“By far the most common mistake startups make is to solve problems no one has.” – Paul Graham The first step in building a product people love is to identify a problem that some group of people have. Solutions to clearly defined customer pain points make for the most compelling value propositions. You don’t need to start with a “startup idea.” By learning what problems people have you…
4 Reasons to Consider Short-Term Client Contracts
by / ⠀Entrepreneurship• Finding Customers• Startup Advice / December 5, 2013Many CEOs of small- or mid-sized businesses view long-term contracts as a sort of arrival. If your young company can acquire a big, long-term client, you’ve “made it.” You can relax a little, resting easy now that you have an ongoing source of revenue. But while longer contracts may give you a (sometimes false) sense of security, short-term contracts offer many benefits that are often overlooked: 1. Demonstrate…
A Hollywood Power Broker’s Top 5 Sales Fails
by / ⠀Entrepreneurship• Finding Customers / October 24, 2013Recently, the Hollywood gossip site Defamer posted an article about Mitch Grossbach, an agent at the powerful CAA talent agency in Los Angeles. The article discusses how Grossbach is seeking to move his fashion representation team to another talent agency, and how he’s using a PowerPoint presentation entitled “Agency Expansion Opportunity” to explain why he should be hired. According to Defamer, Grossbach is having a difficult time…
Do you know what REALLY sucks? Trying to convince people that they should buy your stuff. I know as an entrepreneur, I’m supposed to be selling and hustling 24×7. But selling as in convincing you that you should depart your hard earned money with my suave & charms, isn’t in my blood. The only counter to any sales objection I have is doing the gangnam style elevator dance…
How to Maximize Conference Season (and Not Go Crazy)
by / ⠀Entrepreneurship• Finding Customers• Travel / October 17, 2013Conferences are the best, right? They have interesting people, great speakers to learn from, and the potential for numerous business deals. If they’re so great, why do conferences wear us out so much? Why do we so often feel scattered and unfocused? Are they even worth the money? The Two Secrets to a Great Conference While there are a lot of factors that can make or break a…
5 Human Commonalities and Why Company Decision Makers Should Remember Them
by / ⠀Finding Customers• Startup Advice / September 10, 2013During the past 31 years, I have traveled to 134 different countries. Of all the countries I’ve visited, I’ve lived and worked for six months or more in 23 of them. I have been fortunate enough to live with people from different ethnic groups, socioeconomic strata, and educational backgrounds. They all had varying religious beliefs, cultural diversities, and values, but by allowing myself to be open to listening…
4 Free Channels To Attract New Customers
by / ⠀Entrepreneurship• Finding Customers / September 7, 2013So you’ve created your very first business but you’re struggling to find customers? It’s a really common problem. Don’t worry though; there are hundreds of marketing channels out there that will drive customers straight to your door! If you’re on a budget (like lots of new businesses are) then you’ll be hoping to generate some business with little or no cost. Well I suggest that this is entirely…
Captivate Customers With a Corporate Video
by / ⠀Entrepreneurship• Finding Customers• Startup Advice / September 2, 2013This decade has seen one of the most effective forms of marketing, video marketing. It is way more effective than oral campaigns, written ads or even promotion through audio content. It is an effective medium for entrepreneurs to expand their sales and device a highly specialized clip for a targeted sales program. Video content can either be self-generated internally or it can be outsourced to a corporate video…
Host a Conference, No Matter Your Budget or Size
by / ⠀Entrepreneurship• Finding Customers• Personal Branding• Startup Advice / August 25, 2013Venue. Speakers. Catering. Drink tickets. Hosting a conference comes with a price, and many business leaders make the mistake of thinking their companies are too small or too new to benefit from hosting an industry event. However, a conference can provide value for companies of all sizes and in all stages. Customers will have the opportunity to meet you, interact, understand your personality, and establish a personal relationship…
3 Most Common Marketing Mistakes Young Entrepreneurs Make (and How to Fix Them)
by / ⠀Entrepreneurship• Finding Customers / August 21, 2013You’ve heard it before: the vast majority of businesses fail within a few years. Now… let’s think about this for second. Why do smart, hard-working people with good intentions crash and burn? It’s often a combination of factors, from co-founder conflict, to funding issues and execution struggles… But at the core of it, businesses fail for one fundamental reason: they can’t sell their stuff. That’s the bottom line. And…