Category: Ideas

Number 1 tip for web entrepreneurs

Posted on by Steve Sammartino

 

GO OUTSIDE !

 crowded-city.jpg  

Sounds ironic or even slightly crazy. But here’s what we must consider.

We are not really in the ‘online’ business. We have a business which just so happens to have an ‘online’ presence.

Itunes is in the music business

Ebay is in the second hand (new) goods business

Google is in the advertising business

McDonalds is in the real estate business

Wikipedia is in the democracy business

Everything is not what it seems. The best opportunities are out in the world where our people are living their lives. The best ideas come from conversations we have, not spreadsheets we do. The best way to engage business associates and customers is to meet and interact with them…

…The best way to market to our world is by being in it, not isolated from it.

In the words of marketing polymaths Reis & Trout: “An office is a very dangerous place to watch the world from”

Blog Action Day – my 2 cents…

Posted on by Steve Sammartino

This is a modified ‘repost’ from the early days of Startup blog. But it’s here to read again because I personally feel it is the truth underneath the climate change story.

 

Climate change is regarded by many as the biggest problem facing the global community.  It’s an issue that is unlikely to be resolved any time soon due to the fact the climate change isn’t the problem. It’s actually the symptom. The problem is excessive consumption.

 

Shopping trolley

Everything we do (consume) happens to emit greenhouse gases. Driving, eating, buying, mining and buildings all consume energy and resources being manufactured, delivered and used.  Governments and corporations are unlikely to encourage reduced consumption because apparently, growth is good.

 

Buying tree to offset carbon gas emissions isn’t enough.

 

Consider, then espouse.

 

 

Self help books

Posted on by Steve Sammartino

Self help books are great. How to books are great. Blogs are great.

 

In fact there is probably no better way to learn how to do anything, improve our life and achieve our goals. But at some point we need to put the books down, and resist the temptation to buy another one when next browsing through the local bookstore.

We have to implement instead.

Every book on entrepreneurship, finance (insert topic here) has a slightly different spin – the next big idea. One which could change our thinking and even tempt us to re-do our plans. It’s at this point we need to test things in the real world. The only thing more valuable than planning and learning is doing. If things don’t work, then we can go back and look at another theory or method.

So let’s all turn off our computers, stop reading (writing) this blog and get out there and implement our vision. Good bye, and good luck.

Waiting lists

Posted on by Steve Sammartino

In Melbourne there’s a sporting club called the MCC. The Melbourne Cricket Club. Being a member gives you the rights to attend any sporting event at the MCG stadium (which seats 100,000 people).

 

Granted they are great seats to watch the football from. It also has a couple of restaurants and old school establishments within its confines. The membership costs about $500 per year…it’s nice enough.

 

There’s a 20 year waiting list to become a member of the MCC!

 mcc.jpg 

You need someone to die before they admit another member. People talk about how long they’ve got to go before they’re likely to become a reserve member.

It’s a rare business where making customers wait is part of the allure. Sure there’s a lot of history as the club is over 100 years old. I wonder how a start up with a premium / unique product could make ‘waiting’ a selling point?

Inspire Log

Posted on by Steve Sammartino

Not a new concept, but an inspire log is great tool entrepreneurs ought use.

Inspire Log

Definition: Little booklet, notepad, or document with pictures, words or quotes which help motivate us on a daily basis to stay the course.

It doesn’t have to be full of pictures of luxury homes or Ferrari’s. It’s whatever makes sense for you. Maybe it’s a picture of a clean environment, a cure for a disease, a vision of world peace, some words from your favourite leader. Anything!

Print it, but it in a folder or plastic pocket and look at it each morning and night.

Apparently it works.

How to run a consumer promotion

Posted on by Steve Sammartino

There’s no shortage of really crappy consumer promotions out there. I blogged recently about budget airline Jetstar’s poor attempt here.

 

Win a car. Win a holiday. Conditions apply. Buy 3 years worth of our product to enter… need I continue?

 

Here’s some tips on running an effective consumer promotion:

 

Make it simple to enter

Make it free to enter

Make it a race

Make the prize unique

Make the prize the ‘users’ choice

Make it benefit your brand & the entrants

Don’t ruin it with terms & conditions

 

And here’s an example of the above which we have done for rentoid.

 

Feel free to enter.