Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 16, 2023

Contrary to popular opinion, viral marketing has not eliminated the need for old-fashioned lead generation to bring customers to a startup. Here is my summary of the seven most successful lead-generation vehicles he and I still recommend today, despite the popularity of viral marketing: Search-engine marketing. Email marketing.

Lead Generation 285

Lead Generation SEM Viral Marketing 285

YoungUpstarts

JANUARY 15, 2019

A sustainable business plan is one that is flexible. There is no point in having a rigid strategy for the business and crying foul when customers shift to a much more relatable brand/organisation. Focus on Customer Service. Customer service is not a favour for the customers, it’s an opportunity for the business.

Small Business 196

Small Business Software Review Technical Review Viral 196

SoCal CTO

DECEMBER 19, 2012

This should be an iterative process with advisors and customers providing feedback on the product. The business canvas model is a good short list. You might also have a business plan, marketing plan, financials, competitor analysis or other kinds of background document. Don't stress over format.

Developer 354

Developer Technical Review Fractional CTO Software Review 354

crowdSPRING Blog

JULY 28, 2020

Many entrepreneurs and business owners make mistakes when they rush to start a business before considering important details. A great business plan can help you anticipate important issues and possible challenges before you start your business. Here are 10 tips to help you write a great business plan.

Business Plan 126

Business Plan Viral Email Search 126

Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 26, 2020

As an advisor to new hardware entrepreneurs, I often hear the myth that a business plan is no longer required to find an investor, if your idea is good enough. You may have heard that venture capitalists in Silicon Valley no longer read business plans. Use non-fuzzy terms to quantify customer value.

Business Plan 423

Business Plan Product Intellectual Property Elevator Pitch 423

A Smart Bear: Startups and Marketing for Geeks

OCTOBER 11, 2010

We're going to use an affiliate program so our customers sell it for us.". We're putting a 'Retweet' button inside the product to encourage viral growth.". This is the viral step: Having trialed the tool, the stranger might use it herself, then more people find out about it, and so forth. "We're going to get reviews on blogs.".

Software Review 261

Software Review Technical Review Viral Software Developers 261

Steve Blank

SEPTEMBER 22, 2011

As part of our Lean LaunchPad classes at Stanford, Berkeley, Columbia and for the National Science Foundation, students build a startup in 8 weeks using Business Model Design + Customer Development. Get customers to the site. Test the “problem” with customer data. Write down your 9- business model canvas hypothesis.

Lean 334

Lean Web Coder Business Model 334

Startup Professionals Musings

NOVEMBER 27, 2011

See how many of the following “new” Internet concepts you recognize, and can explain in terms of value to your business. If you have heard the lingo, but most of these are not in your startup business plan, you are already in jeopardy as an entrepreneur: Blogging. Do you have a business presence there? Viral marketing.

Internet 239

Internet SEM Wiki Viral 239

Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 4, 2011

Viral marketing and word-of-mouth are not enough these days to make your product and brand visible in the relentless onslaught of new promotional media out there today. Yet in the business plans I see, the marketing content and budget are smaller than ever. Ask why it should be, and why customers should care.

Viral 228

Viral Marketing Startup Demand 228

Startup Professionals Musings

DECEMBER 2, 2022

You can’t succeed in business without an operational model that delivers value to customers at a reasonable price, with an underlying cost that allows you to make a profit. A target market is the group of customers that the startup plans to attract through marketing and sales their product or service. Target market.

Business Model 256

Business Model Distribution Viral Green 256

www.forentrepreneurs.com

FEBRUARY 2, 2010

Blog About Log in Register Startup Killer: the Cost of Customer Acquisition In the many thousands of articles advising entrepreneurs on what they have to focus on to build successful startups, much has been written about three key factors: team, product and market, with particular focus on the importance of product/market fit.

Acquisition 103

Acquisition Cost Customer Entrepreneur 103

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 22, 2022

Great marketing is required to generate revenue and grow every business, especially new businesses which have no brand recognition nor loyal customer base. Yet, as a business consultant, I still find many of you business leaders relying primarily on your technology, word-of-mouth , or location to attract necessary customers.

Marketing 333

Marketing Revenue Matching Viral 333

Startup Professionals Musings

MARCH 25, 2023

A healthy business, ready to scale, has been doing this for a year or more, with an existing customer set generating a non-trivial and growing revenue stream. High customer loyalty and high team passion. The business plan must reflect both growth phases. Growing appreciation for the value of the solution provided.

Valuation 235

Valuation Revenue Viral Retention 235

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 2, 2012

Viral marketing and word-of-mouth are not enough these days to make your product and brand visible in the relentless onslaught of new promotional media out there today. Yet in the business plans I see, the marketing content and budget are smaller than ever. Ask why it should be, and why customers should care.

Customer 250

Customer Marketing Viral Demand 250

The Next Web

DECEMBER 4, 2013

Locate your core customers, and prioritize your efforts to reach them where they are. With an innovative product in the consumer payment space, the company had viral-ready content. An advance purchase garners a 50 percent discount off the planned price of $100, encouraging investment long in advance of the summer 2014 launch date.

Social Media 158

Social Media Media Viral Startup 158

Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 21, 2020

A healthy business, ready to scale, has been doing this for a year or more, with an existing customer set generating a non-trivial and growing revenue stream. High customer loyalty and high team passion. The business plan must reflect both growth phases. Growing appreciation for the value of the solution provided.

Revenue 434

Revenue Valuation Viral Retention 434

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 25, 2023

These are necessary to attract customers, investors, and give you a line of defense with competitors. Do a written business plan to validate your thinking. Test your plan to get feedback from real customers. Use social media or reward target customers to volunteer for a feedback session.

Intellectual Property 245

Intellectual Property Social Media Angel Investor Metrics 245

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 9, 2012

Modern investors love to first read a two-page summary of your business plan, formatted like a glossy marketing collateral sheet, with text well laid out in columns and sidebars, and a couple of relevant graphics. Most likely, the investor has already seen multiple plans with similar solutions. Business model.

Business Plan 244

Business Plan Elevator Pitch Viral Lead Generation 244

YoungUpstarts

DECEMBER 26, 2012

If you’re starting a new business, do not take one more sip of coffee, one more step and spend one penny before you write your business plan. The executive summary is the first and most important part of your business plan. How will you increase your business and branch out down the road.

Business Plan 207

Business Plan Forecast Viral Matching 207

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 3, 2016

In that spirit, I offer my perspective on ten common startup failure sources that rarely get admitted by entrepreneurs: Choose to skip the written business plan. A business plan is for you first, not investors. Offer free solutions to bring in more customers. Building a successful business is all about execution.

Intellectual Property 120

Intellectual Property Startup Angel Investor Viral 120

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 3, 2021

Today, with the Internet and social media, if you aren’t visible in a positive way to everyone, including customers, your leadership efforts will be lost. You need to be visible in marketing efforts, viral videos, and interactions with key customer segments. Set goals and celebrate progress and results.

Stealth 362

Stealth Leadership Viral Social Media 362

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 1, 2015

In that spirit, I offer my perspective on ten common startup failure sources that rarely get admitted by entrepreneurs: Choose to skip the written business plan. A business plan is for you first, not investors. Offer free solutions to bring in more customers. Building a successful business is all about execution.

Intellectual Property 120

Intellectual Property Angel Investor Viral Distribution 120

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 7, 2023

Here are some guidelines that will help you with the right answers, not only in closing your next investment, but in planning when and how much money to ask for: Investors are most interested in helping you scale the business. These days, even viral marketing requires real money, for events and promotions.

Elevator Pitch 228

Elevator Pitch Salary Angel Investor Viral 228

Startup Professionals Musings

MARCH 5, 2021

This occurs when a new product, service, or business model renders the old way of doing business obsolete. It used to happen only a few times per century, but now I see disruptive innovation highlighted in almost every business plan I read. Customers and employees are the new stakeholders for every business.

Marketing 339

Marketing Startup Global Viral 339

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 12, 2020

Here are some guidelines that will help you with the right answers, not only in closing your next investment, but in planning when and how much money to ask for: Investors are most interested in helping you scale the business. These days, even viral marketing requires real money, for events and promotions.

Elevator Pitch 336

Elevator Pitch Salary Angel Investor Viral 336

Both Sides of the Table

OCTOBER 19, 2009

It included one firm who I asked not to call Salesforce.com as a reference (they were our largest pilot customer) and in their kindness they called Marc Benioff (the CEO) and asked his opinion. There was no viral social networking products back then like Twitter where people could easily discover your content. Page 4: Business Model.

Venture Capital 274

Venture Capital Term Sheet San Diego Viral 274

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 17, 2018

Contrary to popular opinion, viral marketing has not eliminated the need for old-fashioned lead generation to bring customers to a startup. Here is my summary of the seven most successful lead-generation vehicles he and I still recommend today, despite the popularity of viral marketing: Search-engine marketing. Email marketing.

Lead Generation 137

Lead Generation SEM Viral Social Media 137

Duct Tape Marketing

MAY 30, 2014

7 Ways Entrepreneurs Can Use Video To Grow Their New Business written by Guest Post read more at Small Business Marketing Blog from Duct Tape Marketing. Your business plans are in place, perhaps you have sought out and won investors, and gotten a foothold in the market with your product. Viral Video Marketing.

Video 77

Video Widget Software Review Entrepreneur 77

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 17, 2013

It’s not uncommon for me to see a startup business plan “mission” to be the “premier brand” for their product, yet their marketing budget in the financials is trivial. This combination will almost certainly get your plan tossed by potential investors, who understand all too well the need and cost for marketing in today’s environment.

Marketing 265

Marketing Viral SEM Startup 265

Startup Professionals Musings

MARCH 16, 2014

It’s not uncommon for me to see a startup business plan “mission” to be the “premier brand” for their product, yet their marketing budget in the financials is trivial. This combination will almost certainly get your plan tossed by potential investors, who understand all too well the need and cost for marketing in today’s environment.

Marketing 257

Marketing SEM Viral Social Media 257

Startup Professionals Musings

NOVEMBER 5, 2018

Tech may be the tool, but hospitality – making life a little easier, more comfortable, and more enjoyable for your customer, is the winning focus. Unfortunately, too many of the technical entrepreneurs I mentor and advise are focused on their technology, and assume that the value will be self-evident to customers.

Artificial Inteligence 205

Artificial Inteligence Reputation Viral America 205

The Startup Magazine

JUNE 6, 2021

It will also contribute to establishing a line of communication with your target audience that improves your chance of building a meaningful relationship with your customers. Come Up with a Business Plan. Creating a business plan shouldn’t be something way too time-consuming. Conclusion.

Social Media 174

Social Media Audience Affiliate Startup 174

Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 5, 2013

Viral marketing and word-of-mouth are not enough these days to make your product and brand visible in the relentless onslaught of new promotional media out there today. Yet in the business plans I see, the marketing content and budget are smaller than ever. Ask why it should be, and why customers should care.

Marketing 260

Marketing Viral Demand Channel 260

Up and Running

JANUARY 22, 2020

Doing so will, in turn, help you earn the trust of the public and distinguish your brand as a thought leader while also boosting engagement and customer reach. Incorporating referral links into your communications and incentivizing folks to share them facilitates “viral lopping” and organic growth. PR and media outreach.

SMS 101

SMS Marketing Affiliate Social Media 101

Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 9, 2023

Most technical entrepreneurs focus hard on building an innovative product, but forget that an elegant solution doesn’t automatically translate into a successful business. Businesses require an equally elegant business model, with the right price, messaging and delivery channel to the right target customers to keep the dream alive and growing.

Technical Review 220

Technical Review Advisory Board Software Review Business Model 220

Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 4, 2017

Viral marketing and word-of-mouth are not enough these days to make your product and brand visible in the relentless onslaught of new promotional media out there today. Yet in the business plans I see, the marketing content and budget are smaller than ever. Ask why it should be, and why customers should care.

Marketing 120

Marketing Viral Demand Channel 120

Startup Professionals Musings

NOVEMBER 11, 2013

In that context, I offer you my list of ten top startup failure causes, seen over and over again: No written plan. Don’t believe the old urban legend that a business plan isn’t worth the effort. The discipline of writing down a plan is the best way to make sure you actually understand how to transform your idea into a business.

Intellectual Property 251

Intellectual Property Startup Viral Early Stage 251