SoCal CTO

AUGUST 4, 2011

Many of these founders have talked with several developers or development firms about their plans. Still, if you've not heard these questions from a developer, they are not helping you as much as they should. Think of these as the big upfront questions: Who are the customers? What are your key Startup Metrics ?

Developer 396

Developer Founder Viral Oauth 396

SoCal CTO

AUGUST 4, 2011

Many of these founders have talked with several developers or development firms about their plans. Still, if you've not heard these questions from a developer, they are not helping you as much as they should. Think of these as the big upfront questions: Who are the customers? What are your key Startup Metrics ?

Developer 384

Developer Founder Viral Oauth 384

Duct Tape Marketing

SEPTEMBER 4, 2023

Small Business Metrics to Track: Measuring Success The Right Way written by John Jantsch read more at Duct Tape Marketing Are you tracking the right metrics that truly measure your definition of success? 5 Metrics-Focused Tips for Small Business: How to Achieve Meaningful Marketing Goals 1.

Metrics 57

Metrics Small Business Software Review Green 57

View from Seed

MARCH 29, 2016

But even well-prepared startups that have laid out strategies for scaling can find themselves scrambling in the face of a fast-growing customer base. Founders need to make sure the quality of the startup’s offerings remains high and provide adequate sales and service support for prospective customers and new users.

Metrics 120

Metrics Founder CTO Hire Technical Review 120

Both Sides of the Table

APRIL 4, 2011

Having a set of metrics that you watch & that you feel are the key drivers of your success helps keep clarity. And the more public you can make your goals for these key metrics the better. 4 times / 100 means if a customer uses your app frequently (say 10-20 times / day) then they are crashing nearly every day.

Metrics 346

Metrics Startup Acquisition SEM 346

Up and Running

OCTOBER 31, 2018

Thankfully, there are a number of great tools for tracking your web metrics (both free and paid) that can help you get a better understanding of what your users are doing on your site and even how your competitors are faring in their own online efforts. Ahrefs’ Site Explorer reveals insightful SEO metrics and data about any website or URL.

Metrics 89

Metrics Web Analytics Advertising 89

ConversionXL

SEPTEMBER 9, 2021

By turning those fans into customers, you can create long-term advocates that spend more money and recommend you to others. Edelman’s Trust Barometer study shows that trust is second only to price in becoming a loyal customer. Because of this, it spans two objectives: Turning customers into advocates Improving customer retention.

Social Media 142

Social Media Media Developer Marketing 142

YoungUpstarts

OCTOBER 28, 2016

The outright and abject failure of a software development project is a surprisingly common occurrence, and the reasons for a specific project’s failure tend to revolve around three easily avoidable mistakes. Poorly Defined Project Goals and Performance Metrics. Unreasonable Time Restrictions and Budgetary Limitations.

Software Developers 100

Software Developers Software Development Software Review Software 100

ConversionXL

SEPTEMBER 6, 2013

The most common mistake startups make is assuming they can operate the same way big companies do, and expect success with little to no feedback from potential customers. A corporation like Starbucks could pick locations by throwing a dart at a map and know they’ll at least break even with a new location and mediocre customer service.

Customer Development 126

Customer Development Conversion Developer Customer 126

Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 14, 2022

In his classic book, “ The Leadership Capital Index ,” Dave Ulrich, a best-selling author, business consultant, and business school professor, provides some real insights and metrics on what makes up the elements of goodwill in the minds of top valuation experts. Leadership brand development. Focus on talent and people growth.

Technical Review 323

Technical Review Due Diligence Valuation Leadership 323

YoungUpstarts

OCTOBER 31, 2017

by Robbie Kellman Baxter, author of “ The Membership Economy: Find Your Super Users, Master the Forever Transaction, and Build Recurring Revenue “ In today’s competitive market, customer engagement (or lack thereof) could determine whether your company sinks or swims. Don’t confuse this with Customer Service.

Customer 171

Customer Retention Software Review Metrics 171

The Equity Kicker

MAY 3, 2018

Let me start by saying that I’m a massive believer in the power of metrics. However, it’s also true that metrics are not a panacea, with difficulties typically arising when a focus on metrics eclipses the big picture. Over focus on metrics at the expense of meaning, culture and innovation.

Metrics 87

Metrics CPA Early Stage Retention 87

SoCal CTO

DECEMBER 9, 2009

I just had an all-too common conversation with the founder of a startup who had spent more than a year working with a software development company who had produced a mess. The mess really comes from a developer who was willing to get started on a product that was not fully thought out. Who are the customers? Administrators?

Software Developers 292

Software Developers Software Development Developer Software 292

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 16, 2023

Building a minimum viable product, with customer validation. Before you bring on partners, develop intellectual property, raise capital, or generate revenues, you need to establish an official business entity. Building your public image and presence should start even before product development, through your website, logo, and blogging.

Intellectual Property 261

Intellectual Property Entrepreneur Angel Groups Social Media 261

Up and Running

MAY 17, 2016

Taking steering one step further, let’s suggest that good planning, with milestones and metrics, is something like steering with the aid of a GPS. Metrics are like dials on the dashboard, indicators of how you’re doing, tracking your progress toward goals. Metrics give you tracking and accountability.

Metrics 80

Metrics Social Media Business Plan Advertising 80

ConversionXL

OCTOBER 16, 2022

There’s more to ecommerce customer acquisition than increasing checkout conversion rates. For long-term, sustainable success, you must attract the right customers. In this article, you’ll learn how to gauge the effectiveness of any customer acquisition strategy. What makes customer acquisition different from marketing?

Acquisition 129

Acquisition eCommerce Customer Churn Rate 129

Startup Professionals Musings

DECEMBER 13, 2019

It’s always tempting to think that more product variations will satisfy more customers and lead to new sales. Some chaos is normal in every new business, but many wait far too long before they install metrics based on “best practices,” and fail to attack obvious bottlenecks with a vengeance. Use multiple small orders at first.

Technical Review 306

Technical Review Metrics Social Media Channel 306

Duct Tape Marketing

NOVEMBER 8, 2023

Key Takeaway: In the world of customer experience, mishaps are inevitable. However, by approaching customer recovery with style, empathy, and exceptional ownership, businesses can turn these situations into opportunities to create raving fans. 15:10 What are the best strategies for fixing a poor customer experience? [17:56]

Customer 76

Customer Technical Review Employee Artificial Inteligence 76

Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 2, 2021

I like the summary of the competitive reality in a new book, “ Rethinking Competitive Advantage: New Rules for the Digital Age ,” by Ram Charan, who relates a wealth of current experience from global clients: Customers expect a personalized experience. Features, availability, and brand are just the price of entry.

Software Review 355

Software Review Algorithm Global IPO 355

ConversionXL

JULY 21, 2022

Optimize each channel, and you’ll win new customers, enjoy higher order rates , and retain customers. In this post, we’ll explore lessons from brands that use omnichannel marketing to deliver a seamless customer experience. Omnichannel aligns branding, messaging , and customer service across every channel.

Customer 118

Customer Marketing Channel Audience 118

ConversionXL

JUNE 5, 2014

Has your company’s customer retention rate increased, decreased or remained status quo over the past five years? Have you outlined and initiated a formal customer retention strategy? In a study by Harvard Business School , it was found that increasing customer retention by even 5% can increase profits between 25-95%.

Retention 112

Retention Developer Customer Programming 112

Startup Lessons Learned

MARCH 16, 2009

Lessons Learned by Eric Ries Monday, March 16, 2009 Combining agile development with customer development Today I read an excellent blog post that I just had to share. In most agile development systems, there is a notion of the "product backlog" a prioritized list of what software is most valuable to be developed next.

Agile 111

Agile Customer Development Developer San Francisco 111

Startup Lessons Learned

NOVEMBER 8, 2008

Lessons Learned by Eric Ries Saturday, November 8, 2008 What is customer development? But too often when its time to think about customers, marketing, positioning, or PR, we delegate it to "marketroids" or "suits." Many of us are not accustomed to thinking about markets or customers in a disciplined way.

Customer Development 168

Customer Development Developer San Francisco Customer 168

Startup Lessons Learned

JULY 5, 2010

I believe it is the best introduction to Customer Development you can buy. As all of you know, Steve Blank is the progenitor of Customer Development and author of The Four Steps to the Epiphany. You can imagine how well that worked. On the minus side, that has made it a wee bit hard to understand.

Customer Development 166

Customer Development Developer San Francisco Customer 166

Startup Lessons Learned

SEPTEMBER 7, 2008

Lessons Learned by Eric Ries Sunday, September 7, 2008 Customer Development Engineering Yesterday, I had the opportunity to guest lecture again in Steve Blank s entrepreneurship class at the Berkeley-Columbia executive MBA program. Ive attempted to embed the relevant slides below. Talk about waste.

Customer Development 131

Customer Development Engineer San Francisco Developer 131

Startup Professionals Musings

NOVEMBER 30, 2022

While these investors, and early customers, will always argue that they found you, I’m convinced that there is no substitute for aggressive networking on your part. Ability to relate aspirations to customer needs. You need to show insights to real customers and their needs, that get beyond your passions and projections.

Silicon Valley 284

Silicon Valley Technical Review Leadership Metrics 284

Startup Lessons Learned

DECEMBER 23, 2009

Lessons Learned by Eric Ries Wednesday, December 23, 2009 Why vanity metrics are dangerous In a previous post, I defined two kinds of metrics: vanity metrics and actionable metrics. In this post, Id like to talk about the perils of vanity metrics. My personal favorite vanity metrics is "hits."

Metrics 167

Metrics San Francisco Lean Continuous Deployment 167

ConversionXL

JUNE 5, 2014

Has your company’s customer retention rate increased, decreased or remained status quo over the past five years? Have you outlined and initiated a formal customer retention strategy? In a study by Harvard Business School , it was found that increasing customer retention by even 5% can increase profits between 25-95%.

Retention 115

Retention Customer Developer Programming 115

Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 1, 2023

Develop metrics to monitor work intensity. Work intensity could be anything from number of meetings in a day, to number of production line emergencies, to number of angry customers during a shift. These metrics are also the best way to gauge when your team needs more help, and identifying strong and weak contributors.

Metrics 270

Metrics Conversion Global Product 270

Occam's Razor

SEPTEMBER 24, 2012

FBe's recommendation was (paraphrasing a 35 min talk): Don't invent new metrics, use online versions of Reach and GRPs to measure success. Because we don't understand the uniqueness, we fall back on profoundly sub-optimal old world metrics like Reach or Online GRP equivalents. Metrics are a problem.

Metrics 165

Metrics Advertising Marketing Social Media 165

Guy Nirpaz

MAY 29, 2016

I’ve written recently that MAU and DAU are the most important metrics for Customer Success. For that purpose I will assume that I’m the VP of Customer Success of Google AdWords product. Here’s what an AdWords customer needs to do in order to present their ads, taken from the Google AdWords website.

Metrics 40

Metrics Customer Technical Review Programming 40

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 25, 2023

Don’t fail to develop the proper comprehensive metrics for assessing how you and any partners are doing in terms of value creation. It is vitally important to leverage your efforts to maximize all key constituents, including customers, team members, partners, and other stakeholders. Not having a means to measure holistic impact.

Partner 350

Partner Operations Metrics Leadership 350

Startup Professionals Musings

NOVEMBER 28, 2020

Building a minimum viable product, with customer validation. Before you bring on partners, develop intellectual property, raise capital, or generate revenues, you need to establish an official business entity. Building your public image and presence should start even before product development, through your website, logo, and blogging.

Intellectual Property 404

Intellectual Property Startup Angel Groups Social Media 404

ConversionXL

SEPTEMBER 1, 2020

They both have a history of focusing on the lifetime value of a customer rather than chasing short-term profits. If you want to be a leader in customer loyalty and grow your business for the long term, Customer Value Optimization is key. How does “Customer Value Optimization” change your approach?

Customer 132

Customer SMS Retention Acquisition 132

Steve Blank

OCTOBER 15, 2019

Once upon a time every great organization was a scrappy startup willing to take risks – new ideas, new methods, new customers, targets, and mission. HR processes, legal processes, financial processes, acquisition and contracting processes, security processes, product development and management processes, and types of organizational forms etc.

Government 315

Government Technical Review Acquisition Metrics 315

ConversionXL

JUNE 5, 2014

Has your company’s customer retention rate increased, decreased or remained status quo over the past five years? Have you outlined and initiated a formal customer retention strategy? In a study by Harvard Business School , it was found that increasing customer retention by even 5% can increase profits between 25-95%.

Retention 105

Retention Customer Developer Programming 105

ConversionXL

FEBRUARY 3, 2022

A marketing growth strategy goes deeper into customer relationships to uncover opportunities that engage, activate, and retain. This philosophy comes from The Lean Startup methodology , which relies on testing hypotheses to better understand your customers’ pain points and goals. Your customers want different things.

Marketing 115

Marketing Framework Metrics Channel 115