Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 9, 2021

They keep asking people like me whether the time is right, and the truth is that there’s never an ideal time to start your own business. It’s like starting a personal relationship, if you wait for exactly the right time, you’ll never do it. This is a necessary, but not sufficient reason to start a business now.

Startup 168

Startup Ideas Satisfaction Entrepreneur 168

Startup Professionals Musings

DECEMBER 12, 2021

He suggests you begin with the “big three” business objectives of higher revenue, reduced costs, and improved customer satisfaction. If they read it and like it, do they click through to your web site, or engage with your organization in new and different ways? Get attention and reach your audience. That’s where the money is.

Social Media 127

Social Media Media Metrics Satisfaction 127

Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 9, 2020

Due to the pervasive Internet, the scope of most successful startup teams today has become global. According to recent reports , these come from all the way up and down the age and experience spectrum, including up to ninety percent of the current Baby Boomers, as well as Millennials. Higher worker engagement and satisfaction.

Competition 168

Competition Startup Demand Training 168

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 29, 2023

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 111

Startup Training Services Writing 111

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 20, 2020

Yet as I mentor entrepreneurs around the country, it still seems to be one of the least understood approaches to startup funding, with more myths than accredited angels and professional venture capital investors combined. The crowd gets the satisfaction of helping, with minimal risk, and no expectation of any high return. In the U.S.,

Entrepreneur 129

Entrepreneur Outsource Development Satisfaction Equity 129

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.

Entrepreneur 122

Entrepreneur Startup Course Examples 122

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. 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

SEPTEMBER 21, 2015

As a startup advisor, when I suggest cooperating with competitors, most entrepreneurs initially think I'm crazy or suggesting something illegal. And growth is the lifeblood of every startup. And growth is the lifeblood of every startup. Complementary advantages can expand both markets. Be cautious, but not paranoid.

Startup 102

Startup Customer Custom IBM 102

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

APRIL 4, 2015

Social media is so pervasive in today’s world that every entrepreneur believes instinctively that they know how to use it for their startup. 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.

Social Media 108

Social Media Media Startup Tips 108

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 2, 2022

High-technology product startups, without customers, don’t make a business. Survey results show that more than 80% of consumers now receive advice through social networking sites prior to a product purchase. 3 out of 4 people like getting exclusive offers that they can redeem via Facebook or other sites. First Moment of Truth.

Customer 122

Customer Custom Social Media Technical Review 122

Startup Professionals Musings

DECEMBER 3, 2021

In the past, if your startup had a website presence, the company was credible by definition. Yet most startups I know experience the same shock of disappointment when they first open up their website to offer their “million dollar idea” product, and nobody comes. Put yourself on the site. People buy from people.

Web 117

Web Search Engine Optimization eBook Advertising 117

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 13, 2022

I continue to be amazed that more than a quarter of new businesses don’t even have a website , and many more don’t pay attention to social media, or monitor feedback on sites like Yelp. At minimum, that requires a modern website, and visibility on relevant social media sites, likely including Facebook, YouTube, and Twitter.

Technical Review 142

Technical Review Social Media Conference Customer 142

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. True entrepreneurs love change – that’s why they are starting a new venture.

Startup 82

Startup Satisfaction Entrepreneur Mentor 82

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 3, 2013

They keep asking people like me whether the time is right, and the truth is that there’s never an ideal time to start your own business. It’s like starting a personal relationship, if you wait for exactly the right time, you’ll never do it. This is a necessary, but not sufficient reason to start a business now.

Startup 103

Startup Ideas Entrepreneur Satisfaction 103

Startup Professionals Musings

DECEMBER 10, 2022

In my own experience as a startup advisor and mentor, I find that entrepreneurs who can’t attract and maintain a highly motivated team rarely even get off the ground. Thus if you want to change the world with your new business, you need to follow the example of startups like Zappos , which hires according to cultural fit first.

Examples 145

Examples Mentor Activity Product 145

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 20, 2013

In the past, if your startup had a website presence, the company was credible by definition. Yet most startups I know experience the same shock of disappointment when they first open up their website to offer their “million dollar idea” product, and nobody comes. Put yourself on the site. People buy from people.

Search Engine Optimization 105

Search Engine Optimization Startup Advertising SEO 105

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

JULY 18, 2015

I may be old fashioned, but the term consultant still conjures up an image of a self-proclaimed expert who can make great presentations, generate recommendations and leave you to do the hard work of implementation. Startups need outside experts who can do the work, as well as provide training on what needs to be done.

Services 100

Services Startup Software Review Social Media 100

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 21, 2023

How will work productivity and quality be impacted, and what effect will it have on personal careers, job satisfaction, and work-life balance? In my experience, a great office culture will enhance every team member productivity, as well as personal satisfaction. Communicate your desire to achieve work-life balance for all team members.

Coach 85

Coach Satisfaction Activity Sites 85

Startup Professionals Musings

MARCH 22, 2013

High-technology product startups, without customers, don’t make a business. Survey results show that 81% of consumers now receive advice through social networking sites prior to a product purchase. 77% of people like getting exclusive offers that they can redeem via Facebook or other sites. Authority – the guiding light.

Customer 100

Customer Custom Startup Social Media 100

TechEmpower

OCTOBER 9, 2023

With Generative AI and LLMs, new avenues for improving operational efficiency and user satisfaction are emerging every day. Recipe Suggestions for Culinary Sites For culinary platforms or recipe websites, user searches can be incredibly varied, given the diverse range of ingredients and dietary preferences.

Generative AI 346

Generative AI Artificial Inteligence Tool Knowledge Base 346

Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 21, 2015

Yet as I mentor entrepreneurs around the country, it still seems to be one of the least understood approaches to startup funding, with more myths than accredited angels and professional venture capital investors combined. The crowd gets the satisfaction of helping, with minimal risk, and no expectation of any high return. In the U.S.,

Venture Capital 108

Venture Capital Angel Satisfaction Equity 108

Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 20, 2019

In the past, if your startup had a website presence, the company was credible by definition. Yet most startups I know experience the same shock of disappointment when they first open up their website to offer their “million dollar idea” product, and nobody comes. Put yourself on the site. People buy from people.

Search Engine Optimization 88

Search Engine Optimization eBook Advertising SEO 88

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

socalTECH

APRIL 26, 2018

What do you do, if you grew up and became an adult, and now are starting a familybut you never learned to cook? If you're part of the generation that grew up always going out for food or buying pre-prepared food, you might feel a bit overwhelmed with the cooking that comes with becoming a parent and having a family.

Startup 100

Startup Resource Los Angeles Organization 100

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 1, 2019

High-technology product startups, without customers, don’t make a business. Survey results show that more than 80% of consumers now receive advice through social networking sites prior to a product purchase. 3 out of 4 people like getting exclusive offers that they can redeem via Facebook or other sites. First Moment of Truth.

Customer 85

Customer Custom Social Media Technical Review 85

Startup Professionals Musings

DECEMBER 5, 2010

In the past, if your startup had a website presence, the company was credible by definition. Yet most startups I know experience the same shock of disappointment when they first open up their website to offer their “million dollar idea” product, and nobody comes. Put yourself on the site. People buy from people.

Tips 92

Tips Search Engine Optimization Startup Advertising 92

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 23, 2013

The newest equity model was passed into law in early 2012 via the JOBS Act , and still has no scheduled date for availability in the USA, waiting for the rules to be defined by the SEC: Startup equity crowd funding. Example sites include StartSomeGood and the Facebook Cause page. This is not a get-rich-quick vehicle for consumers.

Funding 99

Funding Satisfaction Sites Outsource Development 99

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

JUNE 17, 2016

The report also indicates that customer problem experiences continue to increase, up four percent to 54 percent since the last study. As an adviser to startups, I’m convinced that most understand the need, but many still simply don’t know how to show their customers that extra love and support. Carey School of Business.

Customer 56

Customer Custom Startup Satisfaction 56

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 25, 2023

Of course, starting and running your own business comes with financial and personal risks, so I always recommend that you do your homework first, and follow some tried and proven strategies to improve your odds of success. These days, you can’t start and run a business alone. Pick a name, location, and marketing strategy early.

Social Media 98

Social Media Metrics Media Tool 98

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. Every entrepreneur and every startup needs to have a clear “elevator pitch,” which identifies a unique strength and value they bring to the table. Start today thinking at least one job ahead.

Startup 98

Startup Outsource Development Competition Social Media 98

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

MARCH 11, 2020

In my own experience as a startup advisor and mentor, I find that entrepreneurs who can’t attract and maintain a highly motivated team rarely even get off the ground. Thus if you want to change the world with your new business, you need to follow the example of startups like Zappos , which hires according to cultural fit first.

Product 129

Product Examples Mentor Activity 129

Startup Professionals Musings

DECEMBER 22, 2017

Usually this stage only really starts after an investor has expressed serious interest, or already informally agreed to invest. My best advice is to put some structure and discipline into your due diligence preparation, including the following steps: Schedule a team meeting to bring everyone up to date.

Invest 59

Invest Startup Doc Slides 59

Startup Professionals Musings

MARCH 19, 2022

I still find too many service organizations that ignore or discount online reviews and satisfaction surveys. Another major source of services clients these days is online industry directory sites and ranking review articles.

Services 121

Services Technical Review Social Media Case Study 121