Tag: Branding

Startup School – 1 seat left

Posted on by Steve Sammartino

I’m very excited that Startup School Melbourne is this weekend. We still have a single seat left which is currently being warmed by this guy….

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But we’d love to replace him with you. And if you need any more convincing then I’m pretty sure I’ll have done the job once you finish reading this blog entry.

Firstly – here’s a list of topics we’ll be covering in detail:

  • Idea Generating
  • Creativity in business. Creative thinking
  • Raising Capital
  • Art of Pitching
  • Legal tips, shortcuts and administration
  • Successful outsourcing (digital & production)
  • Building an international work force
  • Cash flow for startups & budgeting
  • Simplified project management
  • Personal & business branding
  • Selling like a guru
  • Generating PR and media
  • Building a Team

All of which is fully documented in a take home working manual so you’ll leave knowing exactly what to do and how to do it. Like I have.

We are also being joined by Yvonne Adele – Globally renowned Creativity and ideas guru!

You can’t learn this stuff in school, books or at University. And I should know as I teach Marketing at Melbourne University. You also get me as an on going mentor as a Startup School graduate with unlimited help in your start up. Which is incredible value give what most consultants (with less real experience) charge by the hour.

We are holding the event in the groovy boutique Lindrum Hotel. Where the space is great and the food and espresso is awesome. I tested it.

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All of which is included in the price. You’ll be one of 10 people in an intimate learning environment. Not in a room full of people.

If that’s not enough , Startup School comes with a money back guarantee to blow your mind. I can say this because I know the 2 days will.

No, it’s not priceless – it’s priced at $998.

It will be the best investment in your entrepreneurship education you’ve ever made. it will make and save you thousands. This event is a one off, there is no next chance. If you want to chat about it – call me on the phone number in the right hand side bar of this blog.

Click here to book now.

(Seats still available for Sydney 21st & 22nd of November)

See you on the weekend, Steve.

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We all fall – only some get straight up

Posted on by Steve Sammartino

I’m not a fan of Beyonce’s music. I am a big fan of Beyonce the brand. I have a tremendous amount of respect for what she’s has achieved as well as her persona and professionalism. I’m yet to see a scandal on her, which speaks volumes.

I happened upon this video of her falling (head first) on stage. What I love is her response the situation in this interview on CNN.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mSOgFUNrMZM]

Beyonce says: “I just kept thinking, you better get up….. I’ve fallen before the same way…. I’m gonna fall again and I’m not afraid of that.”

Startup Blog says: Go Girl.

Kraft needs lesson in ‘Crowd Sourcing’

Posted on by Steve Sammartino

The bungled Kraft Vegemite iSnack 2.0 comes down to a really simple problem. Something they (Kraft) do all the time, and I should know, I used to work there.

They can never seem to fully embrace new ideas in their entirety. They want to innovate, but leave the final decisions to senior management. They tend ignore research, or take snippets from consumers. They only ever go half way.

Vegemite iSnack 2.0

Latest news is that they are changing the name – your jar might be a collectors item in 10 years!

What Kraft should’ve done:

Not ask for ideas to chose from, but let the crowd choose and vote – like Digg! It’s crowd sourcing 101. If you want an opinion from the crowd, then you’ve got to let them decide too. That way you have them ‘on your side’.  To choose a brand name for 48,000 is as pointless as letting a very uncool CEO decide. Which is ultimately what they did.

Startup blog says: Embrace the crowd entirely, or don’t bother engaging them.

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Risk Taking

Posted on by Steve Sammartino

As an entrepreneur I’m not afraid of ‘considered’ financial risk. Just like any Plumber or Electrician would guarantee their workmanship, we must provide a satisfaction guarantee. It’s a great way to reduce purchase barriers. Something most successful brands do…. here’s a little exercise for you: Next time you a buy a household cleaning product or chocolate bar, flip it over and read the fine print and *bang* you’ll see a money back satisfaction guarantee. We must provide that too.

I’ve also done this on my latest little project Startup School. Here’s a recent conversation I had with my wife over email:

ME: Hey check out my Startup School receipt – pretty cool huh? (below is a part screen grab of said receipt)

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Wife: As a law graduate of course, I would nervous about making guarantees but up to you… Like the poetry!

Me: One must embrace risk in entrepreneurial fields and guarantee work, or revenue wont happen. it’s that simple. It’s a risk I’m prepared to take.

Wife: I know….that’s why YOU’RE the entrepreneur!

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Espousing others

Posted on by Steve Sammartino

In world of media proliferation it’s becoming harder to get someone, anyone, let alone our target audience to listen. A better way than blasting our own foghorn is to espouse others. Something I’ve seen a lot of smart startups do lately is become brand advocates. That is, take a lead role in communicating, promoting and essentially spreading the love for other companies whose values we feel aligned to. It’s even better if we all move in the same entrepreneurial circles. Though it doesn’t have to be this way.

When we share great stuff other people are doing it rubs off on us. Just like proper referencing does in academia. We need to find stuff other companies are doing that we think is worth sharing. Ideas we think rock and companies with cultures we admire.

This is my current love list of other Startups & SME’s

Some of which even loosely compete with each other. This is fine in my view as often the biggest challenge we have in startup land is market development. Helping our competitors, though counter intuitive, can also benefit us. It get’s more people interested in the space, generates mainstream media coverage and can increase market size. This type of thinking would have been a sackable offense in my old consumer goods marketing days. The world has changed.

We’ve always been told it’s better to give than receive and the on-line world is the greatest exemplar of this theorem. It’s also a super way build significant brand credentials and trust. When people trust what we have to say by introducing them to other cool stuff it gives us a chance at gaining our own momentum.

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The AFL Gestapo

Posted on by Steve Sammartino

It’s often said that a fish rots at the head first. I’m glad this is true because I’m getting pretty sick of Andrew Demetriou proclaiming these words…

‘The game has never been in better shape’

‘We have record attendances’

‘Our media deal is the most lucrative in Australian sport’

Yep, you’ve heard them all before. What Andrew doesn’t have the wisdom to understand is that the business graveyard is full of businesses who got it wrong well before there was any evidence in the numbers. It might not hurt to listen to the supporters once in a while.

A few things Andrew Demetriou ought remember:

  1. Andrew not only do they pay your wage, but the media deals are also dependent on supporters.
  2. Love will endure a lot of pain, but eventually the relationship will break if things don’t improve. Yes, AFL supporters currently love the game.
  3. You are servant to the clubs, they are not servant to you…. Kind of sounds a lot like Communism….. For the good for the game? Or the good for the AFL commissioners egos & back pockets?
  4. Your salary cap is a hoax. Especially when ‘chosen players’ can become AFL ambassadors and receive non salary cap income when they are feeding from the same income source.
  5. Silencing the media (Grant Thomas) and fining club presidents (Jeff Kennett) for their ‘harmless commentary’ is sounding a lot like what the Gestapo did in Nazi Germany.
  6. Ignoring long time supporters and existing markets (Tasmania / North Melbourne) and using the general AFL bursary to enter territories in which you are inherently ‘unwanted’ (Western Sydney & Gold Coast) is also sounding like events which lead to World War 2. Both West Sydney & GC will be money pits. You need a few lessons in Global marketing at the AFL. Culture is difficult to change, and you may as well be operating in another country in this case. There’s only so many Victoria Ex-pats available.
  7. AFL tribunal – having to prove your innocence at the risk of a more severe punishment is unheard of Western Society. Let alone trying to quantify someones intention in such incidents. I didn’t know the AFL could read minds. Congratulations.
  8. Rule changes – It’s a game, not a government – let it evolve.
  9. Tanking does exist. The simple reason you believe it doesn’t is because the ramifications of admitting it are too dire for anyone to be honest. Just because something can’t be proved, it doesn’t mean it isn’t true.

The main issue is this. You are not listening, and your time will run out.

Startup blog says: If you want to run a successful business, don’t be like the AFL, listen instead.

andrew demetriou

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Social media – Numbers are irrelevant

Posted on by Steve Sammartino

I saw this little 1 minute video from Seth Godin (Who I used to worship, and now just ‘like’) and had to post it here. Be sure to read my comments below the video.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r0h0LlCu8Ks]

Why the numbers are irrelevant to me….

  • My blog has few promotional elements on it (they’ll find me if I deserve it)
  • I only follow people on twitter I know. I want a conversation. Mind you if you @sammartino at some point I will follow you…. yes I’m interested in conversation.
  • Quantity loses to quality every time. Scores are misleading. Numbers are pointless.
  • Yes you can meet people on line and then create strong physical friendships. I have many times.

In summary I’d say this. If it doesn’t make sense in the real world (physical life) then there’s a good chance it doesn’t make sense on line. In ‘real life’, that is our off line life we think of our friendships and even business contacts in terms of quality. We don’t go around trying to make 1000 friends and wear a t-shirt that says ‘I have 1000 friends’. Rather, we prefer to have strong meaningful relationships which are one on one. Where both parties benefit. We don’t have a list in spread sheet with the people we’ve met. Sounds ridiculous doesn’t it?

Startups should be using social media to build relationships – not gathering numbers.

From now on I’ve changed my twitter link below on my blog posts. Can you see the change?

I am on Twitter – Click here to chat with me