The first step in any marketing plan is defining your value proposition. What are you promising to your customers? It has to improve their life in some way. Without clearly defining your value proposition your marketing efforts will fail. (Really you should define your value proposition way before you start marketing–you should do it before… Continue reading Your B2B value proposition (there is only one)
Author: will
Three places clutter kills concentration
I’m pretty sure that people universally despise clutter yet almost all of us let it invade most parts of our life. (My brother-in-law is one exception as he keeps the cleanest house you have ever seen which is quite a feat with two children.) There is always something more urgent to do than cleaning. But… Continue reading Three places clutter kills concentration
Talk about your idea as much as possible
Creating something from nothing is a special process. Inspiration becomes an idea. An idea gets refined, work is put in, and eventually out comes something that creates value for yourself or others. Whether you are creating something for others or something just for yourself, I strongly urge you to talk to as many people as… Continue reading Talk about your idea as much as possible
The Worst Product Meeting Ever
The title might be some hyperbole but a while ago I listened in on a product meeting that was eye opening in the sense that the bureaucracy explains why the product is in the state it is in after investing substantial amount of time in developing it. It was also a cautionary tale for every… Continue reading The Worst Product Meeting Ever
MicroConf 2015: How to build a solo SaaS sales machine
MicroConf 2015: How to build a solo SaaS sales machine Steli Efti (Close.io) The person with the highest level of clarity always wins. Sale based on value. Don’t fizzle around based on features, pricing, and costs. Refocus the conversation on the values you can provide. Truly qualify people. Ask questions until you reach an understanding… Continue reading MicroConf 2015: How to build a solo SaaS sales machine
How to set business goals for the new year
It is the time of year to set goals for your business. Some people are not the type to actually set goals. They have “wants” but those are different than goals. Wants typically are uninspired and very unactionable whereas goals are concrete and can be measured. You are a business superhero so you produce results… Continue reading How to set business goals for the new year
Building a Product vs. Building a Business
Today is the launch day of StartOpz (!) which is my new app that adds premade processes to business tasks such as expense reports, time off management, and invoicing. I hope to grow it into a sustainable business. I had some thoughts on that process that I am sharing here along with the wisdom of… Continue reading Building a Product vs. Building a Business
Y Combinator Sales School
These are notes on the amazing sales seminar that Steli Efti of Close.io did at Y Combinator on August 14, 2014. You can watch the talk here. It is only an hour and I highly recommend it. Sales Basics You’re not looking for traditional sales people for a startup. Sales for a startup is a… Continue reading Y Combinator Sales School
Advice from Startup School 2014
Y Combinator’s annual Startup School is one of my favorite startup-related events. I haven’t been lucky enough to be picked to attend in person but have always tried to watch them live. They are so inspiring that I always want to get back to working on my startup before the intermission! With this being the month… Continue reading Advice from Startup School 2014
National Entrepreneurship Month
National Entrepreneurship Month just ended but I believe that every day is a great day to start, build, and grow a business. With that in mind PersonalOpz is extending entrepreneurship month through December! (Gotta make money to pay for all of that holiday shopping right?) Look for a lot of content posted every day. I… Continue reading National Entrepreneurship Month