Special Page for Entrepreneurs
During my visits to the e-spark offices or in meetings with e-spark alumni or graduates, it has been noticed that there are a few
similar challenges that seem to affect a large number of the entrpreneurs. Rather than send specific emails to each of you after I
meet you, I've created this page to do that for me. So Scroll Down and see what I have for you.
Now most of you will know me as the former Scottish Regional Manager of Angels Den (I left them in September 2017) and my
invitation to meet you was extended because Angels Den can provide several routes to funding. I won't go into those routes
here in detail because you can simply click on the Angels Den website. In fact you can either download the images below to
show you the steps to raising Angel Investment or click on the pictures and that should take you straight to the website.
Recurring Challenges. |
There are only 4 Ways to Grow Any Business. 1. Increase the Number of Customers of the Type you want to have. 2. Increase the number of times they come back to you. 3. Increase the Average Spend 4. Increase the Effectiveness of each Process in the Business |
Specifics;
Website Building Information:
Lots of you were having website related challenges. I've been pulling together some up-to-date information on setting up a shopping cart website and it contains loads of information relevant to any business website.
Website Building Information:
Lots of you were having website related challenges. I've been pulling together some up-to-date information on setting up a shopping cart website and it contains loads of information relevant to any business website.
| tips_on_setting_up_a_shopping_cart_website.docx |
Finding Coders:
There area number of websites that you can go to to find coders that will build your website. The issue is not with the coders or their ability, but controlling them. You need to be VERY specific about what you want and when you want it.
Here is a 13-point checklist to make that process easier for you;
There area number of websites that you can go to to find coders that will build your website. The issue is not with the coders or their ability, but controlling them. You need to be VERY specific about what you want and when you want it.
Here is a 13-point checklist to make that process easier for you;
| elance_posting_template_13_point_checklist_v_1.docx |
What Colours work on a website? What Font is best for your Business? Don't Guess - Find out!
You need to discover the secrets at : www.AdChop.com
You need to discover the secrets at : www.AdChop.com
Market Research online for Pennies!
Reach Thousands of online savvy consumers and test your ideas here at Amazon's Mechanical Turk: www.mturk.com/mturk/
Reach Thousands of online savvy consumers and test your ideas here at Amazon's Mechanical Turk: www.mturk.com/mturk/
Logos, Business Cards, Infomatic Templates and so much more
Get anything done for Five Dollars (that's just £3.63) (Warning, this website is incredibly addictive!:) www.Fiverr.com
Get anything done for Five Dollars (that's just £3.63) (Warning, this website is incredibly addictive!:) www.Fiverr.com
IAre You Doing Everything? Feel Like a Headless Chicken? Do You Need 'Phones Answered or a Dedicated Customer Service Helpline or email service?
You need a PA of your own. Not just a PA but an All Day PA, one that works 24/7/365, is never off sick and only gets paid when she does something:
I've used this company for over 12 years. There are many copycat businesses, but none as good as Manchester based: www.AllDayPa.com
Some Golden Rules
1. Check who owns the Intellectual property (IP) for your idea, product, gadget or concept. make sure you have a written agreement with who gets what percentage.
2. Do A Prior Art Search to find out if anyone else has made or sold anything similar.
3. Find out if there's a Market for your product or service. You can ask on your own Facebook page friends or use Amazon Mechanical Turk.
4. Work out Your Avatar or Ideal Customer. Who is it? Where do they go, what do they do, what age etc. Then you can target these exact people using Facebook ads and Pixels. You want to ask if (a) They would buy your product and (b) How much would they pay for it?
5. Work out your costs. If You want to sell online you need a 600% mark-up. If a product costs £5 to manufacture, you need to sell it online for £30. So find out if your costs stack up - remember you can add on postage and packing but not VAT at 20% in the UK
6. Set up all the websites and social media around your product or service. You can get a domain name for £2 from GoDaddy and a free website template from Weebly.com You also need Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn, Snapchat and Facebook pages around the same name. (So if you have a new product that catches spiders, get SpiderCatcher.com, @SpiderCatcher for Twitter etc) Your website should have a sales page to buy the product. You should also set up an Amazon account if you can and an eBay sales page.
Your website will need to have Terms of Use, Privacy policy and a number of other legal requirements, so make sure you include them. Check the bottom of any reputable website and you will see what 's required.
8. Work out your trading entity. Will it be Spider Catcher Limited? Set up accounts with Paypal or Stripe and get ready to take orders and payments. Major Golden Rule and tip; You can take payments through Stripe or Paypal but never make refunds through them! Ever! make any refund requests direct to the persons bank account. If you make refunds through Stripe or Paypal you run the risk of them refunding every single order!
7. Get advance orders. Go to your ideal customers and offer them a discount. Tell them it's a new product and that they will get a substantial discount for evaluating Version 1 of your product. The discount will be for giving you feedback and reviews. Direct them ONLY to your website sales page and collect all their names and email addresses. You can use Clickfunnels for this.
8. If your product will take 3 months to Manufacture, get the advance orders 1 or 2 months before that. Now you have the funds to order manufacturing to start. If you want to search for any examples of this in action, check out MagFast ( https://www.magfast.com/launch-campaign-desktop/ )
9. If you want someone to help you with website marketing, you should contact Mark Stoffels here: MASGlobal
10. If you need help with Social Media Marketing, go here and watch the video: Social Media Marketing School
You need a PA of your own. Not just a PA but an All Day PA, one that works 24/7/365, is never off sick and only gets paid when she does something:
I've used this company for over 12 years. There are many copycat businesses, but none as good as Manchester based: www.AllDayPa.com
Some Golden Rules
1. Check who owns the Intellectual property (IP) for your idea, product, gadget or concept. make sure you have a written agreement with who gets what percentage.
2. Do A Prior Art Search to find out if anyone else has made or sold anything similar.
3. Find out if there's a Market for your product or service. You can ask on your own Facebook page friends or use Amazon Mechanical Turk.
4. Work out Your Avatar or Ideal Customer. Who is it? Where do they go, what do they do, what age etc. Then you can target these exact people using Facebook ads and Pixels. You want to ask if (a) They would buy your product and (b) How much would they pay for it?
5. Work out your costs. If You want to sell online you need a 600% mark-up. If a product costs £5 to manufacture, you need to sell it online for £30. So find out if your costs stack up - remember you can add on postage and packing but not VAT at 20% in the UK
6. Set up all the websites and social media around your product or service. You can get a domain name for £2 from GoDaddy and a free website template from Weebly.com You also need Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn, Snapchat and Facebook pages around the same name. (So if you have a new product that catches spiders, get SpiderCatcher.com, @SpiderCatcher for Twitter etc) Your website should have a sales page to buy the product. You should also set up an Amazon account if you can and an eBay sales page.
Your website will need to have Terms of Use, Privacy policy and a number of other legal requirements, so make sure you include them. Check the bottom of any reputable website and you will see what 's required.
8. Work out your trading entity. Will it be Spider Catcher Limited? Set up accounts with Paypal or Stripe and get ready to take orders and payments. Major Golden Rule and tip; You can take payments through Stripe or Paypal but never make refunds through them! Ever! make any refund requests direct to the persons bank account. If you make refunds through Stripe or Paypal you run the risk of them refunding every single order!
7. Get advance orders. Go to your ideal customers and offer them a discount. Tell them it's a new product and that they will get a substantial discount for evaluating Version 1 of your product. The discount will be for giving you feedback and reviews. Direct them ONLY to your website sales page and collect all their names and email addresses. You can use Clickfunnels for this.
8. If your product will take 3 months to Manufacture, get the advance orders 1 or 2 months before that. Now you have the funds to order manufacturing to start. If you want to search for any examples of this in action, check out MagFast ( https://www.magfast.com/launch-campaign-desktop/ )
9. If you want someone to help you with website marketing, you should contact Mark Stoffels here: MASGlobal
10. If you need help with Social Media Marketing, go here and watch the video: Social Media Marketing School
Click on the Page below to start Your Free Trial with Clickfunnels
