Startup Revolution

New Ecommerce Trends
New Ecommerce: Search For Blue Oceans is about the disruptive impact smartphones, ubiquitous connection and retailer innovation are creating in ecommerce.

• Smartphones and ubiquitous connection to the web
• Impact of videos and unboxing creating “gift box retailers”
• Social Shopping and slouching toward real-time
• Buying personas, web analytics & dynamic personalization
• Google and the New SEO where content is KING and social content QUEEN
   

 http://www.curagami.com/new-ecommerce-5-crucial-trends/?v=7516fd43adaa 

Startups & Social Media (Marty Note)
Startups are so widget focused they often forget communication about their widget is just as important as creating the thing itself. Here are 15 "viral" social nets for 2015.

If you are going to spend a fraction of your time creating content and social marketing use the best tools. Several of these social nets are new to me and even though I believe setting out to create viral marketing is a fool's errand some of these "new to me" social nets look interesting.

I agree with the focus on VISUAL MARKETING this list implies too. Why is seeking to create viral marketing a "fool's errand"? Viral marketing HAPPENS. Trying to make viral marketing happen usually REDUCES your chances.

Best way to create viral marketing is to create great MARKETING or marketing that consistently earns more shares, likes and links.One day you will create something that goes BOOM and it will only be half a surprise.

They forgot one of my viral marketing faves - Scoop.it!

I like the linked post's ability to create a list of social nets rated by their viral marketing POTENTIAL:
http://blog.viraltag.com/2014/12/12/best-social-networks-2015/

Interesting, funny & sad watching car dealers create web & social marketing. Getting better is easy, fun and CHEAP as Web Marketing For Car Dealers shares.

We think of car dealers as "startups" because they need to start over and pivot their THINKING. Many of the tips shared in this Curagami post (http://www.curagami.com/magical-thinking/web-marketing-101-for-car-dealers/ ) such as:

* People not THINGS Sell.
* Stories and People, People and Stories...matter.

* Humanize your approach and thinking.

* Let THEM (customers and brand advocates) HELP.

apply to stsrtups too so killing a pair of birds with a single blog post today. Picture is of me (left) and Travis Lunsford in front of a ROGUE (seemed appropriate lol).

Free Genius Lunches in Columbus Ohio
I'm living in Columbus, Ohio at the Blackwell Inn on the Ohio State University's campus from now until December 3rd (being treated by Dr. Byrd at the James Cancer Center). I love meeting, discussing and learning from fellow startups, entrepreneurs, artists and cool smart people.

I'm stealing @Phil Buckley Genius Lunch idea to see what is happening in Columbus. Team Curagami stands ready to answer Internet marketing questions and learn new tips, tricks and ideas. If you would like to have a Genius Lunch in Columbus check the calendar and email when you would like to meet. 

Lear More Here
http://bit.ly/Free-Genius-Lunch-Columbus  

Two years ago, we published a two-part post on social media marketing safety with Internet marketer, curator, cancer survivor, entrepreneur and Friend of Paper.li, Marty Smith.

Well, guess what? Marty is back. And this time, he will share his journey and thoughts on entrepreneurship, e-commerce, social media and how his battle against cancer has shaped his thinking.

What's Next?
What's next may be the most important and urgent mystery.. Late last night I wandered around in the future a little thinking about how David Amerland's call for a "New Value System" http://davidamerland.com/seo-blog/692-what-if-we-had-a-new-value-system-for-goods-and-services.html might collide with a few other favorite ideas such as:

* David Edelman on Aligning With the Customer Journey:  http://hbr.org/web/ideas-in-practice/aligning-with-the-consumer-decision-journey

* Mark Traphagen on Google Plus https://plus.google.com/u/0/+MarkTraphagen/posts

* Phil Buckley on overcoming FEAR:
http://www.curagami.com/featured/fear/

* @David AmerlandWhat If We Had A New Value System For Goods and Services
http://davidamerland.com/seo-blog/692-what-if-we-had-a-new-value-system-for-goods-and-services.html

* Me on @ janlgordonCuratti sharing lessons in the new #branding from Red Bull: http://curatti.com/red-bulls-branding-lesson-media-companies-now/

Somewhere in there somewhere late at night and when its HOT is where the future starts and every thing changes...again.

Content Marketing For Startups
Content marketing authority is something everyone wants yet few realize the fastest way to achieve what they want is to share, share, share. The 4 Sharing Tips:

* Give Expertise Away, but not 100% (find a way to create ROI too).

* Following Is Currency, So SPEND IT.
* Presence Makes you REAL.
* Trust in KARMA of the SHARE.

Post is trending on Curatti after going live on Tuesday. This "bean stalk" is an important content marketing one for startups to climb. Being a startup is solipsistic and self referential when it needs to be open kimono authentic and all about sharing. Share EVERYTHING.

Don't Ask The Wrong Questions
Statup Investors Often Ask The WRONG Questions in the WRONG ways. Here are examples of GOOD questions to ask startup entrepreneurs:

* How many unique visitors will your site get daily in the first year?

* How many downloads (or sales) will your site make daily?

* What is projected cost of customer acquisition first through third years?

* Where will your website’s traffic come from? Top 3 – 5 sources?

* Who are you disrupting and what is the PageRank PageSpread and number of inbound Links.

Complete list is included in the linked post on CrowdFunde
http://crowdfunde.com/new-money-startup-investment-criteria/

Maybe our web marketing needs to slow down, build online community and curate more? Thomas Hellum's slow TV provides valuable lessons in what's next online.

Here are a few of Slow TV's valuable lessons in the creation of sustainable online community:

• Social media + mobile = powerful community building tools combination.
• Happening NOW creates an “event-like” atmosphere especially if you don’t edit the timeline.
• Pre-sell community with an ASK, “What do you want to see”.
• Use the web for support before, during and after event.

DIY Customers Are Important
Do-It_Yourself customers may be the most important customers on earth. Here are a few ways DIY customers create benefits for digitial marketers and websites:

* Social Shares on Facebook, Twitter and +Google+.
* Creates #ugc (User Generated Content) or the best content you can't buy.
* Drive links into their content on your site.

We are working on a series of http://www.Curagami.com posts on how to engage and benefit from DIY Customer Marketing. If you have tips, ideas or experiences you think would help please share (martin(at)Curagami.com).

Wow, this post is TAKING OFF fast. Its about something I keep talking about and no one seems to HEAR. GPlus is the place to create your Internet marketing and I use numbers from @Crowdfundeanalysis.@CrowdfundeFind An Amazing G+ Analysis here:
https://plus.google.com/102639884404823294558/posts/F5fXyrkTPCr @Crowdfunde

"Startups face tremendous pressure while competing with their bigger counterparts. They neither have large manpower nor big infrastructure. Social media can become an effective solution in helping them grow. This infographic shows how startups should utilize the power of social media."

SEO for content marketers shares 5 "Quick Tips" to avoid SEO bear traps like: dupe content, keywords as friends, little things, & it's a SoLoMo world.