup Social Media Networking 61

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 29, 2019

A common request I get while mentoring entrepreneurs is for a copy of the startup checklist they need to follow, in order to build a successful new business. The challenge is that every new business needs to be innovative and different, in order to rise above the crowd, bring real change to the world, and give you the satisfaction you seek.

Technology 86

Technology Cloud Computing Social Media Networking 86

Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 27, 2019

According to a recent poll , contractors and freelancers could make up half of the American workforce within a decade. In essence, as a contractor, you are a consultant who is competing regularly for new work, and you constantly have to differentiate your offering from other candidates, including price.

Startup 98

Startup Outsource Development Competition Social Media 98

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 2, 2018

The critical success factors for a product business are well known, starting with selling every unit with a gross margin of 50 percent or more, building a patent and other intellectual property, and continuous product improvement. Start with a service you know and love. Capture your “secret sauce.”

Services 72

Services Startup Training Writing 72

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 2, 2016

Many people will argue that total customer satisfaction is paramount, but I’m a pragmatist who believes that treating everyone the same really means treating all of them poorly. Use interactive social media and targeted marketing to go after the customers that you want and need. Help them find that new provider.

Customer 65

Customer Custom Startup Satisfaction 65

Both Sides of the Table

MAY 19, 2013

My internal compass has always steered me strongly toward the belief that founders who can scale with their startup companies are better to back that founders who eventually need to hire a CEO. Very few founder CEOs go into the job ever expecting to give up their seat. So give up the CEO role? It’s your baby.

Startup 303

Startup Technical Review Product Blogging 303

Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 27, 2014

The critical success factors for a product business are well known, starting with selling every unit with a gross margin of 50 percent or more, building a patent and other intellectual property, and continuous product improvement. Start with a service you know and love. Capture your “secret sauce.”

Services 105

Services Startup Training Writing 105

Startup Professionals Musings

NOVEMBER 17, 2018

Today, in this age of pervasive social media and two-way communication, the focus needs to get beyond demographics into personalities. Customers react poorly when they hear your value claims for them, and see more value to you (bottled water in your hotel room at a high price as a “convenience” to you). Marty Zwilling.

Customer 100

Customer Custom Social Media Training 100

Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 2, 2011

By John Williams Fast Company magazine recently reported that PayPal founder Paul Thiel is giving away $100,000 to twenty-four young men and women to finance startup businesses. Thiel is providing his mentees with capital to make their startups a reality. You get the personal satisfaction of making something out of almost nothing.

Startup 92

Startup Capital Blogging Ideas 92

Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 2, 2014

A common request I get while mentoring entrepreneurs is for a copy of the startup checklist they need to follow, in order to build a successful new business. The challenge is that every new business needs to be innovative and different, in order to rise above the crowd, bring real change to the world, and give you the satisfaction you seek.

Cloud Computing 99

Cloud Computing Social Media Entrepreneur Networking 99

Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 22, 2016

Today, in this age of pervasive social media and two-way communication, the focus needs to get beyond demographics into personalities. Customers react poorly when they hear your value claims for them, and see more value to you (bottled water in your hotel room at a high price as a “convenience” to you).

Customer 97

Customer Custom Social Media Training 97

Startup Professionals Musings

MARCH 17, 2017

People follow influencers on social media to find what they buy, who they vote for, and which social causes they support. Actively participating in social media is the place to start, including blogging and positively responding to customer feedback, to build a growing crowd of followers.

Social Media 58

Social Media Customer Custom Entrepreneur 58

InfoChachkie

OCTOBER 24, 2011

There has recently been a common theme among the entrepreneurs I have interviewed and the conferences I have attended: despite the relatively weak state of the world economy, now is a great time to create a high-tech startup. As Guy Kawasaki pointed out in our recent conversation , “…it is cheaper than ever to start a company.

Company 257

Company Companies Startup Study 257

Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 5, 2016

Many entrepreneurs are so passionate about their new startup idea that they can’t believe any intelligent being, investor or customer wouldn’t react just as excitedly after a quick introduction. Indeed, all entrepreneurs have to start at the beginning with passion for an idea. Present evidence of interest and excitement from others.

Ideas 56

Ideas Study Entrepreneur Customer 56

Startup Professionals Musings

MARCH 17, 2016

a leading researcher on consumer behavior and the impact of digital, reports that decision makers, social media users, and younger demographics are more and more comfortable sharing data in order to close the gap between thought and action. In his new book, “ Digital Context 2.0: Norton, Ph.D., No-comfort consumers – 17 percent.

Social Media 53

Social Media Tool Anthem Google 53

Startup Professionals Musings

DECEMBER 30, 2016

Most people have heard of Foursquare for local nightlife and Airbnb for rooms, but other nationally recognized sources for local services are still hard to find, including social media, local news, advertising, and event calendars. Expanding neighborhood-by-neighborhood or city-by-city is not a simple cookie-cutter process.

Advertising 63

Advertising Content Social Media Satisfaction 63

Startup Professionals Musings

DECEMBER 20, 2019

With the current strong economy I’m seeing a continued resurgence of entrepreneurial spirit, and more startup activity than ever before. There is additional encouraging news for aspiring entrepreneurs on many fronts, just in case you are thinking about joining the existing ranks: Valuations of successful startups have hit an all-time high.

Startup 128

Startup Social Media Satisfaction Entrepreneur 128

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 6, 2021

In most companies, maintaining momentum requires the right strategic partners and acquisitions, in lieu of short-term price adjustments and special sales. Today’s customers quickly sense the growing momentum of specific businesses, or lack of it, via social media, online reviews, and texting with friends, and change their habits accordingly.

Technical Review 160

Technical Review Technical Advisors Startup Mentor 160

Tech Zulu Event

JUNE 3, 2015

Many started out in a completely unrelated field and fell into their current profession where they discovered a passion, skill and expertise they developed over time, becoming more successful as they grew in knowledge and experience. Almost all credited their spouse, or a mentor, in helping them achieve their success.

Conference 40

Conference Entertainment Startup Digital Hollywood 40