Startups Tuesday Operational Roundtable - A Forum to Ask About Legal, Accounting, Project Management, or How to Get Started |
- Tuesday Operational Roundtable - A Forum to Ask About Legal, Accounting, Project Management, or How to Get Started
- The best way to learn marketing is to just do it yourself.
- What took you from a failing/failed entrepreneur to a successful one?
- Why sales should be everyone’s first career.
- How to build a team when pre-revenue, but post MVP build
- Seeking Advice on Launching a Hardware Product
- What do I do next?
- 19 y/o with a startup, need help/advice
- I am the technical founder of a consumer hardware startup but have no software background. What should I learn about UI and UX so I can hire smartly someone to take on that part of the product development? The hire would likely be a contractor because I am just starting out.
- Question regarding market research
- Reaching potential user's before getting into development
- Subscription Service Shipping
- Ring Group Phone Solutions
- What forms do I need to have? What information do I need to collect from users and customers?
| Posted: 12 May 2020 06:06 AM PDT Welcome to this week's Operational Roundtable Thread. Ask about anything related to legal, accounting, project management, or how to get started. Don't be shy. The purpose of this is to learn and share ideas and methodologies with one another. Any question is a good question! If you are answering questions, remember to be kind and supportive. Many are just starting out and have no idea what they are doing. That's okay! We all knew nothing before we knew something. You can also find more support using instant chat on the /r/startups discord. [link] [comments]  |
| The best way to learn marketing is to just do it yourself. Posted: 12 May 2020 08:43 PM PDT I have a lot of downtime due to corona. I specialize in inbound marketing and content management. So I wanted to level up and took an SEO class on pluralsight(which was just okay if I'm being honest), found out about search console and brushed up on it, and then tested all of the techniques I learned on a website I owned but never optimized. I've also helped out a nonprofit and a friend optimize their website and have seen positive results (though nothing crazy like getting to page 1). I have also figured out how to use UTM parameters to track campaigns, write ad copy, run facebook ads, target an audience, and track all of it through Google Analytics for a new mental health newsletter I launched. I know exactly how much I spent, which platforms are giving me better conversions, when conversions are organic vs. paid, and which ad copies are better. This was a big deal for me because it was something I knew I didn't have experience in and thought I could only learn through an ad agency or through a mentor. But then I said, "Fuck it. I'm gonna figure it out myself." And I did. To be honest, it took me a long time to figure all of this out. If I had been trained it would've made the learning curve faster and easier. But when you feel stuck, you just have to make a move. I'm also not an expert in a single area. For example, I just know the basics(+) of all these different areas. But I think this is ideal when for when you launch a startup and then hire someone with real growth experience to take over. Next on my list is to figure out retargeting via google ads and making the data presentable via excel. This is probably one of the more important parts on figuring out KPI's and CPA's. Anyways, I hope this gives other people the motivation just to go throw shit on the wall and see what sticks. [link] [comments]  |
| What took you from a failing/failed entrepreneur to a successful one? Posted: 12 May 2020 06:44 AM PDT After working at a startup (SWE) for 2 years, that raised millions and failed to get a single customer, to co-founding 2 companies over the last year and a half that have failed, I feel like the "hard knocks" degree can only take you so far. I'm 24, and although I can start again, I recognize that I'm not equipped to do so just yet. I've learned how to build MVPs, raise money, pick founders, conduct market research, interview customers, iterate, but I feel that every time I've learned that NEXT crucial step, I'm 4-6 months down the road on a product or service that is bound for failure. - It turns out those original customer interviews pre-MVP were worthless, I asked the wrong questions, lead them, and heard what I wanted to hear. They don't have this problem, or anything close to it. The MVP is useless. - a customer's willingness for me to give them free hardware does not mean they like it. They took it because it was free and don't use it or even care. The business model doesn't work, the industry is a sinking ship, one side of your market cannot/will not pay. I am going to be an Entreprenuer for a major part of my career, but I realized that I need to take a step back and get better. Perfect practice makes perfect, not practice alone. What did you do to bridge the gap? Did an MBA help you? Maybe working for a big company? If so, what job did you do there that enlightened you? Maybe working for a startup with a special type of founder? Were there any particular realizations? Any wise advice from mentors? [link] [comments]  |
| Why sales should be everyone’s first career. Posted: 13 May 2020 01:32 AM PDT A sale is made on every decision, either you sell yours or you buy someone else's. The earlier you understand this concept and learn what goes into a sale, the earlier you will be the one selling your ideas instead of buying others. I propose that everyone's first job should be in sales. Not just any sales, but a high-pressure, no luxury, barebones, cutthroat sales job. Because if you survive in this environment, it means you understand influence. And if you thrive, it means your influence has no limit.
Understanding influence, persuasion, why people buy, and how people make decisions, will allow you to adjust your mind state, your spoken word, your body language, even what your wear and the image you want to project in order to close a sale or persuade others.
The path to becoming a skilled sales person is not an easy road. You can't just study it in school. You have to live it, and fail, several, several times. Those skills you learn along the way are just as powerful as the end result. You learn negotiation, persistence, self-discipline, rejection, creativity, hunger, listening, confidence and focus. You learn to question and to think differently. You learn empathy, modesty, ability to adapt and the power of positivity. Each one of these skills is powerful in itself, but the ability to balance all of them while making the prospect feel comfortable, trust you, have faith in you in order to make a commitment is unstoppable.
There is not one profession in the world that would not benefit from improving their sales skills. Whether you are a founder raising money, influencing your boss to accept your idea, influencing your team to follow you, hiring someone, or being hired. All of these situations would benefit massively if you understood more about how people make decisions and why people buy. If this sounds intimidating, the more important it is for you to learn. The skills you gain will serve you for the rest of your business and personal life. Happy Selling :) [link] [comments]  |
| How to build a team when pre-revenue, but post MVP build Posted: 13 May 2020 12:39 AM PDT I'm the solo founder for a new b2b2c platform in the health and wellness space. Essentially it doubles as marketing software tools and a review centric community. I'm at the MVP launch phase and have some potential funding (via angels and accelerators I work with) lined up, but it hasn't been locked in due to A: I'm a solo founder (no team) and B: Im pre-revenue. Most of the hinderance is in point A. As such I'm looking for team, mostly in the sales/growth space, to onboard initial traction. Only thing is, it's a classic chicken and egg scenario not only on boarding customers, but on the team end as well. I don't have the capital to pay and I've yet to come across anyone locally that brings value, but is willing to put sweat into a startup in this phase (ie: don't need a dedicated in house tech person yet). What's the best way to seek out and connect with possible prospective team? (excluding Angellist) Thanks ! [link] [comments]  |
| Seeking Advice on Launching a Hardware Product Posted: 12 May 2020 09:52 PM PDT I designed a wireless charging product for a design competition and received positive feedback. Now i'm looking to develop the concept into an actual product. I have most the technical know how needed to build a prototype and i'm currently sourcing the materials I would need. I'm itching to build it because it's a product I would buy/use. My plan is to build the prototype and develop a BOM. Then I could approach my tech/startup network to find a partner to help me bring it to market. Does this sound reasonable? Thanks for any tips! [link] [comments]  |
| Posted: 12 May 2020 09:30 PM PDT 19 year old startup founder not sure what to do next? I graduated high school and I started a technology startup. I'm the CEO and raised 6 figures in investment from angel investors to grow the team/company. The startup has 5 full time employees and is in the voice tech space. We have hundreds of thousands of months users and I landed us a strategic relationship with Amazon. Im getting burned out/ready to walk away. Our competitors are eyeing us up for acquisition so we might a small exit. What should I do next? Thinking of going to college or maybe trying to work at another tech co? Not sure what to do next career wise as I feel like I did something people go to college to do and don't have much experience besides this company. I need advice. [link] [comments]  |
| 19 y/o with a startup, need help/advice Posted: 13 May 2020 12:57 AM PDT First let me start with I have no tech/coding experience and I have been working and molding an idea I've had since high school. I really believe in this idea and there is a tested market for it. I have a few competitors (which is always a good thing) but they are at least a year ahead of me engineering wise. I have been using a web developer through freelancer but no idea if I will get my money's worth for this. Any idea on how to find web developers/ technology cofounder? Thanks. [link] [comments]  |
| Posted: 13 May 2020 12:40 AM PDT I am the technical founder of a consumer hardware startup but have no software background. What should I learn about UI and UX so I can hire smartly someone to take on that part of the product development? The hire would likely be a contractor because I am just starting out. [link] [comments]  |
| Question regarding market research Posted: 12 May 2020 06:25 PM PDT Hello startupers, I am having a super hard time with one problem and need some advice. I am embarrassed that I have to ask it but here it comes. How the heck can I find out the size of the Czech housing market and then figure out, how many flats are being rented in the entire country? I really thought it will be easy to find something like this, but I utterly failed. Thanks a lot to anyone who knows how to get my hands on such info. GL lads. [link] [comments]  |
| Reaching potential user's before getting into development Posted: 12 May 2020 07:12 AM PDT Hi everyone, I'm a passionate android developer with 3 years experience in industry. I had made few utility apps in the past to which users responded very well and I didn't have to any marketing, all sales were organic. But now I want to build something more impactful and on a little large scale. I narrowed down my list of ideas and came to finalise one which is personal to me i.e. I had this problem when I was a student. It involves both educators on YouTube and their students. One important thing that I learn from this sub is to involve your potential users even before starting to develop your big idea. But how do I approach them and what should be my proposal to them exactly? Would they really be interested in helping even when there is no product at this stage.What should I offer them? How do I do more research on the problem. [link] [comments]  |
| Posted: 12 May 2020 02:55 PM PDT Hi, I've noticed how popular a lot of subscription services (like Dollar Shave Club, of course) have been getting recently. It makes sense as a business model for the consumer and for the seller, and I have a couple ideas burning away that resemble that type of business. But one thing that I am unsure of, is how tough are the shipping costs? I'm sure they have to add up and that's probably a big hurdle to overcome. I'm posting this here while also looking into it on my own (Google is only somewhat helpful) so I'm just wondering if some of you have experience with this and how services like that get reasonable shipping. Thanks in advance for any help! [link] [comments]  |
| Posted: 12 May 2020 07:33 AM PDT My partner and I recently started a business. We would like to have one business phone number (preferably free or cheap) that rings to both of our cell phones. That way which ever one of us is available to answer at the time can accept the call. We have played around with Google Voice, and while it seems to work in principle, may not actually have the functional capability to be a practical solution for a business. Has anyone had any success with Google Voice or any other platforms or suggestions? [link] [comments]  |
| What forms do I need to have? What information do I need to collect from users and customers? Posted: 12 May 2020 06:26 AM PDT Im launching my B2C startup soon (Saas) and looking for common, valuable forms my startup for:
And anything else that's valuable. Can you help me here guys? How do I approach this? [link] [comments]  |
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