Tag Archives: rapid prototyping

Fear of Marketing = Fear of Starting

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StartLately, when I talk with business owners, I often sense a fear of getting started in today’s marketing arena. Due to the myriad of choices available today, both entrepreneurs and owners of established companies are confused and uncertain as how best to spend their limited marketing dollars.

Today, effective marketing is more about brains than it is about budget. Here are my 4 quick pointers for getting started today:

  1. Prototype like crazy. (Faster experiments = Better results)
  2. Measure, but don’t over-measure. (Remember to trust your gut.)
  3. Re-tool and correct. (Flexibility is key.)
  4. Repeat. (When one strategy starts to garner results, do more of it.)

My best advice? Have no fear — just get started.

by Rebecca Cochran

You Don’t Have to Start at the Beginning

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StartYou’ve set a goal. You’re determined to reach it. Now what?

Just start.

Not sure how to start? Don’t let that hold you back.

Start anyway.

Do I have to start at “the beginning?”

Nope, it’s okay to start anywhere.

Straight lines? What are those? Business (and life) is non-linear.

Start wherever.

Figure things out as you go. Try. Think. Ask. Prototype. Make mistakes. Learn. Course-correct. Repeat. Learn some more. Try again. Keep moving.

The single most important step is to start.

Start now.

 by Rebecca Cochran

Prototyping You

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BoxofcardsI often hear entrepreneurs and business owners say things like, “I hardly dipped into my last box of business cards before they became outdated. Arrgh! Now, I’ll have to reprint them again!”

My response is twofold. First, digital printing costs being as low as they are, most of us could reprint our business cards every month without going broke. Second (and more importantly), if you’re not using up your box of business cards, you must be doing something right!

As entrepreneurs and business owners, we should be rethinking and reinventing ourselves (and our companies) constantly. If we’re not changing and evolving, we’re probably lagging behind our competitors.

Think of your box of business cards as your latest prototype. If you’re getting close to finishing up the box, it may be time to look in the mirror, take stock and make some changes.

by Rebecca Cochran