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What we would've done differently in the first year of bootstrapping our company

foundersconfidential418.substack.com

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Re: What we would've done differently in the first year of bootstrapping our company

#11

Post by DtNZNkLN »

neilv wrote: post #6

> This experience allowed us to set a clear focus for the next phase of our roadmap: No More Martins. If you decide either that you owe it to Martin to help him succeed, and/or you want other people like Martin to succeed... you could dedicate a team of some of your best people to high-touch determine whatever is required to help Martin specifically to succeed. Validating it with the success of the original Martin. (…

Because we're just 2 people, the only team we have is us :) That's why whatever our focus is becomes the next phase of our roadmap.

Re: What we would've done differently in the first year of bootstrapping our company

#12

Post by DtNZNkLN »

sixhobbits wrote: post #10
jarsin wrote: post #2

I really wonder about spending time on #1.Content Marketing in the new age of search + AI. Most searches are filled with large paragraphs of AI responses at the very top of the page now days. Then everyone doing content marketing is using the same AI to spew out massive spam sites of worthless content.

Funnily enough, all the crap out there makes useful content more valuable, not less. Sometimes it's harder to find on Google now, but people still need it, so if you can create it and help them find it, they will be grateful. And grateful people will take out their wallets.

I could not agree more with this. I think as the quantity of content increases, quality content will only increase in value.

Re: What we would've done differently in the first year of bootstrapping our company

#13

Post by p0nce »

DtNZNkLN wrote: post #12
sixhobbits wrote: post #10

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Funnily enough, all the crap out there makes useful content more valuable, not less. Sometimes it's harder to find on Google now, but people still need it, so if you can create it and help them find it, they will be grateful. And grateful people will take out their wallets.

I could not agree more with this. I think as the quantity of content increases, quality content will only increase in value.

Time to invest in non-AI content

Re: What we would've done differently in the first year of bootstrapping our company

#14

Post by edmundsauto »

Joel_Mckay wrote: post #5
edmundsauto wrote: post #3

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It might impact top of funnel (visits), but quality content will really stand out once visitors are at your site, which should increase conversion rate. Regardless, quality content is important for branding/perceived reputation, which is going to be helpful. It's easier to stand out when everyone goes crappy and cheap. This won't change.

lol, a website is not a good way to promote a business for most startups. Even a YT, facebook, or linkedin page will generate better lead volume. The nonexistent brand recognition means most SEO and online advertising is a waste of time and money. i.e. random users are usually not going to suddenly discover your products and services in significant volumes. Mostly we would see around 2400 new users after each context…

Not a founder at the moment, but I do purchase a lot of b2b SaaS/infra services. Usually I hear of the brand first, but really high quality content is one factor that makes me decide between competitors. That’s all I meant.

Re: What we would've done differently in the first year of bootstrapping our company

#15

Post by XenophileJKO »

jarsin wrote: post #2

I really wonder about spending time on #1.Content Marketing in the new age of search + AI. Most searches are filled with large paragraphs of AI responses at the very top of the page now days. Then everyone doing content marketing is using the same AI to spew out massive spam sites of worthless content.

I just seems to me that the problem is market fit. If you are finding it hard to get people to sign up, then maybe you are tackling the wrong problem or framing the product in the wrong way.

Re: What we would've done differently in the first year of bootstrapping our company

#16

Post by Joel_Mckay »

edmundsauto wrote: post #14
Joel_Mckay wrote: post #5

Earlier quoted context omitted.

lol, a website is not a good way to promote a business for most startups. Even a YT, facebook, or linkedin page will generate better lead volume. The nonexistent brand recognition means most SEO and online advertising is a waste of time and money. i.e. random users are usually not going to suddenly discover your products and services in significant volumes. Mostly we would see around 2400 new users after each context…

Not a founder at the moment, but I do purchase a lot of b2b SaaS/infra services. Usually I hear of the brand first, but really high quality content is one factor that makes me decide between competitors. That’s all I meant.

Makes sense for small firms to run low entry cost subscriptions at first, but make sure to build a spreadsheet calculator to regularly project costs. Note accumulating variable costs can pack a wallop during growth, and external services EOL all the time.

Anecdotally, we found aesthetically focused firms lived up to the old adage:

"If you can't dazzle them with brilliance, baffle them with bullshit." ( W.C. Fields )

Best of luck, =3

Re: What we would've done differently in the first year of bootstrapping our company

#17

Post by ilrwbwrkhv »

If your product actually does what it claims and somehow Duolingo English test was an important requirement to get a job, won't some Tiktok videos about people who are successful because of your platform catch fire immediately?

I worry a lot of these "what we learned" posts sidestep the real issue: the problem being solved isn't really that big of a deal to most people or it doesn't actually solve it in a measurably better way.

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