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20
votes
13answers
996 views

I'm a terrible salesperson. What can I do about it?

I'm a designer / developer. My product is ready for beta, so my focus has to shift towards sales and marketing. My problem is that I just cannot sell. I have an irrational fear of annoying people ...
13
votes
7answers
2k views

Should we offer a money back guarantee? If so, how?

I'm starting a web site with another founder that proof reads university and college student's papers and essays. Users upload an essay and pay us then they get an edited of the paper back and a list ...
11
votes
8answers
675 views

What tips do you have for running a booth at a tradeshow?

Eric Sink says that tradeshows are like sex: When it's good it's really really good, and when it's bad, it's still pretty good. It's easy to waste a lot of time and money at tradeshows. But also ...
11
votes
4answers
400 views

Selling a Startup

I have invested a few years and thousands of dollars into a startup. I have a few thousand users. Unfortunately, little revenue. I believe the revenue potential is real, and I believe it is there. ...
10
votes
10answers
3k views

How to present a product to potential buyer without risking them stealing my idea?

I have developed a new and fairly unique development tool, but I don't have the time, skills, or experience to productize, sell, and distribute it. So my plan is to go to a suitable existing company ...
8
votes
4answers
500 views

How to respond to an offer to purchase a domain name

A few years ago, I had an idea for a startup. I registered a domain name, Twitter account and formed an LLC but haven't done much since. I've just been emailed by an individual at Sedo asking if I'd ...
8
votes
4answers
780 views

Are affiliate programs worth it?

I've heard both sides to this argument. Joel Spolsky said in another question that it was a complete waste of their time at FogCreek, but I've heard success stories as well. For example the Thesis ...
6
votes
8answers
2k views

How to let customers download software automatically after payment through a website?

I have a company that will be selling software online, and I'd like for customers to be able to pay online and then just click on a "Download Now" button and download the software automatically, ...
6
votes
6answers
166 views

What are some good ways for me to practice my pitch?

I'm trying to put together a pitch, and am looking for ideas on where/how to best practice giving it, before it's polished enough to show to potential investors.
5
votes
2answers
264 views

Selling my share of a very small startup

I'm walking away from a startup I helped build. It's just me and my (ex) partner (walking away because our relationship has soured), and we have a 50/50 financial split, and I also have 40% voting ...
5
votes
5answers
763 views

What are the ways to sell desktop applications

I'm figuring the ways to sell software online. I want a service that is easy to use. PayPal is good, but I'm not sure if most of the people have PayPal. Also Fortumo is a good service, it works in ...
5
votes
3answers
264 views

Service to handle online sales of software

I am selling a little niche app on the app store. http:www.finaltouchapp.com For several reasons I also want to sell it directly from the web page. Are there any out of the box solutions that you can ...
5
votes
1answer
192 views

When and how to “get out”? And some advice?

I have been involved with a technology startup in the UK from day 0, for over 5 years now. The company is up to 800k+ revenue over the last year and was on track for a 150k profit. Unfortunately some ...
5
votes
2answers
113 views

When do you know it's time to pull out, and cut your losses/earnings off?

Sometimes the hardest thing to do is cut-bait, and walk away from a venture. What factors are the most important taking this leap?
4
votes
4answers
270 views

Selling a small project that got big

I have a possible opportunity to sell a small web application that started as a personal project and got a significant amount of press. The company that may buy it would benefit from owning the site ...
4
votes
6answers
266 views

What is the best invoicing tool you have discovered? [closed]

We're running an online store of electronic devices, and we need to start creating invoices for our clients. What is the best invoicing tool you have discovered?
4
votes
7answers
328 views

Getting a product in front of people who don't necessarily know they have a problem

AKA selling a solution in search of a problem! Our product is a web-based tool which helps people take and manage meeting minutes. The problem we face is that while most people don't like the way ...
4
votes
2answers
87 views

Should I sell parts of my program also or not?

I am selling an utility that is consisting from 5 different modules. This modules are thematicaly connected, but could also exist independently. My utility is $24.95. I was wondering if I should ...
4
votes
4answers
197 views

Proposal Presentation: Proposal Before or During?

For complex and relatively high-dollar sales (five to six figures), it's a common practice to present the final cost in the form of a proposal, and to present that proposal in person, instead of ...
4
votes
1answer
177 views

Value of anonymized user trend data

I was wondering how to find out how much the user data is worth for a database similar to Foursquare's? I'm not looking to sell personal user information or email addresses, but more along the lines ...
4
votes
3answers
238 views

how to sell a new tech concept

I have developed new technology for electrical power control and generation. What is the best way to sell or license this out to manufacturers/other interested pARTIES?
3
votes
5answers
529 views

Selling a high traffic mobile site, any adivce?

We are looking to sell our business. We are a high traffic mobile site (16+ million unique visitors/month). What is the best way to get acquired? Should we use a business broker to facilitate this ...
3
votes
6answers
418 views

How to incorporate in the US without traveling there?

I live in Colombia and have a web service, I would like to create a company in the US so I can receive payments from there. Is there a way to create a company without traveling there like this website ...
3
votes
5answers
189 views

How should I pre-sell software that right now is in development and looks ugly?

We're almost finished developing our first test build of an iPad app for small businesses wholesale companies. It is black and white, no style, design or anything. It basically does the core ...
3
votes
2answers
2k views

How do I approach a large business to sell them my product?

How should I approach selling a niche product or service to a large company? Do I use the "contact form" on their website? Do I call and ask to speak to a business team or salesperson?
3
votes
2answers
869 views

Building a Sales “Deck”

Guy Kawasaki in Art of the Start talks about having two decks, an investor pitch deck and also a sales deck. Have you found this to be useful? I'm about to go pitch to 2 - 3 potential customers as ...
3
votes
3answers
167 views

Providing technical support for a web software application

I've developed a web software application that allows teachers and students to fix session times. I'm planning to provide this software for sale as an installable. However, I cringe at the thought ...
3
votes
3answers
260 views

How to sell a website?

I would ask you something that is a problem for me: sell my website. This website is a blog, a forum and a "database" of anime and manga (as imdb) built with Zend Framework. It has many daily visits ...
3
votes
3answers
113 views

New product launch/test - offering refund for feedback

I am launching a new product this week. Basically, it's an educational series of PDFs and video instructions. Not a membership site, but more like a multimedia ebook. Since this is the first version, ...
3
votes
1answer
75 views

Selling a website developed under my corp, but with a partner

I started an S Corporation for my own business (software contracting and various SaaS products). A friend approached me with a viable idea so we built another application together. They are not an ...
2
votes
4answers
276 views

What kind of software could be sold to a large company in one week?

In my experience, it takes around a year to sell software to a large company. I have seen it getting done in three months, but it is very seldom. Therefore, my question is whether you know of any ...
2
votes
5answers
830 views

How to develop enterprise software and sell it?

What framework or platform is commonly used to develop enterprise software? I would also like some reference materials on how to sell such software.
2
votes
3answers
99 views

Is sending email a good way to validate an idea with developer companies

So I have built a prototype and I want to validate the idea. Basically it is a social media data mining tool for developers to get feedback for their apps. We retrieve unstructured data from ...
2
votes
3answers
101 views

Tips on shipping tons of packages?

I'm starting a US business and will need to ship a ton of packages of about 5000 in a month. I'm sourcing the product from HK. Each package is about 5 lbs and 5x5x5 inches. Any tips on which carrier ...
2
votes
2answers
82 views

How to get excited about selling?

I usually like selling our new product, but today I'm not very excited about it. It really reflects on the feeling in my sales-calls. How do I get more excited about it?
2
votes
4answers
168 views

Should I create Company or Product website?

For a startup company with 1 product which website will be more beneficial? Should I create website that concentrates on a product or my company? My software targets transportation/trucking industry ...
2
votes
4answers
816 views

Attempting to sell a web application

I'm looking for the best way to sell a web application. I've thought of the following options: Create an installable that people will need to purchase and run on their own web servers via a script. ...
2
votes
1answer
117 views

Is there a list of recent startup acquisions?

What is a good source for finding for how much money were startups recently purchased for?
2
votes
2answers
154 views

How to sell my idea?

I have an idea patented. I believe that its worthy and will be useful for companies of a kind. Well, 1) how can I approach the company with my idea, 2) Is it possible to sell it as a license? (Like to ...
2
votes
3answers
293 views

How to hookup with possible partners?

I have always been an interested is starting and running my own business. I have built small websites basically for the fun of it, never intending them to get large. I run my own company now but my ...
2
votes
3answers
150 views

Have any advice on getting good at sales?

We're ready to start selling our (free) software product to local businesses. Don't worry, we make money another way :) So, by selling, I mean of course, pitching them and getting them to use the ...
2
votes
11answers
662 views

What's the best sales book you've ever read? [closed]

Any recommendation? Is sale a process to deliver comfort which is declared in the book "E-myth revisited"?
2
votes
3answers
260 views

Business model to sell an innovative and complex enterprise SaaS application

Our Startup company developed a web application for Data Analysis in Marketing. It's a B2B product that is innovative and complex. Although the app is very simple to use, the elaboration of the ...
2
votes
1answer
43 views

Freelance Business Dealer

I have software that is in demand and some company wants to buy it from US. As I am outside US and have never made a business deal in the past, I think I am going to get a bad deal by selling it for ...
2
votes
2answers
120 views

Product Internationalization: How would I do?

My Website is out and think it is a great product that makes link between professionals and individuals about jobs: you can look for quotation or propose quotations. (I'm not trying to advertise it, ...
2
votes
1answer
198 views

Selling the distribution rights to an IT product

We have a hardware/software product that I am thinking of selling the distribution rights to. Firstly is this something that can be done and secondly does anyone have any advice on how this works or ...
2
votes
3answers
735 views

How to answer a business phone call? Is there any good book on that?

Some customers may call you to inquire about the rate, how to answer such phone calls tactically? Is there any good book on it?
1
vote
3answers
331 views

How to sell idea to schools

I have an app idea that I'm working on to help school kids with bullying. I discussed this with a local vice principal and he liked the idea. I'm a developer and am learning to develop mobile apps, ...
1
vote
4answers
181 views

What happens to the “Founder” status once I sell my startup

I founded and was running a twitter tool all by myself. I was the sole Founder, CEO,CFO and whatnot. But, now that I have sold the tool, what happens to my Founder status? Can I still brag the ...
1
vote
3answers
100 views

Future development of an e-learning product

I initally started with the aim of rolling out a number of courses based around peer-to-peer learning i.e. you learn by marking and commenting on other students essays. This soon to be too broad a ...

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