Category: Messaging

Startup Marketing: Does the Competition Matter?

Startup Marketing: Does the Competition Matter?

Prospects are evaluating your solution against alternatives (which may not be products) and communicating how you are better than those alternatives is a key part of great startup marketing.

April 12, 2012 | 79 Comments More
Lipstick on the Enviropig: A Tale of Messaging and Manure

Lipstick on the Enviropig: A Tale of Messaging and Manure

If you tell people something is great and make sure not to talk about any of the risks or downsides of your product people will believe you, right?

April 10, 2012 | 29 Comments More
Lousy Marketing Messages: 5 Causes and Solutions

Lousy Marketing Messages: 5 Causes and Solutions

There are so many examples of bad marketing messages out there yet some companies seem to effortlessly create great one. Why is that?

September 27, 2011 | 58 Comments More
Do Not Build Startup Messages for Your Grandmother

Do Not Build Startup Messages for Your Grandmother

The cliche of creating marketing messages for a fictitious clueless non-technical person isn’t just annoying, it’s dumb.

July 12, 2011 | 51 Comments More
Your Startup Tagline is Anti-Social

Your Startup Tagline is Anti-Social

Most startup marketing folk seem to love taglines. Practically every web page I see has some version of the classic three-word tagline. As a marketer I appreciate the focus on distilling down the essence of what you do to its most simple form. As a human being however, I hate taglines. I’ve written about why [...]

April 14, 2011 | 66 Comments More
Should Your Messaging Use Your Competitor’s Terminology?

Should Your Messaging Use Your Competitor’s Terminology?

Should you describe your market the same way your competitor’s do or try to come up with new terms that help you to differentiate what you do?

March 28, 2011 | 43 Comments More
Startup Messaging and Market Frame of Reference

Startup Messaging and Market Frame of Reference

Large companies can often use shortcuts to describe what they do because customers understand the market segment they are in. Startups have to work harder to establish that frame of reference in the minds of prospects.

November 29, 2010 | 19 Comments More
If Your Message Works, Don’t Tinker With It

If Your Message Works, Don’t Tinker With It

Marketers have the urge to change their basic messaging, even when it’s working. It’s an urge we need to fight.

November 4, 2010 | 25 Comments More
The Dangers of Outsourcing Content Creation

The Dangers of Outsourcing Content Creation

You might be in a position to hire some outside folks to help you create content. Just don’t think it’s going to be too easy.

November 1, 2010 | 42 Comments More
6 Secrets to Better Marketing Messages for Startups

6 Secrets to Better Marketing Messages for Startups

Good startup marketing starts with good messaging. You can have the greatest product in the world but if you can’t clearly communicate the value you deliver to your customers, nobody will ever be able to figure that out. Here are 6 ways to build better messages.

August 27, 2010 | 42 Comments More