The Strategy and Experience of You

You ever stopped for a second to consider how the brands you buy got your attention? Furthermore, have you ever considered why you continue to buy?

I would argue that the answer to both of those questions is strategy and experience. The company that created whatever you bought actually had you in mind when it created it. Everything from the price to the colors of the packaging was designed to appeal to you and the circumstance you were in when you decided to buy it. Recognizing the frequency by which those particular circumstances would occur led the company (or consultant in many cases) to design a user experience that would more often than not make you a repeat buyer.

Marketing and advertisement don't create loyalty and repeat customers. Well thought out and executed user experiences do. Websites and applications alone don't create convenient ways for customers to interact with you and you with them. Well thought out and executed user experiences do.

Logo's and other brand communications don't increase your competitive advantage. They're not sustainable ways of "stealing" market share. Their needs to be a strategy behind it.

We're all apart of someones strategy. A unique experience was crafted just for us way before we ever laid eyes of the products and services we can't live without.

The next time you have a great idea you think the market place needs, keep in mind the ways you've been sold. Think about the products and services you could never do without. Consider the thought that went into that loyalty. Write down the steps of your decision making process. Adapt, augment, and reposition those steps to reflect the goals of your new idea. The most important step of them all is to complete these tasks from the view point of the consumers you are trying to provide value to. Never forget that step.....it's the first one.

Posted via email from Wes & Steve are The Dumb Kidz?

The Strategy and Experience of You

You ever stopped for a second to consider how the brands you buy got your attention? Furthermore, have you every considered why you continue to buy?
I would argue that the answer to both of those questions is strategy and experience. The company that created whatever you bought actually had you in mind when it created it. Everything from the price to the colors of the packaging was designed to appeal to you and the circumstance you were in when you decided to buy it. Recognizing the frequency by which those particular circumstances would occur, led the company (or consultant in many cases) to design a user experience that would more often than not make you a repeat buyer.
Marketing and advertisement don't create loyalty and repeat customers. Well thought out and executed user experiences do. Websites and applications alone don't create convenient ways for customers to interact with you and you with them. Well thought out and executed user experiences do.
Logo's and other brand communications don't increase your competitive advantage. They're not sustainable ways of "stealing" market share. Their needs to be a strategy behind it.
We're all apart of someones strategy. A unique experience was crafted just for us way before we ever laid eyes of the products and services we can't live without.
The next time you have a great idea you think the market place needs, keep in mind the ways you've been sold. Think about the products and services you could never do without. Consider the thought that went into that loyalty. Write down the steps of your decision making process. Adapt, augment, and reposition those steps to reflect the goals of your new idea. The most important step of them all is to complete these tasks from the view point of the consumers you are trying to provide value to. Never forget that step.....it's the first one.

Posted via email from Wes & Steve are The Dumb Kidz?

The Strategy and Experience of You

You ever stopped for a second to consider how the brands you buy got your attention? Furthermore, have you every considered why you continue to buy?
I would argue that the answer to both of those questions is strategy and experience. The company that created whatever you bought actually had you in mind when it created it. Everything from the price to the colors of the packaging was designed to appeal to you and the circumstance you were in when you decided to buy it. Recognizing the frequency by which those particular circumstances would occur, led the company (or consultant in many cases) to design a user experience that would more often than not make you a repeat buyer.
Marketing and advertisement don't create loyalty and repeat customers. Well thought out and executed user experiences do. Websites and applications alone don't create convenient ways for customers to interact with you and you with them. Well thought out and executed user experiences do.
Logo's and other brand communications don't increase your competitive advantage. They're not sustainable ways of "stealing" market share. Their needs to be a strategy behind it.
We're all apart of someones strategy. A unique experience was crafted just for us way before we ever laid eyes of the products and services we can't live without.
The next time you have a great idea you think the market place needs, keep in mind the ways you've been sold. Think about the products and services you could never do without. Consider the thought that went into that loyalty. Write down the steps of your decision making process. Adapt, augment, and reposition those steps to reflect the goals of your new idea. The most important step of them all is to complete these tasks from the view point of the consumers you are trying to provide value to. Never forget that step.....it's the first one.

Posted via email from Wes & Steve are The Dumb Kidz?

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By a raise of hands, how many people have ever been paid to develop a good idea? Kudo’s to those of you that have, but if you’ve not been given that special privilege and you have an idea worth money, BetaFish is here. 

If you’ve ever wasted 3 months crafting an iron clad business plan, only to be smacked with the reality that no one cares about what you’re trying to sell them. BetaFish is here. 

BetaFish is an incubator on steroids. We’re combining the benefits of a Coworking space (community, collaboration, openness) with lean startup methodology, to connect smart and talented people to investment opportunities faster than ever before in Delaware.

The idea is to find five, 2 person teams with a super cool tech idea; pay their living expenses for 90 days; give them space at coIN to build their “widget” and collaborate; and also provide the opportunity to pitch to accredited Angels and V.C’s when completed.

Organizations like Y-Combinator in California, DreamIT Ventures in Philly, andTechstars in Boston, are killing it right now. Coworking spaces like Gangplank,IndyHall, and The Factory, all have an steroidal incubator too.    

I’d like to assume you already know what Coworking is, so I’ll briefly explain what lean startup methodology is all about.

Eric Ries is the grandfather of the term lean startup. He’s a 31 year old engineer,entrepreneur and blogger. The principles of the methodology are based on the lean manufacturing process, which was made famous by Japanese factories decades ago. The thought behind the methodology is to reduce waste, increase manufacturing efficiency, communicate with consumers to better understand their needs, and thus provide better value in a shorter period of time. BetaFish is no different. We’re all about building more and BS’ing less.

The Lean Startup process makes entrepreneurs focus 100% of their efforts on completing tasks that are absolutely vital to the progression of the idea. Traditional incubators teach startups how to write business plans, when in actuality, startups don’t need a business plan…they need a scalable, and repeatable business model. They need to focus all of their time on product and customer development. They need to rapidly test, fail, learn, and build new ways to generate money from day one so they can afford to perfect their products as customers give feedback.

There are 3 stages to the Lean Startup process:

• Customer Discovery: Ideation (You’ve found a problem. How do you solve it?) 

• Customer Validation: Who will Pay? (You’ve started building a solution, but who will actually buy it? Why?)

• Customer Creation: Growth (Products a hit. People love it. How do you sell more without going broke?)

Our 90 day program will lead participants down a straight and narrow path from idea-to-marketplace. We’re providing them with every resource they’ll need to formalize their idea, incorporate, set up their books, solidify their marketing plans, acquire early adopter consumers, build a scalable product, and connect with investors willing to invest. The only requirement we ask of our participants is that they are fully committed to nothing else, but building their product and perfecting their business models, as well as, working at coIN 3 days per week between Monday and Friday.

When all goes well, we’ll be kicking out 2-3 funded companies every 90 days! Delaware will truly never be the same!

Stay tuned for more information.     

Posted via web from Wes & Steve are The Dumb Kidz?

How Exceptional Leaders Think

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Posted via web from Wes & Steve are The Dumb Kidz?

Wilmington 2.0: What Do We Need To Make This City Prosper Again?

Recently, I have been doing a lot of research into crowdsourcing, to be more specific crowdsourcing in the sense where a community gathers together to revitalize the place in which they live, work, and play. It is a well known fact that cities across the country are in a fierce battle to attract the creative culture, in hopes of creating new business to aide in economic development and job creation. Wilmington, DE is no different than any other city, looking to make a name for itself within the creative culture. There has been some progress with places like: Red Mohawk, Public House, Poppycock, Urban Avenue, The Rebel, Kooma, and soon The coIN Loft. Many of these places can be credited to the fine work of Preservation Initiatives, Buccini/Pollin, and the State, however we need more. Being as it is that Verge advocates for change and the creation a Wilmington 2.0, where people will want to socialize after 5 PM, I wanted to open up a discussion on what others feel is needed in our city, or what problems should be confronted.

To help garner some thoughts. I'll suggest to think of 10 places/stores/things in general that are needed in our city, whether it be dining, housing, retail, or nightlife oriented. It might help to think of some of your favorite places in other cities you have been, or would like to go. The objective of this is to record everyone's thoughts to advocate for a new Wilmington, so please share your thoughts in the comment section. Also, pictures are always nice too, so if you want provide links to make sure your point is received in the way you are intending. Thanks for your input:)

Posted via web from Wes & Steve are The Dumb Kidz?

Just A Little While Longer....

We're very sad to confirm a delay in our grand opening. However all is not lost! Come out for the art loop on Friday....stop by Red Mohawk (228 W. 9th St.) to meet up and take a tour of The coIN Loft across the street (300 W. 9th St.) 

Please keep watch of our announcements over the next few weeks. If you have any interest in becoming a member of the loft, please get in touch with us via email to set up a tour. 

Thank you very much for your patience and support! Let's All Be Famous!

Posted via web from Wes & Steve are The Dumb Kidz?