Forums: Discussions for entrepreneurs and small business.

Hi All,

This is my first post. Been listening to Startup Nation for a while on KTTH radio here in Seattle. I`m a web developer and I`ve always considered launching a series of website`s to be the the "smartest" approach for me the launch a Startup. My first website came out of a little productivity tool I built for myself. It lets users setup daily goals (workout, study, cold call, etc) and then track their progress on each goal with a single click. Every other app I`ve played with was too complex so I built something that doesn`t require users to waste valuable brain power on the tracking part of accomplishing their goals. It uses all the latest Web 2.0 goodstuff like Ajax and such.

I launched it yesterday and went from 5 beta testers to 140 users in less than a day. I think just about anyone (especially the entrepreneurial type) will be able to get a lot out of the app so I invite you all to take a look:

http://www.joesgoals.com

Please let me know if you have any feedback or ideas to improve the site. I`m also looking for great (cheap!) marketing ideas.

Thanks!

Ian

Hi - and welcome to Sun.... the only cheap marketing idea I know of is direct marketing with post cards. Cheap to buy and mail out. But the best one absolutely is word of mouth. Treating each customer like they are very important to the success of your business which they are.  I have read time and time again how it costs you around 5 times or more in advertising to replace one existing customer. Thats a lot of money plus think about all the other customers you missed after a neglected customer starts talking to their friends and neighbors about your bad service ...

Anyway, I love your site - just signed up so I guess I`m #141....This is a very
handy tool for me since I am one of those persons that writes a lot of notes, very visual.  Plus its a cute thing to use as your computer wallpaper or just
leave it there on your screen  so you can see it during the day and start clicking away as you accomplish your daily tasks !

Thanks for a helpful business and home tool


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Jo
NJ

Hey--
I signed up, too. Cool site and great idea.
As far as cheap marketing ideas, my advice is... plug, plug, plug...
Once you get some feedback and feel confident with it, I`d try to contact some people at fitness and lifestyle magazines.

Welcome to SuN!

Hi Ian, great concept! In my line of work, I`m always looking for great productivity tools -- I wish there was a way to intergrate your online resource into Outlook. I`d snap it up for all my clients. I have a goals program that I give my clients as part of their mentoring program.

Re: cheap (or as I like to call it, high ROI with low investment) marketing strategies.

Have you considered writing a 3 - 5 articles about your area of expertise, tieing in your product information, and then submitting to online article submission sites? I`ve found it to be a very low-cost and high return strategy. Be sure to include a savvy resource they can check out for free.

Wishing you success!

-------------------------

Melanie Benson Strick
Million Dollar Lifestyle Business Coach
& Virtual Team Building Expert
http://www.successconnections.com

Discover "101 Ways to Triple Your Income by Outsourcing Your High Payoff Activities" at http://www.successconnections.com/101ways.