In today's world many communications professionals find themselves working for small to medium enterprises or even new ventures & startups. The communications needs and priorities that these organizations have are unique. Through this workshop participants will learn how to create effective communication strategies in situations where resources are limited and in which it is vital to build corporate communications from the ground up.
7. A survey of 300 startup CEOs found that startups that engage in PR activities are 30 percent
more successful in getting early funding than those that don’t. Words are more important
than ever.
10. Startups
are unique
Today there are more than
80 startups that are valued
at $1 billion or more and
that number is expected to
increase. With 100 million
startups opening up each
year and 472 million
entrepreneurs worldwide,
competition to become the
next big thing is brutal.*
*Entrepreneur Magazine and Fortune
29. New tools,
old rules
While technology has changed,
the basic building blocks of
communications and PR are still
the same.
30. How to Speak Startup
Accelerator/Incubator: Space where startups are “incubated” through
mentorship, space and sometimes cash.
Bootstrapping: Using own funds or from friends and family.
Deck: aka Pitch deck.
Exit strategy: How will you sell your company and make investors lots of
money.
Freemium: Basic product/app for free then upsell features.
Gamify: Adding gaming layer to web or product that encourages people to
use it and gain rewards. We love games!
*Source: Forbes
31. How to Speak Startup
Growth Hacking: Marketing technique that focuses on quickly finding scalable
growth through non-traditional and inexpensive tactics.
Iterate: Really just means to try something, do it wrong, tweak and try again.
Lean Startup: Core mission of the lean startup is to prove the business concept
as quickly and cheaply as possible.
Monetize: How will you make money with this service/app/product?
MVP: Minimum viable product, bare-bones version of product required to achieve
proof of concept.
32. How to Speak Startup
Pivot: Change directions as a company.
Ramen profitable: Profitable enough to cover costs and basic living for folks
working in the startup.
Saas: Software as a Service.
Seed Round: Very early investment.
Sweat equity: Shares of company given for work well done. Recruitment
incentive.
Valuation: What the company is being valued at. This changes.
Unicorn: The $1 billion startup.
33. Startups need to be
sav·vy
noun
: practical understanding or
knowledge of something
SAVVY
communicators
34. startups can do to
stand-out in their
crowded spaces
• Listen
• Strategize and plan
• Focus on quality vs. quantity
• Effectively reach audiences
• Tell their story clearly
• Convince/Evangelize
• Use communications to
build brand’s business value
7THINGS
45. 5. Media.
Articles in influential publications and
mentions in prominent blogs or on TV
shows can drive product sales. If your
new software program got rave reviews
in a major computer magazine, by all
means, include it here. Generating
favorable publicity is one of the
more valuable things you can do
for your business.
48. Communicate
One of the key elements for any
startup is how it communicates
and markets itself while not
taking the eye off the main tasks
at hand of running the business.
– Dave McClure
“If I was down to
my last dollar, I
would spend it on
public relations.”
– Bill Gates
Imagine the frustration of the investor who knows
he or she has invested in a great company, but
due to lack of communication, the world may
never know. No great company was ever
conceived and grown in a vacuum. Every
successful company recognizes the vital need
and the tremendous opportunity they afford
themselves when they communicate well.
– Cheryl Conner
Great communications can be the
difference between the rapid
acquisition of customers and fast
growth, or the slow death of
your idea as it is pecked to death
by more agile competition.
– Liam Fay-Fright
Every great leader and
every great company
communicates well.. -
Allan Hall
59. To do...
● What does this startup do?
● How are they communicating with
their audiences?
● Which audiences should they focus
on at this stage in their growth?
● What challenges do they face?
● Recommendations on how they can
better their communications
strategy.