Stuck? Time to Improv! The Startup Launchpad

Julie Lichtman from Freedom Professional Services talks about How Startups can work with a Virtual Assistant

contact Julie on her LinkedIn profile https://www.linkedin.com/in/julielichtman/

Virtual Assistants in Startups Discussion

In this meeting, Mary Scott from BusinessRiff and Julie Lichtman from Freedom Professional Services discussed the role of virtual assistants in startups. Julie explained that virtual assistants can handle administrative tasks such as calendaring, scheduling, email management, and customer service. She also highlighted the importance of asking potential virtual assistants about their skill set, availability, and rates. Mary emphasized the value of virtual assistants in maintaining contact with potential partners and customers, and the importance of not asking them to perform personal errands or handle hiring and firing. The discussion concluded with Julie noting that the number of hours a virtual assistant works for a company can vary from one to thirty hours per week.

Virtual Assistant Role in Startups Discussion

Mary Scott from Business Riff and Julie Lichtman from Freedom Professional Services discussed the role of a virtual assistant (VA) in startups. They highlighted the tasks a VA can handle, such as data entry, CRM management, email inbox management, and calendaring. They also emphasized the importance of finding a VA with the right skill set and ensuring they understand the company's mission and elevator pitch. Julie advised that a VA should be able to hit the ground running within 5 hours of training, and startups should consider hiring a VA if they feel overwhelmed by administrative tasks. The discussion concluded with Julie suggesting that startups meet with at least three potential VAs before making a decision.

https://danielpatrickandrews.com/

Daniel Andrews from Network In Action International talks about Networking & Strategic Partnerships for Startups

Daniel shared insights on building authentic professional relationships and strategic partnerships in business, emphasizing the importance of long-term connections and mutuality. The discussion covered effective networking strategies and the value of trust in referrals.

Building Authentic Professional Relationships

Daniel shared his personal experience of transitioning from casual networking to building authentic professional relationships. He emphasized the importance of understanding that most people encountered in networking are suspects rather than prospects. Daniel recounted his journey of becoming friends with a man named Bert, who acted as his wingman in making initial sales calls for profitable business propositions. He stressed the importance of building trust and borrowing the trust already built with others. Mary acknowledged Daniel's insights.

Strategic Partnerships and Networking in Business

Daniel and Mary discussed the importance of strategic partnerships and networking in business. Daniel emphasized the need for building long-term relationships with key referral partners, rather than just collecting business cards. He also highlighted the difference between reciprocity and mutuality in partnerships, with mutuality being a more sustainable approach. Mary agreed, noting that startups should prioritize creating and cultivating strategic partnerships for easier customer acquisition through referrals. They also discussed the importance of effective communication, trust-building, and concise content in business relationships. Daniel shared his successful method of holding regular referral pairings and the importance of trust when someone is referred by a trusted source.

Aileen Boyle from Fortro talking about Sales Mistakes & Opportunities.

https://link.eventraptor.com/widget/bookings/fortro-amplify-your-sales 30 minutes call to get to the root of your challenge and point you in the right direction

Summary

Understanding Customer Needs for Business Success

Mary and Aileen discuss the importance of understanding customer needs before launching a business. Aileen emphasizes serving customers over aggressively selling, and ensuring products solve real problems. She stresses validating ideas through customer interviews. Mary agrees idea validation is crucial before starting a business. They mention piloting new offerings. Aileen highlights active listening in sales conversations to understand customer perspectives and concerns, rather than overwhelming them with information. Mary plans to share links to Aileen's services.

Effective Information Sharing and Question Handling

Mary and Aileen discussed the effectiveness of their approach to providing information and answering questions. Aileen suggested giving people a link to her diary for easy access to ask questions, which Mary agreed to. They also discussed the importance of giving people what they expect, what they don't expect, and leaving them wanting more. Aileen emphasized the value of not leaving people with unanswered questions and the need to provide practical, tactical solutions. They ended the conversation with Aileen sharing a link to her diary for further questions and Mary mentioning another recording to be done.

https://morethanafewwords.com

Lorraine Ball from More Than a Few Words talks about 3 Questions to Answer Before Starting a Marketing Campaign

https://www.linkedin.com/in/lorraineball/

you tube tag @MTFWPodcast

Preparing for Marketing Campaigns: Key Questions

Lorraine and Mary discussed the importance of preparing before launching a marketing campaign. Lorraine mentioned three key questions that business owners should answer before pursuing new marketing strategies. The first question was not stated in the meeting transcript, but Lorraine emphasized the need to address these questions to avoid getting distracted by the latest marketing trends.

Understanding Customer Segments and Tailored Marketing

Lorraine and Mary discussed the importance of understanding and catering to the specific needs of different customer segments, particularly small and mid-sized businesses. Lorraine highlighted the differences in mindset between small business owners, who value time over money, and mid-sized business owners, who have more money than time. She emphasized the need for tailored marketing campaigns and identifying competitors, not just other businesses, but also existing solutions that customers may be using to solve their problems. Mary agreed, stressing the need for customers to understand the benefits they would derive from a solution. They both agreed on the importance of being specific and focused on a niche market to attract the right customers and stand out from competitors.

Sales Strategies and Objectives Discussion

Lorraine emphasized the importance of understanding the objectives of sales efforts, such as selling more to existing customers or introducing products to new markets. She suggested different strategies and media for reaching different objectives, including social media, email, and text messages. Lorraine also discussed the concept of decoy pricing and the importance of creating different pages on a website for various objectives. Mary ended the conversation by encouraging the audience to book a call with her for further assistance at https://businessriff.com

David Austin from Summit Sales Partners with Sales Tips for Startups

Understanding Target Market and Sales Process

Mary Scott from BusinessRiff and David Austin from Summit Sales Partners discussed the importance of understanding the target market and customer needs for startups. David emphasized the need to listen to a variety of customers and be prepared to innovate based on their feedback. They both agreed that a CRM and a well-defined sales process are essential for long-term success. David suggested having a well-planned CRM system from the outset, as it can be challenging to adjust later on. They also touched on the common discomfort many people, including startups, have with sales, but did not provide specific ways to overcome this discomfort. Mary encouraged attendees to reach out to David for further sales tips

www.linkedin.com/in/deaustin1mo

and to book a call with her at https://BusinessRiff.com for startup success.

Dotty Scott from Premium Websites talking about Google Business Profiles

Google Business Profile for Startups

Mary and Dotty discussed the importance of Google Business Profile for startups. Dotty explained that it's a free listing offered by Google for all businesses and can be acquired by signing up on Google's website. Dotty emphasized the significance of the profile for online presence and highlighted that it's the only way to get listed in Google Maps. Mary agreed to share the link to the Google Business Profile checklist and the recording of the session with Dotty

Maps Listing and Co-Working Spaces

Mary and Dotty discussed the benefits and drawbacks of listing a business on Google Maps, particularly for those who work from home or operate a virtual business. Dotty explained that being listed on Maps can attract local clients, but it could also lead to unwanted visitors at home. Mary suggested that some startups list their addresses as co-working spaces to avoid this issue, and Dotty confirmed that this is a viable option. They also highlighted the advantages of co-working spaces, such as the opportunity to collaborate with other startups and use professional facilities like conference rooms and kitchens.

Google Business Profile and Social Media Strategy

Mary and Dotty discussed the importance of setting up a Google Business Profile for startups, emphasizing its role as the first listing in search results. Dotty advised that businesses should regularly update their profiles, including adding photos and requesting reviews, to maintain their ranking. Mary agreed to provide a Google Business Profile checklist in the comments for further assistance. They also touched on the benefits of social media and the need to link social media profiles to the business website for improved online presence.

Dotty also offers a free checklist for GBP here:

Google Business Profile Checklist from Premium Websites, Inc.

https://premiumwebsites.net/google-business-profile-checklist/

https://cultivationcapital.com/strategies/midwest-seed-stage/

Matt Phimphavong from Cultivation Capital discussed the next Spirit of St. Louis program

Cultivation Capital traditionally invests in Startups that are farther along: series A or higher, particularly in the areas of B to B software, Healthcare, Agriculture, and Geospatial Technology. This will be the third offering of the Spirit of St. Louis Fund, originally launched as an SBIC, Small Business Investment Company, which is designed for companies in those industries and in traditionally under capitalized geographic areas, Like St. Louis.

The fund plans to invest an average of $250k to $1 million in each of 20 to 25 companies selected in this round. Cultivation Capital would like at least half of those founders/companies to be located in the St. Louis region.

Becca Heissel, Business Owners Advocate, talks about why Startups need to set goals and some tips on how to do it. Setting SMART Goals for Startups

Mary and Becca discussed the importance of setting specific, measurable, achievable, realistic, and time-bound goals for startup businesses. Becca suggested creating a list of 100 things a business owner wants to achieve to stimulate ideas for goals. Mary stressed that holistic goals, including personal life, relationships, health, financial legacy, and career, should be prioritized. Both agreed on breaking down big dreams into smaller, achievable steps, and Mary advised identifying the core problem a startup aims to solve. They agreed to share relevant links via email and to further discuss this matter the following day.

Here are some Free Tools to check out:

1. Business Financial Health Quiz- Are you unsure about the financial health of your business? Get actionable tips and advice to enhance your financial well-being https://www.proprofs.com/quiz-school/ugc/story.php?title=what-superhero-are-you-most-like-125422q
2. Are you eager to dive deeper into your personal and professional growth journey? Click below to schedule a free strategy session with Becca. Get personalized guidance and explore how you can achieve your goals and dreams. Select a Date & Time - Calendly https://calendly.com/becca-bsg_/30min?month=2024-07
3. The Six Key Questions For Success- By answering these six essential questions—who, what, when, where, why, and how—you'll gain insights into both your personal and professional aspirations. The 6 Key Questions Ritual (mailchi.mp) https://mailchi.mp/businessownersadvocate/the-6-key-questions-ritual
4. Reignite your Entrepreneurial Spark. How We Achieve Holistic Clarity- https://mailchi.mp/businessownersadvocate/reignite-your-entrepreneurial-spark

https://tech-assist.ca/

Abby Bassie-Cripps from Tech-Assist talks about Cybersecurity for Startups

https://tech-assist.ca/safety.php

https://abidel.legalshieldassociate.com/en-ca

Cyber Security for Startups: Prevention and Preparation

Mary Scott from Business Riff discussed the importance of cyber security for startups with Abby Bassie Cripps from Tech Assist. Abby emphasized the need for proactive measures to prevent hacking, such as using antivirus software, a VPN, and a separate router. She also advised rebooting the system when signs of hacking are detected. Mary highlighted the potential for hacking and the importance of being prepared to handle it. Abby further explained that a separate router can be a valuable investment for cyber security, despite its cost.

Mary and Abidel discussed various methods to protect privacy and security online. Abidel recommended using a paid VPN, a secure browser like Brave, and a search engine like DuckDuckGo to keep browsing history private. They also discussed the pros and cons of using cloud storage versus external hard drives, with Abidel suggesting that external hard drives are safer in terms of privacy and security. Lastly, Abidel mentioned the use of browser add-ons to block bad ads and protect against server downtime.

Abidel discussed the concept of "pretenders" in the context of ad blockers, emphasizing that not all ad blockers are genuine. She also explained that the effectiveness of these blockers depends on various factors, including the user's location and the permissions on their computer. Mary asked for clarification on the differences between hacking, phishing, and spoofing, to which Abidel responded that hacking is a broad term encompassing various actions, including unauthorized access to a computer. She further explained that spoofing involves impersonating someone to gain access or information.

Abidel discussed the importance of verifying the authenticity of emails before opening them. She explained that emails with a lot of letters and numbers that don't make sense are likely from hackers trying to collect personal information. She referred to this as phishing. Abidel also advised against emptying the spam folder, as service providers periodically review these emails and create new rules to prevent them from being sent again. Mary confirmed her understanding of these concepts, including recognizing phishing attempts like emails with attached PDFs from unknown sources.

Mary and Abidel discussed the importance of personal logins for accessing websites and the use of password managers for generating secure passwords. Abidel recommended the Trend Micro package from Legal Shields, which includes a quality antivirus, VPN, and password manager. She emphasized the need for a 16-digit password with letters, capitals, numbers, and symbols for maximum security. Abidel also expressed her preference for password managers that are stored on the computer rather than in the cloud to avoid potential hacking risks

Shaun Hayes, author of "The Green Choice", talking Good Risk or Bad Decision

Evaluating Risks in Startup Businesses

Mary welcomed Shaun, the author of a new book called The Green Choice, to discuss the concept of evaluating risks in startup businesses. Shaun emphasized that most successful startups are founded by individuals with industry experience who identify an opportunity to improve upon existing products or services. He shared anecdotal evidence illustrating that venturing into an unrelated industry significantly decreases the chances of success. He encouraged entrepreneurs to stay close to their area of expertise and find a niche within their existing field.

Experience, Learning, and Entrepreneurship Success

Shaun and Mary discussed the importance of experience and learning in entrepreneurship. Shaun emphasized that success often requires 3 to 5 years of dedicated effort, and encouraged individuals to gain experience by working for others in their chosen industry. He also highlighted the value of learning from others' successes and mistakes, sharing his own experiences as an example. Mary agreed, noting that making mistakes can be costly and that learning from others can be beneficial. Shaun concluded by stating that entrepreneurship offers freedom, but it's not always easy and requires a solid understanding of cash flow and other business fundamentals.

Trust, Systems, and Customer Focus in Partnerships

Mary and Shaun discussed the importance of trust and systems in business partnerships. Mary emphasized the need for written agreements and dual control to ensure accountability and prevent fraud. Shaun shared examples of companies that had suffered due to a lack of trust and proper systems, highlighting the significance of having checks and balances in place. Both agreed that the customer should always be the focus, and that taking care of customers leads to success, even in the face of competition.

Valuing Time and Appropriate Pricing in Business

Shaun and Mary emphasized the importance of valuing one's time and charging appropriately in business. Shaun advised that one should have boldness in pricing and not undervalue their services. Mary suggested that women in business should aim to double their initial pricing and then add 20% for a baseline. Shaun further advised to consider the cost of one's time when giving it away for free.