On Go-To-Market Launch Strategy

I spent four years as a business consultant in Atlanta, primarily working with tech startups on their product marketing team.?

My role was to help companies connect with the best partners in the market, guide them through (often lengthy) interviews, manage expectations, and map out their launch strategy.?

It was intense, to say the least, but highly fulfilling. I would say that I've learned many business lessons the hard and painful way. It was tough when they happened, but I am grateful for these lessons now, as they have made me so much stronger in business!

If you want to increase your revenue online, you will learn these lessons at some point in your journey, so allow me to save you some time, heartache, and money!?

Here are some of the hardest lessons I had to learn:

#1. Don't plan too much. Just start.

Monday morning, I would set targets for the week with the team. There was little discussion about how to achieve these results, just that they needed to be done.

The targets were straightforward and consisted of making dozens of phone calls, connecting with potential partners on LinkedIn, and meeting them in person.?

Initially, I spent too much time planning the best approach until I realized that spending more than 10 minutes of planning didn't actually get me closer to my goals. There were too many factors outside of my control (like whether or not people would even be interested!).?

We often get caught up in planning the future, which is hardly predictable. Usually, the best thing we can do is just get started.

"If you are not embarrassed by the first version of your product, you've launched too late" — Reid Hoffman

#2. It's hard to listen when you're talking all the time.

The biggest problem some consultants have is that they talk too much. I was no exception.?

In an initial meeting, I would spend the first 15 minutes in a lengthy monologue about the company and myself in hopes of establishing myself as "worthy" in their eyes.?

You can guess how that ended up!

I often set expectations too high, didn't get to the point and failed to gain a deeper understanding of how I could help them.?

I remember when I finally changed my approach in one meeting, I vowed to only speak for 5% of the entire conversation. The result was surprising; I learned a lot from the person, and at the end of the meeting, he commented, "Wow, you understand the industry so well!"?

This statement struck me as funny since I hadn't said much.

#3. Say yes, until you learn how to say no

There is a certain level of expertise and intuition that develops after doing a job for decades.?

Until you reach that point, though, it's hard to know where to focus your time and efforts. Some people said "no" to working late hours. I didn't care about that.

I was the first woman in and the last woman out.?

This paid off, as on one of my ordinarily late evenings at the office, the phone rang, I picked up, and a new client partner fell into my lap.?

I couldn't work late every day indefinitely, though, nor could I say yes to every colleague who wanted help with a project.?

When I learned the ropes, eventually, I became more conscious of my time, managed expectations, and understood what was worth my effort.

Can you relate to any of the above lessons?

I don't want to waste too much time on the lesson, so I hope this has helped you understand the crazy journey it takes to stand out and build trust as a go-to industry expert.?

I'm currently working on an article titled, 30 Hard Lessons You Have to Learn When Growing A Service-Based Company and would love to hear from YOU.

What are some three hard lessons that you had to learn?

Hit reply and let me know!

ABOUT THE CREATOR OF WILDFIRE

Deborrah is a LinkedIn Marketing Strategist and the author of the book "InSIDER- How To Leverage LinkedIn To Stand Out As The Industry Leader."?

With over 20 years of brand-building experience, Deborrah provides LinkedIn training, coaching, and consulting solutions to professionals and businesses to help them grow their margin, revenue, and profit.

Her insights have been featured in O' The Oprah Magazine, The New York Times & Black Enterprise Magazine, and she is frequently tapped to speak on building a presence online.

To inquire about working with Deborrah directly, please email [email protected]

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