Startup Lessons Learned
SEPTEMBER 22, 2008
In this model, you take some fraction of the lifetime value of each customer and plow that back into paid acquisition through SEM, banner ads, PR, affiliates, etc. For eBay, this is caused by the incredible network effects of their business (so-called demand-side increasing returns and supply-side increasing returns).
Startup Lessons Learned
SEPTEMBER 15, 2008
For example, one angel investor reportedly invested in several hundred social networking ventures employing this philosophy. SEM on five dollars a day Andrew Chen: Growing renewable audiences Marc Prensky's Weblog: Cell Phones in Class A new version of the Joel Test (draft) Smarticus — 10 things you could be doing to your c.
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Startup Lessons Learned
SEPTEMBER 7, 2008
Customers found it confusing and it turned out to be at odds with our fundamental value proposition (which really requires an independant IM network). Unfortunately, positioning our product as an "IM add-on" was a complete mistake. So we had to completely throw that code away, including all of its beatiful tests and specs. Talk about waste.
Startup Lessons Learned
SEPTEMBER 14, 2008
This was 2004, and we had never even heard of MySpace, let alone had any understanding of social networking. It required hearing customers say it over and over again for us to take a serious look, and eventually to realize that social networking was core to our business. But the early customers all compared it to MySpace.
mashable.com
MAY 28, 2010
3) Check the social network username site www.knowem.com to see who else is using something similar. I have a couple of points and resources to add. 1) Be sure to check your proposed business name in various search engines - to check on possible competition - who comes up 1st when you type in the name, are they in the same industry etc.
Startup Lessons Learned
SEPTEMBER 18, 2008
Pick a similar product that they do use, and ask them "who was the first person you know who started using [social networking, mobile phones, plasma TV, instant messaging.]? For companies in the early-adopter phase, you can play "the earlyvangelist game" whenever a customer turns out to be too mainstream for your product. More of the same.
Both Sides of the Table
MAY 15, 2010
If you watch the video you’ll see that Jason & I debated whether Austin Ventures or Redpoint had funded HowAway / VRBO … turns out we were both right! Swipely is a social network orientated around users credit card transaction data. Joe Marchese and Willan Johnson are President and COO, respectively.
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