Ignite is a set of events where speakers are given exactly 5 minutes to speak on a topic of their choice with slides that auto-forward whether you’re ready or not. It’s a pretty cool format because it forces you to get to the point very quickly. I gave a presentation at Ignite Melbourne a couple of nights ago about how you can use iteration to build a business, even if you don’t have a ton of experience. (more…)

When you’re in a fast growing company, it’s more than possible to overhire and overstaff, filling in perceived gaps before they really are needed. Today I was emailed an amusing, if slightly over cutesy, fable about overstaffing that I thought I’d share. I think the important thing with respect to growth is to ensure you don’t end up navel-gazing and over analyzing. The fable in slideshow format is after the jump … (more…)

Some would read the phrase ‘email marketing’ and grimace in distaste. But it doesn’t have to be that way. When used tastefully, email newsletters can add a personal touch to the persona of your company. You can summarize the content of your blog, give teasers into what your company is working on, or simply share stories about the experiences of your team. Any one of these types of content can make your users feel closer to your organization — I know this from my own personal experience with the companies that I admire.

(more…)

As entrepreneurs, we come across a lot of folks who poke holes in our ideas. We hear a lot of “No – this won’t work.”

So when should we go full steam ahead with our idea even after hearing all the negativity—and when should we pause and evaluate the idea?  The answer depends on who the naysayers are.

(more…)

Public relations is an important part of every business, and it’s usually a good idea to involve experts when dealing with such an essential aspect. Let’s look at what’s involved with outsourcing this important part of your business.

To start, let’s look at some pros and cons:

Pros

• Less work: If you’re constantly busy and don’t have time to write emails and make phone calls, outsourcing PR may be a good idea. You may also feel your time is better spent doing what you do best, i.e. design, engineering.
• Particular skills: A PR company that has skills you or your team don’t have means they can do things you aren’t capable of (i.e. Google Adwords, although you can find specialized companies to do this).
• Relationships: If the PR company you’re thinking of hiring has a solid relationships with the media in your industry niche, they’ll be able to reach out to people you may have a hard time getting through to: For example, if they have an in at CNN, they may be able to get you featured in the Business section: If you’re a new, unknown company to CNN and you try to make the contact yourself, you probably won’t hear back from them.

(more…)