How to use marketing research tactics to grow your startup

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When it comes to building a product that people will love and actually pay money to buy, you have to know your customer inside and out. Unfortunately too many entrepreneurs and startups are ignoring this very basic truth because they believe it costs too much money to gather market research. Others are ignoring it because… Read More…

7 proven steps for turning your vision into a startup

Flickr photo via Chris M.

If you’re like me, you probably see opportunities for new products and businesses all the time. Over the past 10 years I’ve created many businesses, and in that time I’ve learned what you need to do and don’t do to take those ideas and visions and turn them into a successful startup. In fact, I’ve… Read More…

Hooked on growth: Nine ways to expand your business now

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Starting a business takes a lot of research, time and money. You probably read a bunch of books, talked to other business owners and listened to some advisors. You obviously invested a lot of your own time and energy into forming your startup. But now you’ve survived the startup stage and can’t stop thinking of… Read More…

Google+ Handbook: 63 resources for entrepreneurs

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Just when you thought you had Facebook and Twitter nailed, along comes Google+. This new social site took the world by storm, but easily ended up adding more confusion to your life. Well, even if you’re a complete beginner and don’t have a clue where to start or you’re a reasonably seasoned user of Google+,… Read More…

Four tips for startup survival

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It’s not a pretty picture. While sixty-six percent of new businesses will survive to the two-year mark, less than half will reach four years. And how they reach those four years is less than inspiring. Most are working their tail off to just keep the lights on. Despite those numbers, new businesses are started every… Read More…

Four questions for developing a minimum viable product

Photo via Craig Murphy

No doubt you are familiar with the concept of minimum viable product (MVP). But no matter how long the term has been around, I talk to entrepreneurs all the time who seem to be confused about the term. Are you confused about it? If so, I’ve answered the four most important questions when it comes… Read More…

Eleven key things would-be entrepreneurs can do instead of getting an MBA

(Flickr photo via Chris Samuel)

If you’re young and thinking of starting a company, then you might be tempted to go to business school to get an MBA. The theory is business school will teach you how to run a business and expose you to a lot of great contacts. Only trouble is a typical MBA can set you back… Read More…

Seven critical factors to great business branding: A guide for startups

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Are you thinking about your brand as you build your startup? If not, you should stop everything you are doing right now and pay attention to what I’m about to tell you. A brand is nothing more than a specific promise of value that a product or person makes to customers. Sounds simple, but if… Read More…

Seven signs that you might just be an entrepreneur

Flickr photo via Chris M.

I meet a lot of people who want to be an entrepreneur, but don’t really have the signs that they’d make a good one. See, the first thing you have to understand about being an entrepreneur is that it isn’t sexy. You aren’t really working for yourself.  You’ll have to build a business from scratch…. Read More…