Tag: Selling

When seeking investors

Posted on by Steve Sammartino

Here’s some simple advice when seeking investors for your startup.

Never use the words ‘The Next’…

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Regardless of the uber successful business which follows these two words it just isn’t going to happen. For two reasons. The first is our probability of being this successful is almost non existent. Secondly if we are this successful, we wont be the next, but something new.

The main point is when people use the words the next, they lose credibility. And when someone says it to me regarding their new business venture, I find it hard to believe anything they say after that.

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Radvertising – James Boag

Posted on by Steve Sammartino

Here’s some more radvertising from local Tasmanian beer brand James Boag. Watch it, then I’ll tell you why it is radvertising:

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xnc50XU8l1A]

Sure, it’s very entertaining, even funny. But as I’ve said many times before this isn’t why is ‘radvertising’, it’s because the creative idea is inextricably linked to the product…

  • Brand Heritage evident in the visuals and story
  • The core idea of ‘special water’ relates strongly to the brand and it’s Point of Difference
  • It’s conversation worthy, which means it’ll spread digitally, like it is right here on startup blog
  • And yes, it’s a joy to watch

The only negative, if there is one, is the potential for it to do a ‘category job’ for all beers Tasmanian, but that is inherent in their proposition and difficult to avoid.

The lessons for startups trying to create ‘radvertising’ is simple, make sure your ‘creative idea’ is linked the actual product.

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Make your sentences short

Posted on by Steve Sammartino

We need to make our sentences as short as possible when trying to engage anyone that matters in a business. Investors, customers, retailers.

So our short sentences should appear in our pitch, our copy writing and our video communication

So how could I possibly make this sentence any shorter than it is?

How could I make this sentence any shorter?

Could I make this sentence shorter?

Could I make this shorter?

This is shorter still.

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Emotional Insurance

Posted on by Steve Sammartino

If you ever sell your startup and make a good amount of money, you should be happy. Even if it wasn’t the billion dollar payday that the Youtube or Skype founders had. But the reality is the buyers think they can do more with it – make more money out of it. And just maybe cause you a little anxiety.

Here’s where it’s often worth getting some Emotional Insurance:

Startup Blog Definition: Emotional Insurance is the small percentage share of a business you hold onto in case it goes ganbusters when you’re gone.

It just might help you sleep at night once you sell your success.