Jul
8
Bnoopy: The long tail of software. Millions of Markets of Dozens.
Filed Under Business Ideas, Resources, Principles, etc., Search Engine Marketing | Comments Off on Bnoopy: The long tail of software. Millions of Markets of Dozens.
Joe has articulated how the Internet has allowed us to take a new approach to business, tapping into many small markets.
Bnoopy: The long tail of software. Millions of Markets of Dozens.
John Jonas
figured out a long time ago that more of the search engine traffic is
pointing to unique searches and that he could create ways to tap into
that traffic.
This has got me thinking how we can tap into tons of small markets with FamilyLearn.
Jun
17
Persuasion: Beyond Usability and User Centered Design
Filed Under Business Ideas, Resources, Principles, etc., Favorite Books, Free Book Summary - Online, General | Comments Off on Persuasion: Beyond Usability and User Centered Design
I’ve been reading Call to Action: Secret Formulas to Improve Online Results and the authors advocate persuasion as the real goal of a commercial website, not usability.
Wandering through a website endlessly, but very easily, doesn’t do customers any good. They need answers. Answering the questions of different personas that visit your site persuades them to stick around and eventually buy.
The Persuasive Process
1. Who needs to be persuaded?
2. What actions does this person need to take?
3. How will you effectively persuade that person?
The book is fantastic and only getting better. More thoughts to come.
Jun
9
Does God Help Entreprenuers
Filed Under Business Ideas, Resources, Principles, etc., Home, Family and Church | Comments Off on Does God Help Entreprenuers
Paul Allen asked a fascinating question today on his blog: Does God Help Entreprenuers?
He continued:
Someday I want to write an entire book on this subject.
It fascinates me to look back in history, to read the biographies and autobiographies of inventors and entrepreneurs, looking for acknowledgment of divine influence in their work.
Over the years I have read and heard many stories from innovators who believe that God gave them an idea, or helped them through a problem, or guided their efforts to find solutions.
Some entrepreneurs are actively religious, attending churches, synagogues, or mosques; others are “spiritual”, connecting with Divinity in their own way, through prayer, nature, or meditation, or in other ways.
I intend to start asking many of my entrepreneurial friends, with all kinds of religious views, if they believe God has helped them, and if so, why and how? If I get enough good material, I’ll publish it sooner or later.
Here is my response to his thoughts:
Paul, a few years ago, I began to feel that everything that is good in this world is INSPIRATION or IMITATION. We either receive inspiration from another source not of our own or we imitate those who have. I believe that more everyday. I’d be happy to share a few of the many ways in which God has helped and inspired me in my work when you need content for your book. I’ve been keeping a list of the significant turning points for FamilyLearn as a result of inspiration that I can’t claim. I look forward to your findings and your book.
May
18
Game of Work
Filed Under Business Ideas, Resources, Principles, etc., Favorite Books, Free Book Summary - Online | Comments Off on Game of Work
Game of Work
goals must be:
1. Written.
2. Your own.
3. Positive.
4. Measurable and specific.
5. Stated in inflation proof terms.
6. Stated in the mosst visible terms available.
7. Made with a deadline.
8. Open to personality changes.
9. Contain an interrelated statement of benefits.
10. Realistic and obtainable.
Individual goals are the foundation of corporate human-resource development and planning.
SCOREKEEPING
No management by observation.
By measurement.
Winners keep track of results. Loosers keep track of reasons.
Sources of inadequate cash flow.
1. Too much inventory and other non-liquid assets.
2. Overly-high receivables.
3. Inadequate gross-profit percentages.
4. Unwillingness to implement cost-cutting measures.
5. Inappropriate compensation for the owner or key decision makers.
Scorekeeping basics:
1. Scorekeeping must be simple and objective.
2. Self-administered.
3. Offer a comparison between current personal performance, past personal performance and the accepted standard.
4. Scorekeeping should be dynamic.
FEEDBACK
spaced repetition is crucial to conditioning oneself to change attitude to change behavior to succeed.
FIELD OF PLAY
Define the following for each position:
1. Terminal Out of Bounds (fired)
2. Operational Out of Bounds (correction)
3. Minumum performance standard
4. Safety zone – humble player and helpful coach.
5. RRRs
6. Paydirt.
7. Between MPS and Paydirt is GOMB or “get off my back.”
Create a field of play agreement.
May
12
John Bresee Back Country Store Speaks
Filed Under Business Ideas, Resources, Principles, etc., Education and Love for Learning | Comments Off on John Bresee Back Country Store Speaks
John Bresee, co-founder of the best outdoor equipment retailer on the web, spoke at the UVEF today.
I always love to hear him speak. After the luncheon, we talked a little and he said he is really good at seeing things about three years out. His presentation riveted me every moment.
Basically:
Entreprenuers who actually start business are the only ones who ever succeed.
No lottery ticket. Really easy to start, but really hard to perservere.
Split the category. Geartrader.com is going to take on a niche of eBay.com.
Checkout the following sites:
Dogfont.com woot.com
Be first in the category.
Stay focused. “We sell outdoor gear on the Internet.” No manufacturing.
Split off companies. Apparently, Sony could have had Apple’s market share
if the publishing division in Sony hadn’t crushed the possible iPod division.
Convert the highest and ship cheapest and buy cheapest.
Don’t worry about channel conflict.
Let your customer create the product.
Overlaying on google maps.
iTunes is missing the boat when they don’t open up to all musicians who want to publish their music.
Gary Hammill – the scary way is the safe way.
Google – free matching soon to come.
eBay – free auctions sites will suplant it.
Digital services that charge are begging for a beatdown.
At Backcountry Store, we hire those in our culture to write the content for our culture. Showing up is 90% of life.
-Woody Allen
Never look back lamenting about what could have been.
Don’t choose sleep over entreprenuership.
May
11
The Game of Work – Great Quote
Filed Under Business Ideas, Resources, Principles, etc., Education and Love for Learning, Favorite Books | Comments Off on The Game of Work – Great Quote
“People will pay for the priviledge of working harder than they will work when they are paid.”
-Chuck Coonradt
May
5
Seth’s 10 Most Popular Posts This Year
Apr
14
Products and Services – HomeNet Communications, Inc.
Filed Under Business Ideas, Resources, Principles, etc., Freedom, Government, Politics, etc., Technology | Comments Off on Products and Services – HomeNet Communications, Inc.
Ok, I’m mistaken on the last post. I figured this out thanks to a post by Jason on Paul’s blog.
I called the number from iProvo.net in January and was informed that the cheapest package was $89 and was bundled with 3 services. iprovo.net is not the place to go. The correct prices are at Products and Services – HomeNet Communications, Inc. and it turns out that they are very competitive.
Apr
14
Paul Allen embraces iProvo and I don’t
Filed Under Business Ideas, Resources, Principles, etc., Freedom, Government, Politics, etc., Technology | Comments Off on Paul Allen embraces iProvo and I don’t
Paul Allen is championing iProvo and sites an article by Lawrence Lessig, but I have some questions about it.
Good article Lawrence, but I’m wondering if iProvo really increases the competition.
If the community is not purchasing the broadband at the price it is, how does the government expect the demand to appear at an even higher price (albeit faster Internet speeds) when many in the community are surviving with their dial up?
I see the argument for it if we consider Internet a public good like roads, but I’m more concerned that Provo expects to finance this service through paying customers. They haven’t snagged me and I’m a “high speed user.” My Vonage, Comcast combination (about $68 per month) blows their least expensive plan out of the water ($89) since I have no interest in cable television. I realize that the iProvo Internet is faster and better, but for at home use, Comcast works great and I don’t care about the extra speed when it costs me another $20 per month. iProvo IS NOT COMPETITION FOR MY NEEDS. Won’t others feel like me about this? From what I understand, iProvo needs 30 percent of the entire city using their service to pay for it. With the current usage in the city, I’m just concerned I’ll be paying the bill for iProvo even if I don’t ever decide to use it.
So, my final question is, why is it a good thing for the local government to push iProvo when the private sector hasn’t demanded it?
I’d like a few reasons other than it’s super-fast and other tech talk. Is it really going to boost the amount of tech business in Provo and raise more money in taxes to pay for it? Historical examples? I’m uninformed and still open on this topic. I’m just not yet convinced iProvo is the best thing for Provo.
But, then again, it doesn’t really matter, the decision is made. I might as well just look for other ways I can use it even if it won’t have my home Internet use. Maybe it will be cheaper to set up a data center in Provo?
Mar
29
Start a company instead of a summer job
Filed Under Business Ideas, Resources, Principles, etc., Education and Love for Learning, General | Comments Off on Start a company instead of a summer job
Paul Graham’s summer founders program also has a link to starting a start up that is very good.
« go back — keep looking »