Steve Blank

APRIL 2, 2009

Metrics – Mine is Bigger Than Yours The first thing SuperMac needed to do was to change how our potential color desktop publishing customers viewed our products versus our competitors’ products. As hokey as it is, when confronted with uncertainty or unknowns, human beings like to be reassured by comparative metrics.

Silicon Valley 128

Silicon Valley Technical Review RSS Software Review 128

Startup Lessons Learned

OCTOBER 16, 2013

But we couldn''t have identified this without having clear metrics (that high bug count) to assess our development process. On Customer Development in a growing company, Wyatt offered the following advice: Wyatt: We''ve employed a number of systems in the organization that keep all of us close to the customer.

Lean 167

Lean Startup Software Engineering Agile 167

Steve Blank

OCTOBER 11, 2016

We did three iterations of the product in less than 12 months, each one progressively going off of different consumer metrics that we found and then partner feedback. Oh we had a happy, fun conversation over a couple of beers, but we did not sit down and say, ‘Hey wait, where’s everyone want to go with their life?”.

Columbus 249

Columbus Entrepreneur Cofounder Ohio 249

ConversionXL

JANUARY 31, 2014

We’ve organized everything to best simulate a visitor’s experience on a landing page from first click to final conversion. note: If you’re a startup, you’ll want to use customer development questions for your page to resonate with future traffic). Why You Should Focus On Clicks Before Conversions.

Analytics 134

Analytics Video Matching Conversion 134

Startup Lessons Learned

OCTOBER 11, 2013

To answer that question, we hosted a webcast conversation earlier this week with Eric Ries, Brant Cooper, and Patrick Vlaskovits. We’d like to share a few highlights and invite you to join the ongoing conversation by posing questions for Eric, Patrick, and Brant in the comments to this post. But you’re not going to your core business.

Lean 167

Lean Silicon Valley Agile Cofounder 167

Steve Blank

SEPTEMBER 10, 2009

In future posts I’ll describe how Eric Ries and the Lean Startup concept provided the equivalent model for product development activities inside the building and neatly integrates customer and agile development. And the converse is true; Palm would have failed, burning through all their cash, using Handspring’s strategy.

Customer Development 222

Customer Development Developer Customer Silicon Valley 222

ConversionXL

MAY 22, 2014

“Conversion Rate Optimization” principles don’t just apply to landing pages or capturing emails. In a big picture, can’t “Conversion” really be boiled down to getting more of the right people clicking on the things you want them to click ? So Where Exactly Does “Conversion” Happen? image source.

Software Review 116

Software Review PPC Analytics Search 116

ConversionXL

SEPTEMBER 24, 2020

In the big picture, “conversion optimization” boils down to getting more of the right people clicking on the things you want them to click. Dave McClure’s conversion metrics visualize where different conversion optimization opportunities lie—including those for acquisition. Image source ).

Acquisition 111

Acquisition Software Review PPC Analytics 111

Steve Blank

APRIL 30, 2009

And the final lesson was that we were keeping score on our packaging with the wrong metrics – it wasn’t about awards, it was about sales in the retail channel. If you look at the top 3 online retailers by conversion rate, none of these are award-winning designs : [link] [link] [link] However, they convert ~25% of visitors to customers.

Sales 120

Sales Silicon Valley RSS Las Vegas 120

conversionxl.com

FEBRUARY 4, 2014

Extra Lucrative Conversion Advice. Conversion Optimization Services. Conversion Research. We’ve organized everything to best simulate a visitor’s experience on a landing page from first click to final conversion. Why You Should Focus On Clicks Before Conversions. Conversion rates for our top Adwords are way up.

Analytics 98

Analytics Software Review Conversion Video 98

ConversionXL

MARCH 28, 2014

You’ve likely already heard that explainer videos can boost conversions anywhere between ten and ten bazillion percent. With over 100 years of movie & video history embedded in our collective subconscious, your customer’s expectations are really high. ” metric for featured products & +28.0

Video 122

Video Software Review Cofounder Metrics 122

A Smart Bear: Startups and Marketing for Geeks

MARCH 11, 2014

So conversion rate percentage, of course it can always be higher and we’re doing a lot of stuff to make that higher, but it’s in line with other applications. Jason: Yeah, one percent conversion rate is pretty normal. I’ve had some very good conversations with a large insurance company. So on the one hand.

Technical Cofounder 220

Technical Cofounder Cofounder Software Review Management 220

ConversionXL

MARCH 4, 2020

Google Analytics shows 104 conversions. That includes how each one defines and measures sessions, users, conversions, etc. For example, “conversion rate” in Google Analytics is conversions/sessions, while in VWO and Optimizely it’s conversions/unique visitors. Don’t choose metrics that are similar but not the same.

Analytics 88

Analytics Metrics IP Conversion 88

A Smart Bear: Startups and Marketing for Geeks

NOVEMBER 21, 2011

Because then you’d miss out on: Whether it’s better experience to build a complete, tiny startup or to do more in-depth customer development for a meatier problem. First of all, it’s not fair to say that how much capital you’ve raised is a vanity metric, because it is real, right? Jason: All right.

Widget 204

Widget Cofounder Technical Review Software Review 204

Steve Blank

JULY 1, 2014

Investors sitting through Incubator or Accelerator demo days have three metrics to judge fledgling startups – 1) great looking product demos, 2) compelling PowerPoint slides, and 3) a world-class team. Entrepreneurs should always communicate their business’ very latest stage of customer development as part of their investor presentation.

Sacramento 314

Sacramento Framework Lean Customer Development 314

Steve Blank

NOVEMBER 8, 2013

In this case the basis of competition on the X/Y axes are metrics defined by the users in the existing market. ” conversation with investors. (If The competitive diagram is how develop your first hypotheses about who your customers are. Filed under: Customer Development , Teaching , Venture Capital.

Venture Capital 336

Venture Capital Customer Development Business Model Lean 336

A Smart Bear: Startups and Marketing for Geeks

OCTOBER 24, 2011

Because then you’d miss out on: Whether it’s better experience to build a complete, tiny startup or to do more in-depth customer development for a meatier problem. So be sure to make a free user account and participate in the offline conversation there. Jason: get into customer development and it’s a big waste.

Cofounder 208

Cofounder Technical Review Software Review Differentiation 208

Steve Blank

OCTOBER 11, 2016

We did three iterations of the product in less than 12 months, each one progressively going off of different consumer metrics that we found and then partner feedback. Oh we had a happy, fun conversation over a couple of beers, but we did not sit down and say, ‘Hey wait, where’s everyone want to go with their life?”.

Columbus 120

Columbus Entrepreneur Cofounder Ohio 120

ConversionXL

JUNE 19, 2014

It’s easy to forget when analyzing the data for conversion purposes is that the end user is a real human with feelings. In an ideal world, designers and conversion optimizers can strike the perfect balance between the logical & emotional sides of the human brain & design experiences that “activate” visitors to take action.

Greece 107

Greece Customer eCommerce Design 107

Occam's Razor

APRIL 8, 2013

To win in business you need to follow this process: Metrics > Hypothesis > Experiment > Act. We are far too enamored with data collection and reporting the standard metrics we love because others love them because someone else said they were nice so many years ago. That metric is tied to a KPI.

Metrics 157

Metrics Analytics Lean Churn Rate 157

ConversionXL

JUNE 19, 2014

It’s easy to forget when analyzing the data for conversion purposes is that the end user is a real human with feelings. In an ideal world, designers and conversion optimizers can strike the perfect balance between the logical & emotional sides of the human brain & design experiences that “activate” visitors to take action.

Greece 98

Greece Customer eCommerce Design 98

Up and Running

MAY 23, 2016

Noah Parsons says, “Start collecting contact information for interested, prospective customers. Develop a landing page, do some lightweight advertising, and generally reach out to as many potential customers as you can.”. We asked for feedback about our software and our growth ideas and took part in the conversation.

Software Review 74

Software Review Software Delaware Forecast 74

The Equity Kicker

MAY 16, 2014

Metrics such as cumulative registered users and total number of downloads are often called vanity metrics because they can make you feel good even when your startup is going south. The thought for the weekend then is to avoid vanity conversations and concentrate on getting facts. Startup general interest'

Conversion 123

Conversion Metrics Customer Development Startup 123

ConversionXL

JUNE 19, 2014

It’s easy to forget when analyzing the data for conversion purposes is that the end user is a real human with feelings. In an ideal world, designers and conversion optimizers can strike the perfect balance between the logical & emotional sides of the human brain & design experiences that “activate” visitors to take action.

Greece 82

Greece Customer eCommerce Design 82

Steve Blank

OCTOBER 21, 2012

She suggested that how cofounders fight was a key metric in predicting the success of a founding team. But a few weeks ago after I sat on a panel about cofounders at Startup2Startup there was a small group dinner conversation to dig deeper on the topic. Filed under: Customer Development , Family/Career/Culture.

Cofounder 332

Cofounder IPO Early Stage Green 332

Startup Lessons Learned

NOVEMBER 7, 2014

In that case, metrics and analytics are really important. LK: At that point, it''s all about early user research and customer development. I think there''s a really nice method for doing this, which is imagine your successful customer. Don''t just imagine them, use metrics to figure out who they are.

Lean 167

Lean Design Mobile Engineer 167

ConversionXL

FEBRUARY 9, 2016

. “Growth hackers have a passion for tracking and moving a metric. Without metrics or data, a growth hacker can feel out of place and uncomfortably exposed. This strong bias towards data drives a growth hacker away from vanity metrics towards metrics that will make or break the business.” ” Creativity.

Retention 48

Retention Metrics Acquisition Conversion 48

www.women2.org

MARCH 8, 2012

After quitting my job and starting Sorced , I spent a few months validating my business concept by creating the product mockups and doing customer development. Just like the low conversion rate from going to bars (unless it’s for that one night interaction), this is the same for finding a co-founder. In Conversation.

Cofounder 47

Cofounder Technical Review San Francisco Founder 47

Startup Lessons Learned

DECEMBER 4, 2013

And that’s not to mention the advice for very early-stage companies on topics like getting your first users, or choosing metrics. This includes developing and pitching a concept, customer development, idea validation, and creation of an MVP under guidance from an experienced mentor.

Lean 167

Lean San Francisco Conversion Startup 167

Steve Blank

JANUARY 21, 2013

The first month of customer discovery for most of their initiatives relied too much on conversations within the Princeton University community itself (fellow students, faculty and admin). Align and train mentors to embrace customer development. Let the games begin …. ” Lessons Learned. Beertending. Dream Figures.

Lean 291

Lean Cofounder Dividend Business Model 291

Seeing Both Sides

JULY 11, 2013

Before this occurs, the sales process is a craft or an art - custom-made by the founder or evangelist sales VP. You dive deep into a customer development process, working closely with a few customers who feed you requirements and are willing to trial an imperfect product that is evolving quickly. Related articles.

Sales 50

Sales Technical Review Software Review B2B 50

Steve Blank

APRIL 22, 2009

Now I mention this conversation not because the objection was dumb, but because objections like these happen all the time when you’re brainstorming. Customer Development.) Reply Building a Company with Customer Data – Why Metrics Are Not Enough « Steve Blank , on December 17, 2009 at 6:01 am Said: [.]

Silicon Valley 208

Silicon Valley RSS California Customer Development 208

grasshopperherder.com

FEBRUARY 19, 2011

But starting a conversation with, "Just sign here" is simply unrealistic. If you’re waiting for a marketing guy to talk to customers, you’ll never understand the target market. Show Metrics If you ask me to be a co-founder or even just a consultant, you’re essentially asking me to invest in your company with my time.

Cofounder 47

Cofounder NDA Founder Sweat Equity 47

The Startup Magazine

MARCH 10, 2024

Efficient Marketing Campaigns: SMS automation in Salesforce enables businesses to execute targeted marketing campaigns, delivering promotional messages and offers directly to customers’ fingertips for increased conversion rates.

SMS 157

SMS Customer Campaign Social Media 157

Startup Lessons Learned

NOVEMBER 1, 2013

It will feature a conversation that gets into the details of how non-profit and mission-driven organizations are making use of Lean Startup methods to get closer to their goals, faster. And "Lean Impact" offers a reference point for people to start that conversation—there is real power in naming.

Lean 167

Lean San Francisco Metrics Angel Investor 167

Startup Lessons Learned

OCTOBER 23, 2013

It provides a basic introduction to analytics as they apply to Lean Startup, including sections on what metrics to use and how to interpret them. For instance, Ben lists out the worst of the “vanity metrics,” a term that describes appealing but meaningless or misleading numbers. Alistair: There are plenty. Consider a restaurant.

Analytics 167

Analytics Lean Widget Metrics 167

Steve Blank

MARCH 11, 2015

And worse, even if someone does manage to start something new, our management structure has so many financial, legal and HR hurdles that every initiative needs to match our existing business financial metrics, processes and procedures. There are financial metrics (Return on Investment, Hurdle Rate, etc.) Lessons Learned.

Widget 120

Widget Lean Business Model Metrics 120