Funding Options, 14th May 2009

“If you talk to people who have been successful in the past, I think you’ll tend to find that they will simply recommend the approach that worked for them. So, be careful in whose counsel you take.”

Where to start?, 14th January 2008

“How good is [your website] going to be when it first goes live? Probably pretty crap, truth be told.”

Train the trainer, 8th August 2007

“…if you’re going to rely on word-of-mouth marketing this is exactly how your idea will spead.”

(see also The elevator test, 31st May 2007 and Some questions about your idea, 9th April 2008)

Fairy tale pricing, 26th September 2008

“One of the hardest things to get right when you have a new product or service is pricing. It requires a beautiful mix of art and science. And, even when you think you have it right something changes and it’s probably all wrong again.”

One hit wonder, 11th December 2007

“Have you found a problem you can solve, or do you just need a reason to get out of the house? What are you trying to prove? Who are you trying to impress? What do you get out of it? Is it all about a big cheque at the end? How much are you prepared to risk to be successful?”

(see also: On having something to be excited about, 24th February 2007)

Rich & Famous, 14th December 2008

“If you had to choose, which would you rather be? Rich, but unknown; or Famous, but actually poor.”

Because, 29th January 2009

“Looking at a high profile success and thinking that you just need to do the same to be successful can be quite misleading.”

Never compare your inside with somebody else’s outside, 9th July 2007

“What kind of car would you buy if money wasn’t an issue?”

Is marketing broken?, 13th February 2007

“Sam’s insight was that marketing was broken. Rather than wasting lots of money on big billboards and TV ads (’it’s shopping on the internet’!) he instead decided to focus on building a really great product, which people like to use and tell their friends about.”

TVCs, 21st December 2008

“Can anybody give me any example of a web-based business that has achieved long-term benefits from a TV advertising campaign?”

True fans, 1st August 2008

“The maths is not complicated: How many true fans do you need?  Is that number achievable? How can you increase the average amount that each true fan spends?  And, how can you eliminate costs that do not contribute to supporting true fans? Once you understand the impact of these two variables it will focus your attention on the things you can do to improve each of them. “

Blackhole marketing, 26th August 2007

“Every week there are memes which spread online like a virus, only to disappear just as quickly, normally never to be seen or heard from again.”

You have no new messages, 20th January 2008

“Getting your inbox under control is bloody hard and keeping on top of it is a constant battle. Compared to the alternative, though, it’s worth the effort.”

My name is Rowan, I’m an addict, 9th March 2008

“Some say the first step to recovery is admitting you have a problem.”

De-clutter, 31st December 2007

“Less!”

(this is by a long margin the most read and linked to blog post I’ve written)

Fat homes, 29th March 2007

“As a reformed hoarder, I love the analogy of a house slowly getting fat as you fill it with more and more stuff.”

Living in an Amish paradise, 28th November 2007

“You can agree or disagree with their view of the world, but I don’t think you can fault them for having a values-based way of making decisions about [technology]“

No news is good news, 4th May 2008

“I didn’t realise it until now, but less is nostalgic.”