Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 3, 2019

Image via Pixabay Most startups, and many big businesses, still don’t have a clue on how to use social media productively for marketing their business. Valid social media objectives for a business should include one or more of the following: increased brand awareness, lead generation, service and support, or reputation management.

Social Media 240

Social Media Campaign Media Conversion Ratio 240

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 10, 2019

Image via Pixabay After a frustrating meeting with a small business client recently who didn’t “have time” for social media, I was surprised to find evidence on the Internet that up to one quarter of small business owners are still hesitant to invest time, money, and effort into a social media strategy.

Social Media 247

Social Media Media Reputation Viral 247

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 7, 2020

Even a million users on your social media site won’t pay the bills until you sell some advertising or a premium service. You need to be constantly assessing mergers and acquisitions, as well as divestitures. These days, the market is moving so fast that it is rarely adequate to rely only on internal development to keep up with change.

Technical Review 312

Technical Review Due Diligence Merger Social Media 312

Startup Professionals Musings

DECEMBER 23, 2017

Entrepreneurs and startups often ask if they should select only social media for marketing, or stick with digital media, or just count on traditional media. Social media as a marketing tool is here to stay, and is now widely accepted. Social media as a marketing tool is here to stay, and is now widely accepted.

Media 148

Media Social Media Marketing Campaign 148

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 1, 2017

Most startups, and many big businesses, still don’t have a clue on how to use social media productively for marketing their business. The first thing that entrepreneurs need to realize is that the process and framework for making social media marketing work are different from traditional marketing, and trial and error certainly doesn’t work.

Social Media 157

Social Media Media Conversion Ratio Lead Generation 157

Startup Professionals Musings

DECEMBER 1, 2013

Entrepreneurs and startups often ask if they should use social media for marketing, digital media, or traditional media. The place to start today is if your company only uses traditional media for marketing, or no marketing. Focus first on the social media trinity. The tools and measurements are the same for both.

Social Media 259

Social Media Media Marketing Startup 259

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 18, 2013

Most startups, and many big businesses, still don’t have a clue on how to use social media productively for marketing their business. The first thing that entrepreneurs need to realize is that the process and framework for making social media marketing work are different from traditional marketing, and trial and error certainly doesn’t work.

Social Media 256

Social Media Media Product Conversion Ratio 256

Startup Professionals Musings

DECEMBER 17, 2022

Customer acquisition gets harder and more expensive. Scrappy guerilla marketing based on personal contacts and word-of-mouth campaigns gives way to more expensive customer acquisition using advertising, trade shows, and a marketing agency. You suddenly need to enhance your in-house social media efforts with a public relations firm.

Hockey Stick 265

Hockey Stick Guerilla Acquisition Startup 265

Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 23, 2012

Entrepreneurs and startups often ask if they should use social media for marketing, digital media, or traditional media. The place to start today is if your company only uses traditional media for marketing, or no marketing. Focus first on the social media trinity. The tools and measurements are the same for both.

Media 231

Media Social Media Marketing Campaign 231

Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 11, 2023

This may also be the moment when you get your first big acquisition offer, rather than a clone appearing. Appreciate the media accolades and peer success feedback. Enjoy that first video interview at an industry conference, or the newspaper story which enhances your startup visibility and credibility.

Sweat Equity 296

Sweat Equity Startup Salary Viral 296

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 21, 2021

Working with the media is required, both social as well as the press, through public relations and internal channels. Utilize mergers and acquisitions to accelerate growth. As you might imagine, even with the proper planning, mergers and acquisitions are difficult to pull off.

Merger 379

Merger Due Diligence SEC IPO 379

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 27, 2012

Most startups, and many big businesses, still don’t have a clue on how to use social media productively for marketing their business. The first thing that entrepreneurs need to realize is that the process and framework for making social media marketing work are different from traditional marketing, and trial and error certainly doesn’t work.

Social Media 229

Social Media Media Conversion Ratio Lead Generation 229

Startup Professionals Musings

DECEMBER 23, 2016

This means regular updates are required to your business plan, marketing message, social media, and website content. Initiate new strategic partnerships and investigate acquisitions versus in-house changes. Businesses often settle on one social media or distribution channel based on initial testing, and never look back.

Social Media 120

Social Media Technical Review Metrics Channel 120

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 3, 2022

Here is an outline of some key force multipliers that I have seen used effectively in the ongoing battle for business survival and success: Establish a presence on multiple social media channels. Amazingly, I still find that many small businesses still don’t use any social media, much less appear on a range of platforms.

Marketing 299

Marketing Social Media Merger Acquisition 299

Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 13, 2015

Entrepreneurs and startups often ask if they should select only social media for marketing, or stick with digital media, or just count on traditional media. Social media as a marketing tool is here to stay, and is now widely accepted. Social media as a marketing tool is here to stay, and is now widely accepted.

Social Media 120

Social Media Media Marketing Campaign 120

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 16, 2020

This may also be the moment when you get your first big acquisition offer, rather than a clone appearing. Appreciate the media accolades and peer success feedback. Enjoy that first video interview at an industry conference, or the newspaper story which enhances your startup visibility and credibility.

Sweat Equity 435

Sweat Equity Salary Viral Leadership 435

Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 30, 2022

Of course you want your customer to come back, but the best ones also become your evangelists in bringing their friends to you, and broadcasting their positive experiences to the world through social media. This is a key moment where your customer acquisition costs go way down, and your profits go way up.

Customer 365

Customer Social Media Acquisition Internet 365

Startup Professionals Musings

MARCH 20, 2020

Customer acquisition gets harder and more expensive. Scrappy guerilla marketing based on personal contacts and word-of-mouth campaigns gives way to more expensive customer acquisition using advertising, trade shows, and a marketing agency. You suddenly need to enhance your in-house social media efforts with a public relations firm.

Hockey Stick 307

Hockey Stick Guerilla Acquisition Revenue 307

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 1, 2021

You never have the time and resources for International expansion, acquisitions, venture capital investors, or going public. You have tried all the popular initiatives and quick-fix remedies, including social media, search engine optimization, and content marketing. Conventional strategies don’t seem to work for you.

Entrepreneur 436

Entrepreneur Venture Capital Operations Social Media 436

Startup Professionals Musings

MARCH 25, 2023

It’s only been in the last decade or two, that social media companies, like Facebook and Twitter, have achieved market valuations in billions of dollars (unicorn status), while clearly sacrificing revenue to gain users. High customer loyalty and high team passion.

Valuation 235

Valuation Revenue Viral Retention 235

Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 21, 2020

It’s only been in the last decade or two, that social media companies, like Facebook and Twitter, have achieved market valuations in billions of dollars (unicorn status), while clearly sacrificing revenue to gain users. High customer loyalty and high team passion.

Revenue 434

Revenue Valuation Viral Retention 434

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 16, 2011

Do you need the IPO for your acquisitions strategy? Of course, you’re going to have to perform well to make that stock useful in the acquisitions process. At any rate, it seems only appropriate that social media sites, which have dominated the Internet over the past few years, will likely lead startups back into the IPO game.

IPO 223

IPO Social Media Media Exit Strategy 223

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 16, 2016

With today’s access to social media, interaction with customers is easy, and must be used for technical, financial, and opportunity data. Lagging measures come later, including volumes achieved, cost of customer acquisition, and market penetration. Every startup requires countless tradeoffs in time, money, and priority.

Social Media 120

Social Media Acquisition Finance Entrepreneur 120

Startup Professionals Musings

MARCH 3, 2021

For example, if you have ever watched the Shark Tank show on TV, they always ask about the cost of customer acquisition. You need to have quantifiable objectives, with measurements, to keep you on the path to success. Show that you have to ability to move the ball forward. Pitch a rational plan for expansion and growth.

Exit Strategy 406

Exit Strategy Merger Angel Investor IPO 406

Startup Professionals Musings

DECEMBER 31, 2018

For example, Facebook added WhatsApp as a cross-platform messaging and Voice over IP (VoIP) service to enhance the self-sustaining growth their social media platform before any downturn. Implement a plan of regular strategic acquisitions. Too many businesses only think of new products when in crisis mode.

Merger 249

Merger Acquisition IP Audio 249

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 17, 2015

Make sure everyone accurately posts their role with your startup on social media profiles, resumes, and references. Sales and distribution channel activity will be analyzed, as well as cost of customer acquisition, to make an independent assessment of your financial projections. Communicate what is happening and why to everyone.

Technical Review 120

Technical Review Due Diligence Startup Term Sheet 120

Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 19, 2015

In today’s world of information overload, everyone relies on marketing and social media to find solutions to match their needs. Patents can raise startup valuation by investors by as much as a million dollars, and will attract acquisitions rather than copycats. Marketing is a necessary evil to mask poor technology.

Technical Review 120

Technical Review Intellectual Property Cofounder Bootstrapping 120

Startup Professionals Musings

DECEMBER 22, 2021

In this age of instant and global communication via social media and the Internet, I see more and more evidence that delighted customers should be your top priority.

Customer 285

Customer Metrics Algorithm Community 285

Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 3, 2020

Of course you want your customer to come back, but the best ones also become your evangelists in bringing their friends to you, and broadcasting their positive experiences to the world through social media. This is a key moment where your customer acquisition costs go way down, and your profits go way up.

Customer 310

Customer Startup Social Media Acquisition 310

Startup Professionals Musings

NOVEMBER 6, 2020

Growth entrepreneurs quickly find themselves removed from day-to-day operations, and become more and more occupied by transactions with lawyers, investors, and potential acquisition partners. If your passion is customers, you definitely will be happier as a lifestyle entrepreneur.

Small Business 311

Small Business Small Business Administration SBA Equity 311

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 26, 2014

Customer acquisition gets harder and more expensive. Scrappy guerilla marketing based on personal contacts and word-of-mouth campaigns gives way to more expensive customer acquisition using advertising, trade shows, and a marketing agency. You suddenly need to enhance your in-house social media efforts with a public relations firm.

Hockey Stick 263

Hockey Stick Guerilla Acquisition Revenue 263

Startup Professionals Musings

NOVEMBER 14, 2015

Is your customer-acquisition rate accelerating? If the ongoing acquisition rate is slow, and not trending upward, it may be time for a pivot or a reality check for your targets. Is customer acquisition cost going down? Are you reviewed positively by online media and industry analysts? Margins should be increasing.

Acquisition 120

Acquisition Valuation Angel Investor Stock 120

Startup Professionals Musings

MARCH 3, 2018

Customer acquisition gets harder and more expensive. Scrappy guerilla marketing based on personal contacts and word-of-mouth campaigns gives way to more expensive customer acquisition using advertising, trade shows, and a marketing agency. You suddenly need to enhance your in-house social media efforts with a public relations firm.

Hockey Stick 130

Hockey Stick Guerilla Acquisition Revenue 130

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 1, 2019

With the real data from that surge, you need to take a hard look at business model realities, cost of customer acquisition, inventory costs, and other key metrics. It’s time to really focus on social media, videos, and email. If you want scaling to be a success, communication to all constituents must be done consistently and often.

Silicon Valley 215

Silicon Valley Bankruptcy Metrics Valuation 215

Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 3, 2012

In addition, every business has operating costs, like customer acquisition, fulfillment, inventory, and customer service. Social media activities require professional effort and time, so beware the hidden costs. Engage your audience with social media. But the low cost also means that your competition will also be there in force.

Internet 241

Internet Social Bookmarking Social Media Startup 241

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 18, 2017

If you are proposing a merger or acquisition, or simply seeking an investor for your business, the process is the same. Mark Zuckerberg was not the first to build a social media platform, so he had to find investors who believed in him. You have to put together a convincing story of a win-win opportunity for both sides.

Merger 146

Merger Angel Investor Social Media Audience 146

Startup Professionals Musings

NOVEMBER 1, 2015

Customer acquisition gets harder and more expensive. Scrappy guerilla marketing based on personal contacts and word-of-mouth campaigns gives way to more expensive customer acquisition using advertising, trade shows, and a marketing agency. You suddenly need to enhance your in-house social media efforts with a public relations firm.

Hockey Stick 120

Hockey Stick Guerilla Startup Acquisition 120