043 Think Big Radio: Top 9 Questions to Ask Before Naming Your Startup

043 Think Big Radio: Top 9 Questions to Ask Before Naming Your Startup

Google.  Tumblr.  Twitter.  Zaarly.  They’re all successful companies, but where in the heck did their names come from?  When determining the name of your startup, there are a lot of things to keep in mind.  Do you want one of these “whacky” names that mean virtually nothing, or do you want to keep it simple like AutoZone, Burger King or Stanley Steamer?  There are multiple ways to go about naming your business, but before you do, be sure to ask yourself these 9 questions:

1. What is your brand positioning?
2. Is the name too limiting (or too broad)?
3. Does the name make sense?
4. Is the name easy to remember?
5. Can people spell the name easily?
6. Does the name sound good?
7. Does the name reach your target audience?
8. Does the name look good on paper?
9. Is the name already trademarked?

So listen up, tune in and Think Big!  In this episode of Think Big Radio, Derek and Allison discuss the top 9 questions to ask yourself when naming your business.  Keep all of these questions in mind before you jot anything down on your formal business plan.

Follow Allison at @AllisonThinkBig & Derek at @DerekCOlsen.

Think Big Partners Spins Off Digital Startup Marketing Company Inboun

We've built a lot of great things at Think Big Partners.  From Kansas City-based startup companies to the production of large events, we have become experts in the entrepreneurial field.  And with that, we have learned a lot of interesting marketing tactics along the way--marketing tactics that have led to recognition by publications such as Sprouter and The Social Media Bible.  Startup marketing is something we excel at--and it's time for us to get serious about it.

That's why Think Big Partners has split off its marketing unit as a separate business known as Inboun, which specializes in digital marketing for startups as well as small and mid-sized businesses.

Inboun currently focuses on inbound marketing consulting, strategy development, public relations, audio/video development, digital marketing analytics and measurement, as well as social media, content, event, custom engagement and startup marketing services.

Inboun’s client list includes The North Face, The Roasterie, Hitch Fit Online Personal Training, Coaches vs. Cancer, The College Basketball Experience, Ruckus, Think Big Partners and other local (Kansas City-based) and national companies.   

Inboun also specializes in marketing many of Think Big Partners’ startups involved in the accelerator program, the incubator and in the coworking space.  As Inboun’s niche market, these Kansas City-based startups and early-stage companies utilize the company’s digital marketing services in order to promote their brand, drive traffic to their new websites, establish a voice in the community and market innovative products that are new to the industry.    

“We enjoy helping entrepreneurs because we are entrepreneurs too,” said founder of Inboun, Herb Sih.  “Throughout helping so many startups during our experience of building Think Big Partners, as well as working closely with entrepreneurs during events like Think Big Kansas City, The Gigabit Challenge and iKC, we realized that one of our biggest strengths is helping these startups market exactly what they do and how they do it.  Marketing for startups requires a very different approach than marketing for established brands.  Lucky for us, we excel at both.” 

In addition to working with startups, Inboun also works with established brands through an integrated inbound marketing strategy.  By collaborating with other marketing agencies, developing both short- and long-term marketing campaigns and assisting brands with social media marketing, Inboun’s client base has grown quickly since its inception in mid-2011.

"Working with Inboun has been a great experience," says Diana Chaloux-LaCerte, co-owner of Hitch Fit and client of Inboun. "They have aided us greatly in developing effective marketing strategies, in addition to creating loads of valuable, traffic driving, custom content to our websites and social media networks. The team is fun to work with and extremely responsive to all of our requests and needs. They obviously have our best interest and growth in mind, and we look forward to a continuing relationship as we expand our company." 

One of Inboun’s most sought-after services is event marketing, also referred to as experiential-based marketing.  By connecting constituency groups to brands as well as utilizing events as a marketing tactic, Inboun has helped various startups and established brands not only market their events, but to use events as a promotional technique.  Events that Inboun has been involved with include the Coaches vs. Cancer Classic, The College Basketball Hall of Fame Weekend, iKC, The Gigabit Challenge, Treasure You Retreat and upcoming Kansas City innovation competition, HackovateHealth. 

At Inboun, we are thrilled to work with some of Kansas City’s most sought-after brands as well as some of the nation’s growing businesses.  Whether it’s developing the next creative campaign, developing a strong PR strategy, promoting an upcoming event or teaching our clients the power of social media marketing, Inboun's focus is to teach progressive companies and innovative startups how to develop powerful customer relationships that lead to revenue and measurable results.

Want to learn more about Inboun?  Visit online at www.inboun.com or on Twitter @Inboun.

030 Think Big Radio: A Must-Listen with John Jantsch of Duct Tape Marketing (and Book Giveaway!)

Episode 30 of Think Big Radio is a must-listen.

John Jatsch of Duct Tape Marketing.

Get the complete inside scoop about the new book The Commitment Engine by John Jantsch at Duct Tape Marketing. In this episode of Think Big Radio, our neighbor from down the street, John Janstch, stops by to talk about his new book The Commitment Engine. Host Derek Olsen and Mr. Janstch discuss why he felt the need to write on the subject of commitment. What is commitment and why is it so important to be committed to doing great work? Derek and John dig in to some of the key concepts in The Commitment Engine and John goes even deeper discussing how those concepts have a huge impact on a small business owner.

Concepts include:

• “Your playing small doesn’t serve anyone.”  
• “Build a bigger purpose and let it build a bigger you.”
• “Passion Mantra”
• "Work Is Worth It When – Clarity is Strategy, Culture is Clarity Amplified and Community is the Natural Outcome of Clarity"

LISTEN NOW:

030 Think Big Radio: A Must-Listen with John Jantsch of Duct Tape Marketing

Learn more about John, his business, ideas, and books at www.ducttapemarketing.com.

Book Giveaway!  We will be giving away two free copies of The Commitment Engine!  How can you win?  Tweet this episode of Think big Radio and tag @Ducttape and @ThinkBigKC! You will be entered into a drawing to win John Jantsch's newest marketing book!  Many will enter, 2 will win!

Follow John Jantsch at @ducttape. 

Getting Started as a Young Entrepreneur in the Midwest

WRITTEN BY RYAN FRANKLIN, BLOGGER AND YOUNG ENTREPRENEUR

Are you a Midwesterner who has an amazing business idea, but think you might be too young to start working towards it? Don’t think that way! You’re never too young to start chasing your dreams. Plus, the Midwest is a great place to launch a business. Startups are flourishing all over the region, due in part to Midwestern values like an enterprising attitude and the willingness to help out our neighbors.

So you have your idea and you’re in a great location; what’s next?

Establish Your Business’s Name
Get the fun stuff out of the way first by letting your creative juices flow. Once you have your idea down, choose a business name and then get it registered with your County Clerk’s office. This way, no other company can come along after your business is established and use your business name legally. Remember, this is not the same thing as getting a trademark of your logo or a copyright of written content on your website. Look into the U.S. Patent Office for steps on doing that. Once you have registered your business name, get online and purchase a domain name. It should be as close to your business name as possible, though you may have to get creative. Set up the placement page so visitors will know your site is under construction, and then create a direct marketing channel by obtaining visitor’s information. This way you can send out a mass email promotion when the site goes live. Avoid spamming—your customers will appreciate it!

Write a Business Plan
Because you are young and have less business experience, it’s likely that you will have to raise some money to achieve your startup capital. Creating a good business plan will be essential for seeking outside funding of your business, and it will also keep you on track on those days when you feel in over your head (and there will be days like that!). Having a business plan will maintain your focus by laying out the future of your business step-by-step. Sections of your business plan that should be included are:

1. Cover Page – Business Name, Address, Phone Number, Website, Logo.
2. Purpose Section – A short summary of the purpose of your business and how it will stand apart from others.
3. Business Structure – How will your business structure be set up? Sole Proprietor, Partnership, LLC, Corporation? 
4. Product or Service – Give more detail about your product or service. Include pictures.
5. Client’s Needs – How will you meet the needs of your clients? 
6. Financial Table – How much will you charge? Expenses of business?
7. Time Table – Break down by quarter what the goals and expectations are. Explain where funds will be spent in company.
8. Management and Staff – List founders, managers, staff, volunteers, vendors, etc. 

Start Marketing
Now that you’ve done all that hard work, there is still one more important thing to consider: marketing. Sometimes, the toughest part of getting your business off the ground is getting your name out there in front of those potential consumers. Plus, learning to set your business apart from the rest is an ever-changing process. However, there are a few tried and true methods to get going:

• Design business cards and flyers to advertise your website. 
• Link your website to every social networking site that makes sense for your business.   
• Create a legitimate SEO campaign to maximize your website’s traffic. 
• Generate traffic to your site through search engines and be select with the ads you allow on your site. 
• Produce great web content.  Remember, there’s nothing worse to an online shopper than landing on a page that’s cluttered with junk. Be mindful of your web content! 

Finally, it is extremely important to remember to take advantage of your supportive community. Don’t overlook any way to network and get your name out there. No connection is unimportant when you are getting your business off the ground!

Ryan Franklin is a blogger and young entrepreneur who writes on behalf of Ordoro.

Freelancers University Presents The Art & Science of Marketing Your Company

Let’s face it. Today’s prospective client is inundated with more marketing messages than ever before. You, as a startup, need to stand out...and attract the right clientele. Between all the media options out there, it’s no surprise that interruption-based marketing is fighting harder than ever for a slice of your target’s attention. And of course, there are unique challenges to marketing your company when you’re facing rapid growth, small budgets or are entering an already-crowded marketplace with your service.

That's why Freelancers University is hosting The Art and Science of Marketing your Company, a 2 hour seminar to teach entrepreneurs and startups the ins-and-outs of traditional marketing, integrated marketing and inbound marketing (and how they work both separately and together).  Instructed by Herb Sih, co-founder of Think Big Partners and up-and-coming marketing agency Inboun, this class will get down to the marketing nitty-gritty that you really need to hear.

In this class, you’ll discover:

• The difference between traditional marketing and integrated, inbound marketing (and why they work differently)
• Key considerations for identifying your business goals that will drive your marketing strategy
• Specific tactics to employ based on your business goals
• Ways to research your marketplace for marketing insight
• The importance for mining your marketing feedback loop to produce the best service in your niche market
• 10 things you must do when creating a successful, integrated, inbound marketing plan for your company

Join Think Big, Freelancers University and tons of entrepreneurs, startups and marketing professionals for this event on Wednesday, September 19, 2012 from 5:30-7:30pm.  The event will take place at bizperc (1800 Baltimore in KCMO).  Cost is $20 before September 12th and $25 after.  Register today!

Follow me! @AllisonThinkBig

Big Ideas, Small Towns: The 25th Hour Entrepreneur Challenge Spotlights Edwardsville, KS

Ideas can come from anywhere.  A lot of times, big ideas come from places like Silicon Valley, Austin and Boston.  Other times, great ideas come from smaller cities like Kansas City and Omaha.  But knockout ideas don't have to come from these well-known cities.  In fact, big ideas can come from very small places.  Like Edwardsville, Kansas.

A little over a month ago, we blasted out a blog about The 25th Hour Entrepreneur Challenge, a business plan competition in which InQuest Marketing would offer 25 hours of straight work for one lucky winner.  And now, InQuest Marketing has announced the winner of the Challenge: Martha Forshey of Edwardsville, Kansas.  Forshey developed an innovative product for the sports and recreation industry that InQuest Marketing will dedicate 25 straight hours of marketing towards on October 13th, 2011. 

Who knew that this winning idea would come from such a small town in Kansas?  Martha Forshey has proven that great ideas can come from anywhere

Other businesses have been founded and headquartered in small cities.  Take State Farm Insurance.  This company is headquartered in Bloomington, Illinois.  Whirlpool headquarters in Benton Harbor, Michigan.  Signature Foods?  Pendergrass, Georgia. 

Remember that no matter where you are, you can create an amazing business.  It all starts with an idea-but where that idea percolates is up to you.

Written by Allison Way
@AllisonThinkBig

Startup Marketing and What It Can Do For Your Small Business

Startup companies, more likely than not, launch without being “known”.  Nobody knows who you are, what your new company does, what problem you tend to solve and who your company will cater toward.  The only way that the masses can answer any of these questions is through effective startup marketing.  But many new companies are not utilizing startup marketing strategies to their advantage.  We have laid out the top 5 ways that startups can market their products or services effectively so that clients and customers will come to them and leave happy:

1.      Establish your credibility

First and foremost, an effective startup marketing strategy needs to incorporate the brand’s overall credibility.  When clients and customers view your business as a resource rather than just another startup, they will value your product or service on an even higher level.  The best way to establish credibility through marketing is by sharing content that displays your knowledge, sharpening your copywriting skills, sending out newsletters, sending out tips on social networks and sharing testimonials on your website. 

2.     Create your own unique messaging

Before marketing your startup company, it is important to find the brand’s voice.  Are you going to portray yourself as an edgy, high-tech company?  Are you going to stick to a professional, corporate voice?  Are you going to utilize a laid-back voice with slang and abbreviations?  It is important that startup companies give off their own unique messaging so that the company can develop a personality.  Find your brand’s personality through the voice that you think best fits the company’s image, product and target market.   

3.     Develop a cost-conscious strategy

Most startups don’t have a whole lot of wiggle room when it comes to marketing budgets.  In this situation, social media marketing becomes a highly-effective resource.  Social media marketing through Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, Blogger, Foursquare, Flickr, YouTube (and more!) provides startup companies with the ability to market their brand online absolutely free. 

Bonus: Check out The Social Media Bible by Lon Safko and find out how Think Big Kansas City effectively marketed its one-day conference with an awesome Twitter strategy.

4.     Mix it up

Some startups can get away with relying solely on social media for their first few months of marketing.  But it is more healthy and beneficial for a startup to mix their marketing avenues so that they hit all potential customers.  Use marketing avenues that will reach your target market—take out a newspaper ad, create a television commercial, broadcast on the radio, get in a magazine, even post up flyers around town.  By creating a healthy balance of social media and traditional marketing strategies, your brand will get noticed by the right people in the right way.

5.     Tell people who you are and what you do

When most established businesses can market their companies without defining who they are or what they do, startup companies must advertise and give the masses information about the business.  When you are marketing a startup company, be sure to broadcast who you are, what you do and why you’re doing it.  Potential clients and customers need to know exactly what you do in order for them to realize that your product or service is exactly what they’ve been looking for.

Startup marketing can be a complicated and tedious process.  But if you incorporate the right effective marketing strategy for your new company, customers and clients will be able to find you easily.

Written by Allison Way
@AllisonThinkBig