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by Jacqui
January 4, 2012
If you agree that nothing is worse than building a product that no one wants to pay for, and you don’t really have a way to tell if your product concept is viable or not, this series of posts might shed a little light.
Tons have been written about how to create a minimally viable product, the importance of audience insights and the need to iterate, etc. We won’t be going there today. Instead, we’re going to quickly go over a couple of simple concepts that will get you started on assessing the marketability of your product idea.
Of Candy, Vitamins & Pain-Killers
Products generally meet a need, solve a problem or solve it more efficiently than existing solutions. I categorize products into three broad cateogories: Candy, Vitamins and Pain-Killers. Continue reading “Is Your Product Viable?” »
Permanent link to this article: http://jacquichew.com/2012/01/04/product-viable/
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by Jacqui
January 3, 2012
A new year brings changes and new beginnings. The checklist in starting a new business is often long and tedious. Some items are easily taken care of and others a little more difficult. Among the marketing items, the website, Linkedin company profile and even Facebook page get all the attention but little is given to the humble business card.
Perhaps 2012 is the year to reconsider.
Your business card is the second thing that your prospect comes in contact with after meeting you. It is often the most enduring physical manifestation of your company’s brand and stays on the recipient’s desk or ‘pile’ long after the first meeting. Decisions on the type of card stock, font and any special finishing can determine whether your card stays in the ‘resource’ or the ‘dead’ pile. Something as minor as the card stock can reduce the chances of the card making it to the former. As a general rule: thin and flimsy business cards communicate unreliability and low quality.
The folks at Businesscards.com has designed a very helpful infographic detailing the decisions that go into designing a business card. It offers clear visual cues to the various typeface and design layout considerations that seem minor but greatly impact the effectiveness in which a business card is able to make the right impression. Continue reading “The Business of Business Cards” »
Permanent link to this article: http://jacquichew.com/2012/01/03/business-business-cards/
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by Jacqui
August 24, 2011
I am going to be a part of a panel organized by the good folks at Grant Thornton and DLA Piper this morning on how to give great investor presentations. If you’re reading this, it means that the panel session is already over. But not to worry, I’ve included my tips and links and will be updating this post later today with additional tips and my fellow panelists will be adding their tips to in the comments area.
1. How do you grab attention immediately in a 6-minute pitch?
A pitch is a story with a beginning, middle and end. In the first 30 seconds, tell your audience the pain your product solves and why they should care. Telling a story to illustrate this point is generally a good idea but only if you keep it to 30 seconds or so.
Update: Use a video segment or screencast if it will strengthen a key point, but be aware that this can open your presentation to an additional risk of technical failure. Generally, 30 second segments are optimal in capturing your audiences’ attention.
2. Is it important to sell your team during the pitch? Continue reading “Startup Presentation Tips for N00bs” »
Permanent link to this article: http://jacquichew.com/2011/08/24/startup-presentation-tips-n00bs/
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by Jacqui
August 12, 2011
Even though my consultancy iFusion Marketing works primarily with start-ups, in our brief 5-year history, we have encountered all manner of management styles, value systems and personalities. Most successful tech start-up founders share common traits of intelligence, tenacity, desire for precision and a certain level of tunnel vision that allows them to continue on their journey despite the naysayers and constant rejection from would be investors. But unfortunately, many lack the “soft skills” necessary to motivate their vendors and especially their vendors from the marketing discipline.
Since I’ve been on both the client and the vendor sides of the equation, here are my five tips on how start-ups can transform marketing vendors into business partners. Continue reading “5 Tips to Turn Marketing Agencies into Partners” »
Permanent link to this article: http://jacquichew.com/2011/08/12/5-tips-turn-marketing-agencies-partners/
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by Jacqui
July 16, 2011
It appears that the ongoing war between Facebook and Google is threatening to boil over yet again. Fresh from the embarrassing smear campaign that Facebook hired Burson-Marsteller to conduct in the media against Google in May this year, it looks like Brin and Co. may be taking the PR offensive this go around. Black hat style. Continue reading “Black Hat PR + Winning at All Costs” »
Permanent link to this article: http://jacquichew.com/2011/07/16/black-hat-pr/
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by Jacqui
May 20, 2011
I recently experienced a string of meeting mishaps in which the person I was to meet with did not show up i.e. I was the “Stood-Uppee.” This post is for those of you who have committed a “no-show” i.e. the “Stood-Upper”
1. It really doesn’t matter why you failed to show up, the other person made time on their schedule for you, so be respectful of their time. Apologize. The level of effusiveness is directly related to whether you have what the other person wants or vice versa. It does not help your cause to overshare the reason for the no show. See #2.
Continue reading “When “Sorry” is Enough” »
Permanent link to this article: http://jacquichew.com/2011/05/20/sorry/
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by Jacqui
April 21, 2011
I moderated the April Atlanta Startup Chicks panel last night on “Getting Your Business Plan Funded” and it was a blast! Veteran investors Bonnie Herron, Melanie Leeth and Virginia Persons dropped funding gems throughout the panel discussion.
Here’s a summary of the panel re-created completely from memory so if you were there, please fill in the gaps and correct the inaccuracies in the comments section!
1. The role of business plans in the vetting process.
Business plans will help the investor formulate the first impressions of that start-up and the its founder(s) especially if the investor is unfamiliar with the start-up company’s management team. Business plans need to state the company value proposition right at the beginning in simple layman’s terms. It also needs to be succinct and formatted for easy review. Virginia Persons offered that the writing of a business plan is more a tool for the entrepreneur to think through all the aspects of bringing their company and product to market and achieving market traction.
The business plan is how you tell your story capture the interest of your investor…
- Bonnie Herron Continue reading “Startup Chicks “Getting Your Business Plan Funded” Panel” »
Permanent link to this article: http://jacquichew.com/2011/04/21/startup-chicks-getting-business-plan-funded-panel/
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by Jacqui
February 6, 2011
Chevy Cruze
Great, now my car is going to tell me about my Facebook updates too.
Reaction: 3 stars
Captain America
Please let Captain America not suck! This trailer rocks.
Reaction: 4 stars
Carmax
Not sure if I like this one. A little too much work for the pay-off.
Reaction: 2 stars
Permanent link to this article: http://jacquichew.com/2011/02/06/superbowl-ad-block-11/
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by Jacqui
February 6, 2011
Snickers
The un-cranky bar is back with the neurotic Richard Lewis and the inimitable Roseanne as modern lumberjacks. Somehow the vision of Richard Lewis with a power saw is a little unsettling.
Reaction: 4 stars
CareerBuilder Monkeys
The monkeys are back and they are bad news. Nice way to continue a popular and memorable theme.
Reaction: 4 stars
Super 8 Movie Trailer
Looks like another 2012. enough said.
Reaction: 2 stars
Permanent link to this article: http://jacquichew.com/2011/02/06/superbowl-ad-block-10/
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by Jacqui
February 6, 2011
BMW
BMW goes for American pride in this “Built in America” ad. Does it work? Your call.
Reaction: 3 stars
Motorola
Motorola Xoom takes a little dig at the iconic Apple 1984 ad since Apple has become the Big Brother it was pitting itself against in that ad. I found the ad endearing.
Reaction: 4.5 stars
BMW
BMW features their Diesel model? Really? One word: Forgettable.
Reaction: 1 star
Volkswagen
This one is a home run. The little kid in the Darth Vader gear is adorable and I can just imagine the size of his eyes when the car “responds” to his exercising of the Force.
Reaction: 5 stars
Thor
Perfect placement! Prediction: this will be a summer hit.
Reaction: 4.5 stars
Volkswagen
Drth VAde
Permanent link to this article: http://jacquichew.com/2011/02/06/superbowl-ad-block-8-9/
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