Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 16, 2013

More customers are lost to apathy after the sale than poor service or quality. A numbing 68% of all business lost in America is lost due to lack of follow-up after the sale. How many people do you know who have a thousand emails in their inbox, or just a few awaiting follow-up for over a week from people who matter?

Entrepreneur 275

Entrepreneur Technical Review Software Review Retention 275

Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 8, 2018

For example, I still find businesses asking you to print, sign, and return documents by mail in lieu of digital signatures or email. Intel’s Andy Grove famously argued that chip technology doubled every 18 months, so he planned on replacing his products on that schedule, despite sales. In my mind, these are killing their businesses.

Technical Review 211

Technical Review Channel Social Media Metrics 211

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 21, 2011

What we all need is a digital tool that can extract data from business cards, as well as sync it with your cell phone, your email, and the social networks you use. For individual entrepreneurs, it’s a high-end alternative (entry $5+/month), and it’s definitely a candidate for your business sales force. Even email is a problem.

Technical Review 209

Technical Review Technology Software Review Social Network 209

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 24, 2021

That means that people addicted to text messages, twitter, and email may be sending less than half the message, and receivers often misinterpret even that half. As well, email volume just continues to increase. This cultural icon is totally missing from text messages and emails. Palm-to-palm contact is important for sincerity.

SMS 411

SMS Email Demand Employee 411

Startup Professionals Musings

NOVEMBER 27, 2021

Customers go there to check on the details of your offerings and verify that you are not a scam, investors look there to check out your management and sales approach, and suppliers expect to find contact information. Finalizing the web site validates your product plan and sales strategy. Websites do take time to get done right.

Web 349

Web Viral Naming Internet 349

Startup Professionals Musings

DECEMBER 15, 2010

More customers are lost to apathy after the sale than poor service or quality. A numbing 68% of all business lost in America is lost due to lack of follow-up after the sale. How many people do you know who have a thousand emails in their inbox, or just a few awaiting follow-up for over a week from people who matter?

Entrepreneur 237

Entrepreneur Technical Review Software Review Retention 237

Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 19, 2021

An approach I suggest these days is for freelancers to contract for the actual role, probably part-time, of startup CFO, VP of Sales, or President. When your customer phones or emails you, his timer starts, so it behooves you to return his call or email quickly. Here are a few: Take the end-role directly.

Semantic 376

Semantic Startup Leadership Internet 376

Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 22, 2014

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. Make your company visible, reachable and responsive through social networks. Few people are paranoid about something they want and enjoy.

Security 251

Security Technical Review Entrepreneur Social Network 251

Startup Professionals Musings

MARCH 9, 2020

Others do far too little, assuming the viral effect and word-of-mouth will soon kick in, and sales will suddenly grow exponentially. Ask every employee to focus on sales. Openly reward employees who make the extra effort, champion cost-cutting issues, and enhance the sales process. Increase the pipeline and the conversion rate.

Social Media 329

Social Media Metrics Viral Channel 329

Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 4, 2017

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. Make your company visible, reachable and responsive through social networks. Few people are paranoid about something they want and enjoy.

Technical Review 136

Technical Review Entrepreneur Social Network Software Review 136

Startup Professionals Musings

DECEMBER 22, 2012

Here are a few specifics on how to be part of the solution, rather than part of the problem: Put a personal face and address on your site; don’t hide behind an “info” email address. The opportunity is to take advantage of the new power and tools on the Internet. Make your company visible, reachable and responsive through social networks.

Technical Review 214

Technical Review Startup Social Network Software Review 214

Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 13, 2011

They probably won’t respond well to high pressure sales tactics, information overload, or bribes. It won’t help your case or your workload to do an email blast and follow-up with 60,000 members around the world. Investors expect you to understand their motivation, respect their time, and show your integrity in all actions.

Angel Investor 255

Angel Investor North America South America Accredited Investor 255

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 6, 2010

What we all need is a digital tool that can extract data from business cards, as well as sync it with your cell phone, your email, and the social networks you use. For individual entrepreneurs, it’s a high-end alternative (entry $10+/month), and it’s definitely a candidate for your business sales force. Even email is a problem.

Technical Review 120

Technical Review Technology Software Review Social Network 120

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 16, 2023

Email marketing. In all cases, it is crucial to set specific goals for each lead-generation campaign, keep track of the overall costs and measure the return on your marketing investment in terms of cost-per-action and cost-per-sale. Don’t hesitate to use small test projects to compare the results of multiple approaches.

Lead Generation 285

Lead Generation SEM Viral Marketing 285

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 15, 2022

There is still infinite room for new startup sales modes and models. Extend data metrics into non-traditional channels, such as email, internal social media, and customer collaboration platforms. Online entertainment: millions of channels, billions of actors. Data enable: use metrics and measurements.

Startup 315

Startup Social Media Analytics Cloud 315

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 11, 2011

Here are a few specifics on how to be part of the solution, rather than part of the problem: Put a personal face and address on your site; don’t hide behind an “info” email address. The opportunity is to take advantage of the new power and tools on the Internet. Make your company visible, reachable and responsive through social networks.

Technical Review 235

Technical Review Startup Social Network Software Review 235

Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 4, 2021

Probably every one of you who has a business and a website have been approached through email or personal contact, and asked to spend money on paid search results (appear on the first page of search results, despite low SEO rank). Both have the same end goal of getting people to your website.

Search 385

Search Engineer PPC Widget 385

Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 5, 2020

Funding is depleted before customer sales ramp up. Examples abound of startups who had to pivot for success, including Twitter moving from podcasts to social commentating, and Yelp moving from email to online. Marketing and sales take more time and effort than anticipated. Keep your plan updated, and don’t be caught off guard.

Entrepreneur 328

Entrepreneur Startup Dividend Flash 328

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 12, 2021

Cold calls to strangers and email blasts are not so productive. You won’t need the multiple follow-ups and time to close new sales. Start small by meeting with key online influencers over coffee or lunch, and take the time to join peers and speak to industry groups for recognition and credibility.

Las Vegas 385

Las Vegas Matching Marketing Social Media 385

Startup Professionals Musings

MARCH 23, 2022

Even in today’s remote environments, you can use video sessions, social media, and email to keep up with team efforts informally and share updates, both positive and negative. If they never see you, hide in your office, or work totally different hours, the connection will never happen. Always be authentic, and never speak down to the team.

Agile 270

Agile Leadership Social Media Stock 270

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 29, 2010

Here are a few specifics on how to be part of the solution, rather than part of the problem: Put a personal face and address on your site; don’t hide behind an “info” email address. The opportunity is to take advantage of the new power and tools on the Internet. Make your company visible, reachable and responsive through social networks.

Technical Review 212

Technical Review Entrepreneur Internet Social Network 212

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 9, 2018

Selecting the right sales channels is one of the first strategic decisions that every startup faces. Nurturing stage email performance. That makes it easier to collect results indicators, including number of emails sent, open rate, click rate, and email bounce rates. Don’t just use these in isolation.

Demand 144

Demand Metrics NPV Net Present Value 144

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 20, 2020

Email marketing. In all cases, it is crucial to set specific goals for each lead-generation campaign, keep track of the overall costs and measure the return on your marketing investment in terms of cost-per-action and cost-per-sale. Don’t hesitate to use small test projects to compare the results of multiple approaches.

Lead Generation 365

Lead Generation Customer SEM Marketing 365

Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 16, 2020

In reality, the opportunities are greater for starting with a micro-business , ideally from your special expertise or passion, with fewer than five employees, and just enough sales to comfortably support you and your team. Skip the complex contracts by lawyers, but at least use an email to confirm terms and conditions to all parties.

Intellectual Property 313

Intellectual Property Small Business Administration Bootstrapping Differentiation 313

Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 15, 2019

Customers go there to check on the details of your offerings and verify that you are not a scam, investors look there to check out your management and sales approach, and suppliers expect to find contact information. Finalizing the web site validates your product plan and sales strategy. Websites do take time to get done right.

Viral 191

Viral Web Naming Internet 191

Startup Professionals Musings

NOVEMBER 11, 2019

There is still infinite room for new startup sales modes and models. Extend data metrics into non-traditional channels, such as email, internal social media, and customer collaboration platforms. Online entertainment: millions of channels, billions of actors. Data enable: use metrics and measurements.

Technology 243

Technology Social Media Analytics Cloud 243

Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 21, 2015

Selecting the right sales channels is one of the first strategic decisions that every startup faces. Nurturing stage email performance. That makes it easier to collect results indicators, including number of emails sent, open rate, click rate, and email bounce rates. Don’t just use these in isolation.

Metrics 120

Metrics NPV Net Present Value Conversion Ratio 120

Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 10, 2010

They probably won’t respond well to high pressure sales tactics, information overload, or bribes. It won’t help your case or your workload to do an email blast and follow-up with 60,000 members around the world. Investors expect you to understand their motivation, respect their time, and show your integrity in all actions.

Angel Investor 120

Angel Investor North America South America Accredited Investor 120

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 1, 2019

You can’t afford to close every sale, or handle every customer complaint. It’s time to really focus on social media, videos, and email. Convert to working “on the business” vs “in the business.” Working on the business includes expansion strategy and planning, hiring, training, and managing employees.

Silicon Valley 215

Silicon Valley Bankruptcy Metrics Valuation 215

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 23, 2014

An approach I suggest these days is for freelancers to contract for the actual role, probably part-time, of startup CFO, VP of Sales, or President. When your customer phones or emails you, his timer starts, so it behooves you to return his call or email quickly. Here are a few: Take the end-role directly.

Semantic 257

Semantic Startup Leadership Internet 257

Startup Professionals Musings

MARCH 3, 2013

That means that people addicted to text messages, twitter, and email may be sending only half the message, and receivers often misinterpret even that half. Email volume just continues to increase. This cultural icon is totally missing from text messages and emails. Palm-to-palm contact is important for sincerity. Hand-to-face.

SMS 232

SMS Email Demand Employee 232

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 29, 2016

Others do far too little, assuming the viral effect and word-of-mouth will soon kick in, and sales will suddenly grow exponentially. Ask every employee to focus on sales. Openly reward employees who make the extra effort, champion cost-cutting issues, and enhance the sales process. Increase the pipeline and the conversion rate.

Social Media 120

Social Media Metrics Viral Channel 120

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 12, 2013

Customers go there to check on the details of your offerings and verify that you are not a scam, investors look there to check out your management and sales approach, and suppliers expect to find contact information. Finalizing the web site validates your product plan and sales strategy. Websites are a big job and take time.

Internet 247

Internet Viral Naming Web 247

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 23, 2012

You may ask them to bring you up to date on what they’ve been emailing you, but you’ve been too busy to read. After you hear the latest sales projections, you can’t resist adding a “stretch” objective, just to keep people challenged. Agree to milestones and then accelerate them.

Entrepreneur 263

Entrepreneur Employee Email Hiring 263

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 19, 2013

I’ll even send you a free sample of my own business plan via email, if you drop me a note. You really need a business plan for you own efforts, even if external funding is not a requirement.

Business Plan 230

Business Plan Exit Strategy Partner Business Model 230

Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 12, 2013

Don’t you wish that someone had prepped you on how to read the body language, interpret office gossip, and when to hit the delete key on your email rather than the send key? Business Writing for Email. Business Sales Techniques. Writing in business is not the same as in an academic environment.

Dividend 234

Dividend Salary Social Network Finance 234

Startup Professionals Musings

NOVEMBER 3, 2014

All you need is a blog, Twitter, email, some business card stock, and a little creativity. As soon as you bring in investors, they force you to plan for an exit (merger or sale) in three to five years. Don’t think about the exit.

Bootstrapping 278

Bootstrapping Startup Merger Salary 278