How Snapchat is Changing the Startup Space

What started as a fairly simple picture-sharing social media experience is now changing the game for businesses world-wide. Those that don’t already have their own Snapchat channels will fall behind in the coming years. ​

Seriously, if you look at Taylor Swift’s twitter, who knows if she’s writing her tweets, but if you add her on Snapchat and see her taking a selfie or video. You know it’s real, and it’s her.

It’s a new, highly effective way of interacting with your consumers, and it’s safe to say that Snapchat is changing the startup space for a number of reasons:

It makes your brand more authentic.

Unlike some of the other big social media sites, like Facebook or Instagram, Snapchat isn’t about creating the perfect visual — it’s about being authentic. While a company, or even the average person, may spend several minutes altering and applying filters to make their image look exactly how they want on another site, Snapchat offers a place where people and companies can post authentic pictures and videos — knowing they will disappear within 24 hours.

It gives consumers a “behind the scenes” look into new services or products.

Snapchat allows you to give your consumers an exclusive look into how your company operates and what new projects you’ve been working on. In the fast-paced society we live in, one of the key components of advertising is staying relevant and keeping consumers engaged. Check on this article on transparency.

It appeals to a wider range of consumers.

A few years ago, it used to be that Snapchat was popular among a younger, more elite demographic. Today, an ever-growing number of people are using Snapchat to connect with their friends and family, and to keep tabs on their favorite celebrities and brands. Despite any other social media channels you may have, Snapchat gets your message across in a different way to wider demographic.

Snapchat is the future of brand advertising and is the newest way for startups to connect as a human with their audiences. To learn more about using Snapchat to enhance your startup, visit out website or even better, add me on snapchat.

Originally published at www.handshakin.com.

How to [NOT] Perfectly Launch a Business

How to [NOT] Perfectly Launch a Business

From the tiniest of details to the launch date, there’s a lot to plan and consider. Check-out the guide below for insightful information that is important, but doesn’t need to be perfect, before starting a business. Get it? Consider these, but don’t let them stall you from starting your business.

Fundamentals

Insurances and funding are the fundamentals of most new businesses. General liability insurance is necessary for most types of businesses, as well as additional insurances, depending on the type of new business you want to start.

County, city, state, and federal government all have different requirements for the types of insurances for specific businesses.

Also research to find-out if you need any certifications, and if you’re engaged in any sort of retail business, you’ll need to register to pay sales tax in your state.

Unless you’re a sole proprietor, you’ll also need to obtain workman’s compensation insurance, and make sure that any vehicles used for business have the correct auto insurance.

In terms of funding the start-up of your new business, it’s likely that you will need more capital than you think you do.

Unless you still have steady income from another source, add to your funding account the amount it will take you to live comfortably for six months.

Most businesses do not see a profit until approximately the third year after start-up. Funding estimations need to include any advertising that you plan to use to market your new business as well.

But, I didn’t consider a single one of these when I started my business. Know why? Because you’ll learn as you go, and none of them are risking the 3 things entrepreneurs shouldn’t risk: the cemetery, hospital, or jail.

Marketing 101

Choose the opening date of your new business carefully, they say.

When you’re opening in retail, it’s very strategic to start on a holiday, as consumers naturally shop more during those time frames. On the other hand, other types of businesses are likely to benefit from starting on other dates, since people get distracted during the holidays.

It’s very important to know your market and your niche. Know the who, what, when, where, and why of your business, and prepare to share that information succinctly and effectively to potential clients/customers.

Understand how your business is different from other businesses, and understand how to communicate where your business fits in the scheme of your industry.

Or, whatever, think about your target customer and personas that you’re helping, and then take your best guess. This will change after you launch anyway.

Details

When planning all of the huge things that go along with starting a busy, it’s easy to overlook details, especially if you’re on a tight schedule.

Make sure that you make choices, not only about pricing, but how to digitally (or physically) communicate that price.

Take lots of notes and have lots of other people help you with all of the details. It’s always a great idea to visit your local small business administration office.

Or, ignore most the details, and only take care of the most risky ones. You can’t do it all alone, and you’re going to need to attract the best talent to mitigate your risks.
​

Do you need help gaining credibility since you can’t do all of this on your own? Check out our service where we help create content for personal brands. Learn more here, or tweet me at @handshakin.

Originally published at www.handshakin.com.

3 Big Mistakes When Launching Your Personal Brand

Creating a personal brand isn't easy. It takes planning, sweat, hard work, and more than a little luck to transform yourself and your company into something your audience instantly recognizes, and associates with positive qualities.

Sometimes, a single mistake to put a road block in your path, so before you get started, be sure you avoid the following three mistakes that can sink your brand before it's even started its maiden voyage.

Mistake #1: Not Being Authentic

Too often we try to tell people what they think they want to hear when it comes to impressions of us, or our business.

Sort of like how, when you show up for a first date, you make sure to wear your best clothes, break out the good aftershave, and make sure you only let out a filtered version of your thoughts and feelings.

You're trying to create a good first impression, which is laudable, but you need to make sure you're presenting your best self instead of some imaginary person you'll never be able to live up to. 

The former is just your regular brand with some extra spit and polish, but the latter is a false impression that can leave people feeling betrayed when they find out about the real you.

Mistake #2: Trying To Be A Jack of All Trades

When you build a brand, you need to decide what, specifically, your brand stands for. 

You also need to know what your customers expect from your business, and to focus on those aspects to the exclusion of all other things. The wider your focus, the smaller your overall impact is going to be.

For example, say you were a coffee shop, and your brand goal is to be known as the strongest, richest coffee in town. Naturally, you'd focus on having the sort of coffee that would make the spoon stand up straight. In order to diversify, though, you may be tempted to have a small selection of teas, and a few pastries for patrons to choose from, too. 

But that's not what Arizona success Dutch Bros Coffee did.  They stayed focused and now have lines that interfere with parking because they're so popular.  But yes, they had to give up extra income from alternatives when they were younger. 

If you try to be a jack of all trades, there's nothing to separate you from any of a dozen other coffee shops in the neighborhood, and the thing that made you truly unique has been swallowed up by your attempts to broaden your appeal.

Do one thing, and do it well, and your brand will stay strong.

Mistake #3: Talking Just To Hear Yourself Talk

One of the biggest problems you can have when it comes to branding is talking without saying anything of substance. 

​It's the fastest way to squander your energy, and to bore your audience before getting them to really look at who you are and what you do.

Think of your branding attempt as a boxing match, and your opponent is your audience's interest. Your audience is skilled at deflecting interaction that looks or sounds like advertisement, and completely immune to barrages of social media updates. 

As such, you need to make sure that when you do launch a statement that it's calculated, and powerful, in order to get past your opponent's guard. If you waste all your energy throwing out chatter that won't go anywhere, then you aren't going to win the fight.

These are the three biggest mistakes you can make when it comes to branding, but there's many others that can sink your ship or slow you down. 

If you're looking for more information on personal branding, why not let us help you create content to drive more leads. Learn more here.

3 Signs You Suck at Networking

Here’s a boring line to start out a blog post with: Networking is important for your professional career. You need to be constantly networking and marketing your business so that you can continue to grow (and closer higher-caliber leads). Despite this fact, many people really struggle with it. ​It’s hard.

They dread the thought of trying to make small talk with others, even though they know how important networking is. Many people are so shy that they have a hard time attending events. They simply can’t attend networking events.

Then, there are other people who are not good at networking at all, no matter how hard they try. Often, it can seem like the harder that they try, the worse it gets. Some come across as pushy, and are uncomfortable to be around. Many people try to avoid people who suck at networking, both online and off.

Here are three signs that you suck at networking.

• You DON’T go to an event each month. There are so many different networking events, both online and through word of mouth, that you should have no problem finding one to attend every month. Search around on meetup.com to find groups that look interesting to you.

You can attend ones for other professionals or just join a group of people who enjoy the same hobbies as your customers. Start getting you and your business name out there by attending more and more events. You may be amazed at the valuable feedback or referrals you’ll get.

• You spend time at every networking event with the same people. It is easy to network with people that you already know. However, you need to get out of your comfort zone and meet some new people. Otherwise, you are not doing anything to help you grow your business.
  You are there to spread the word and meet new contacts, not just spend time with your friends. Ask them to introduce you to others who might want to meet you and learn about your business.
• If you are really stuck with the same people, attend different events so that you are not drawn to them. I enjoy the challenge of going to an event where I know no one. That will force you to start talking.
• You are not networking online either. There are millions of potential clients online. You just need to reach them with social media marketing and networking. Join some groups and start interacting.
• Start a Facebook page or Twitter account and turn on notifications! Follow-up with people from events and tweet helpful resources to potential clients to get on their radar.

Just because you might suck at networking, does not mean that you have to give up. Unless you’re shoving business cards down my throat not listening to to the person you’re talking to. Then please do. Just freaking give up. Stay home!

It takes time to become more comfortable around people. With time, patience, and practice, you can become great at networking. You may even look forward to meeting new people once you get in the groove!

It is very important to start attending events every month so you can continue to grow your business. Learn to enjoy yourself and you start attending events several times a month. At events, you need to meet new people, not just hang around people that you already know — try to meet 3–5 new people. You also need to try to reach out to all of your potential clients that are online.

Originally published at www.handshakin.com.

Inspiration for Starting a Business

Starting a business is something that many people consider doing, but often don’t attempt because they are afraid to take risks. 

Most of us have an inner entrepreneur that wants to come out. However, we are (understandably) attracted to the notion of a steady paycheck with benefits and regular vacations. It’s hard to deal with the uncertainty of being short of income until your business idea gets off the ground. 

You should probably launch today…

Advice is easy to find on becoming an entrepreneur. There’s good advice, and there’s better advice. Your best bet is to speak to experts who can provide relevant advice that is actionable for you. Seek this from your local community, perhaps even from affiliated entities with a local government or with an institution of higher learning.

Mentorship or coaching is often free or offered for a small fee, enabling you to get your business venture started and explain what resources might help along the way. Find other entrepreneurs who have exited, or retired business professionals; they are often eager and willing to give inspirational advice on how to launch your startup!

Dream Big. Seriously.

The American dream is still alive! You can build a business out of nothing. Dream as big as you can when you consider starting a business. This helps attract top talent who can share your vision. But, get realistic as quickly as you turn to drafting the first business plan (or 1 page executive summary, which is even better). 

The key to becoming a successful entrepreneur is carefully studying your market and crafting a plan that really addresses a need. You also need a plan to support yourself while the business launches. Credit cards are a great alternative to a salary (many entrepreneurs that you may have heard of have done this, some of which I’ve had as guests on the Handshakin Video Series).

For more advice on starting a business, or to start building your credibility beforehand, check out our service HandBrander.

Originally published at www.handshakin.com.

5 Killer Ideas to Create Compelling Content from Your Next Networking Event

Networking events present countless opportunities for entrepreneurs including meeting influential people in your niche, building relationships that could lead to partnerships, and learning from top leaders thus improving your business skills and personal development.

Yet, there’s one opportunity that exist that isn’t being capitalized enough by entrepreneurs…

It’s to gather content for your content marketing.

You see, not only is building personal relationships a key component when attending networking events, but also leaving with content that you can share with your followers which as a result boosts your credibility and authority. This is indeed one of the best ways to taking advantage of social media and engaging with your audience.

Here are 5 simple ideas on how to create content right from yourentrepreneur networking opportunities:

#1 Quick 15-second video of you entering the event
Platforms like Instagram allow you to upload short videos for your social marketing. Think of these as short commercials. You could shoot a video prior to the event starting expressing how excited you are and what you plan to gain from attending. You could even mention some popular names. Immediately upload it onto your social media sites.

Periscope is also an excellent source to capture you live and in the moment. It has proved to do wonders for entrepreneur’s business marketing.

#2 Take photos with the hosts and/or speakers
This builds your credibility fast and shows that are serious about your business. By taking pictures with the speakers, you can use these in your social media by tagging them (increasing your exposure to their audience) and also in your blog posts as images in related topics.

It shows your audience that you are going somewhere…and they will follow!

#3 Record a snippet of the top speakers message
There are so many ways you can repurpose this type of valuable content when you capture the message on video. You can upload it on YouTube, post it as a video on your blog, share the video link to your email list, and of course on social media. By doing so, you are giving your audience concise value which keeps them coming back to you for more.

Plus, the speaker will appreciate the free exposure and credit (so long as you use it authentically and respectfully).

#4 Immediately blog about 2–3 key pointers
If this is a training networking event, be sure to take good notes to blog about later (which opens doors for SEO marketing), then syndicate it over your various platforms.
And by the way, you can share these key pointers in video too…expanding your content and online reach.

Out of blogging weekly for over a year, this Blog Post of what I learned from a speaker, Brad Feld, at Denver Startup Weekperformed as one of our top blogs.

#5 Ask questions…using video!

When implementing this tip, you will stand out from the pack! If time permits, ask the host/presenter/speakers if they wouldn’t mind shooting a short interview video with them. Have your 1–2 questions ready and give them a heads up so they can be prepared (some may be willing to do it right on the spot, check out some of the ones I’ve done on my personal YouTube channel). This is super powerful because it separates you not only in your audiences mind but now in the speakers mind. You’ve made a more personable connection. Who knows where that will lead!

Bonus Tip: If the setup is real nice and the décor on point, take pictures and use these as background images for your visual marketing pieces (i.e. quotes, helpful tips that include your logo for branding), just be careful of photographing art.

Imagine just choosing even 3 of the five ideas listed how you’ll have better long-term success in your networking and online presence. You will never run out of content to share and you’re creating a more profound experience at these networking events. Happy Networking!

Need more help with your content creation and building your brand? Contact us here! We’d be happy to help.

Originally published at www.handshakin.com.

Entrepreneurs: 4 Things You Should Invest in Today

As an entrepreneur, there is undoubtedly a laundry list of things you feel you need in order to “make it” in your business world. Perhaps a flashy car, or $5,000 suit is on that list. Maybe you’ve even been convinced that plastic surgery should be on that list in order for you to make it big. Or, good old liposuction for all the weight you gained as a stressed out startup entrepreneur eating like SHIT.

In reality, there are only a few things young entrepreneurs need to worry about investing in. In fact, none of these things will break the bank — and why should they, when the entire purpose is to help you make bank? Check out these entrepreneur tips and see what you can do to change today.

1. Sleep. You’ll be useless to your clients, your partners, your investors, and most of all yourself if you’re walking around dead tired because you stay up late every night agonizing over spreadsheets and social media analytics. Aim for a solid 8 hours every night, and don’t be tempered by a weekend sleep in — research shows that sleeping in on the weekend actually makes it harder to get up on time during the work week, no matter how refreshed it might make you feel in the short term. I am 100% guilty of this. Hopefully this post still provides you with some value.
2. Stress relief. This can come in nearly any form you like it to be. Hiking trips every month? Yoga retreats? A kickboxing class? Meditating in the mornings? Whatever form works for you, find something and use it. Having an outlet for depressurizing your stress value means you’re less likely to let loose on your loved ones or those you work with.
3. Calendars. Whether you keep it all mobile or rock an old-school Day At A Glance, a calendar is going to keep you on track the key is to not only put in engagements with others but also yourself. Those weekly and daily de-stress sessions? Pencil them in. A 20-minute walk around the city every afternoon? Put it on the books. Hold yourself accountable, andkeep things in your calendar. My particular favorite is a huge dry erase board.
4. Conferences. The only thing that will rack up some costs. Start by looking in your city and state (which hopefully is Denver, CO). Conferences will not only give you an incredible networking opportunity, but they’ll be the place where you can open your brain up to all kinds of new ideas that you can introduce into your business. Conferences are breeding grounds for ideas, and believe us — you want to be there. Oh, and ask them about volunteering if the tickets are above your budget.

Looking for more ways to be the smartest entrepreneur on the block?Contact us today for information on how to make it happen.

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Originally published at www.handshakin.com.

The Dos & Don'ts of How to Negotiate Your Salary at a Startup

You are well on your way to fulfilling your dreams as you consider an offer from a startup. The homework has been done. The company’s model is sound. You see great potential in its future. It is an offer, so the door is open to #negotiate. As a startup, though, you have to consider the possibilities from a realistic perspective.

The critical question is how to negotiate your salary at a startup that is in its fledgling stage but could soon experience wildfire growth making it capable of better compensation.These are the do’s and don’ts of how to negotiate your salary at a startup:

DO

1. Research The Numbers–Research salaries for similar positions at companies that are not only in the same industry, but of comparable size. Next, consider the company’s potential for financial growth within the next few years. You may want to conduct a pre-IPO research. Here, let me google that for you. Once you determine the viability of the company, examine your own situation. What is the absolute bottom line you could accept and still live the life you want? Establish your baseline, determine a potential earnings ceiling, then you have the numbers range to work with.
2. Consider Equity– Some offers will include equity. If an offer does not include equity, this could become a negotiating point to sweeten up the offer. Ask exactly what future potential there is for equity. Whether equity is part of an initial offer, or a future prospect, determine its value and the percentage of the company it represents. Post-IPO determination of equity value is easy. However, if a company is in pre-IPO stages many different factors come into play. Although there are many formulas that can be used, it may be simpler to ask the founders of the company which formula they used, what the total number of shares are, and if there are any future plans to increase the number of shares.
3. Prioritize– The art of negotiating is for everyone to walk away feeling like a winner. Meet face to face and have a conversation about what really matters to you the most. Present your case honestly and back up your arguments with data. Although perks like paid vacation time are great, overall, the most valuable priority of any job is salary. However, if it’s just not possible for a company to meet your salary desires, you can then turn to the potential of equity for increasing the value of their offer. Or, go start your own without paying yourself a salary...

Don’t

1. Make It Personal– Prospective employers do not need to know how much your child’s private school tuition is or what your mortgage commitments are. A meeting to negotiate a job offer is about what the company can do for you and what you can bring to the table in return.
2. Argue Incentives– Incentive based compensation (MBOs) is often a feature of larger companies. It is not practical to expect it with a startup. For a startup, the focus is growth, rapid growth preferably. Incentivized bonus based compensation generally does not come into play at the startup stage of the game for companies. So, stick to salary and equity.
3. Wait Too Long– Time is a critical factor where employment is concerned. A startup has to become productive quickly. When negotiating, stick to the most important factors, salary and equity. Keep negotiations simple and seal the deal quickly. Negotiations should be a basic 3-step dance: 

• Offer from a company
• Counter offer from you
• Acceptance, rejection or counter offer from company
  

Did you know 56% of hiring managers think a personal website is the most impressive branding tool and only 7% of job seekers have them?  We can build you one, with no long-term commitment: contact us today. 

Why Founders on Snapchat will Succeed Faster

Businesses have to have social media strategies, they say. But it keeps getting harder! With Instagram, your pictures have to be gorgeous, and now we have Snapchat, where nothing is perfect. Nothing is hidden. And it is transparent. Here’s why Founders who are on Snapchat stand a better chance at success than their more quiet counterparts…

Welcome to 2016: the age when everyone is seeking transparency more than ever. And for that, we can thank the rapid advancement of technology that is so readily available to us. When a business is being marketed, people want to see the face behind it, not some glossy corporate logo. That is whypersonal branding on Snapchat is so necessary today and for businesses who are still trying to understand it, here are three reasons why Founder on Snapchat will thrive:

• The Connection With Your Audience: Your customers want a human connection. When they buy your service or product, they want to be sure you are someone they can trust. To gain their trust, you have to put yourself out there.
• Part of the way you accomplish this is by setting up personal social media accounts in addition to Snapchat to maximize communicate with your audience. Show them you are a Founder that really wants to help all people similar your customers.
• Establishing Your Expertise: Personal branding is critical no matter the size of the business. But for businesses that are smaller or just starting out, it is especially advantageous. When you take the time to craft your personal image, you can steadily establish yourself as an expert in your industry. When you’re posting to Snapchat, you’re sharpening your message and communication skills.
• You Will Stand Out: Personal branding offers you a certain edge since there are still many people who haven’t taken advantage of the power it offers. Developing a personal brand on Snapchat is a way to differentiate yourself and stand out from the rest of the crowd. Implement a personal branding strategy in everything from your social media presence to your portfolio.

For more information on personal branding, ask me a question on Snapchat. My username is ‘handshakin’ and I post personal branding tips daily.

MUST READ Pro Tip: Snapchat doesn’t have a discovery feature, so it’s very difficult to build an audience aside from driving it from your other social media accounts (see my twitter profile picture is my Snapchat code)…

There’s a brand new app called ghostcodes.com where people can find Snapchat accounts to follow. Make sure to download it and add your account before they have their public launch next week. If you need an invite code, use ‘spooks’. Snapchat me at ‘handshakin’ and we can swap hearts to increase both of our exposure.

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Originally published at www.handshakin.com.

How to Create Real Relationships From Social Networking

As a new entrepreneur, networking is your biggest ally in helping your business grow. Connections can be made formally at a conference or through casual conversation while standing in line at the grocery store. And with innovations in social media platforms, comes even more opportunities for productive networking...

So, how do you get started successfully forming genuine relationships online? Here are some tips that will help build a strong social network:

Reach out to others out of interest, not necessity: Social media offers opportunities to quickly connect with others over current events, industry happenings, or new ideas. Reach out to those with common interests, and share information or links your connections could benefit from or that you think would start a productive conversation. Remember when creating a new relationship, it is often more beneficial to give than receive. Keep in contact, check-in twice a year and see what you can do for them.

Find connections on your playing field: Social media allows you to connect with others you may have never had the opportunity to otherwise. However, reaching out to someone who is busy with a larger following often leads to your wasted time and an undeveloped contact. Find someone with similar interests and goals that will give you the deserved time and attention. These connections will also provide you leverage with other like-minded professionals and business owners.

Try out different social media platforms: There are a variety of different platforms that you can employ for your business. Figure out who you want to connect with and what kind of information you want to share. LinkedIn is a must have for new business owners to build credibility and find professional contacts. Platforms like Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram are great for quickly sharing and connecting over content – be it news, works in progress, or relatable links.
Pro tip:  Creating a blog or Youtube channel can be effective ways to create more in-depth, personable content that is still easily available and shareable. Evaluate what kind of audience you’re appealing to and test out some of these different platforms for sharing your business.

Social networking is an important part of building your business, and if done right you can end up with strong professional relationships. You may never know where your connections take you or what opportunities are available, so make sure you’re ready and your content reflects the approachable, proficient business owner you are. For more information on networking, online or in person, check out our product HandBrander to help grow your personal brand.

Personal Branding Tips for New Freelancers

As a freelancer, you are responsible for creating and maintaining your image and reputation and for promoting the products and services you offer. This can be quite a difficult task, especially if you are relatively new to freelancing. Consider these few personal branding tips, which are useful to all freelancers, but especially to newbies.

Exude Uniqueness. #findyourniche

When starting out, many have the tendency to just do what others are doing. Though it can be great and very helpful to have a role model, you also need to stand out from those who are in the same industry and offering the same products and services as you. If you essentially “copy” an already established freelancer with a loyal client base, how much success will you have? deep knowledge and expertise

If you essentially “copy” an already established freelancer with a loyal client base, how much success will you have? Likely not nearly as much as that established freelancer. If you unknowingly “copy” a not-so-successful freelancer, how much success will you have? Have you even drawn out what success means to you and given yourself a deadline to reach it?

Instead of doing only what others are doing or only offering what they offer, why not offer something completely unique? Find your niche, sharpen it, and do what the others are not willing to do in order to establish it. Then others will want to copy you.

Be Real. #onlinetransparency

Make sure not just to “talk the talk, “ but also to “walk the walk.” In order for your reputation to remain intact, you want to be known for doing just what you promise. Have some proof that speaks for itself online. Whether it’s a third-party interview, a world record, or video evidence of you “walking the walk.”

You also want to be consistent in your interaction with others. The way that you present your brand should be the way that you present yourself in person as well. Think speech, conduct and dress as a few to start with.

In addition, don’t be afraid to infuse your personality into your work. As long as your presentation of self “agrees” with your brand, it is absolutely fine to be yourself. And, it makes it a lot easier.

Create Awareness. #socialmedia

One of the best things you can do to encourage a solid personal brand, is to create awareness. One of the best ways to do that is by means of social media, where countless numbers of people can be reached. By using several different social media platforms, you can gain maximum exposure and engage with the online community. Tweet me @handshakin if you agree.

By implementing the above 3 tips, new freelancers can get off to a great start and more experienced freelancers can refresh and strengthen their personal brands. If you’re too busy, check out our HandBrander to help you become an expert in your industry as soon as possible.