Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 24, 2021

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 379

Technical Review Due Diligence Term Sheet Bankruptcy 379

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. Social Marketology ,” outlined the best set of steps I have seen so far for the new world: Focus on desired outcomes first. Ric Dragon, an expert in online marketing, in his classic book.

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.

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. Ric Dragon, an expert in online marketing, in “ Social Marketology ,” outlined the best set of steps I have seen so far for the new world: Focus on desired outcomes first.

Social Media 256

Social Media Media Product Conversion Ratio 256

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. Hone your process for due diligence and integrating these new elements. Proactively prepare for downturns and recoveries.

Technical Review 312

Technical Review Due Diligence Merger Social Media 312

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. Ric Dragon, an expert in online marketing, in his new book “ Social Marketology ,” outlined the best set of steps I have seen so far for the new world: Focus on desired outcomes first.

Social Media 229

Social Media Media Conversion Ratio Lead Generation 229

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. Focus first on the social media trinity.

Social Media 120

Social Media Media Marketing Campaign 120

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

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

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

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

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 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

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

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

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

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

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 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

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

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. Focus first on the social media trinity.

Media 148

Media Social Media Marketing Campaign 148

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.

Media 231

Media Social Media Marketing Campaign 231

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

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. Mashable claims there are 150,000 new web sites created per day.

Internet 241

Internet Social Bookmarking Social Media Startup 241

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. Start working on the next generation of your own product.

Silicon Valley 215

Silicon Valley Bankruptcy Metrics Valuation 215

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

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 12, 2013

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. Mashable claims there are 150,000 new web sites created per day.

Social Bookmarking 233

Social Bookmarking Social Media Internet Web 233

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 400

Technical Review Technical Cofounder Advisory Board Cofounder 400

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

Startup Professionals Musings

NOVEMBER 17, 2021

This is a whole new world for small businesses seeking enterprise application opportunities, as well social media trend challenges. The challenge is to increase response rates and propagate a single view of the customer, by integrating customer data from multiple Web and social media interactions.

Analytics 248

Analytics Retention Social Media Startup 248