Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 29, 2022

They point to several key trends in organizational cultures and working practices that can boost output, cut costs, and give employees more freedom. Use of collaborative and other social media platforms. Computers are no longer stand-alone dedicated devices, but are built into personal devices, like phones and tablets.

Cost 313

Cost Stock Options Cloud Differentiation 313

Startup Professionals Musings

DECEMBER 12, 2021

If you are an entrepreneur these days, or trying to grow an existing business, everyone is telling you that you need to use social media. Jim Sterne, who has written many books on Internet advertising, marketing, and customer service, tackled this complex world of social media metrics in a classic book titled simply " Social Media Metrics."

Social Media 319

Social Media Media Metrics Advertising 319

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 9, 2022

Most startups, and many big businesses, still don’t have a clue on how to use social media productively for marketing their business. The next 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 338

Social Media Framework Media Conversion Ratio 338

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 15, 2022

If you are a business owner today, and not using social media to promote your business, you are missing out on a huge opportunity. Most social media outlets don’t require a subscription charge, but they certainly always require an investment, sometimes large, in people, in technology, your reputation, and your time.

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Social Media Media Startup Analytics 315

Startup Professionals Musings

NOVEMBER 28, 2020

But for founders who do their homework, the cost of entry is lower and the opportunity is higher than ever. Years ago, it cost a million dollars for a new e-commerce site, one that you can now create for almost nothing with current tools and technology. Establishing your brand with interactive social media. Marty Zwilling.

Intellectual Property 404

Intellectual Property Startup Angel Groups Social Media 404

Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 18, 2010

Everyone is talking about how social media can help you jumpstart your business at no cost, and experts are springing up on all sides to help you do it at a high cost. Before you start, analyze existing media, demographics, and new social media alternatives for a fit to your rollout campaign requirements.

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Social Media Media Startup Social Network 238

Startup Professionals Musings

DECEMBER 13, 2019

The problem is that more SKUs dramatically increases complexity and cost, when you can least afford it. Buy too much inventory too soon to get unit costs down. Unit costs are important, but don’t forget about the cash flow hit, extra storage costs, and the probability of obsolete inventory due to necessary updates or pivots.

Technical Review 306

Technical Review Metrics Social Media Channel 306

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. The total customer experience includes identifying with your company culture, the shopping experience, the customer-facing team and social media interaction, as well as resolution of any transaction glitches.

Social Media 328

Social Media Customer Media Employee 328

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 9, 2017

If you are an entrepreneur today, and not using social media to promote your business, you are missing out on a huge opportunity. Most social media outlets don’t require a subscription charge, but they certainly always require an investment, sometimes large, in people, in technology, your reputation, and your time.

Social Media 166

Social Media Media Cost Analytics 166

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 355

Technical Review Social Media Channel Flash 355

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 14, 2023

Things will cost more than you expect. Use social media for early marketing. Social media is not rocket science. The best entrepreneurs manage cash flow ruthlessly and never delegate decisions about spending money. Cash flow out equates to burn rate, and the runway depends on your reserves. You will make mistakes.

Burn Rate 258

Burn Rate Hockey Stick Management Salary 258

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 see it as an opportunity to find new ways to attract customers , make long-needed changes to improve productivity, and lower your own costs of doing business.

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Technical Review Revenue Social Media Cost 239

Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 26, 2022

With social media and smart phone apps, real product information spreads at astounding speeds. Business agility is defined as the ability to adapt rapidly and cost efficiently. They don’t realize that business as usual is gone forever. Managing an agile business means managing change, not solidifying a status quo.

Agile 379

Agile Technical Review Leadership Social Media 379

Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 30, 2020

Offering one more social media site (over 200 already exist on Wikipedia) probably won’t work. Don’t forget to market yourself before, during, and after your initial idea, through social media, websites, and events. Take advantage of low-cost modern tools and automation. Get support from credible industry groups and partners.

Merger 386

Merger Software Review Acquisition Social Media 386

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 22, 2012

If you are an entrepreneur today, and not using social media to promote your business, you are missing out on a huge opportunity. Most social media outlets don’t require a subscription charge, but they certainly require an investment – in people, in technology, your reputation, and your time.

Social Media 238

Social Media Media Cost Startup 238

Startup Professionals Musings

MARCH 19, 2022

In my experience, the good news is that everyone is becoming more and more comfortable with relationships via the new media and technology. Generalized email blasts and social media ads may be great for finding interest in your services, but these are not enough to close and maintain new clients.

Technical Review 303

Technical Review Social Media Metrics Media 303

Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 6, 2023

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 296

Technical Review Due Diligence Term Sheet Bankruptcy 296

Startup Professionals Musings

MARCH 9, 2019

If you are an entrepreneur these days, or trying to grow an existing business, everyone is telling you that you need to use social media. Social media is the realm of public opinion and customer conversations. Measuring message delivery in social media is a lot like measuring it in classic advertising, so classic metrics apply.

Social Media 246

Social Media Media Metrics Advertising 246

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

SEPTEMBER 16, 2020

Today, in this age of pervasive social media and two-way communication, the focus needs to get beyond demographics into personalities. The total customer experience includes identifying with your company culture, the shopping experience, the customer-facing team and social media interaction, as well as resolution of any transaction glitches.

Customer 395

Customer Social Media Media Employee 395

Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 25, 2021

One new incentive is the falling transaction costs and barriers to entry for entrepreneurs of every age. 83 percent of online users aged 50-64 use social media now, and the growth rate continues to increase.

Technical Review 315

Technical Review Founder United States Technical Support 315

Startup Professionals Musings

MARCH 2, 2019

An all-too-common question I get from startups and small businesses is “Which is the right social media platform for my business?” If you are in the 30 percent of all small businesses who still ignore social media, you need to read the book by Dave Carroll, “ United Breaks Guitars.” Build your brand and expert visibility.

Social Media 246

Social Media Media Reputation Viral 246

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 28, 2019

Isn’t it frustrating to think you finally understand something in business, like marketing with social media, only to realize that the landscape changed while you were looking at other priorities? In a classic book on social media by Jim Tobin, “ Earn It. Where are the young social media users going? When the glass is only.04%

Social Media 238

Social Media Media Viral Audience 238

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

AUGUST 19, 2020

Things will cost more than you expect. Use social media for early marketing. Social media is not rocket science. The best entrepreneurs manage cash flow ruthlessly and never delegate decisions about spending money. Cash flow out equates to burn rate, and the runway depends on your reserves. You will make mistakes.

Burn Rate 310

Burn Rate Hockey Stick Salary Angel Investor 310

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 26, 2022

Assess your connections, both social media and financial. If you have no followers on social media, or connections to influencers, or business advisors, you will be unlikely to get support for a new business plan. Many of the business plans I see are built around a dream, with idealistic costs, margins, and customer demand.

Founder 262

Founder Intellectual Property Social Media Business Plan 262

Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 2, 2021

Customers today quickly get beyond these, and put a competitive priority on the experience of others, reflected in reviews and social media, and their own total experience with your sales process, delivery, returns, and support on their schedule. Features, availability, and brand are just the price of entry.

Software Review 355

Software Review Algorithm Global IPO 355

Startup Professionals Musings

MARCH 14, 2022

Here are a few specifics on how to be part of the solution, without the costs, rather than part of the problem: Put a personal face and address on your site; don’t hide behind an “info” email address. But that is just the beginning of the opportunity to provide or take advantage of the new power and tools on the Internet.

Technical Review 342

Technical Review Customer Social Network Software Review 342

Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 7, 2021

Some pundits argue that the E-Myth principle is now outdated, due to the instant access to information via the Internet, pervasive networking via social media, and courses on entrepreneurship at all levels of education. In this view the product features, cost, and support are the key to success. Hence most fail.

Technical Review 341

Technical Review Social Media Startup Internet 341

Startup Professionals Musings

DECEMBER 30, 2022

As a potential investor, I always think of the high rate of failure of disruptive technologies, due to the longer learning curve of customers, infrastructure change consistently required, and higher marketing costs. Don’t forget the new social media platforms and industry forums.

Technical Review 252

Technical Review Silicon Valley Software Review Metrics 252

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 13, 2019

Image via Pixabay If you are a business owner today, and not using social media to promote your business, you are missing out on a huge opportunity. Most social media outlets don’t require a subscription charge, but they certainly always require an investment, sometimes large, in people, in technology, your reputation, and your time.

Social Media 199

Social Media Media Analytics Viral 199

Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 15, 2022

Being the first mover or lowest cost is not a good long-term strategy. In this context, investors are attracted to thought-leaders visible on social media, and people with strong technical credentials. Already set and achieved initial milestones.

Intellectual Property 278

Intellectual Property Angel Investor Early Stage Venture Capital 278

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 8, 2022

He found that the return was far greater than the cost of donated shoes, and his team became intensely loyal, due to the opportunity to travel and deliver shoes in other countries. You see this today on the Internet with people who dominate social media as “influencers,” leading customers to new trends and brands.

Technical Review 357

Technical Review Green Social Media Lean 357

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 25, 2021

Facebook built the social media market before customers even knew they needed it. Compete against non-consumption and non-existing markets. The most disruptive products are ones that never existed before, and no forecasts are even available to size the opportunity. Naturally, these are very high risk efforts, but have unlimited potential.

Non-Compete 394

Non-Compete Technical Review Forecast Social Media 394

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

JUNE 2, 2023

Yet everyone has limits, and every investor implicitly has similar limits on what makes a startup investable, or one to avoid at all costs. On the Internet, I am wary of one more search engine provider, clones of existing social-media sites, and yet another new dating site. You need a big differentiator in these arenas.

New York City 246

New York City Silicon Valley Bootstrapping Technical Review 246

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 5, 2017

The cost of entry is at an all-time low, working from home through an Internet website seen globally, turning a hobby or an invention into an online business. All marketing costs money, including viral marketing, search engine optimization, click-through, and social media support.

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Cost Social Media Startup Viral 144