Startup Professionals Musings

MARCH 23, 2013

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, right hand column, despite low SEO rank). This is NOT the same as Search Engine Optimization (SEO). Cost per click (CPC).

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Steve Blank

AUGUST 23, 2010

This stifles or shuts down the important “outlier” conversations that drive pivots and iterations in the discovery process. Structuring the conversation in a way that elicits feedback before you reveal the product hypothesis is essential to getting honest reactions, good or bad.

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Customer Development Developer Customer South America 238

Duct Tape Marketing

NOVEMBER 2, 2023

The rising importance of predictive AI-driven analytics became clear, hinting at a future where forecasts will shape decisions. So marketing is the worst where you have website analytics like Google Analytics, maybe HubSpot, you have SEO data from SEMrush, hres Search Console. You have social data ads, data, et cetera, and everywhere.

Metrics 72

Metrics Analytics Forecast Software Review 72

Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 3, 2010

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 Search Engine Marketing (SEM). Search engine marketing is simply buying advertising for your business from Google or another search engine company. Cost per click (CPC).

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YoungUpstarts

JUNE 23, 2020

Every investment has its unique way to start and search engine optimization (SEO) is not just a system, but it’s the greatest investment that you can bring towards your company. Keyword Search. Your search engine keyword choice is the keyword and phrase that makes it possible for individuals to find you on-site via search engines.

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SEO Forecast Search Campaign 259

Up and Running

APRIL 24, 2014

So for me, what makes a sales forecast credible? I want to see a sales forecast with drivers. Specifically, if you’re an app or an website for example, your drivers are going to have to do with search engine optimization, keywords, paper click, conversion rates. Well then, that helps makes a sales forecast credible.

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Forecast Hockey Stick Sales Business Plan 85

Genuine VC

SEPTEMBER 30, 2013

The energy that it takes persuading someone who starts with a bias not to invest is much better suited searching for additional prospects who want to believe in what you’re building. I’ve seen both outcomes in a prolonged “believer” search. There is a challenge with the “believer approach” mindset, however.

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Search Seed Stage Forecast .Net 143

Gust

JUNE 19, 2012

One of my earliest excursions into market research was working for a research firm doing a 1979 forecast on ATMs. I want a forecast that starts with specifics like channels or traffic and conversions or segments and builds up. I hate the forecast that assets some huge market and takes a small percentage of it. Bill Payne.

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Startup Forecast Angel Investor Software 180

Both Sides of the Table

JANUARY 22, 2014

I had an enjoyable conversation this morning with a young team straight out of college this morning and they were calling to ask advice on how to approach fund raising (angels vs. VCs, how to select a VC, etc.) You don’t really have much to go on to decide who would make a good fit. Reputation of firm? Of partner? Nail on the head.

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Portfolio Chicago Sales Incubator 364

crowdSPRING Blog

JANUARY 18, 2013

Lots of great insight in this Hacker News Conversation about MVPs and getting started - [link]. SEO For Facebook Graph Search? Facebook Has Some Tips | Search Engine Land - [link]. Creative Forecast: How Marketing Will Change In 2013 | Co.Create – [link]. Valve’s employee handbook is a fascinating read.

Social Media 94

Social Media Small Business Design Media 94

ConversionXL

MAY 14, 2014

Here’s something that won’t come as a shock to people who work for big companies: not everyone is on-board with the idea of conversion optimization and testing. You’re actively doing conversion testing. Iztok said, “We ensured the CEO that conversion optimization would increase sales.

Conversion 124

Conversion eCommerce Technical Review Software Review 124

Austin Startup

JANUARY 20, 2021

I had to throw out my desire to build a perfect strategy and forecast for the business. Explore new customer segments In the early days at Yelp, consumers used the site to search primarily for restaurants. Over time, they began to write reviews and search for spas, salons, auto repair, locksmiths, and plumbers.

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Sales Startup Sales Cycle Revenue 64

Austin Startup

MAY 26, 2019

We plan all year for this super bowl moment, making sure we design and manufacture the best products & collections, create intense digital marketing/inventory forecasts, get our CX reps trained and ready for the intense call volumes, and so forth. I searched far and wide for options and solutions. I empathized with them.

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YoungUpstarts

MARCH 13, 2014

They mean it as well with eMarketer forecasting that the global eCommerce trade is expected to increase by 20.1% Average spend and conversion rates are higher on tablets than other mobile devices. Research shows that great shopping experiences lead to increased conversions, higher spend and higher levels of customer loyalty and return.

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eCommerce Mobile Forecast Metrics 150

ConversionXL

FEBRUARY 25, 2016

Does it actually impact conversion rates? Essentially, it’s the real-time individualization of a site to suit each visitor’s unique needs and guide them through a custom conversion funnel. Conversion rate is the main measure of personalization success… Image Source. increase in conversions. Tweet It!].

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Web Software Review Jordan Technical Review 48

Up and Running

JULY 26, 2016

Selling a product is a tough process, full of “no’s,” whether they come on the phone with a prospect or as a low conversion rate on your landing page. See Also: A Complete Guide to Forecasting Sales for Your Monthly Subscription (SaaS) Business. Most campaigns can be optimized to increase conversion rates and lower costs.

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Up and Running

MAY 28, 2015

That’s the sales forecast, the spending forecast and the cash flow. You want to show that, and investors need to see the scale of a business that have to do with your sales forecast. They’re going to look first at the sales forecast. That’s a lean business plan. It is not a document.

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Lean Business Plan Video Software Review 60

Austin Startup

APRIL 25, 2017

To be clear, I can’t forecast the details of how an augmented reality OS should work. How should Google search results appear, how should you navigate them, or how should you read a CNN article versus a Kindle book? Apple could never have forecasted how people would use apps like Instagram, Uber, Flipboard, or any of the myriad games.

Valuation 48

Valuation Technical Review Forecast Social Network 48

Tim Keane

JUNE 21, 2011

How to prepare a sales forecast for a business plan.  If the conversation goes in that direction it can be a bit of a problem.   Think about having the same discussion in a different way - by preparing your sales forecast by making your assumptions explicit. How to prepare a sales forecast for a business plan.

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Forecast Business Plan Sales Wisconsin 68

Women Entrepreneurs Can

FEBRUARY 27, 2024

By focusing on prospects who are more likely to convert, businesses can optimize their sales efforts and improve their overall conversion rates. Utilize advanced search filters to narrow down prospects based on criteria such as industry, company size, or geographic location.

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Sales Artificial Inteligence Technology Lead Generation 40

YoungUpstarts

SEPTEMBER 15, 2020

Search the tables of contents and consider which parts are relevant to your business. If your executive summary is strong, you increase the prospects to have a further conversation with a potential investor or partner to make your pitch in person. Here are 10 tips to help you write a great business plan: 1. Bottom of Form.

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Business Plan Balance Sheet Non-Compete Forecast 147

ReadWriteStart

JULY 18, 2011

The conversation at investment banks was 'why don't we have one of those?'. Every company has a forecast for how it will get to an arbitrary $100 million in revenue and they all hit it on year five. An investment banker sees it as a serial kill, conquest, get the fee and move on. For 10 years there have been no gazelles to take down.

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Investment Bankers Technical Review Cofounder Due Diligence 153

YoungUpstarts

APRIL 14, 2020

In 1980, when the old AT&T commissioned a top consulting firm to estimate the market for cell phones in the year 2000, they forecast that there would be only 900,000 cell phones. Search for what you have in common, not how you are different. These should be very brief and conversational. It causes tunnel vision.

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Sales Conversion Forecast Framework 147

gigaom.com

JULY 10, 2012

The contexts are Web Search, Business Search, Voicemail-to-Text transcription, SMS speech transcription, Question and Answer, TV and a category called Generic used for general dictation purposes. Join the conversation. For instance, the question “where is Trenton?” Image courtesy Flickr user Lazurite. Sign up for a free trial.

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API Technical Review Artificial Inteligence RSS 50

Duct Tape Marketing

DECEMBER 3, 2015

The core of inbound is this: create valuable content for your prospects and put it in places (on social media, websites, publications, and search terms) where they hang out. If you go to HubSpot’s website or (more likely) do a search for an inbound marketing related topic, you’ll find their content.

Lead Generation 28

Lead Generation Software Review Distribution LLC 28

Up and Running

MAY 3, 2012

The signs to me are all too obvious from our conversations. We should remind them that, as Steve Blank said, “a startup is an organization formed to search for a repeatable and scalable business model.” We need to insist that they set goals and milestones, create cash flow forecasts and devise ways to test their assumptions. ??We

Entrepreneur 82

Entrepreneur Technical Review Silicon Valley Lean 82

Occam's Razor

OCTOBER 14, 2014

If you want to learn about how to do simple forecasting and trend analysis, please see the official forecast function in Excel post on the Microsoft website, and this handy tutorial on trend lines and forecasting in excel. Outcomes of the conversations with your Finance team and Sr. Don't do it.

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Analytics Vertical Metrics Web 133

ConversionXL

SEPTEMBER 10, 2018

The second thing that holds companies back: departments and vendors trying to grow a huge array of different goals and metrics: The SEO team may want to improve rankings and search engine traffic; The email agency may be looking to increase subscribers; and. The sales team may focus on closing sales. And they stick to them.)

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Metrics Campaign Channel Advertising 132

Up and Running

JANUARY 18, 2021

The first thing most eCommerce companies did in February of 2020 was to smash their crystal balls and toss out demand forecasts because the world was shaping up to be like nothing we’ve seen before. Make this a review process for everything you do, from search ads and capabilities to your website and even emails and offers you send.

eCommerce 150

eCommerce B2B Forecast Demand 150

Up and Running

MAY 6, 2015

You come there, there’s nothing but a search bar. The search engines have done a wonderful job of really serving that up. Any eCommerce site owner will tell you that anyone that comes to their site, they’re much more likely to convert if they use the search box. Does it support that conversion goal?

SBA 60

SBA Technical Review Software Review Small Business 60

Up and Running

MAY 31, 2016

Don’t discount the obvious—take a look at the results of a quick web search, in the illustration here, for “where to sell my paintings.” Talk to people about it, search the web, sample websites, ads, displays, prices—get as much how-to information as you can and settle in on what you’re going to try. What went right?

Business Plan 60

Business Plan Forecast Metrics Oregon 60

Agile VC

MAY 26, 2011

Not long after the product launch we began the initial conversations with VCs for a Series A round. My partner @ LeeHower looks back: [link] 5 days ago Search. Reid assembled the founding team drawing largely from his prior startups, with a few other folks he’d known for a long time. Previous Entries.

Term Sheet 178

Term Sheet Silicon Valley Technical Review Social Network 178

Steve Blank

NOVEMBER 16, 2009

Business Model Affects Metrics and Exit Criteria Web-based Business Model Exit Criteria In a web-business model you’re looking for traffic, users, conversion, virality, etc – not revenue. I know we have to create something users find valuable (the two-way search, games?)

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Customer Development Web Developer Customer 228

genylabs.typepad.com

SEPTEMBER 24, 2011

Tracking and Forecasting the Trends Impacting the Future of Small Business. You can follow this conversation by subscribing to the comment feed for this post. Posted by: Atlanta Search Engine Optimization | April 16, 2008 at 07:38 AM. Lessons from a Failed Forecast. Small Business Labs. Welcome to Small Business Labs.

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Equity Technical Review San Jose Stock 40

Duct Tape Marketing

SEPTEMBER 5, 2014

If you’ve been in business for about 10 years or more, think back – what was your sales cycle before the search engine ruled the world? The impact of this is pretty profound in 3 key areas: We have a much more difficult time forecasting our sales future because we get engaged with prospects much later. And what is it today?

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Sales Cycle Forecast Charlotte Lead Generation 67

Up and Running

MAY 23, 2016

While it’s useful to be able to have a sales forecast and expense budget early on, it’s not something you need until you’ve validated your idea. Later you will want to come back and create a proper sales forecast, cash flow forecast, and expense budget. Circle back and create a more detailed forecast.

Software Review 74

Software Review Software Delaware Forecast 74

Steve Blank

JANUARY 10, 2011

The revenue plan had the new product baked into the numbers and it was clear that this division General Manager was going to crater his forecast (happens all the time, nothing new here.) The resulting conversations made us smarter, agile and relentless. What was a surprise was the boldface lies the VP told us at the board meeting.

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Forecast Agile Revenue Founder 268