4 ms·

I'm assuming you're talking about web-based startups, to which I would have to answer "no." However, in the more general definition of startup, "yes." Before I

I'm assuming you're talking about web-based startups, to which I would have to answer "no." However, in the more general definition of startup, "yes." Before I moved to SF two months ago, I ran a "home IT" (http://tylerthetechie.com http://tylerthetechie.com) company in Minneapolis, MN and it was successful (especially considering I was in the heart of Geek Squad territory). I started it in June 2008 after graduating college. Empirically, the key differentiator among small businesses -- especially small businesses during tough economic times -- is service in its truest sense: the customer is #1. There are plenty of tactics that will be more successful than others, but those will depend more on your business and product strategy. And a key component to your business strategy as a startup should be phenomenal customer service. If you truly listen to your customers, heed their feedback (and separate the wheat from the chaff), and build a product that solves a real problem, it's pretty unlikely you'll fail. (Unless, like me, you secretly wanted to so you could just move to SF already.) So then. Are you looking to start a startup? If so, what?

404error 16y ago
Great website! I actually live about 5 hours south of SF... but my skill level is nowhere near what it needs to be to survive up there. (working on it) My plan is to launch something along the lines of http://Miami.com http://Miami.com I hope to be able to provide affordable advertising for local business as well as giving them some kind of online presence, which many in my town don't have. The newspaper in town seems to focus more on high advertising prices, where I'm looking at it from the other side of the fence. I'm hoping to attract a higher volume of advertisers at lower advertising prices, since i don't have to worry too much about distribution and production costs. I plan on having a business directory, events, deals, rentals, jobs, dining section. Basically a city portal for it's residents. The advantage I believe to have is that no one is doing this in my area. Now the tricky part, getting people to the site. I'm planning on running Facebook ads to get the ball rolling along with asking the people I know in my city to help spread the word, via social networking or the old school way.... actually talking to people. Depending on how this works out I would hope to be able to get a commercial on TV and/or radio, since a lot of people seem to listen to the radio while at work. I'm a one man wrecking crew, who might be a little too ambitious, but I'm not afraid to fail. Any feedback on my "plan" would be greatly appreciated since this is the first time I've ever planned anything like this. Thanks again to all who have replied.
- thetylerhayes 16y ago
  Thanks for the compliment. Made it myself. As for feedback, you sound like you're in a good place mentally and emotionally so I'm not sure there's any feedback you need other than: go for it. You'll make plenty of mistakes and learn from your fair share of painful experiences. But as long as you keep in mind the problem you're solving -- and the people you're solving it for -- during all steps of the process, you're on your way. Just keep taking another step forward, and be honest about how you feel along the way (and how the situation looks around you). So: go for it. And keep us informed.

404error 16y ago

Great website! I actually live about 5 hours south of SF... but my skill level is nowhere near what it needs to be to survive up there. (working on it) My plan is to launch something along the lines of http://Miami.com http://Miami.com I hope to be able to provide affordable advertising for local business as well as giving them some kind of online presence, which many in my town don't have. The newspaper in town seems to focus more on high advertising prices, where I'm looking at it from the other side of the fence. I'm hoping to attract a higher volume of advertisers at lower advertising prices, since i don't have to worry too much about distribution and production costs. I plan on having a business directory, events, deals, rentals, jobs, dining section. Basically a city portal for it's residents. The advantage I believe to have is that no one is doing this in my area. Now the tricky part, getting people to the site. I'm planning on running Facebook ads to get the ball rolling along with asking the people I know in my city to help spread the word, via social networking or the old school way.... actually talking to people. Depending on how this works out I would hope to be able to get a commercial on TV and/or radio, since a lot of people seem to listen to the radio while at work. I'm a one man wrecking crew, who might be a little too ambitious, but I'm not afraid to fail. Any feedback on my "plan" would be greatly appreciated since this is the first time I've ever planned anything like this. Thanks again to all who have replied.

thetylerhayes 16y ago
Thanks for the compliment. Made it myself. As for feedback, you sound like you're in a good place mentally and emotionally so I'm not sure there's any feedback you need other than: go for it. You'll make plenty of mistakes and learn from your fair share of painful experiences. But as long as you keep in mind the problem you're solving -- and the people you're solving it for -- during all steps of the process, you're on your way. Just keep taking another step forward, and be honest about how you feel along the way (and how the situation looks around you). So: go for it. And keep us informed.