Archive for Startups
Phone A Friend
SUBSCRIPTION SERVICE
Over the last decade, it has become normal for me to hear from my clients about once a week to discuss an idea, obstacle or need in their business.
This casual relationship, with constant communication, has allowed me to stay in touch with my clients and be most effective in answering issues immediately.
I’m offering a subscription for what has essentially become a “phone a friend” relationship.
Having my personal creativity and attention applied to your problems is will save you thousands.
Having someone to speak with in a candid and confidential manner will save you thousands.
Having access to the talented people in my network, only when you need them, will save you thousands.
Having my experience to prevent you from making a mistake will save you thousands.
Applying my creative strategies will make and save you thousands.
JOIN HUNDREDS OF PAST CLIENTS that have benefited from my personal attention, creativity and strategic advice. Your subscription, solutions and problems remain confidential (and that’s why my clients aren’t plastered all over my website).
- COMPLETELY CONFIDENTIAL -
The “Phone A Friend” Subscription is $99/month.
In addition to having my personal cell phone number, here’s what you have access to EVERY MONTH:
- Unlimited Q&A on the Forums (other professional contributors)
- Up to 6 Hours of phone or Skype consultation ($300 value)
- Confidential Support on ANY TOPIC in ANY INDUSTRY (I refer it out if necessary, typically at no fee)
- Internet Resources & Marketing Tools, reserved for my personal clients.
- Opportunities for tangible savings, reserved for my personal clients.
- Updates and News specific to your industry (60-90days before I publish it)
- Inclusion in our Affiliate Marketing Network (directed at one page of your website)
- Design, Web & Graphic support (if I can handle it myself you can just burn an hour on it – logos, etc…)
You will immediately experience the value of our services or you can cancel at any time.
PERFECT FOR STARTUPS, INVENTORS, ARTISTS & DISTRESSED BUSINESSES – START NOW!
The #1 question I get asked is to solve a problem on a specific budget. I have yet to fail in charting a realistic course for success within a client’s budget. I can show you how to do things that many businesses spend ten times as much for (without half the insurance measures I show you how to include).
How many people can you call who know your industry well enough to give you an intelligent opinion?
How many of those people can you be completely honest with, share your REAL concerns, and receive unbiased confidential advice? I don’t SELL anything…I help business owners arrive at cost-saving conclusions for rescue, launch, efficiency, growth and sanity.
I make my living by providing unique creative solutions…and mapping routes to revenue. I don’t sell anything other than my brain (and you can rent it for the bargain basement price of $99/month). I expect you to cancel this subscription once we we figure out the best way for me to be available to you down the road. Until then, I’ve made it as affordable as possible to “try me”.
Subscribe now (no cancellation penalty – buy it, try it, cancel at any time):
Practice Your Pitch
Congratulations, you “got the meeting”!
The support of investors, strategic partners or sales representatives is critical to your success. Make sure you have what it takes to keep the attention and interest of your audience. Fine-tune your presentation skills and be prepared to answer real objections and questions. Practice makes perfect.
Need help? We will critique your presentation and help you refine your “Pitch”.
My team and I have pitched, presented and heard some of the most innovative ideas over the last decade – we know what works (and what doesn’t)!
Cheap, fast and enlightening – Money Back Guarantee
Book a Critique ($35 US):
Once purchased, we contact you to schedule your pitch. Using our presentation platform or yours, we play the role of your potential investor, partner, affiliate, sales rep or customer. After your presentation is completed, we will ask some pointed follow-up questions. Consider this your “dress rehearsal”.
Includes:
- 15-20minute Skype, Web or Phone presentation (it is recommended that you use the same method planned to pitch your real prospects)
- 15-20minute real-time Q&A.
- Documented Written Follow-Up (weaknesses, strengths and suggestions).
- Once your presentation is refined to the point that we can endorse your opportunity, we’ll give you a written letter of support and identify the strengths of your concept (we may even be able to make some introductions for you).
- We’ll also post your company in our “opportunities” section (here and on our forums) with direct contact information.
This is a friendly service. We’re not here to offend you or challenge your ideas. We’re not “mean” for our own entertainment (don’t expect the “Shark Tank”…but you should treat your presentation like the “real thing”). The goal through our formal Pitch Critique process is to make sure your sales pitch is efficient, clear, engaging and factual. Your sense of confidence will make the difference in your ability to close the deal. It is our aim to build you up (not tear you down). Our critique process is designed to be a positive exercise.
Note: Everyone hearing your presentation will have signed a non-disclosure, non-compete.
TIPS FOR A SUCCESSFUL PITCH:
- Make memorable claims and back them up with examples, facts or relatable anecdotes.
- Stimulate all 5 senses whenever possible (verbal or media).
- There is no rule about which order obstacles, relevance, solutions or business potential have to be in (or whether they have to be included in the “pitch”), just make sure you are prepared to present and answer questions about all of them.
- Your credentials matter – you should know exactly how equipped you are to respond to a “yes” (and be prepared to get/allow help where you might need it).
- Your pitch shouldn’t answer every question – save something for your audience to ask you.
- Know your competition and the market (like the back of your hand).
- Know SOMETHING personal about your audience/customers…and what motivates them.
- Speak clearly and confidently – avoid passive statements
- Smile – even if you aren’t visible to the listener (they can tell when you’re smiling)
Keep it as simple as possible for your clients. Technology should be consistent the tools they already have (live meeting, phone, web browser)…and it is best to avoid requiring them to accomodate YOUR preferred method of communication (you should conform to theirs).
INSTANT ACCESS
Their office or yours (in person)
FreeConference.com (phone and web conferencing – some free tools)
GoToMeeting.com (web conferencing – paid subscription)
OTHER
Skype.com (chat, voice, video and desktop sharing)
YUGMA.com (Free Skype Plugin for desktop sharing; paid version allows annotating)
Webex.com (requires a browser plugin – web conferencing – saves your presentation in a libary for access by anyone)
NOTE: I personally prefer to use Skype for the initial conversation, then have you direct me to any alternative web presentation you prefer. I look forward to hearing from you – Mark Mahar
Free Website for Startups
Attn: Entrepreneurs
It is challenging to start a business in any economy, let alone an economy as uncertain as this one.
We believe that small business is the heart of the American way of life. It is the engine of our economy. As a service to innovative and enterprising entrepreneurs, we are offering free websites for qualifying businesses.
Here’s how it works:
- Register for the forums [SUPPORT FORUMS]
- Visit the “Welcome (General Stuff)” Section
- Read the “Free Website for Entrepreneurs” post
- Post a brief reply, explaining why you should be chosen to receive a free website for your business
The free custom site will consist of 5 pages of static content, featuring the products and services, a BLOG and other unique resources related to the business. The complete hosted web solution will consist of WordPress Content Management Software (open source) with custom modifications and templates. All modifications are made online, by you (the owner)…and you won’t need a web developer to maintain your website.
QUALIFYING WEBSITES:
- At least one market ready, featured, product or service
- Paypal or Google Shopping Cart account
- Engaged Business Owner (with a blog and frequent entries)
- Highest consideration given to:
- national products & services potential
- “made in usa”
- clear business plan
- art & innovation
- maintainable by owner
- active blogger
Candidate will work with me and my team to arrive at the best presentation/branding. We can retool your existing site or create an entirely new one.
The last recipient of our free website launch was VictorianTailor.com
The Victorian Tailor already had a website. The problem she had in her business was a constantly changing inventory (constant web support for a small company). I don’t like seeing small business owners handcuffed so I imported her existing design into WordPress, added custom templates and functionality, which turned it into a blog site with more “search engine friendlly” content and keywords. I then trained the owner, Celeste, on how to manage all the web content herself. She never has to hire a web person to change her products again. All the content you see on that site was put there by Celeste – if she can do it, you can do it!
Every 90 days, we will select one business to receive a website (it gets launched before the next site is selected).
If no qualifying candidate site is found among the applicants, we reserve the right not to select any applicant.
We are running this promotion to give “business ready” entrepreneurs a leg up on achieving a professional web presence that they can maintain themselves. We want our visitors to use our forums and we hope to have more of a relationship with our internet audience in general (while introducing them to great new companies). We decide, at our sole discretion, if the website you need is within our skill-set (and if your business is ready for it).
Our decision to support your business with a free website revolves around one internal question: “Are we interested enough in being associated with your success that we will invest the cost of launching your website?” (the more creative, grassroots, self-sufficient and prepared your business is, the more likely you’ll be one of the businesses we pick to support).
You must have a domain name and hosting (about $120/year) and we take care of the rest.
Domain name and hosting can be bought through www.HighwayMerge.com
We HIGHLY recommend that you at least own the domain name PRIOR to discussing it on our public forums. Don’t make a post that says “I want a website for mybusiness.com” if you don’t own “mybusiness.com”.
One business is scheduled to be selected on the following dates:
August 15th, 2011
November 15th, 2011
February 15th, 2012
May 15th, 2012
August 15th, 2012
We look forward to helping you succeed on the internet.
Visit the forums now.
(If you’re a web designer or developer interested in helping us make a positive impact with entrepreneurs through this free service, please contact us @ info@maharenterprises.com)