Bootstrap Tactics for Entrepreneurs

Bootstrap Marketing via a Bootstrap Presentation

You!

Me…

Me…

My "story" – background and experience Things I've learned along the way that are very important Pitfalls to avoid A "checklist" to successful bootstrap marketing When to bootstrap and when not to

Selling on a Bootstrap.

Advantages of doing business with us.• We believe in QUALITY

• Our people really care

• Our facility is state of the art

• We have patents

• Our founder is president and is also an engineer

• We’re cheaper than everyone else

Bootstrap Marketing…

ADVANTAGES OF DOING BUSINESS WITH US!

• Our people really care!!!!

• Our facility is TOTALLY state of the art!!!!

• We have LOTS of patents!!!!

• Our founder is president and is also an engineer!!!!

• We’re cheaper than anyone!!!!

• We really believe in QUALITY!!!• We really believe in QUALITY!!!

• We’re cheaper than anyone!!!!

Let’s Tug on Some Different Bootstraps…

It’s Your Degree…

MBA: Masters Business Administration… MBA: Male Bonding Acronym

It’s Your Degree…

BMA Bioactive Marketing Adventurer

What are the Traditional Components in the “Marketing Mix?”

So, What is “Marketing?”

What is Marketing?

By definition, we’re here to talk about business in general… because it’s all

in the marketing mix.

In other words… Nothing Happens in the

World Today Until Something Gets Sold.

What is Bootstrap Marketing?

Gnostic Marketing

Gnostic Marketing

The Experiential Knowledge of Marketing Truth.

Gnostic Marketing

It requires that that you disembrace academic and

business-author dogma and strive for a creative-based,

reality mind.

Universal Law of Marketplace Evolution

The beco-environment will always conform to the Hierarchy of

Natural Selection which consists of Rule-Makers, Rule-Takers

and Rule-Breakers.

Universal Quad-Law of Inverse Proportionality

Capital requirements are inversely proportional to available capital Time required is inversely proportional to time remaining Vendor delivery is inversely proportional to vendor promises Employee experience, expertise & loyalty are inversely proportional to the resume’ on your desk

Part One: The Singular Law of Inverse Disproportionality

Your entrepreneurial business concept will inevitably be inversely

disproportional to a multitude of realities.

Part Two: The Singular Law of Inverse Disproportionality

You won’t realize that until it’s too late.

Universal Laws of Gnostic Marketing

Universal Law of Gnostic Marketing: #1

Hire a marketing consultant who actually knows what he/she is doing.

Everyone is a marketing expert – just ask themLook for proof of performance ($$$$)Tradeshow management is not marketing management

Universal Law of Gnostic Marketing: #2

Ditch the freakin’ PC already and get a Mac. Will deliver the most performance for the buck Life’s an adventure… work like itWhy start your business career with technocongenital brain damage?

Universal Law of Gnostic Marketing: #3

Become a Democrat… or better yet, apolitical.conservative – Republicans are bred to follow rules

corporate – Birds of a feather flock together

homo lemmus dicrostonyx – a member of a large group of people who blindly follow one another on a course of action that leads to the destruction of all of them

Universal Law of Gnostic Marketing: #4

Backburner all Theist leaps of faith.When the going gets tough the tough usually prayThe “Divine Competitive Advantage” is a mythWhy would god have particular interest in your business success at someone else’s expense?Empirical thinking begets empirical revenue

Universal Law of Gnostic Marketing: #5

Avoid Vulture Capitalists.The short-term, myopic, life-sucking, parasitic, risk-adverse, chicken-doody, Bluetooth-sporting blobs of quivering, gelatinous scum that they are.

Universal Law of Gnostic Marketing: #6

Believe that there are no shortcuts. Or you will painfully know that there are no shortcutsBeing patient does not equate to being lazyNew ideas, like change, take time to take rootBuild to last

Universal Law of Gnostic Marketing: #7

Have a personal exit plan.Work to retire by the time you are forty-five

Universal Law of Gnostic Marketing: #8

Don’t get greedy.Bulls make moneyBears make moneyPigs get slaughtered

Universal Law of Gnostic Marketing: #9

Beware the perils of knowing too much.Often times, your most sustainable competitive advantage is not knowing that you’re not supposed to be able to do what you’re, in fact, doing

Universal Law of Gnostic Marketing: #10

Never believe your early success.Business success is like the applause you will receive – “Enjoy it, but never believe it.”

“Luck” is not a core competency

Universal Law of Gnostic Marketing: #11

Follow your heart.Passion and logical, rational belief will overcome most obstacles

Universal Law of Gnostic Marketing: #12

Know what you want (what you really, really want). Plan and act deliberately to progress toward your strategic goals

Universal Law of Gnostic Marketing: #13

Never, ever utter the word, “branding.”You don’t have enough moneyIf and when you do, call me: 303 . 4 49 . 8 849

Universal Law of Gnostic Marketing: #14

It’s all bootstrap marketing.However big the company, the idea, the budget or the opportunity, it’s never enough

Universal Law of Gnostic Marketing: #15

Be quick to hire a new MBA while (s)he still knows everything.