Category: Blog

Go to Market vs. Marketing

Bootstrapped Web
Go to Market vs. Marketing
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What is the difference between going to market and marketing? What mindset do you need to be in to accomplish your goals for both of these stages of business? In addition to answering these questions, Brian and Jordan dive into their marketing goals, content strategists, and updates on where they are with their Rally and ZipMessage.

Jordan talks about Rally’s methodical blog posts, which will be released slowly over the next few months. Brian shares some of the new features on ZipMessage and his plans for ‘going to market.’ They also talk about how uncomfortable and rewarding the process can be. ‘Going to market’ is humbling and requires authenticity after all.

“There’s a lot going on inside the company and inside the product. And ‘go to market’ is one element of that but you can’t just focus on that because there’s a lot of other things going on that we have to get right.” – Jordan
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Here are today’s conversation points:

  • The difference between going to market and marketing
  • What is involved when you go to market
  • Marketing techniques and content creators
  • Different versions of networking

If you have any questions, comments, or topic ideas for Bootstrapped Web, leave us a message here.

“It’s this idea (especially in the first year) where you’ve got to be doing activities that are introducing the product to more and more new people.” – Brian
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Resources:

Brian on Twitter

Jordan on Twitter 

Rally

ZipMessage

As always, thanks for tuning in. Head here to leave a review on iTunes. 

Should We Rename the Podcast?

Bootstrapped Web
Should We Rename the Podcast?
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Bootstrapped Web is no longer bootstrapped, on either side!

Jordan starts off this episode with his “coming out” strategy, which all starts with his initial three-post series on Rally. He also dives into Rally updates, comparing your start-up businesses, and the importance of developing a unique view of the market.

Brian takes funding from Calm Fund (formerly Earnest Capital), which has been a month in the making. He talks about the different decisions and considerations to be made when exiting Audience Ops and taking funding for ZipMessage.

If you have any questions, comments, or topic ideas for Bootstrapped Web, leave us a message here.

“I love this [angel funding] ecosystem and how it’s been evolving.” – Brian
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Here are today’s conversation points:

  • Jordan’s “coming out” strategy for Rally
  • Brian takes funding from Calm Fund (formerly Earnest Capital)
“I have been sitting on so many secrets, it’s not healthy. It’s not healthy to be quiet and fearful. It’s not my natural state.” – Jordan
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Resources

Rally Blog

“Your Startup is a Movement” by David Sacks

Calm Fund 

Brian on Twitter

Jordan on Twitter 

ZipMessage

As always, thanks for tuning in. Head here to leave a review on iTunes. 

Audience Ops Changes Hands

Bootstrapped Web
Audience Ops Changes Hands
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Some news!  Brian has sold his business, Audience Ops, to JD Graffam!  And what better way to announce this transition than to bring JD on the show!  

Jordan leads the way as Brian and JD talk through how this deal came together, the process from each of their perspectives, and the successful close and transition that’s now underway.

If you’re thinking about pursuing an exit from your business or thinking about acquiring one, we hope you’ll find some of our real-world experience from this deal helpful.

You can read Brian’s blog post that dives deeper into the deal and thought processes that led up to the exit.

If you have any questions, comments, or topic ideas for Bootstrapped Web, leave us a message here

Mentioned on today’s episode:

Audience Ops

JD Graffam on Twitter

JD’s article, Fourteen Things That Will Keep Me from Buying Your App

As always, thanks for tuning in. Head here to leave a review on iTunes. 

Marketing ideas

Bootstrapped Web
Marketing ideas
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Introduction:

Do you work with a full-service accounting and admin company? How do you create markers on your business’s path to success? What unique marketing platforms and ideas do you use? Brian and Jordan are back behind the mic, during this horrendous heatwave. Today’s topics range from admin and accounting tasks they would rather avoid, their very professional podcasting process, Rally’s current markers and goals, and Brian’s exciting marketing ideas. 

If you have any questions, comments, or topic ideas for Bootstrapped Web, leave us a message here

“Something didn’t sit right. It wasn’t ambitious enough. We need to challenge ourselves more.” – Jordan
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Here are today’s conversation points:

  • Forming a new corporation with ZipMessage
    • The need for full-service accounting/admin
  • Our “professional” podcasting process
    • Listening back on episodes to help sharpen your gut
  • Rally’s current markers
    • Do we have what we need to raise money?
    • Working backwards from and mapping out the goal and markers
    • How to project numbers at this stage
    • Creating a safe space to make mistakes, changing your mind, and getting appropriate push-back
  •  Marketing ideas and promotion
    • The Shipped Podcast (using ZipMessage)
    • Testing audiences and different marketing platforms
    • Podcast sponsorships: targeting small podcasts
    • YouTube advertising
    • Alternative free trial program
“Let’s not think of the worst case scenario but the realistic scenario.” – Brian
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Mentioned on today’s episode:

Office Engine

Gusto

Leave us a message here

Rally On 

ZipMessage

SunriseKPI 

Productize 

Audience Ops

ProcessKit  

Carthook  

As always, thanks for tuning in. Head here to leave a review on iTunes. 

Back and Running

Bootstrapped Web
Back and Running
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After a month hiatus, Brian and Jordan are back with stories about trips, waking up in pain, and prepping for competition. They also talk about growth in terms of profitability versus milestones, the newest developments with ZipMessage, and introducing “common, everyday tools” to people outside of the SaaS community.

If you have any questions, comments, or topic ideas for Bootstrapped Web, leave us a message here.

“Growth as headcount as an acceptable growth metric. And the reason for that is if you’re not shooting for
profitability and you’re shooting for milestones.” – Jordan
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Here are today’s conversation points:

  • The relationship between founder and VC
    • Headcount versus profitability as growth
    • Hiring a recruiter
  • ZipMessage goals
    • Prioritizing requests
    • Setting up new features
    • Opening it up to the public
    • The Shipped podcast
    • Brian’s new technical marketer
  • Introduction of technology to others
    • Niche tools
    • Summit, whiteboards that do math. The easiest way to create, test, and present your logic.
  • Taming the chaos
“If profitability isn’t the goal on this path (which makes sense), what are the metrics that you’re looking at for the next 12 months or 18 months?” – Brian
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Mentioned on today’s episode:

Leave us a message here

Rally On 

ZipMessage

SunriseKPI 

Productize 

Audience Ops

ProcessKit  

Carthook  

As always, thanks for tuning in. Head here to leave a review on iTunes. 

Metrics & Hiring Funnels

Bootstrapped Web
Metrics & Hiring Funnels
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Brian and Jordan are back to back-to-back weeks before vacation and travel plans kick in because… It’s summertime! While Jordan deals with a minor lacrosse injury, they both gush over Matt Medeiros, and give updates on their latest business endeavors. They talk about the progress on the search for a media creator for both Rally and ZipMessage, hiring funnels and hiring hurdles, getting feedback, and ways to get out of a funk.

If you have any questions, comments, or topic ideas for Bootstrapped Web, leave us a message here. 

“I saw a ZipMessage pop up in my Slack the other day. I love seeing it organically used because that’s the tool that fits.” – Jordan
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Here are today’s conversation points:

  • Matt Medeiros and the media creator role
  • The technical side of ZipMessage
  • Reading stats and getting feedback
  • Getting out of a funk
  • Completing tasks, self-induced stress, and forgiveness
  • Figuring out the right workflow and the right people
  • Hiring funnels, hurdles, testimonials, and role-specific adjustments
“People get value from it and they don’t tell you they’re getting value from it. It’s just happening and you don’t see it right in front of you. You have to see the stats.” – Brian
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Mentioned on today’s episode:

Matt Medeiros’ Twitter Thread on the media creator role

ChartMogul

DynamiteJobs

Creativity, Inc.: Overcoming the Unseen Forces That Stand in the Way of True Inspiration by Ed Catmull and Amy Wallace

Rally On 

ZipMessage

SunriseKPI 

Productize 

Audience Ops

ProcessKit  

Carthook  

Brian’s 2 positions open for applications:

Media Creator

Technical Marketer

Leave us a message here

As always, thanks for tuning in. Head here to leave a review on iTunes. 

Hiring Media Creators

Bootstrapped Web
Hiring Media Creators
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Brian and Jordan are back with updates about diving headfirst into team sports with an “old man lacrosse leagues,” to celebrating 10-year wedding anniversaries, job postings, and creating messages that resonate with customers. They’re covering a little bit of everything today.

Brian shares a couple of interesting job openings based on ZipMessage: a media creator and a technical marketer. Check out the job opening for media creator if you love to create content, are comfortable telling stories, and coming up with creative new ideas. He is also looking for a technical marketer who will work on distribution and optimizing channels and SaaS funnels. If you are interested in either job position, use the links below to apply.

Media Creator  

Technical Marketer

If you have any questions, comments, or topic ideas for Bootstrapped Web, leave a message here

“You want the authentic version of the media and the audience and value, and then allowing for a bridge from there, over to the product.” – Jordan
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Here are today’s conversation points:

  • ZipMessage Updates:
    • Growth and skepticism 
    • Job openings:
      • Media creator
      • Technical marketer
  • Creating a community
  • The Bloomberg Model
  • Axios
  • Conversations and conveying the Rally message
    • What to lead with
    • How to make your message resonate
  • Shopify opinions
  • Brian is hiring for 2 roles:

Media Creator  

Technical Marketer

“If you want an engaged community where they interact with each other, the audience has to come first.” – Brian
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Mentioned on today’s episode:

Axios Today

Rally On 

ZipMessage

SunriseKPI 

Productize 

Audience Ops

ProcessKit  

Carthook  

Leave us a message here

As always, thanks for tuning in. Head here to leave a review on iTunes. 

Raising The Bar

Bootstrapped Web
Raising The Bar
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Brian and Jordan are back with no excuses and plenty of updates for both Rally and ZipMessage. Today’s topics are all about roadmaps, leading tech teams, and ecommerce marketing. While ecommerce has been around for a while, SaaS is evolving in the way it is marketed and sold. What are your thoughts on SaaS marketing strategies? Do you prefer leading a large tech team or would you rather keep your team small and easily manageable? What are your thoughts on the importance of communication for teams who work remotely?

If you have any questions, comments, or topic ideas for Brian or Jordan, leave a message here.

“When you start to talk about a bunch of people, all in coordination, all in different time zones, all on different things, that stuff is just magic to me.” – Jordan
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Here are today’s conversation points:

  • The next step for Rally
  • The many uses for ZipMessage
    • Combining live Zoom calls with asynchronous follow-ups
    • Direct Slack integrations
    • The ZipMessage roadmap
  • Leading a tech team
    • Requirements for leadership
    • The importance of communication
  • Different strategies for marketing
“The way that I think about integrations generally is, it’s more about, ‘Does it solve a customer problem and customer conversion?’” – Brian
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Mentioned on today’s episode:

Patrick Campbell’s tweet about building a media brand, monetizing with software

Unthinkable podcast by Jay Acunzo

Our stuff:

Rally On 

ZipMessage

SunriseKPI 

Productize 

Audience Ops

ProcessKit  

Carthook

Leave us a message here

Rally On

Bootstrapped Web
Rally On
/

It’s a big day here at Bootstrapped Web now that Jordan can talk more openly about his newest endeavor: Rally. Brian and Jordan talk about what Rally is, breakdown Rally’s elevator pitch, as well as the steps Jordan has taken up to this point. They also get into a few updates with ZipMessage. Brian talks about the possibility of building a small team and the stigma around hiring a team full of contractors. 

Are you a freelancer looking for a little work? Are you a marketing specialist? If you have any questions, comments, or topic ideas for Bootstrapped Web, leave us a message here

“I’m in the middle of that thing that happens if you post a Twitter thread just at the right time. It’s fun. You have to remember to enjoy the fun days. This is one of those fun days.” – Jordan
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Here are today’s conversation points:

  • Rally and RallyOn.com
    • What does Rally do for customers?
    • What does it mean to go headless?
    • Definition of “Modern brands”
    • What makes Rally different?
  • Enjoying and being in the moment
  • The importance of elevator pitches and headlines
  • Multiple fits and building relationships
  • The next step and roadmap for Rally
  • ZipMessage updates
    • Doing everything yourself vs. building a small team
    • Contractors and freelancers vs. employees
    • The stigma behind hiring overseas 
  • Creating your perfect company culture 
  • Brian’s marketing talent wishlist:
    • Technical marketer (Google analytics, SEO, etc.) 
    • Media producer (podcasting, interviews, etc.)
“I’m already all in in terms of hours. But to really go all in, I need a team with me.” – Brian
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Resources:

Leave us a message here

Rally On 

Josh Pigford’s Maybe company compensation model

Sahil Lavingia on Gumroad’s team model

ZipMessage

SunriseKPI 

Productize 

Audience Ops

ProcessKit  

Carthook  

As always, thanks for tuning in. Head here to leave a review on iTunes. 

Bugs vs. Customers

Bootstrapped Web
Bugs vs. Customers
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Brian and Jordan are back behind the mic for the second week in a row. Today they’re focusing on bugs over customers, or should it be the other way around? After some project and business updates, they talk about the early stages of development and launch for a new product. How do you decide if this new project is worth it? How do you find people who are as excited about it as you are? 

If you have any questions, comments, or topic ideas for Bootstrapped Web, leave a message for Brian and Jordan on their ZipMessage account at https://zipmessage.com/bootstrappedweb.

“I’m slowed down by the product and the bug-fixes.” – Brian
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Here are today’s conversation points:

  • Project and business updates: marketing, development, and not moving fast enough
  • Talking with partners and agencies versus potential customers
  • Taking a position and what that means for a business
  • How to decide whether a project or a product is worth the time?
  • The Catch-22 of starting and growing a new business
  • How to evaluate a “head-of-growth” expert
  • Pivotal moments in ZipMessage and secret projects
  • Growth hacks for ZipMessage
“My favorite thing (the thing that I’m good at) is articulating that future vision clearly.” – Jordan
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Resources:

ZipMessage

SunriseKPI 

Productize 

Audience Ops

ProcessKit  

Carthook  

As always, thanks for tuning in. Head here to leave a review on iTunes.