How Teespring Built a Launchpad for Growth
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Doing things that don’t scale Walker Williams TEESPRING
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Transcript of How Teespring Built a Launchpad for Growth
Doing things that don’t scale
Walker WilliamsTEESPRING
As a startup, you have a lot of disadvantages
vs. larger companies…
Why don’t they scale?
@walkerteespring #hustlecon
… you also have one enormous advantage:
You can do things that don’t scale
Why don’t they scale?
@walkerteespring #hustlecon
Where you can maximize this advantage:
• Recruiting early users
• Turning users into champions
• Finding product/market fit
@walkerteespring #hustlecon
Recruiting early users
There are no ‘silver bullets’ in user acquisition
@walkerteespring #hustlecon
It will take a significant amount of time and effort to bring your first users in.
(and that’s okay)
@walkerteespring #hustlecon
Don’t focus on ROI, focus on growth by any means possible*
Exception: Don’t give away your product for free
@walkerteespring #hustlecon
The best part:
Your early adopters will love you for going the extra mile.
@walkerteespring #hustlecon
@walkerteespring #hustlecon
Turning users into champions
Champions are users who not only use, but also advocate for your product
@walkerteespring #hustlecon
How do you build champions?
Delight your users with experiences they will remember
@walkerteespring #hustlecon
Talk to your users!(constantly, and for as long as possible)
@walkerteespring #hustlecon
Ways you should be talking to your users:
• Handle customer service
• Proactively reach out to current & churned customers
• Listen in via social media & communities
@walkerteespring #hustlecon
Notable example:
@walkerteespring #hustlecon
Problems are inevitable, do whatever it takes to make it right
Some of your biggest champions will come from formerly disgruntled customers.
@walkerteespring #hustlecon
Finding product/market fit
The product you launch with will almost certainly not be the product that finds market
fit.
@walkerteespring #hustlecon
Iterate as quickly as possible to find fit
@walkerteespring #hustlecon
Optimize for speed over building scalable technology
@walkerteespring #hustlecon
Notable example:
@walkerteespring #hustlecon
Rule of thumb:
Only worry about the next order of magnitude
@walkerteespring #hustlecon
You will find a way to survive growth pains*
* Though it may be painful
@walkerteespring #hustlecon
Notable example:
@walkerteespring #hustlecon
@walkerteespring #hustlecon
Less-than-notable example:
@walkerteespring #hustlecon
Doing things that don’t scale is an advantage.
@walkerteespring #hustlecon
Don’t give it up until you are absolutely forced to.
@walkerteespring #hustlecon
teespring.com
WALKER WILLIAMSFOUNDER, CEO
#hustlecon@walkerteespring
walkerteespring [email protected]
#hustleconwww.hustlecon.com
