Blog Posts

CREATE YOUR MARKETPLACE AND WIN ORDERS BY VALIDATING YOUR NEW BUSINESS - HERE'S HOW

1/10/2017

When every potential customer or client sees your ad, photo, video, or offer they ask themselves two questions

Do I need or want this?
Why should I get it from you?

The secret to instant and lasting validation is to answer those two questions. Let’s dig a little deeper into this, so you will know, exactly, how to validate your start-up, and bring in orders.

SIDE HUSTLES YOU CAN DO FROM HOME WITHOUT ANY STARTUP COSTS

1/5/2017

Not only can side hustles make you extra income, but they can also be fun.

A lot of the time they require startup costs or transportation you don't have, so here's some you can focus on.

It is very difficult to have a lawn mowing business if you do not even have enough disposable income to buy a lawn mower, after all. But luckily there are ways to make money on the side without putting money in up front. Here are some ways to do it.

STARTUP OPPORTUNITIES FOR 2017

12/30/2016

We're confident in saying that we're all are looking forward to the New Year 2017 and closure of the exhausting challenges of 2016.

Primarily, we look forward to the exciting advancements in technology, from Big Data to the Internet of Things and a vast ocean of opportunities in between that influence every aspect of our lives.

What new opportunities are trending for tech entrepreneurs as we enter the new year? Here are my thoughts...

SOCIAL MEDIA ENGAGEMENT: HOW TO GET STARTED

12/21/2016

Most businesses are already on social media. Those that aren't know they need to get there or they miss out on valuable marketing opportunities.

In an online world of different platforms with different expectations for each, how do you keep up?

IN 2012, I WAS PART OF A FAILED HARDWARE TECH STARTUP.

12/14/2016

0 Comments

Yep, I had just graduated with my MBA and almost $100,000 of student loans. I was an entrepreneur and didn't want to settle for any of the job offers I was getting. Plus, I had made some money with my first 'startup' in the auto industry while in undergrad. I told myself, "I got this!"

Kickstarter was just becoming 'a thing' and I was browsing for cool ideas that I could help support. I found one called Devium, and it seemed like it was on it's way to hit it's funding goal of $40,000!

0 Comments

CONTENT MARKETING OR SOCIAL MEDIA MARKETING?

12/10/2016

Content Marketing and Social media marketing can be two of the best ways to drive customers to your business if done properly. To start with, let's look at the definition of content marketing:

"Content Marketing is a strategic marketing approach focused on creating and distributing valuable, relevant, and consistent content to attract and retain a clearly-defined audience — and, ultimately, to drive profitable customer action".

3 EASY WAYS TO BOOST SOCIAL MEDIA ENGAGEMENT FOR YOUR LOCAL BUSINESS

11/29/2016

With over 2 billion active users on social media, consumers are looking to engage with their favorite brands on these social sites.

Promoting your local business by leveraging social media is the best way to connect with your customers, increase brand awareness, and generate traffic to your site.

2 STRONG WAYS EMAIL MARKETING HELPS YOU CLOSE MORE LEADS

11/22/2016

With so much emphasis on social media marketing, it’s easy to overlook a time-tested, true tactic that still remains relevant in 2016: email marketing.

It's an essential component to your overall inbound marketing plan. As you build your lead list, it’s your email strategy that will move your subscribers to becoming customers and loyal advocates of your brand

SHOULD YOU ATTEND A STARTUP WEEKEND? LESSONS FROM BOULDER STARTUP WEEKEND 2016

11/15/2016

Today, I'm mentoring at Boulder Startup Weekend. I do this because startup weekends are one of the best spots to launch your startup, or make the jump of quitting your 9to5.

I figured writing about this would accomplish two goals:

One, I could ask each team for their 'elevator pitch,' which is the quick overview of what their idea or startup is. Startups often times get so deep and into the work, they fail to be able to describe it in two sentences.
No one understands it and your startup is not going anywhere until others can quickly grasp it.

Two, I could share with YOU, the reader who is entrepreneurial, but hasn't made the jump yet, why you should attend a Startup Weekend.

3 TIPS TO HITTING THE GROUND RUNNING WITH FACEBOOK LIVE

11/8/2016

Facebook Live is a phenomenal tool that can build your name, your authority, and ultimately grow your business.

It gives you the ability to connect with your audience in real-time on the biggest online stage in the world- Facebook.

HOW TO LEVERAGE MORE LEADS THROUGH YOUR PERSONAL BRAND

10/31/2016

People buy from people they know, like, trust, respect, and feel they can work with. Current customers and clients buy from you because of one or more of those personal qualities.

Potential customers and clients (unless they have no choice) will judge you on the same qualities before deciding to buy.

Three Reasons Entrepreneurs should Attend NamesCon '17

10/22/2016

Last January, I attended the Domain Name conference NamesCon 2016 and learned a ton about domain name investing. If you haven't heard of this, it's actually really important for new entrepreneurs. You have own your domainname.com, since that is basically the equivalent to owning the land that you build your house on.

Additionally, if you can purchase your competitions land, you're going to have the upper hand (no I don't recommend investing in trademarked domains). Or if your competition owns your domain, you'll learn how to get it back (if possible) and not overpay.

How the Law of Attraction Can Make You a Smarter Entrepreneur

10/12/2016

The Law of Attraction can be summed up in four words: like calls to like. As a person, we attract those who have similar attitudes and ideas

As an entrepreneur, it is important to attract the right types of people. Surrounding yourself with positive, successful people will make or break your business.

What to Learn from Introverts' Networking Superpowers

10/3/2016

One of the most common arguments when it comes to networking is that introverts struggle more than extroverts. This is not only false, but introverts have many qualities that actually make them more strategic networkers than extroverts

How Entrepreneurs Should Utilize the World of Snapchat

9/23/2016

New to Snapchat? Add @handshakin

At first, Snapchat with its self-deleting photos won favor amongst the teens and college students who wanted to share their escapades with one another (for better or worse).

Now your parents use it.

Your teachers use it...

The #1 Secret Weapon of the Best Entrepreneurial Communities

9/20/2016

Ironically, this is also the most common advice we learned from interviewing 60+ of today's top entrepreneurs on the Handshakin Video Series. But David Cohen, the Founder of Techstars phrased it best:

"It always produces unexpected results when you give first, it's a secret weapon of the best entrepreneurial communities," I heard David Cohen say in an interview with Startup Grind.

Give First.

Forward>>