Rogue Startups: Recent Episodes
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In this episode of Rogue Startups, I dug into several pressing questions from the community. From knowing when to pull the plug on a marketing channel to the debate around hiring for support versus sales, we covered ground that matters deeply to founders and entrepreneurs. Here’s a breakdown of the key takeaways that can help you level up your startup game.
- When Should You Know if a Channel is Working?A common dilemma many founders face is determining whether a new marketing channel is working. If you’ve ever wondered how long you should invest in a channel before calling it quits, you’re not alone.
Here’s how I break it down:
- Give New Channels at Least 90 Days: If you’re starting fresh with a channel, 90 days is the minimum timeframe to give it. Less than that is almost never enough.
- Existing Channels Need Time Too: Even for established channels that you’re tweaking or optimizing, 90 days is still a good baseline. After that, look at the data to guide your decision.
- Focus on Leading Indicators: Whether it’s impressions on LinkedIn, open rates in email campaigns, or early engagement in SEO, you need to assess the leading metrics first. These are the earliest signs that a channel is gaining traction.
For example, if you’re working on LinkedIn, impressions tell you whether your content is even being seen. Engagement and DM conversations are steps that follow, but focusing on what starts the funnel will help you decide if you should stick with it.
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The Support, Success, or Sales DilemmaAnother big question I often get asked is, “How do I know whether I need to hire for support, sales, or customer success?” This decision depends largely on where your business is in its growth stage and the roles you want to fill.
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Support Roles: These are typically more reactive—answering support tickets, maintaining a knowledge base, and troubleshooting. If customers are having common issues, or if onboarding is a bottleneck, it might be time to bring in a support team member.
- Success Roles: Customer success is more proactive. The goal here is to ensure customers get the most value from your product. This role could be key if your customers are signing up but not converting to paid users, or if you’re looking to drive expansion revenue.
- Sales Roles: Salespeople hunt for new business and close deals. If you’re looking to generate new demand or work with enterprise clients, this is the hire for you. Sales is more aggressive in its pursuit of growth, but if your inbound leads just need a quick demo, you may not need a dedicated salesperson—success could handle it.
I suggest founders think about these roles in terms of function and their contribution to revenue growth. Where is the biggest gap in your customer journey?
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Focus on Customers and Revenue-Generating ActivitiesAs entrepreneurs, it’s easy to get bogged down in tasks that feel productive but don’t directly drive growth. One of my favorite principles to live by is focusing on activities closest to your customers and revenue.
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Direct Conversations Over Complex Funnels: Fancy marketing automation systems might feel like progress, but especially early on, nothing beats direct customer conversations. Whether it’s cold outreach or calling people in your network, it’s the quickest way to gather real data and refine your approach.
- Avoid Procrastination via Fancy Funnels: Instead of hiding behind digital funnels and automation, get out there and sell directly. Speak to potential customers, get their feedback, and learn what truly resonates.
Remember, your goal in the early days is to collect data, not over-engineer things.
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Simple Ways to Test Paid AcquisitionPaid acquisition is often intimidating, but there’s a simple approach that’s often overlooked—sponsorships in industry newsletters, podcasts, or YouTube videos. This tactic is low-risk and can provide quick insights into whether your message resonates.
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Why Sponsorships Work: Instead of figuring out the complexities of Google Ads or Facebook Ads, consider sponsoring content that already has your target audience’s attention. Whether it’s a niche podcast or a popular industry newsletter, you can place your offer in front of a highly relevant audience without a huge commitment.
- Discreet and Affordable: Unlike ongoing paid ads, sponsorships can be a one-off or a short-term commitment. You can test the waters, see if it works, and then decide whether to scale up.
At Castos, we’re experimenting with this approach by sponsoring a few relevant newsletters and YouTube videos in our space. It’s a great way to validate messaging and offers before diving into more complex ad platforms.
- The Most Important Thing for FoundersThe core principle for any founder is this: Work on the thing closest to your customers and revenue. All the fancy tools, automation, and branding strategies can come later. Start by doing what doesn’t scale—talking directly to your customers, gathering insights, and refining your product and messaging based on real feedback.
Final Thoughts
These are some of the questions that have come up repeatedly in my coaching sessions and with fellow founders. My best advice is to stay close to your customers, be data-driven in your approach, and always remember the 90-day rule when evaluating new channels. If you have more questions or want to dive deeper into any of these topics, feel free to reach out!
Call to Action: If you’re interested in growing your business and leveling up your marketing, stay tuned for our upcoming episode where I’ll be sharing a deep dive into building a paid acquisition funnel for higher-ticket products.
The post How To Hire For Growth appeared first on Rogue Startups.
Running a business is both incredibly rewarding and exhausting. Over the years, I’ve experienced highs of motivation and productivity, but I’ve also hit those low points, battling burnout and loneliness. In this post, I want to share some of the habits, strategies, and mindset shifts that have helped me stay in the game and maintain the discipline and accountability necessary to keep moving forward. If you’re a founder—or on any long-term entrepreneurial journey—I hope these insights can help you do the same.
The Isolation of Being a FounderBeing a single founder can be a lonely journey. For me, working from home, with my wife and kids out for the day, often leaves me in the company of my dog and cats. While solitude has its perks, isolation can be damaging to both motivation and productivity.
- Find Community: Join a mastermind group or work from a co-working space. Being around people, even casually, can be a game-changer. I started playing tennis twice a week—not because I’m a tennis fanatic, but because it gives me a social outlet and some physical exercise. Finding balance between work, family, and social time is key to staying mentally sharp.
- Surround Yourself with Peers: Programs like TinySeed or the DC Accelerator not only offer education but surround you with like-minded individuals who push you to level up. In my career, the periods when I’ve had a strong community around me have been my most productive.
Accountability: The Secret Weapon for Consistent ProgressOne of the biggest myths in entrepreneurship is the idea of the “solopreneur” doing everything on their own. The reality? Success comes from being accountable, whether it’s to your team or an external source.
- Accountability to Your Team: I’ve got payroll to meet, and employees who count on me. That creates built-in accountability. But even if you’re a one-person operation, you need some form of this. Whether it’s a peer accountability partner or joining a program with structured check-ins, having someone who will ask, “Did you get that done?” is crucial.
- Accountability Buddy: Inspired by a conversation with Rob Walling, I decided to create My Founder Pal, an accountability network for founders to check in with each other regularly. It’s still in its early stages, but the idea is to create a system where we set goals and follow up on progress, offering each other the motivation to keep pushing forward.
Daily Structure for Focus and EfficiencyOne simple habit that has had a huge impact on my productivity is making a list of three things I need to get done each day. I literally put the notebook on my keyboard so it’s the first thing I see before starting my day. These can be small tasks, but they are important things that move the needle. I prefer to write the list in the morning so I have a fresh perspective on what matters most that day.
This simple act keeps me focused on what’s essential, rather than getting distracted by Slack or email first thing in the morning. It’s about prioritizing effectiveness over productivity—doing what matters most rather than just doing more things.
Sharing Your WorkAnother aspect of accountability that I’ve found useful is sharing my work with my team. Whether it’s a new YouTube video or an internal operations playbook, I post it in Slack for feedback and accountability. It not only helps me feel more productive, but it also fosters a sense of friendly competition among my team.
Avoiding Negativity and OveranalysisWe all have tough days, but one of the worst habits I’ve fallen into is bitching and complaining when things aren’t going well. It’s easy to get stuck in a negative loop—SEO is dead, cold outreach doesn’t work, our customers are too price-sensitive, and so on. But in reality, no business is perfect. Focusing on the negatives too much paralyzes progress.
Instead, I’ve learned to compartmentalize the challenges and move forward. Acknowledge the imperfections in your business, but don’t let them dominate your thoughts. Staying active, shipping, and doing the work will always outweigh overanalyzing the flaws in your business.
Focus on Inputs, Not OutcomesAs founders, we often get discouraged by focusing too much on outcomes. It’s tempting to start a marketing channel and expect instant results. But the reality is, you need to put in sustained effort over time to see results. I’ve learned that it’s more productive to focus on inputs—the work we’re putting in—rather than getting fixated on the immediate results.
For example, if you’re investing in a new marketing strategy like LinkedIn outreach, give it time. Stick with it for a quarter before evaluating its success. Switching strategies too quickly leads to rash decisions and missed opportunities.
Separating Strategy from ExecutionLastly, one mistake I’ve made is trying to do all parts of a project at once—strategy, planning, and execution. I’ve found that separating planning from doing yields better results. For instance, with a YouTube video, I focus on planning and scripting first, and then tackle the actual recording when I’m fresh the next day. Trying to do everything at once burns me out and results in lower quality work.
ConclusionBeing a founder is a long game, and the key to longevity is building the right habits and support systems. Whether it’s finding community, staying accountable, or structuring your workday for focus, these small changes can lead to big improvements. And remember, it’s about progress, not perfection.
I’d love to hear your thoughts—what habits help you stay productive and accountable as a founder? Drop a comment or message me to share!
Plus i share an update on https://myfounderpal.com – an accountability community for SaaS founders.
The post RS328: Are you Productive or Effective as a founder? appeared first on Rogue Startups.
Craig has TinySeed’s Rob Walling in the hot seat today. They’re chatting about defining, attaining, and maintaining success. What does success mean to you? How do focus, clarity, and execution fit into it? Rob, a leading founder and one of the most successful entrepreneurs in the SaaS industry, shares his expert advice and insights on achieving success.
Do you have any comments, questions, or topic ideas for future episodes? Send Craig an email at podcast@roguestartups.com. If you feel like our podcast has benefited you and it might benefit someone else, please share it with them. If you have a chance, give Rogue Startups a review on iTunes. We’ll see you next week!
Highlights from Craig and Rob’s conversation:* What makes Rob Walling a successful founder * How to gain clarity and focus in your decision-making * Relentless execution: why the winners are those who practice every day * Intrinsic vs. extrinsic motivation * Creating a network of accountability * The parallels between “fitness” and being a founder + Making success fun + Finding someone to hold you accountable * Is there a one-stop shop for founders? * The layers of Rob’s business model funnel
A Little About Rob:Rob Walling is the founder of TinySeed, host of Startups For The Rest Of Us, and of MicroConf. Rob has bootstrapped multiple startups to exit, most recently Drip. He has been advising, mentoring, and investing in startups for more than a decade. He has also written The SaaS Playbook which aims to help entrepreneurs strategize and build frameworks from the trenches so they can grow successful SaaS companies.
Links & Mentions from This Episode:saaslaunchpad.co
Rogue Startups Resources: Follow Craig on Twitter/X
Craig on LinkedIn
Castos
Founder Insights
The post RS327: 3 Traits Of Successful Founders w/ Rob Walling appeared first on Rogue Startups.
Today’s a solo episode with Craig where he’s talking through the 5 common topics and themes that he helps most of his coaching clients through.
Whether it’s through his 1:1 coaching with private clients or in serving as Advisor In Residence at TinySeed, where he’s advised over 50 SaaS founders, a few common patterns have emerged.
These topics include:
- Managing Uncertainty
- Getting a Sanity Check On New Initiatives
- Being An Accountability Partner
- Navigating Financial Troubles
- Sales & Marketing Strategy
Most important thing to remember from this is that being a founder is tough, but you are not alone. Text a friend, join a community, get a coach, but somehow build that support network around yourself so that you can thrive as a founder to grow your business.
If you’re interested in learning more about my one-on-one founder coaching head over to craighewitt.me/coaching – I offer free 30 minute consultation sessions, and if we’re a good fit to work together we can go from there.
The post RS326: 5 Things Most Founders Struggle With appeared first on Rogue Startups.
Are you a SaaS founder feeling stuck, unmotivated, or unsure about your next move? In this video, I dive into three powerful questions that can help you break through mental barriers and gain clarity on your business’s direction.
These thought-provoking questions will challenge you to confront hard truths, think like an outsider, and tap into your own wisdom. Whether you’re just starting out or scaling up, these insights will help you refocus and reinvigorate your entrepreneurial journey. Don’t miss this opportunity to gain a fresh perspective on your SaaS business!
The post RS325: Stuck? Ask Yourself These 3 Questions appeared first on Rogue Startups.
In this episode of the Rogue Startups podcast, Craig sits down with Adam Robinson to explore key topics such as founder psychology, overcoming self-limiting beliefs, and avoiding self-sabotage. They delve into how to identify and break free from the plateau and gradual decline that can occur when you believe you have achieved product-market fit but haven’t. Adam, who has built multiple successful businesses, shares his valuable insights and practical tips with Craig. Don’t miss out—tune in to gain actionable advice from an experienced entrepreneur!
Do you have any comments, questions, or topic ideas for future episodes? Send Craig an email at podcast@roguestartups.com. If you feel like our podcast has benefited you and it might benefit someone else, please share it with them. If you have a chance, give Rogue Startups a review on iTunes. We’ll see you next week!
Highlights from Craig and Adam’s conversation:* The success story behind Adam’s unicorn B2B SaaS business * An in-depth exploration of achieving product-market fit * The importance of establishing effective business processes * How to avoid the entrepreneurial trap: recognizing when to transition to a new venture * The story behind “2,300 sign-ups and 13 paying customers, 6 weeks after launch” * How Adam deals with bad press when he pushes the envelope * The future of data privacy and cookies * Creating value for customers and learning from mentors and successful entrepreneurs
A Little About Adam:Adam is the CEO of Retention.com. Retention.com is the industry-leading Shopify e-commerce solution for increasing revenue. They enable email-based retargeting so brands can re-engage lapped audiences and grow their email lists for the future. On the outside, Retention.com is a magic wand that makes money fall from the sky. He also runs RB2B, a website that helps identify your anonymous website visitors.
Links & Mentions from This Episode:Adam Robinson, LinkedIn
Retention.com
RB2B.com
Rogue Startups Resources:Follow Craig on Twitter/X
Craig on LinkedIn
Castos
Founder Insights
The post RS324: $100 Million Bootstrapped SaaS with Adam Robinson appeared first on Rogue Startups.
Today on the Rogue Startups Podcast, Craig chats with Josh Ho from Referral Rock about the peaks and valleys of being a founder. When is the right time to sell? Is there ever a right time? How do you break through a plateau in your business growth? How do you switch from wearing your visionary hat to your marketing and sales hat? They also do a deep dive into when and how you should go about delegating tasks so you can focus on more important things.
Josh built Referral Rock from the ground up. Referral Rock helps customers run end-to-end referral programs with frictionless sharing, nudge reminders, and rewards customers actually care about. They help bring in more referrals from happy customers — through a remarkable referral experience — without the pain of building & tracking it all yourself.
Do you have any comments, questions, or topic ideas for future episodes? Send Craig an email at podcast@roguestartups.com. If you feel like our podcast has benefited you and it might benefit someone else, please share it with them. If you have a chance, give Rogue Startups a review on iTunes. We’ll see you next week!
Highlights from Craig and Josh’s conversation:* Switching from visionary mode to marketing mode * Reflecting on decisions made as a founder * Letting go of your inner Superman: letting your team handle sales * Knowing what you need and being strong enough to look for help * Strong operations is speed * The importance and effectiveness of SEO today * Valuating your business and progress * Growing, selling, and the future of your business * “Good enough” versus “Being done”
Links & Mentions from This Episode:Referral Rock
Josh Ho on Twitter/X
Josh Ho on LinkedIn
Rogue Startups Resources:Follow Craig on Twitter/X
Craig on LinkedIn
Castos
Founder Insights
The post RS323: Breaking Through Plateaus with Josh Ho appeared first on Rogue Startups.
In this episode Craig descirbes his current SaaS marketing approach. Balancing Active and Passive marketing, he’s got his marketing time down to just a few hours a week. Using a video-first, AI-assisted workflow he’s reaching his target market, educating his prospective customers, and building goodwill in the community.
The post RS322: Marketing, in 2 hours a week appeared first on Rogue Startups.
If there’s one thing Craig loves more than podcasting, it’s sales.
In this episode, he shares his enthusiasm with tech sales coach Peter Ahn. They discuss everything from bridging the gap between creating content and driving leads to the importance of being genuine and authentic.
Peter drops plenty of knowledge bombs, so grab a chair, take out a notebook, and jot down some great tips from this episode of the Rogue Startups podcast.
Highlights from Craig and Peter’s conversation:* Why are technical founders so scared of tech sales * The trigger that helps tech founders understand sales * Earning the trust of your customers and helping them gain confidence * Staying up-to-date with authentic sales strategies * Dealing with imposter’s syndrome * Which businesses benefit most from LinkedIn for lead generation * Make your world ubiquitous for potential customers * Creating content creation that will generate leads
A Little About Peter:Peter is a Korean-American tech sales coach and former VP with experience at Twingate, Front, Slack, Dropbox, and Google, he is passionate about sharing his authentic experience as an Asian-American while helping others find their own unique sales voice.
Peter knows that sales is becoming increasingly difficult, so developing an “edge” or advantage requires combining effective skills and confidence in one’s identity. He coaches on both of those topics.
Links & Mentions from This Episode:Peter on LinkedIn
Peter Ahn website
Rogue Startups Resources: Follow Craig on Twitter/X
Craig on LinkedIn
Castos
Founder Insights
The post RS321: B2B Lead Gen on LinkedIn appeared first on Rogue Startups.
Clearly Design works in every aspect from branding to marketing, from product to promotion. Go to Clearly.Design for a discount on his monthly design subscription service. Tell him that Rogue Startups sent you.
What gets someone to buy our products or services? How do you make LinkedIn a meaningful sales channel? In today’s discussion, Craig speaks with LinkedIn expert Ryan Musselman on optimizing your LinkedIn presence. Ryan highlights the importance of focusing on and mastering a single platform for maximum impact. Understanding effective methods to connect with a broad audience is crucial for achieving your strategic goals. LinkedIn offers excellent opportunities to engage with your target demographic.
Do you have any comments, questions, or topic ideas for future episodes? Send Craig an email at podcast@roguestartups.com. If you feel like our podcast has benefited you and it might benefit someone else, please share it with them. If you have a chance, give Rogue Startups a review on iTunes. We’ll see you next week!
Highlights from Craig and Ryan’s conversation:* What influences customers to buy services and products * What if customers don’t know what they want? + The answer to what they need is inside of them, so ask good questions * Selling the path to the outcome and the transformation * Focus on helping potential and current customers overcome their obstacles * Have a natural way to sell without “selling” + Speak to the problem or the want instead of using the phrase “demo” * Maximizing the time you spend on LinkedIn * The more rapport you build with a potential customer, the more they will trust you * Engaging with their content in order to create deeper connection rates * LinkedIn as a platform is embracing video more and more * LinkedIn as an amplification system * The power of video for building connections * Be intentional with LinkedIn for 6 months: engage with content, make connections, and build relationships.
A Little About Ryan:Ryan Musselman is the founder of Coaches who Close. CwC equip coaches to close, scale, and enterprise with new clients, content engines, and constant lead flow.
Links & Mentions from This Episode:Ryan on LinkedIn
Rogue Startups Resources:Follow Craig on Twitter/X
Craig on LinkedIn
Castos
Founder Insights
The post RS320: The Psychology of Sales appeared first on Rogue Startups.
Clearly Design works in every aspect from branding to marketing, from product to promotion. Go to Clearly.Design for a discount on his monthly design subscription service. Tell him that Rogue Startups sent you.
Danny DelVecchio joins Craig today to discuss creating, posting, and uploading video content on LinkedIn. In today’s conversation, you’ll discover how to overcome challenges in creating compelling video content, even if you lack confidence on camera. Uncover the essentials of selecting the right gear to kickstart your video journey and crafting timeless content across various platforms. Gain insights into balancing visual appeal with clear messaging and discover influential LinkedIn users worth following.
Do you have any comments, questions, or topic ideas for future episodes? Send Craig an email at podcast@roguestartups.com. If you feel like our podcast has benefited you and it might benefit someone else, please share it with them. If you have a chance, give Rogue Startups a review on iTunes. We’ll see you next week!
Highlights from Craig and Danny’s conversation:* Tips for creating videos when your on-camera presence is lacking * Why people don’t create video content on LinkedIn * Essential gear and tools for getting started with video * Creating evergreen content across multiple platforms * Choosing assistants and social media managers * What happens when you overemphasize graphics over your message * Top LinkedIn users to learn from * Batching recording sessions each week/month * Maximizing engagement with LinkedIn connections * Look for things that people are excited about and start conversations about it * Three styles of video everyone should be creating: educational content, content that builds trust, and sales content
A Little About Danny:Danny elevated founders with social video. He is also a father, husband, business owner, and coach.
Links & Mentions from This Episode:Danny DelVecchio on LinkedIn
Danny DelVecchio on YouTube
Alex B Sheridan on LinkedIn
Chris James on LinkedIn
Laura Acosta on LinkedIn
Rogue Startups Resources:Follow Craig on Twitter/X
Castos
Founder Insights
The post RS319: Mastering LinkedIn Video Content appeared first on Rogue Startups.
Clearly Design works in every aspect from branding to marketing, from product to promotion. Go to Clearly.Design for a discount on his monthly design subscription service.
Today Craig is chatting with Nemanja Zivkovic about conversion on LinkedIn. This is the crux of LinkedIn for a lot of us, as B2B SaaS founders, especially indie or bootstrapped businesses. So how do you find opportunities on LinkedIn for you? How do you use LinkedIn to drive more engagement, resulting in deals and dollars?
Do you have any comments, questions, or topic ideas for future episodes? Send Craig an email at podcast@roguestartups.com. If you feel like our podcast has benefited you and it might benefit someone else, please share it with them. If you have a chance, give Rogue Startups a review on iTunes. We’ll see you next week!
Highlights from Craig and Nemanja’s conversation:* Common objections to being more active on LinkedIn * The narrative, structure, and intention behind LinkedIn engagement and posts * Differentiating yourself with unique points of view and varied content on LinkedIn * B2B: Solving problems instead of selling * Building trust on LinkedIn through diverse post types * How engagement fosters relationships and leads to conversions * Using feedback forms to understand customer origins * Fast-tracking responses with templates (no automation) * Maximizing company synergy in LinkedIn posts * Ensuring visibility by reaching out to expand your network’s reach
A Little About Nemanja:Nemanja started as a strategist and began with a startup where he served as CMO, repeating this role across various sectors. His experience spans from COO roles with heightened responsibilities to founding his company in 2020. This diverse exposure has shaped his unique perspective on B2B growth, blending B2C insights to fill industry gaps.
Links & Mentions from This Episode:Nemanja on LinkedIn
Funky Marketing Podcast
Lead Delta
Authored Up
Expandi
Dripify
Rogue Startups Resources: Follow Craig on Twitter/X
Castos
Founder Insights
The post RS318: LinkedIn Content That Converts appeared first on Rogue Startups.
This episode is sponsored by Clearly Design. Francois and his team at Clearly Design are absolute geniuses of UI, UX, and design. If you’re looking to level up your design, UI, and UX give Clearly Design a try
If you’re running a B2B business today, chances are that LinkedIn is a fantastic growth opportunity for you, and your business.
But if you’re looking at the vastness of how to grow your audience (and business) on LinkedIn, and feel overwhelmed, you’re in luck.
In this solo episode I’m breaking down my entire LinkedIn content and growth strategy.
You can take and implement this strategy to grow your personal brand, get more exposure of your message to your Ideal Customer Persona, and get highly qualified leads for your business as a result.
The post RS317: Steal My LinkedIn Growth Strategy appeared first on Rogue Startups.
Optimize your company’s retention, and supercharge growth with Churnkey.
In today’s episode, Craig welcomes Sam Browne. They take a deep dive into the ever-evolving landscape of LinkedIn, the premier platform for professionals seeking to expand their network and amplify their influence.
With Sam’s expert advice and practical tips, they guide listeners through proven strategies for personal branding, lead generation, and relationship building. Tune in as they tackle pressing questions like content recycling, imposter syndrome, and the future of video on LinkedIn. Whether you’re a seasoned LinkedIn aficionado or a newcomer eager to make your mark, this episode promises invaluable insights to propel your career forward.
Do you have any comments, questions, or topic ideas for future episodes? Send Craig an email at podcast@roguestartups.com. If you feel like our podcast has benefited you and it might benefit someone else, please share it with them. If you have a chance, give Rogue Startups a review on iTunes. We’ll see you next week!
Highlights from Craig and Sam’s conversation:* LinkedIn is where the money is when it comes to social media. * Regarding topics to post on LinkedIn: choose a primary niche but don’t shy away from others you are interested in because that contributes to your personal brand. * Because social media is so transient, should you recycle content every 90 days? * Treat LinkedIn as more than just lead generation and make CTAs low-friction. * How to overcome imposter syndrome: you’re not alone. * Observe and analyze the feedback and comments you receive. * Commenting versus posting: where should your focus go? * The different personas we adopt on various social media platforms. * The best way to build relationships on LinkedIn. * Craig’s 30-Day LinkedIn Gameplan. * Steps to best optimize your LinkedIn profile. * Video is the future on LinkedIn and other forms of social media.
A Little About Sam:Sam has over 100,000 followers on LinkedIn. He’s a lifestyle entrepreneur and a growth and income LinkedIn expert. He loves to help entrepreneurs grow their audience and generate income on LinkedIn. He works with clients about anything and everything regarding LinkedIn, from optimizing profiles to creating great content ideas to forming a brand that stands out.
Links & Mentions from This Episode:Sam on LinkedIn
Sam Browne
Rogue Startups Resources: Follow Craig on Twitter/X
Castos
Founder Insights
The post RS316: Getting 100k LinkedIn Followers appeared first on Rogue Startups.
Optimize your company’s retention, and supercharge growth with Churnkey.
In this episode Craig sits down with Matt Hayman from Linklo to talk through how we as SaaS founders can set up cost effective LinkedIn ads.
Matt has strong experience in building B2B lead flows for a variety of companies, and out of that experience saw the pain for a more customizable LinkedIn ads experience.
In the episode Matt breaks down his formula for a 3-step ad sequence that consistently gets him and his clients leads from LinkedIn for less than $8.
Do you have any comments, questions, or topic ideas for future episodes? Send Craig an email at podcast@roguestartups.com. If you feel like our podcast has benefited you and it might benefit someone else, please share it with them. If you have a chance, give Rogue Startups a review on iTunes. We’ll see you next week!
Highlights from Craig and Matt Hayman’s conversation:* Ways that you can think of LinkedIn from a high-level conceptual standpoint * Maximizing lead generation with cost-effective LinkedIn Ads * Enhancing Brand Identity and Effectiveness Strategies * The importance of clarity on ICP (ideal customer profile) * Building emotional connections with prospects is the key to succession engagement * The goldmine of opportunity from the prospects that come from early calls * How Linklo can help you and your company * What you bring to the table and how your personality manifests in your demos
A Little About Matt:Matt knows LinkedIn Ads. Founder of Linklo.io. He’s passionate about changing the way agencies and advertisers manage LinkedIn Ads at scale.
Links & Mentions from This Episode:Matt Hayman on LinkedIn
LinkLo
Rogue Startups Resources: Follow Craig on Twitter/X
Castos
Founder Insights
The post RS315: $8 LinkedIn Ad Leads appeared first on Rogue Startups.
Optimize your company’s retention, and supercharge growth with Churnkey.
Are you looking to build the perfect SaaS business? Discover the key elements for crafting a thriving SaaS venture in the latest Rogue Startups episode. Craig delves into the success story of Castos, dissecting eight crucial attributes essential for any SaaS business to flourish. Some of these are things Castos has nailed, and others are not. Craig candidly shares insights from personal and professional growth and extensive research.
Do you have any comments, questions, or topic ideas for future episodes? Send Craig an email at podcast@roguestartups.com. If you feel like our podcast has benefited you and it might benefit someone else, please share it with them. If you have a chance, give Rogue Startups a review on iTunes. We’ll see you next week!
Highlights from this episode:* Optimal pricing strategies for maximum profitability * Enhance retention by ensuring that your product or service is exceptionally sticky * Incorporate payment solutions seamlessly into your business to enhance user experience * Become a valuable asset for your clients by contributing to their revenue streams * Implement strategies to heighten switching costs, fostering customer loyalty. * Customers should be getting value even when they’re not actively using your product * Stand out from competitors by highlighting unique features and advantages * Confirm market demand by researching your niche
Links & Mentions from This Episode:Designing The Ideal Bootstrapped Business – Microconf talk
Rogue Startups Resources: Follow Craig on Twitter/X
Castos
Founder Insights
The post RS314: The 8 Attributes Of A Perfect SaaS Business appeared first on Rogue Startups.
This episode is sponsored by ChurnKey: Optimize your company’s retention and supercharge growth with Churnkey.
Are you looking to fuel your startup’s revenue growth? Jason Cohen, founder of WP Engine, joins Craig behind the mic on this episode of Rogue Startups. Join Jason and Craig as they delve into strategies for sustained revenue growth, even when certain metrics plateau. Discover the power of pricing strategies and delivering enhanced value propositions to justify premium prices. Learn how diversifying variables beyond product features can make your business highly desirable to your market.
Moreover, Jason emphasizes the pivotal role of the community in authentic company development. Uncover the importance of leveraging existing assets and explore his innovative “adjacency matrix” method for strategic expansion.
Got any thoughts on our content or ideas for upcoming episodes? Reach out to Craig via email at podcast@roguestartups.com. If you’ve found our podcast valuable, don’t hesitate to share it with others. If you could spare a moment, leave us a review on iTunes. We appreciate your support and look forward to connecting again next week!
Highlights from Craig and Jason’s conversation:* Determining success or failure as a founder and business owner * Strategies for becoming the market leader in your industry * Importance of building a community to enhance customer value * Distinguishing between brand, company culture, values, and mission * Identifying when branding becomes crucial for a startup’s success * Deciding between staying focused on your core business or expanding into new ventures * Embracing a culture of innovation despite the risk of failure * Achieving a balance between personal fulfillment, skill development, and company needs * Practical applications of AI for internal operations and enhancing customer experience
A Little About Jason:With over 27 years of experience in business and software development, Jason Cohen is the founder of WP Engine where he has served in several roles including CEO, Head of Engineering, Head of Product, and CTO. Jason Cohen is the Chief Innovation Officer at WP Engine, with a focus on the intersection of corporate and technology strategies as well as continue as the company’s executive sponsor for the headless platform, Atlas. Jason is a serial entrepreneur, having built four technology startups to more than $1 million in annual revenue. He is a founding member and mentor at Capital Factory, and was previously a founder of Smart Bear and IT WatchDogs. Jason received the EY Entrepreneur Of The Year 2017 Central Texas Award for Technology.
Links & Mentions from This Episode:WP Engine
Jason on Twitter/X
Jason’s Blog
Rogue Startups Resources:Follow Craig on Twitter/X
Castos
Founder Insights
The post RS313: Unfair Advantages with Jason Cohen appeared first on Rogue Startups.
In today’s episode, Craig is joined by Adam Shaw from Marketing for Founders to talk about precise and overarching marketing strategies. Adam’s expertise lies in navigating Reddit and LinkedIn, two social media platforms that B2B SaaS entrepreneurs often neglect. Together, they explore Adam’s techniques for Reddit, LinkedIn, and broader marketing principles. Should you focus on active marketing or passive marketing? How do you know how much time to put into marketing? What are good marketing strategies for new business owners? Check out this episode for the answers to these questions and more.
Do you have any comments, questions, or topic ideas for future episodes? Send Craig an email at podcast@roguestartups.com. If you feel like our podcast has benefited you and it might benefit someone else, please share it with them. If you have a chance, give Rogue Startups a review on iTunes. We’ll see you next week!
Highlights from Craig and Adam’s conversation:* Utilizing your Reddit page as a landing page for your business * Optimizing LinkedIn as a platform to maximize its potential * Identifying which companies are suited for each social media platform * The Marketing for Founders service and model * Recognizing the flexibility inherent in marketing strategies; it’s not one size fits all * Consistency is the key to seeing results from marketing * When to engage in active marketing versus passive marketing * How much time should you spend on marketing? * When you should do your marketing on your own versus when to hire a marketer * Find where your customers are hanging out * Identifying the two biggest obstacles that might be impeding your scalability efforts
A Little About Adam:Adam’s goal and vision for Marketing for Founders is to help B2B SaaS founders do their own marketing.
Links & Mentions from This Episode:Marketing for Founders
Adam Shaw’s LinkedIn
The Marketing Memo
LinkedIn Sales Navigator
Gummy Search
Hive Index
Sparktoro
Rogue Startups Resources:Follow Craig on Twitter/X
Castos
Founder Insights
The post RS312: Hacking LinkedIn appeared first on Rogue Startups.
Join Craig as he chats with Dan Andrews, renowned cohost of the Tropical MBA, a weekly podcast dedicated to bootstrapping businesses and entrepreneurship. Dan is also the founder and brains behind Dynamite Circle and Remote First Recruiting.
Today, they’re dishing out some expert advice about podcasting, content creation, and strategies for acquiring customers. Tune in to explore Dan’s opinions on the rapid evolution of AI and his tips on building thriving ventures.
Do you have any comments, questions, or topic ideas for future episodes? Send Craig an email at podcast@roguestartups.com. If you feel like our podcast has benefited you and it might benefit someone else, please share it with them. If you have a chance, give Rogue Startups a review on iTunes. We’ll see you next week!
Highlights from Craig and Dan’s conversation:* Dan’s podcasting inspirations and his journey into the industry * Why Dan chose podcasting over any other platform * Is YouTube worth the effort? * Finding the overlap between creativity and growth * The importance of Investing in your team and treating your business like an investment * Getting over imposter syndrome and what your job is as an entrepreneur * Creating successful businesses versus businesses that are “just okay” * The difficulty of getting to $1 mil for a SaaS company * The lifecycle of the entrepreneur ecosystem * Predictions for bootstrapping and podcasting trends in the next 5 years
A Little About Dan and TropicalMBA:Tropical MBA started in 2009 when hosts Dan and Ian wanted to meet other entrepreneurs for some celebration and commiseration. Most of their first episodes were just them, sharing what they learned about bootstrapping their own business until they concluded that journey with a multi-seven-figure exit. Both Dan and Ian have moved on to their next projects but continue to talk with entrepreneurs on their show.
Links & Mentions from This Episode:Tropical MBA
Connect with Dan on Twitter/X
Lifestyle Business Podcast
Internet Business Mastery
Smart Passive Income Podcast
Startups for the Rest of Us
“Profit First: Transform Your Business from a Cash-Eating Monster to a Money-Making Machine” by Mike Michalowicz
Check out Matt Paulson’s Twitter/X
“Exploitative Play in Live Poker: How to Manipulate your Opponents into Making Mistakes” by Alexander Fitzgerald
Rogue Startups Resources:Follow Craig on Twitter/X
Castos
Founder Insights
The post RS311: Does Your Business Pass The Test? appeared first on Rogue Startups.
In this solo episode Craig talks through a few updates from Castos, how he’s thinking about growth, and where he’s focusing his attention and energy in the business.
Craig also gives an update on his personal content: this podcast, his Founder Insights newsletter (check it out at craighewitt.me/join ) and his new 1-on-1 coaching business.
Craig’s started coaching founders, 1-on-1, to help them grow, stay sane, and thrive in their business.
If you’re a SaaS founder and are looking for a sounding board, someone who’s seen a lot in business, and has your back (through thick and thin) head over to craighewitt.me/coaching to learn more and schedule a free 30-minute session. The coaching has been really rewarding, and is a great way to give back to the founder community that has given him so much.
If you’re interested in sponsoring Rogue Startups, hit me up on Twitter/X at twitter.com/thecraighewitt
The post RS310: Stealing Customers appeared first on Rogue Startups.
Alison French joins Craig behind the mic today to talk about ICP and go-to-market strategy, as well as the challenges that bootstrap founders have. We can all overcome these struggles with the right tools, systems, outlook, and determination. She commiserates with Craig about what bootstrappers have to go through and also gives some great advice for new startups and entrepreneurs.
Alison runs a boutique sales and marketing consultancy all around B2B SaaS startups. She is the Marketing Gal who got bit by the revenue bug and became passionate about helping companies scale their revenue by focusing on the intersection of sales and marketing. With over 20 years of experience in the field, she specializes in assisting B2B founders and leaders who venture into new markets. Her ultimate goal is to help you build a robust sales and marketing infrastructure that not only streamlines lead generation but also maximizes your ability to close deals. And the best part? She does all this while keeping your expenses to a minimum.
Do you have any comments, questions, or topic ideas for future episodes? Send Craig an email at podcast@roguestartups.com. If you feel like our podcast has benefited you and it might benefit someone else, please share it with them. If you have a chance, give Rogue Startups a review on iTunes. We’ll see you next week!
Highlights:* Why everyone sucks at execution. + Ideas are cheap. Execution is the hard thing. + Recognize how to get out of your own way and when to delegate - How can you delegate cheaply - Free up your time so you can do the higher-leverage tasks + Getting good content writers and/or a copy editor - The entire team needs to know the values and priorities of the company * People discount the importance of brand research and focus + ICP: marketing, content, * When you’re taking a dollar of profit and reinvesting in growth, where do you focus? + Build a prospect list and then proactively nurture that small segment + Versium: matched audience media + The importance of retargeting + Your Dream 100 + Cold E-mail: a balance of who you can go after, the right time, and the right place * Starting your bootstrapped B2B business today: where do you focus? + Look at your prospects, laser focus on your ICP - Apollo.io for data hacking + Recognizing you can’t do it all - Look at your tech-stack - Know, instantly, who you can delegate to - Throw tasks out into the world and see what happens - As a founder, you’re never going to find someone who can sell as much as you
Resources: Alison French, LinkedIn
LTO.com
Follow Craig on Twitter/X
Castos
Founder Insights
The post RS309: Growth Fundamentals Most Founders Get Wrong appeared first on Rogue Startups.
Creating content that will engage readers and appease the algorithm gods is a difficult task. That’s where Stuart Brameld comes in. He is here today to share his insights on growth, marketing, programmatic SEO, and content creation with Craig and the Rogue Startup listeners. He also talks about how Growth Method can help your company grow and gives tips on how to effectively use AI to help you create perfectly worded web content.
What is Growth Method? When should you use AI when creating content? What is programmable SEO?
Do you have any comments, questions, or topic ideas for future episodes? Send Craig an email at podcast@roguestartups.com. If you feel like our podcast has benefited you and it might benefit someone else, please share it with them. If you have a chance, give Rogue Startups a review on iTunes. We’ll see you next week!
When should you use AI when creating content? What is Growth Method? What is programmable SEO?
Do you have any comments, questions, or topic ideas for future episodes? Send Craig an email at podcast@roguestartups.com. If you feel like our podcast has benefited you and it might benefit someone else, please share it with them. If you have a chance, give Rogue Startups a review on iTunes. We’ll see you next week!
Highlights:* What Stuart and Growth Method does for their clients * Adopting a growth and experimentation approach to marketing + Stuart’s definition of experimentation in terms of company tasks * What you can do if you don’t have enough data for meaningful testing + Decisions made without supporting data + Don’t post content and forget about it * Moving through stages in the design and planning phases * Programmatic SEO powered with AI + Case study: review site * Going from a spreadsheet to WordPress + Zapier and Make.com + WordPress formatting * Making mistakes when posting content + Posting a lot of content at once * Improving the design and aesthetic of content after the baseline is in place * Tips for using AI for content creation + Using custom instructions + Finding an AI coach (if you’re interested, send Craig a message) + AI versus hiring writers + Top-of-funnel content * What to be aware of when you’re working with programmatic SEO + How Link Whisper can help with internal links
Resources: Growth Method
Reach out to Stuart on Twitter/X
Stuart on LinkedIn
Follow Craig on Twitter/X
Castos
Founder Insights
The post RS308: Programmatic SEO with Stuart Brameld appeared first on Rogue Startups.
Learning valuable lessons on your journey to success can take a while. Today, Craig shares his insights on this topic as it correlates to Castos and to his goal of creating 200 episodes in 2024. (Spoiler alert: things are going well for him.)
Sometimes the hardest thing to do is to say no to something. As entrepreneurs and bootstrappers, we have ambitions and goals, but it’s not always feasible to say yes to everything you want to do. Those of us working in a micro-SaaS business can find more success by niching down and focusing all our efforts on making one great product or service. So…
Are you niched down as much as possible?
Do you have any comments, questions, or topic ideas for future episodes? Send Craig an email at podcast@roguestartups.com. If you feel like our podcast has benefited you and it might benefit someone else, please share it with them. If you have a chance, give Rogue Startups a review on iTunes. We’ll see you next week!
Highlights:* Updates on Craig’s goal of 200 episodes goal + Gear fatigue and indecision + Finding a recording setup and format that works for you + Interviews versus solo episodes + The difficulties of video over audio content * Founder Minimalism + Doing well with one thing + Diversifying your products or services + Fighting the urge to do everything * Utilizing and building a personal brand + Indirect impact on you and your business + Making what you want to do a little easier + The steps to build and bolster your personal brand
Resources: Follow Craig on Twitter/X
Castos
Founder Insights
The post RS307: Doing Less and Doing It Better appeared first on Rogue Startups.
Making it big on any social media platform can be an arduous journey. You have to worry about your equipment. What looks good? What content is interesting right now? How do I get people to find me? YouTube has its own brand of problems too. How long do you make videos? What should the thumbnail look like? To script or not to script; that is one of many questions.
On today’s show, Craig welcomes Aaron Francis, software developer, content creator, and YouTube genius. Craig picks Aaron’s brain about his best practices when it comes to making videos and other content. They talk about what makes YouTube so special in the social media world. Not to mention, Aaron voices his opinion on personal brands. Loyal listeners already know Craig’s opinion. #TeamPersonalBrand
Do you have any comments, questions, or topic ideas for future episodes? Send Craig an email at podcast@roguestartups.com. If you feel like our podcast has benefited you and it might benefit someone else, please share it with them. If you have a chance, give Rogue Startups a review on iTunes. We’ll see you next week!
Highlights: Why choose to put your efforts into YouTube rather than other mediums * Different formats of video which will make you stand out * How podcasting works within a marketing plan * Overcomplicating your tech when you should focus on your content * Best practices and focuses that have worked well for Aaron + Understanding the pattern of content that works for YouTube + Adapting to the platform is important + Take a piece of content and wrap it in something more interesting and clickable + Have an angle, not necessarily a unique* angle + With every video, make it feel like it’s your first video and no one knows you * The difference between content on YouTube versus other platforms * What Aaron has been up to lately * The power of a personal brand + A personal brand is valuable in general
Resources: Try Hard Studios
Connect with Aaron on Twitter/X
Castos
Founder Insights
The post RS306: YouTube Growth Secrets w/ Aaron Francis appeared first on Rogue Startups.
Is there such a thing as the perfect SaaS business? How are you creating your opportunities? Are you focusing on your end goal for your business? Today, Craig is joined by Christopher Gimmer from Snappa and Good Metrics. Chris talks about his path, which led him to founding multiple businesses and a successful exit. He dives into his decision-making process and how he finds his next big opportunity. As entrepreneurs who have 100% bootstrapped their businesses, Craig and Chris talk about their processes, successes, and lessons they have learned on their journeys.
It can be hard to realize, narrow down, and make big-picture decisions for your company, especially if you’ve built it yourself. Yes, it is your baby, but it’s important to realize when to let go and when to grasp new opportunities.
Do you have any comments, questions, or topic ideas for future episodes? Send Craig an email at podcast@roguestartups.com. If you feel like our podcast has benefited you and it might benefit someone else, please share it with them. If you have a chance, give Rogue Startups a review on iTunes. We’ll see you next week!
Highlights:* Learning about best practice business models from previous endeavors * Expansion revenue vs low churn * The importance of keeping focused on business goals. Acquisition? Expansion? * How Chris finds, makes, and determines new opportunities * Pricing and business models * How to be business-critical * Naming: when to bite the bullet * The status of Good Metrics * Marketing and differentiating yourself from your competition * Horizontal vs Vertical SaaS businesses
Resources: Find Chris on Twitter/X
Christopher Gimmer
Nathan Berry’s article, “Direct Sales for Bootstrapped SaaS Startups: from $1,300 to $725,000 MRR”
Castos
Founder Insights
The post RS305: Validating SaaS In An Enormous Market w/ Christopher Gimmer appeared first on Rogue Startups.
The world of SEO is changing at a rapid pace because of AI. How can we keep up? Can you still find, generate, and publish unique content online? The answer is yes. Google says that around 20% of online searches every day are ones they’ve never seen before. Here to talk about all that is SEO and keyword guru, Spencer Haws.
In this episode of the Rogue Startups Podcast, Spencer and Craig both talk about how they use AI and how human writers can work with AI-generated content. Spencer also gives his crystal ball prediction of what SEO will look like in the next five years. They also chat about where the platform of podcasting fits in the content world, face-to-face conferences and masterminds, and the reasons to stay with a business after receiving buyout offers.
Spencer grew up in Mesa, Arizona, and moved to Richland, Washington. Because of the influence of his entrepreneur father and because he grew up during the dot com boom (and bust), he started dabbling in website creation in 2005. Since then, he has learned how search engine optimization works and how to best build and grow niche websites. The best way to contact Spencer with any questions or comments is here.
Do you have any comments, questions, or topic ideas for future episodes? Send Craig an email at podcast@roguestartups.com. If you feel like our podcast has benefited you and it might benefit someone else, please share it with them. If you have a chance, give Rogue Startups a review on iTunes. We’ll see you next week!
Highlights:* What is Link Whisperer and how will it help you * Is Rank Logic good for larger or smaller websites? * The best ways to use AI for content creation * Using AI for Listicles * SGE (Search Generative Experience) and SEO * Content development and marketing * Separating your business from your life * How Spencer keeps up with the evolution of the industry * Books versus podcasts * The importance of conferences, masterminds, and business groups * To exit or not to exit, that is the question
Resources: Reach out to Spencer
Connect with Spencer on Twitter/X
Rank Logic
Link Whisper
Niche Pursuits
Castos
Founder Insights
The post RS304: What Is Google Doing?! (w/ Spencer Haws) appeared first on Rogue Startups.
In this solo episode, Craig talks through a recent mindset shift in the business.
https://youtu.be/vG0YKhAdPl0Going from Zero to One you need to put out so many fires, and do so many things, and then in the growth phase you’re constantly trying new approaches, channels, messages, and levers. Here in the post-growth, calm phase, Craig’s found it a bit different to balance the Certainty and Uncertainty of running the business.
Craig’s also offering one-on-one founder coaching to SaaS founders looking to get from 0 to $3M ARR – head over to craighewitt.me/coaching to find out more and schedule a free consultation.
The post RS303: After The Desert appeared first on Rogue Startups.
Doug Cunnington is an affiliate marketing, SEO, AI, and content marketing expert. Today, Craig and Doug chat about their experiences as founders and with web content, in hopes that they can learn from each other and pass along some tidbits of info to listeners.
AI-generated content is everywhere these days. The content marketing industry is split down the middle: they either embrace it or are pushing back. Is it worth it? Craig and Doug deep dive into their opinions on AI content, how they use it, and what the future of content marketing looks like. They talk about their cadence on YouTube and various other platforms. They also chat about exiting, retirement, and their paths now that they’re getting older.
Do you have any comments, questions, or topic ideas for future episodes? Send Craig an email at podcast@roguestartups.com. If you feel like our podcast has benefited you and it might benefit someone else, please share it with them. If you have a chance, give Rogue Startups a review on iTunes. We’ll see you next week!
Highlights:* Doug’s journey to content marketing * Position yourself so you don’t have to react immediately * The constantly changing industry of content * The value of a content marketing strategy * AI-generated content * Scripting for YouTube: shorter, tighter videos * Entrepreneurship and SaaS as you get older * Feeding the YouTube algorithm what it wants * Content strategy differences between YouTube and podcasts
Resources: Doug’s YouTube Channel
Castos
Founder Insights
The post RS302: Beyond Content Marketing with Doug Cunnington appeared first on Rogue Startups.
One of the biggest lessons Marc Thomas learned about creating engaging content was the importance of bringing in bits of his personality. Today, Craig talks with Marc Thomas about how he has made a name for himself in the world of content and brand growth. Marc emphasizes what some of us forgot: B2B content has a purpose and we have to know what that purpose is. They also talk about the effectiveness of marketing “best practices,” the importance of transparency, Podia’s biggest marketing push and how it worked, and competitor landing pages.
Marc Thomas is the Senior Growth Marketer at Podia. Since 2014, Podia has been committed to building the most creator-friendly tools to help their customers sell online courses, digital downloads, membership subscriptions, and more to their audience.
Do you have any comments, questions, or topic ideas for future episodes? Send Craig an email at podcast@roguestartups.com. If you feel like our podcast has benefited you and it might benefit someone else, please share it with them. If you have a chance, give Rogue Startups a review on iTunes. We’ll see you next week!
Highlights: The justification for B2B content: it doesn’t have to be boring and it has a purpose * Connecting your customers to a business outcome * How Podia created engaging, viral B2B content * Lessons from How Brands Grow by Byron Sharp * Vertical versus horizontal SaaS * Do marketing best practices really* work? * Generosity and transparency * Competitor landing pages are insurance policies for your buyers * Continuing to learn and refine your craft * Balancing personal growth and playbooks * Failure is relative; people are adaptable
Resources: Marc Thomas, LinkedIn
“How Brands Grow: What Marketers Don’t Know” by Byron Sharp
Castos
Founder Insights
The post RS301: Why Brands Grow with Marc Thomas appeared first on Rogue Startups.
It’s the 300th episode of Rogue Startups, and it’s all about personal updates and professional improvements. Craig talks about where Rogue Startups started and what the future holds for this podcast and podcasting in general. What mediums will everyone gravitate toward this year? Who will win in this cage match between Google, YouTube, AI, SEO, and social media?
Craig also talks about where he wants to spend his time and energy in 2024. He has an ambitious but achievable goal of creating and publishing 200 videos on YouTube this year. Not to mention, he dives into this theory on personal engagement and personal content and how those things will change soon as well. Will they be more or less important?
Do you have any comments, questions, or topic ideas for future episodes? Send Craig an email at podcast@roguestartups.com. If you feel like our podcast has benefited you and it might benefit someone else, please share it with them. If you have a chance, give Rogue Startups a review on iTunes. We’ll see you next week!
Highlights:* Evolving in the podcast industry * The difference between podcasting and YouTube * YouTube versus Google * What is the medium of the future? * AI trends and what that means for writers * Personal engagement and personal content * Diversifying beyond SEO content * The goal is optionality * Growth from the awkward teenage years to a mature adult * Building the right system and getting the right team
Resources: Castos
Founder Insights
The post RS300: What’s Killing Google, and Exiting The Startup Phase appeared first on Rogue Startups.
George Blackman joins Craig in this installment of the Rogue Startups YouTube series. They chat about scripting episodes and what you can do to prepare yourself for making successful videos. George has had years of experience working with successful YouTubers who have had millions of views on their videos, in part because of George’s scripts.
George and Craig also discuss why scripting is important, how to use a teleprompter, and the pros and cons of riffing versus being intentional and planning content. On the topic of AI, they focus on how he utilizes AI for title creation. One example of a prompt being:
“I am writing a video based on a topic and a “grand payoff” that I’ll provide below. Based on these two components, what emotional transformation will viewers have experienced by the end? (Related to the Grand Payoff)
Question/Topic: [insert here]
Grand Payoff: Viewers will understand XYZ.”
George is a consulting YouTube scriptwriter based just outside London. He has written scripts for creators like Ali Abdaal, Noah Kagan, Creator Booth, and Mike Shake. His new course (”YouTube Scriptwriter’s Playbook” Course) focuses on systemizing the process of scriptwriting to maximize retention. It starts on January 12th. Join in at a discount by using the code: launch10.
Do you have any comments, questions, or topic ideas for future episodes? Send Craig an email at podcast@roguestartups.com. If you feel like our podcast has benefited you and it might benefit someone else, please share it with them. If you have a chance, give Rogue Startups a review on iTunes. We’ll see you next week!
Highlights:* Improvising versus planned content * Find the key “punchy” moments from your notes * Sewing together mini-payoffs + Set-up, tension, and resolution * Start listicles with a punchy start, in the middle, and at the end * Thread in story elements and relevant personal anecdotes * How scripting saves time * Beginner teleprompter tips * George’s process for creating great videos: + Retention checklist: Information, progression, regression, and emotion + Creating and planning payoffs and tension + Repetition. Are you repeating information? + Clarity: conversational scripts that sound like yourself * AI and scriptwriting * YouTube versus Twitter/X * Tips for educational and informative videos * Analyzing your videos to create better content
Resources: George’s website
”YouTube Scriptwriter’s Playbook” Course Discount Code: launch10
Connect with George on Twitter/X
Castos
Founder Insights
The post RS299: YouTube Scripting Done Right with George Blackman appeared first on Rogue Startups.
Trent Haire drops some serious knowledge as he chats with Craig today about the three things that you can do to move your YouTube channel to the next level. Trent has years of experience and has worked with some major YouTubers by helping them go from little to no viewer and subscribers to thousands and even millions. In addition to his tips, they also talk about how B2B YouTube strategies differ from other YouTube channels, the importance of providing value first, and how YouTube stacks up to other social media platforms with shorter content.
Do you have any comments, questions, or topic ideas for future episodes? Send Craig an email at podcast@roguestartups.com. And as always, if you feel like our podcast has benefited you and it might benefit someone else, please share it with them. If you have a chance, give Rogue Startups a review on iTunes. We’ll see you next week!
Highlights:* How to get over the hurdle and start making videos * Setting good expectations * Making progress and improving is the main goal * B2B strategies and how they differ from others * “Hiding your vegetables” * Top of Funnel content and conversion * YouTube versus LinkedIn versus Twitter/X * Providing value first * Discoverability and search versus suggested * Tracking the stats on your videos and updating the packaging * Long-form videos versus shorts * Three ways to bump your channel up to the next level
Resources: Creator Campfire
Trent Haire on Twitter/X
Castos
Founder Insights
The post RS298: 3 Steps To Move Your YouTube Channel To The Next Level with Trent Haire appeared first on Rogue Startups.
Today’s episode is all about YouTube SEO. Craig is joined by Josh Howard, YouTube expert. Josh shares his knowledge about how to rank your video #1, and how to be successful in constructing a dynamic script and structure for your channel and individual videos. He also shows this information in action by analyzing Castos’ YouTube page, as well as Ahrefs’ YouTube channel.
Josh Howard started his analytics journey with website SEO before transitioning fully to YouTube. He used his love of math, statistics (and spreadsheets) as a foundation for understanding how to succeed on YouTube. He helps his clients make better content, utilize YouTube in valuable ways, and understand the analytics behind their videos to maximize the performance of their channels.
Do you have any comments, questions, or topic ideas for future episodes? Send Craig an email at podcast@roguestartups.com. As always, if you feel like our podcast has benefited you and it might benefit someone else, please share it with them. If you have a chance, give Rogue Startups a review on iTunes. We’ll see you next week!
Highlights:* People don’t go to YouTube to buy things, they go for free information * Where SaaS companies should put their YouTube content * Targetting search trends and potential * YouTube, the middle of the funnel * One keyword, one article, one time * The balance of evergreen and timely content * Analyzing Castos’ YouTube channel * Constructing YouTube playlists well * Keeping long-form content relevant * Call to Action on YouTube videos
Resources: Reach out to Josh on Twitter
Connect with Josh on LinkedIn
Check out Josh’s personal website
Castos
Founder Insights
The post RS297: YouTube Channel Teardown with Josh Howard appeared first on Rogue Startups.
Today Craig chats with Jake Thomas from Creator Hooks about what SaaS owners and entrepreneurs can do to catch the eye of possible customers and viewers on YouTube. Jake started his journey to Creator Hooks when he landed his dream job as a marketing manager at a fishing company. There, he learned the most important thing about creating titles and content for YouTube: modeling other successful YouTube videos. In today’s episode, Jake talks about that process as well as the importance of authenticity, posting on different social media platforms, and how to position topics in a way that will draw people in.
Do you have any comments, questions, or topic ideas for future episodes? Send Craig an email at podcast@roguestartups.com. And as always, if you feel like our podcast has benefited you and it might benefit someone else, please share it with them. If you have a chance, give Rogue Startups a review on iTunes. We’ll see you next week!
Highlights:* Building your YouTube channel without being someone you’re not * How older companies can stay trending: Edu-tainment * Types of content SaaS companies should produce * Competing in a saturated niche * Where to post different types of content on social media * Quick and dirty research tips * Quality versus Quantity * Positioning topics in an interesting way to get people to click * Topic and frame * How Creator Hooks can help you * Curiosity, Fear, and Desire * Split-testing thumbnails
Resources: Creator Hooks
Reach out to Jake on Twitter/X
Castos
Founder Insights
The post RS296: Creating Great YouTube Hooks with Jake Thomas appeared first on Rogue Startups.
Matt Wolach is a genius at closing. Today, Craig gets the opportunity to pick Matt’s brain. They chat about why most people don’t close deals and what they can do to fix that. They wax poetic about outbound leads. How do you generate them? Where does it work best? Not to mention, they also talk about their social media processes.
Do you have any comments, questions, or topic ideas for future episodes? Send Craig an email at podcast@roguestartups.com. And as always, if you feel like our podcast has benefited you and it might benefit someone else, please share it with them. If you have a chance, give Rogue Startups a review on iTunes. We’ll see you next week!
Highlights:* Getting the next commitment before you hang up * The reason why most people can’t close * Generating outbound leads * Find your customers’ true problems * Land and expand strategy * Where and when outbound works best * Positioning yourself too low * Social media process * The importance of consistent value
Resources: Matt Wolach
Follow Matt on Twitter/X
Connect with Matt on LinkedIn
Castos
Founder Insights
The post RS295: SaaS Sales Masterclass with Matt Wolach appeared first on Rogue Startups.
On today’s episode, Craig chats with Corey Haines, founder of Conversion Factory. They chat about what it’s really like to be a B2B SaaS owner including how to handle marketing, if it’s necessary to learn the ins and outs of development, and how client work can kick you in the butt so you can stay fresh all the time.
Corey Haines is a marketing-first entrepreneur. He aims to help people with exceptional products, services, and content get the attention they deserve. Corey focuses on entrepreneurship, building a portfolio of small bets to optimize for autonomy, mastery, and purpose. He is currently running Conversion Factory, Swipe Files, and SwipeWell. He has worked with dozens of startups on marketing and growth including Cordial, Baremetrics, SavvyCal, Bonsai, Evercast, Riverside.fm, Holloway, Beamer, and Timetastic.
Do you have any comments, questions, or topic ideas for future episodes? Send Craig an email at podcast@roguestartups.com. As always, if you feel like our podcast has benefited you and it might benefit someone else, please share it with them. If you have a chance, give Rogue Startups a review on iTunes. We’ll see you next week!
Highlights:* Balancing client work with your own professional work * Working with a co-founder * How Conversion Factory helps their customers * Use cases and solutions pages * Package features together * “The More You Know, The Less You Know” Phenomenon * Staying engaged to stay fresh * Recognizing your own weaknesses so you can be stronger * The difficulties of coding and programming * Imposter syndrome and developing * Customer satisfaction and expectations * Always keep something in the pipeline for customers
Resources: Conversion Factory
Reach out to Corey on Twitter/X
Corey on LinkedIn
Corey’s Personal Site
Castos
Founder Insights
The post RS294: The Reality Of B2B SaaS Marketing w/ Corey Haines appeared first on Rogue Startups.
Craig and Ed chat about all things bootstrapping, personal branding, social media, and growth trajectory. They also do a bit of catching up. Ed provides a unique perspective on these topics in addition to trying to convince Craig to move back to Europe.
Ed is the co-founder of OpenCage which provides a geocoding API (which converts geographic coordinates to locations around the world). He also organizes Geomob which is an event series (and a podcast) that meets in London, Barcelona, and Berlin. Geomob provides a relaxed forum for geoinnovation and for geospatial enthusiasts. He is also an angel investor (occasionally) whose interests include geo, API-based businesses, developer tools, aggregation, SaaS, and messaging, based out of Berlin, London, and Barcelona.
Do you have any comments, questions, or topic ideas for future episodes? Send Craig an email at podcast@roguestartups.com. As always, if you feel like our podcast has benefited you and it might benefit someone else, please share it with them. If you have a chance, give Rogue Startups a review on iTunes. We’ll see you next week!
Highlights:* The story and vision behind OpenCage and Geomob * Ed’s “Business Card” Tab * Founders being active on social media * Branding should be about the company and not the founder * Promoting on LinkedIn and moving to Mastodon * The future of Twitter * Finding the balance of what you can share with the public and what to hold back * Being invested in a podcast/podcaster’s journey * The framework of successful in-person meetups and events
Resources: Ed Freyfogle
Ed on Mastodon
OpenCage
Geomob
Geomob Podcast
Castos
Founder Insights
The post RS293: The Risk Of Your Brand w/ Ed Freyfogle appeared first on Rogue Startups.
Work smarter on things that really matter instead of working harder on things that make no difference. Today Craig talks about what he has learned about prioritizing, focusing, and honing in on tasks that really mean something. Between his professional experiences and input from his business coach, he’s learned that there isn’t a magic fix-all button that will bring in all the customers. Be critical of the time you spend on your business.
Do you have any comments, questions, or topic ideas for future episodes? Send Craig an email at podcast@roguestartups.com. As always, if you feel like our podcast has benefited you and it might benefit someone else, please share it with them. If you have a chance, give Rogue Startups a review on iTunes. We’ll see you next week!
Highlights:* Doing things for your business that make no difference * Does social media really impact your business? * Content marketing and SEO * Optimizing and focusing on one problem * One hundred steps that add up
Resources: Reach out on LinkedIn
Reach out on Twitter/X
Castos
Founder Insights
The post RS292: Only the Most Important Things appeared first on Rogue Startups.
On today’s episode of Rogue Startups, Craig chats with Asia Orangio from DemandMaven about customer research, marketing essentials, and how to stand out from your competitors. Asia also talks about what DemandMaven can do for their customers and how she gets value from Castos. Not to mention, the importance of clarity, dedication, and discipline.
Asia manages operations, strategy, and growth opportunities at DemandMaven. Her expertise includes identifying great SaaS growth blockers, leveraging insights from customer research, and operationalizing growth and marketing.
Do you have any comments, questions, or topic ideas for future episodes? Send Craig an email at podcast@roguestartups.com. As always, if you feel like our podcast has benefited you and it might benefit someone else, please share it with them. If you have a chance, give Rogue Startups a review on iTunes. We’ll see you next week!
Highlights:* The story behind DemandMaven * Talking to customers for quantitative and qualitative insight * The basics of customer research * Relative value reference * Website essentials * Positioning and providing value for customers * Distinguishing your product from your competitors * DemandMaven and clarity
Resources: DemandMaven
RS198: Marketing 201 with Asia Matos
Connect with Asia on X/Twitter
Connect with Asia on LinkedIn
Castos
Founder Insights
The post RS291: Hacking Customer Research with Asia Orangio appeared first on Rogue Startups.
Craig chats about the difficulties of starting a journey (or continuing a journey) by yourself. Whether it’s business or if it’s a creative endeavor (like a podcast), going at it alone can be hard. How do you motivate yourself? How do you get out of a creative block? How do you convince yourself that you have conviction when something you are passionate about is so unpredictable?
Do you have any comments, questions, or topic ideas for future episodes? Send Craig an email at podcast@roguestartups.com. And as always, if you feel like our podcast has benefited you and it might benefit someone else, please share it with them. If you have a chance, give Rogue Startups a review on iTunes. We’ll see you next week!
Highlights:* The challenge of working on a project on your own * What happens when you’re too far ahead of your customers * Content marketing (on-site SEO) * Conviction in the face of uncertainty
Resources: Castos
Connect with Craig on LinkedIn
Founder Insights
The post RS290: Sharing The Journey appeared first on Rogue Startups.
On this episode of Rogue Startups, Craig chats with Ruben Gamez, the founder of Bidsketch and SignWell. Ruben shares his opinions and tips about various marketing strategies, branding, and growth. In addition to talking about the podcasting industry and Castos, Craig and Ruben also dive into how to proactively find deals and connect with customers.
Originally a software developer, Ruben bootstrapped Bidsketch while working full-time and was quickly able to grow it into a profitable business. He spent several years working for a billion-dollar payroll company. There he helped build and manage a custom proposal system that was used to regularly win seven and eight-figure deals. When he saw there was a need for an alternative to the hard-to-use and expensive e-signature software already out there, he decided to start SignWell in order to simplify how documents get signed for millions of people and businesses.
Do you have any comments, questions, or topic ideas for future episodes? Send Craig an email at podcast@roguestartups.com. And as always, if you feel like our podcast has benefited you and it might benefit someone else, please share it with them. If you have a chance, give Rogue Startups a review on iTunes. We’ll see you next week!
Highlights:* Inbound volume: proactively finding bigger deals * Getting in front of customers who have problems you can solve * Objectively looking at how much room is in your market * Ad-tech in the podcasting industry * Approaching growth from different perspectives * Ruben’s thoughts on building a brand and how branding works * Burn rate and thinking ahead before you tap out
Resources: Ruben on Twitter/X
SignWell
Bidsketch
Castos
Founder Insights
The post RS289: Where Branding Goes Wrong with Ruben Gamez appeared first on Rogue Startups.
As founders I think too often we celebrate only the wins in the business, but we don’t take a critical look at how we could actually be the thing holding our business back from prospering. I’ve had a big breakthrough in this realm lately where I’m being open to the concept that I could be ... Read more
The post RS288: Pointing The Finger appeared first on Rogue Startups.
Today Craig chats with Meryl Johnston, founder of BeanNinjas and host of a new podcast The Lifestyle Accountant Show, the podcast that helps today’s accounting firm leaders build successful businesses while living healthy, happy lives. Being able to work less but still watch your company thrive and grow is the goal for many entrepreneurs out ... Read more
The post RS287: Stepping Back As CEO with Meryl Johnston appeared first on Rogue Startups.
In this solo episode of Rogue Startups, Craig gives listeners an update on his business, the future of the podcast, as well as his thoughts on how to successfully build a media brand. What is your goal when you post on social media? How do you earn the respect and trust of your audience? Do ... Read more
The post RS286: Building A Media Brand appeared first on Rogue Startups.
Today, Craig chats with frequent guest Rob Walling, entrepreneur and podcaster extraordinaire, about marketing and branding when it comes to SaaS businesses and podcasting. They also talk about utilizing YouTube as a platform for growing your audience. After writing a book, Rob has professional insight when it comes to writing for different mediums: long-form books, ... Read more
The post RS285: Podcasting vs Youtube & Founder-Led Marketing with Rob Walling appeared first on Rogue Startups.
Today Craig chats with podcaster and speaker Colin Gray about podcast marketing, community opportunities, and branding. Craig and Colin share their unique perspectives on the business of podcasting based on their years of experience as podcast hosts, CEOs of successful podcasting companies, and their passion for helping fledgling podcasters make their mark. Besides discussing their ... Read more
The post RS284: Next Level Marketing with Colin Gray appeared first on Rogue Startups.
In the 8.5 years of Rogue Startups and the 280+ episodes, Dave Rodenbaugh has joined me (Craig) in chronicling our journey as founders and building our businesses. In that time, Dave has grown 2 WordPress plugins, sold those businesses, acquired a SaaS business called Recapture, grown it to go full time and quit his consulting ... Read more
The post Rebooting… appeared first on Rogue Startups.
In this solo episode, Craig reflects back on his journey as Castos turns six years old. He also looks into the possibilities and the future of podcasting and entrepreneurship. What do the next two years look like for Castos? What’s it look like when your business is in its awkward teen years? How do you ... Read more
The post RS283: Team Retreat, Personal Branding, and The Long-Term View appeared first on Rogue Startups.
In this episode of the Rogue Startups Podcast, Craig talks with Joel Klettke, the founder of Case Study Buddy. They cover everything from AI to full-time employees versus part-time contractors, to productized services. How do you get in the right brain space in order to delegate, trust, and effectively hire people to work alongside you ... Read more
The post RS282: AI, Transitioning From Founder-Led Sales, and Productized Services with Joel Klettke appeared first on Rogue Startups.
SaaS marketing is a difficult world to navigate. How do you evaluate growth in your business? We all know that niching down is important, but how do you know where to focus your efforts? Time spent on trial and error is only effective if you can make an educated decision based on data, but how ... Read more
The post RS281: The State Of SaaS Marketing appeared first on Rogue Startups.
Is there such a thing as focusing too much on churn? How is your company utilizing AI? What are your favorite productivity hacks?
Dave summarizes his takeaways from his tenth MicroConf. Craig recommends “The 5AM Club” by Robin Sharma to the masses. They also discuss conferences and team retreats they will be attending and holding this year, the greater AI adoption curve, and their favorite productivity tips and tricks (which have nothing to do with cold showers).
Do you have any comments, questions, or topic ideas for future episodes? Send us an email at podcast@roguestartups.com. And as always, if you feel like our podcast has benefited you and it might benefit someone else, please share it with them. If you have a chance, give us a review on iTunes. We’ll see you next week!
Resources: Recapture.io
Castos
The post RS280: Productivity Mindset Best Practices appeared first on RogueStartups.
How do you define helpful feedback? What sort of customer opinions should you brush off? Dave shares his experiences with some brutal feedback and how he is using it to better customer experience with Recapture.
What makes a good virtual assistant versus a great virtual assistant? Craig talks about the executive assistant he hired (through Zirtual), which has helped his productivity and time management. He talks about onboarding, trust, and task management.
In this episode of Rogue Startups, they cover all of that in addition to what they do to keep seasonal affective disorder at bay and about the latest numbers in B2B SaaS.
Do you have any comments, questions, or topic ideas for future episodes? Send us an email at podcast@roguestartups.com. And as always, if you feel like our podcast has benefited you and it might benefit someone else, please share it with them. If you have a chance, give us a review on iTunes. We’ll see you next week!
Resources:
Recapture.io
Castos
The post RS279: Processing Brutal Feedback, and Hiring An AE appeared first on RogueStartups.
Dave talks about the complications that arise behind writing long-form web content. He also gives us updates on Recapture and talks about Patrick Campbell’s latest tweet thread on running a business during a recession.
Craig poses a question about the increasing cost of Hubspot and the possibility of switching costs. Is Hubspot worth it? They also talk about Drip, Bento, Customer.io, Userlist, and other marketing tools for e-commerce and SaaS businesses.
Do you have any comments, questions, or topic ideas for future episodes? Send us an email at podcast@roguestartups.com. And as always, if you feel like our podcast has benefited you and it might benefit someone else, please share it with them. If you have a chance, give us a review on iTunes. We’ll see you next week!
Resources:Recapture.io
Castos
The post RS278: Switching Cost appeared first on RogueStartups.
Dave and Craig dive into the concept of hiring above and below, creating focus days, and evaluating the value of industry conferences. What kinds of benefits do you get from attending industry conferences? How do you buy back your time? Any tips on how Craig should find his first DnD group? We’d love to hear from you!
If you have any comments, questions, or topic ideas for future episodes, send us an email at podcast@roguestartups.com or hit us up on Twitter. And as always, if you feel like our podcast has benefited you and it might benefit someone else, please share it with them. If you have a chance, give us a review on iTunes. We’ll see you next week!
Resources:Craig’s Twitter
Dave’s Twitter
Recapture.io
Castos
The post RS277: Getting Value From Conferences appeared first on RogueStartups.
Today, Craig chats with Farzad Rashidi about outreach, marketing, partner recruitment, and what Responda can do for your business. Farzad also talks about how to utilize cold outreach in a productive and effective way. It isn’t always about the tools, but how you use them.
Farzad started on his outreach guru journey working as a marketing hire for, Vizme (a brand creation platform for businesses). Since then, he co-founded Responda, a link-building outreach platform built for B2B SaaS and agencies to increase organic traffic from Google.
Do you have any comments, questions, or topic ideas for future episodes? Send us an email at podcast@roguestartups.com. And as always, if you feel like our podcast has benefited you and it might benefit someone else, please share it with them. If you have a chance, give us a review on iTunes. We’ll see you next week!
Resources:
Recapture.io
Castos
The post RS276: Scaled Outreach, Done Right with Farzad Rashidi appeared first on RogueStartups.
In this episode of Rogue Startups, the focus is on BigSnow takeaways and reflections including prioritizing, delegating, and focusing on important tasks. How do these things differ for small businesses versus big businesses? What is the difference between the EOS role chart versus Dan Sullivan/Dan Martell’s A-B-C task prioritization? Which roles should be outsourced and which can roll into other positions?
Dave and Craig also talk about understanding their customer and buyer’s journeys. How do you better understand your customers?
Do you have any comments, questions, or topic ideas for future episodes? Send us an email at podcast@roguestartups.com. And as always, if you feel like our podcast has benefited you and it might benefit someone else, please share it with them. If you have a chance, give us a review on iTunes. We’ll see you next week!
Resources:
Laura Roeder’s Blog Post
Recapture.io
Castos
The post RS275: When And How We Delegate appeared first on RogueStartups.
ChatGPT seems to be on the tips of everyone’s tongues these days, so today we’re talking about what it means for social media, web content, and the podcasting industry. Not to mention, Dave just can’t quit Twitter and Craig tries to develop his personal brand. They chat about the current state of the economy, title inflation with developer candidates, and marketing priorities.
How do you come up with impactful and valuable web content for a blog? What routines have you developed to publish regularly? How are you incorporating AI into your product?
Do you have any comments, questions, or topic ideas for future episodes? Send us an email at podcast@roguestartups.com. And as always, if you feel like our podcast has benefited you and it might benefit someone else, please share it with them. If you have a chance, give us a review on iTunes. We’ll see you next week!
Resources:Recapture.io
Castos
The post RS274: Chat GPT, The Economy, and New Realities appeared first on RogueStartups.
It’s a new year which means that businesses all over are going through the OKR process and the annual planning phase for EOS. In this episode, Dave and Craig talk about how the processes are different for them this year. How do you say no to everything except what you need to do? How do you figure out what you need to you? Also, Dave highlights a planning system that has changed his outlook on the workweek.
Do you have any comments, questions, or topic ideas for future episodes? Send us an email at podcast@roguestartups.com. And as always, if you feel like our podcast has benefited you and it might benefit someone else, please share it with them. If you have a chance, give us a review on iTunes. We’ll see you next week!
Resources: Dave on Twitter
Craig on Twitter
Craig’s website
Spark Shipping
Intelligent Change Journal
Recapture.io
Castos
The post RS273: Relentless Focus appeared first on RogueStartups.
It’s the beginning of 2023, which means it’s time to reflect on what we learned from last year. Craig shares his hot take on the recession and Gumroad. Dave compares this recession to the previous ones they have lived through. They analyze trends from Q4 and look forward to what 2023 could bring. Not to mention, coaching, Elon, and AI.
Do you have any comments, questions, or topic ideas for future episodes? Send us an email at podcast@roguestartups.com. And as always, if you feel like our podcast has benefited you and it might benefit someone else, please share it with them. If you have a chance, give us a review on iTunes. We’ll see you next week!
Resources:
Ray Dalio’s video on “How the Economic Machine Works”
ChatGPT
Recapture.io
Castos
The post RS272: A Few Year-End Reflections appeared first on RogueStartups.
What is going on with these VC companies? How do you weed out the riff-raff when you offer free trials? Are you a SaaS owner and have you done an audit on your expenditures? Has it really been a couple of months since our last update?
Dave and Craig are back with company updates and industry news. They also talk about AI and what it could mean for SEO and content marketing in the future. There have been a lot of great things going on behind the scenes at Castos and Recapture including website updates, new tools, engineering as marketing. There are also other updates including the changes in pricing, infrastructure, and requiring credit cards upfront.
Do you have any comments, questions, or topic ideas for future episodes? Send us an email at podcast@roguestartups.com. And as always, if you feel like our podcast has benefited you and it might benefit someone else, please share it with them. If you have a chance, give us a review on iTunes. We’ll see you next week!
Resources:
Recapture.io
Castos
The post RS271: Long time, no podcast appeared first on RogueStartups.
Dave flies solo today, talking with Jim Breese of AppHub.com, an ecommerce app aggregator. Jim discusses the business model of aggregation in the ecommerce space, and together, Dave and Jim riff on some email marketing tactics that are uncommonly effective (and still underused by 95% of all SaaS and ecommerce marketers according to Dave).
Do you have any comments, questions, or topic ideas for future episodes? Send us an email at podcast@roguestartups.com. And as always, if you feel like our podcast has benefited you and it might benefit someone else, please share it with them. If you have a chance, give us a review on iTunes. We’ll see you next week!
Resources:
AppHub
ViralSweep
AddressValidator
RichCommerce
Email: Jim@apphub.com
Recapture.io
Castos
The post RS270: How ecommerce aggregators are winning the SaaS game appeared first on RogueStartups.
Who are you? Who is your company? Who does your company serve? Positioning is important for a number of reasons. It gives you and your company a sense of purpose and direction. But finding your niche isn’t as easy as it may seem. Dave and Craig are back! Today they’re talking about all of the […]
The post RS269: Been a while…updates and positioning appeared first on RogueStartups.
What is the difference between a CEO’s mindset and an operator’s mindset? What are lessons you’ve learned about hiring good developers? How do you do a technical evaluation for possible developers? As Dave nears his one-year reunion as a full-time entrepreneur with Recapture, he shares some of the lessons and realizations he had learned in […]
The post RS268: Lessons Learned Hiring Standout Developers appeared first on RogueStartups.
How do you take your SaaS idea and turn it into a successful business? How do you build a SaaS business from scratch? In this episode of Rogue Startups, Dave is chatting with email marketing guru, Chase Dimond. Today, he joins Dave to talk about his new platform, EmailUp. EmailUp is Canva for email. He […]
The post RS267: Hazards of Growing a SaaS from Scratch appeared first on RogueStartups.
Did you attend MicroConf 2022? What is it like to go to a convention after the pandemic? On today’s episode of Rogue Startups, Dave and Craig break down their experiences at MicroConf 2022. After a few years of attending the conference, their priorities and perspectives have changed when it comes to what they’re looking for […]
The post RS266: MicroConf 2022 Recap appeared first on RogueStartups.
In this episode, after a hiatus that was waay too long, Craig and Dave talk about Dave’s recent experience with customer interviews. There’s always a balance between taking customers’ input into your product process and having that founder level intuition to drive the product (and business) forward. Craig gives updates on his bigger picture goals […]
The post RS265: The Customer Interview Trap appeared first on RogueStartups.
Today Dave chats with Chase Clymer about Chase’s journey from being in a band to running Electric Eye, a successful Shopify strategic consulting agency. In addition to role clarification, Chase discovered a lot about himself when he transitioned from freelancer to the head of his own agency. Chase talks about his struggles, his mistakes, and […]
The post RS264: From Freelancer to Founder: Chase Clymer’s Journey to Successful Shopify Agency Owner appeared first on RogueStartups.
What do you look for when you’re searching for a developer? Which is more stressful: building a new house or moving to a different country? Are you working on the business or in the business? Dave and Craig are back after a holiday hiatus. Between Dave’s household being bombarded with sickness and Craig moving back […]
The post RS263: New Years Planning appeared first on RogueStartups.
Dave and Craig talk about cold calling, AWS outages, steady growth during the winter, and the hiring-process struggle bus. What are your thoughts about living overseas? What are your thoughts on full-time QA people? Do you have any tips on finding gems on Upwork? Do you agree that the half-life of your marketing strategy is […]
The post RS262: QA and Moving appeared first on RogueStartups.
How does quality control testing work in e-commerce? In the podcasting world and with abandoned cart recovery, it can be a hassle for smaller companies. In this episode of the Rogue Startups podcast, Dave and Craig talk about what they do to overcome the challenge of optimizing quality versus releasing updates and features in a […]
The post RS261: Optimizing Speed vs. Quality appeared first on RogueStartups.
How do you define execution? What are you doing differently than your competitors? Do you think growth stacks and compounds? On today’s episode of Rogue Startups, Dave and Craig are going over Asia Orangio’s essay, “13 Brutal truths about growth I wish every SaaS founder knew.” They go over a few highlights that stuck out […]
The post RS260: 13 Truths about SaaS appeared first on RogueStartups.
How do you play product offense? In the decision-making process, how can you tell the differences between elective decisions and core features? Customer retention. Customer experience. Team priorities. Everything is affected by the product process. Today, host Craig Hewitt is talking with Craig Zingerline about the product process, which is a process both Craigs feel […]
The post RS258: Crafting a better Product Process with Craig Zingerline appeared first on RogueStartups.
There have been a number of WordPress acquisitions this year. Today’s hot button topic is all about the Sandhills Development acquisition. It’s brought questions to the minds of everyone in the SaaS community. What are the alternatives to selling at certain points? Why not stay and go public? When do you sell your business? What […]
The post RS257: Entrepreneurial Endgame appeared first on RogueStartups.
Dave and Craig are back behind the mic to talk about refreshing their own personal brands, virtual versus in-person conferences, and goals. Dave goes over the bleak trends and headwinds for eCommerce. In more upbeat news, they also chat about Craig’s newest team members, how customer service and sales affect one another, and OKRs (objectives […]
The post RS256: Sales onboarding and eCommerce headwinds appeared first on RogueStartups.
Dave and Craig are behind the mic again. After a brief discussion about vaccines, regulations, and balancing personal and professional issues, they dive deep into sales. Craig talks about new hires and about being at an exciting but nerve-wracking place in his business. Dave shares his marketing woes and a little insight on what it […]
The post RS255: Sales and Busted Funnels appeared first on RogueStartups.
What is the ultimate test of your business’ infrastructure? Have you been doing anything to relax and unwind this summer? What is a healthy balance of “weird” and “sustainable” in terms of work schedules? Today is all about summer vacations, schedules, and sales. Dave and Craig talk about soccer camps, recharging their batteries, camping, and […]
The post RS254: Summer vacation and sales updates appeared first on RogueStartups.
In this post-July 4th episode, everything feels a little bittersweet because of the responsibilities of the upcoming school year. But for some good news, Castos has closed funding rounds in order to pursue the private podcasting market. Dave also shares the latest news about Recapture and Jilt. Dave and Craig also talk about sales, affiliate […]
The post RS253: When Will the World Be Ready for Conferences Again? appeared first on RogueStartups.
Dave and Craig are back with some interesting updates on their business and in their respective industries. Dave has had a bit of excitement since a competitor shut down. Craig talks about new integrations, new customizations, and making rich features for customers. They also discuss the ideas of cold outreach, sales, the high stickiness of […]
The post RS252: Sales and Product Influences appeared first on RogueStartups.
Dave and Craig are back again with updates on working full-time and new developments in Castos. Since his decision to go full-time with Recapture, Dave has seen a number of wonderful changes in his life. He goes over that, as well as the feedback he has received since announcing his big decision, and the power […]
The post RS251: After the dust settles appeared first on RogueStartups.
Dave and Craig are doing fan-freakin-tastic in today’s episode of the Rogue Startups podcast. Craig talks about the newest member of the Castos team. Dave has narrowed down his writer search. He shares his big announcement, which is both big news & good news, and will lead to great things for Dave and Recapture. It […]
The post RS250: A Big Announcement appeared first on RogueStartups.
In today’s episode, Dave and Craig talk about everything from the awkward teenage years of podcasting to Castos’ latest acquisitions (3 Clicks and Podient). They also go over shiny object syndrome and updates on Recapture’s content writer applicants. What are the most important aspects of acquisitions and partnerships? How do you stay focused in the […]
The post RS249: Acquisitions appeared first on RogueStartups.
In this episode of Rogue Startups, Dave and Craig catch up on the past week: Craig’s trip home, vaccines, and updates with Recapture and Castos. Dave talks about his decision with last week’s pricing problem. Craig talks about the new writer he hired and goes over his hiring process. They also discuss the differences between […]
The post RS248: Company Structure Questions, and More Content Marketing appeared first on RogueStartups.
In this episode of Rogue Startups, Dave and Craig talk about some personal updates as well as some updates in business. Today it’s all about branding, marketing, and pricing. Dave dives in with a deep topic: pricing. While companies price on a lot of different dimensions, there are three popular dimensions for email/SMS marketing: per […]
The post RS247: Pricing and Communicating Change with Customers appeared first on RogueStartups.
In this episode of Rogue Startups, Craig is stateside while his family gets the vaccine and gets a bit of vacation time in. Dave and Craig discuss the chaos that is vaccine distribution in Europe and in other countries as well as “BigSummer”, and working in different time zones and during different times of the […]
The post RS246: Prioritizing Resources and Shifting Mindsets appeared first on RogueStartups.
Where should you hire writers? How much should you pay them? Craig and Dave talk about making content marketing hiring and system mistakes, while looking for the right fit. Dave made progress on Recapture’s SMS launch, but feels like he is falling behind on paid acquisition. He’s not getting as much feedback or tight integration […]
The post RS245: Content Marketing Hiring and Systems appeared first on RogueStartups.
In this episode of Rogue Startups, Dave and Craig share the latest news in the SaaS world, like the recent changes and trends in the discussion of Easy Digital Downloads versus WooCommerce. On the business side, Dave discusses some freelance adventures. Meanwhile, Craig dives deep into streamlining his hiring process. He talks about taking steps […]
The post RS244: Taking A Corner appeared first on RogueStartups.
In this episode of Rogue Startups, Dave and Craig talk about skiing, seasonal affective disorder, the evolution of EOS at Castos, Recapture’s content struggles, integration news. They also talk about the big news involving Indie.VC shutting down it’s fund. What does this mean for the industry? Is this the future for other funds? If you […]
The post RS243: Indie.vc shutting down, and what that means for the state of funding appeared first on RogueStartups.
In this episode of Rogue Startups, Dave and Craig talk about what Q1 has looked like for both Recapture and Castos. In addition to that, they cover a wide array of topics in this episode. As the vaccine rolls out, what is going to happen to office spaces and remote working? What does the growth/outlook […]
The post RS242: Tangents appeared first on RogueStartups.
In this episode of Rogue Startups, Dave and Craig talk about the 2021 BigSnow “conference”, marketing and conversion spreadsheets, an update on Dave’s investment journey, Q1 rocks, and Craig’s horrible internet connection. They also talk about the concept of kaizen (making little changes) in business and for your health. What are your thoughts? Do you […]
The post RS241: Marketing Update, and Investing appeared first on RogueStartups.
Today, Craig is talking with his coach Adii Pienaar about life profitability. Adii is a successful SaaS entrepreneur with three SaaS companies and two successful exits under his belt. In this episode, Craig and Adii talk about what it’s like being and having a coach. What are the benefits of having a coach? What should […]
The post RS240: Life Profitability with Adii Pienaar appeared first on RogueStartups.
This week’s episode is all about goal setting and making priority lists. Craig starts the podcast off with an app suggestion for people who like to (or need to) work off of to-do lists. Dave talks about updates on Recapture. They also talk about short-term and long-term goals. What do you need to do in […]
The post RS239: Setting Goals and Priorities appeared first on RogueStartups.
Do you use the EOS system? How do you gauge when to give your team a little bit of downtime? What are your 2021 goals and initiatives? What are your online and offline businesses and how do each of those marketing and business skills transfer over? In today’s episode, Dave and Craig are talking about […]
The post RS238: EOS Update and 2021 Initiatives appeared first on RogueStartups.
In this episode, Dave and Craig try to reflect on the good parts of 2020. They’re sharing eggnog stories as well as other holiday drinks and Christmas traditions that 2020 tried to ruin. Today, they tried to stay positive by talking about how the year allowed them to find time to exercise and bond with […]
The post RS237: Being Comfortable with Being Uncomfortable appeared first on RogueStartups.
In today’s episode Dave and Craig are talking about surviving Black Friday, busy schedules, churn, and marketing initiatives around the holidays. How and when do you market around the big holiday push? Today’s big topic is all about business finance and their thoughts on how they spend money on their businesses. Craig talks about what […]
The post RS236: Financial Responsibility appeared first on RogueStartups.
In this episode, Dave and Craig are talking about what they’ve been up to for the past few weeks. They’re catching everyone up on Recapture and Castos as well as sharing their Black Friday/Cyber Monday stories, including Black Friday deals on Business Directory plug-ins. Craig touches on Giving Tuesday and giving back to the community. […]
The post RS235: Black Friday Retro appeared first on RogueStartups.
In this episode (recorded on Election Day), Dave and Craig are talking about the big topics: elections in the United States and Black Friday. This 2020 election has been about straddling lines: blue versus red, mail-in ballots versus in-person voting, etc. Craig talks about explaining the electorate voting system to adults and how difficult that […]
The post RS234 Election Predictions and Structuring A Black Friday Deal in SaaS appeared first on RogueStartups.
In this episode Dave and Craig talk through Dave’s recent founder retreat and his realizations about implementing EOS in his business and the changes that need to come about as a result.
The post RS233: Implementing EOS As A Single Founder appeared first on RogueStartups.
In this episode of the Rogue Startups Podcast, Craig is joined by Steve Mcleod from the Bootstrapped podcast. Steve is also the founder of Feature Upvote and the acquirer of Saber Feedback. Bootstrapped has been creating helpful episodes for software bootstrappers since 2013. The formatting of the show consists of episodes which are interviews with […]
The post RS232: What It’s Really Like To Live Abroad appeared first on RogueStartups.
Dave and Craig are back behind the mic. This week they’re talking about being pulled in different directions, bookkeepers, and perseverance. How long is too long when it comes to being persistent? They’re also covering updates on Castos and Recapture, along with Dave’s Tweetstorm about luck surface area. We would love to hear stories about […]
The post RS231: Maximizing Your Luck Surface Area appeared first on RogueStartups.
On this episode of Rogue Startups, Dave and Craig talk about the newest member to the Castos team, expanding time zones and work hours for customers, integrations and plug in news for Recapture, Black Friday, and unplugged time. After talking with some of the people from Big Snow, Dave ponders over EOS (Entrepreneur Operating System). […]
The post RS230: Do you EOS? appeared first on RogueStartups.
In this episode, Craig and Dave are back talking about their current state of affairs. They’re going over everything from kids going back to school, to “Members Only” jackets, to updates with their businesses. Today’s topics include integration, the hiring process, the role of communication in remote roles, developer stories, and affiliate programs. We’d love […]
The post RS229: A Developer Hiring Process appeared first on RogueStartups.
In this episode, Craig and Dave are back behind the mic talking about work hours, quality time with automations, Dave’s emotions after selling, and the benefits of working with a full plate. They also explore private podcasting with Castos, the limits of not having $10 million in the bank, infrastructure changes with Recapture, as well […]
The post RS228: Emotions: Post-Sale & A New Niche In The Market appeared first on RogueStartups.
In this episode Dave has some big news to announce. He has sold his two WordPress plugins: Business Directory and AWPCP In this episode Dave and Craig talk through: The process of getting the plugins ready for sale Where and how to list them Working with the right broker for the business you’re selling The […]
The post RS227: Dave Cashes In appeared first on RogueStartups.
In this episode, Craig sits down with Alex Theuma (Founder and CEO of SaaStock). They go over conferences, the SaaS industry, and how the coronavirus is affecting everything. Alex talks about the perks and pitfalls of online conferences. He summarizes some of the lessons when transitioning from in-person conferences to online conferences. They also chat […]
The post RS226: The Coronavirus Pivot with Alex Theuma appeared first on RogueStartups.
In this episode Dave and Craig talk through a few updates in their businesses. For Craig the big news is that the PodcastMotor brand has officially been merged into the Castos business. Over time both brands will continue to become one but that migration takes some time to complete. Castos also hired Matt Medieros of […]
The post RS225: A Castos Acquisition and Big Plugin News appeared first on RogueStartups.
In this episode I sit down with Ruben Gamez, founder of both Bidsketch and Docsketch. Ruben has been running Bidsketch for some time now, and along the way he’s developed quite a savvy approach to marketing and content marketing in some unconventional ways. Now with getting Docsketch off the ground in a competitive market Ruben […]
The post RS224: Marketing Attribution and Why Not To Have A Blog with Ruben Gamez appeared first on RogueStartups.
In this episode Craig sits down for a chat with Rob Walling, founder of TinySeed and previously founder at Drip. In this conversation Craig and Rob talk through how things at TinySeed are going here in the second cohort, what things he’s learned along the way in running the accelerator, and what they’re doing differently […]
The post RS223: TinySeed Updates and Alternatives To Exiting with Rob Walling appeared first on RogueStartups.
In this episode Craig talks with Christopher Gimmer, co-founder of Snappa about how they approach content marketing and SEO as a primary growth engine in their business. With recent developments in competitor companies, Christopher and Craig talk through how news like massive funding rounds or buyouts make them feel about the path that their respective […]
The post RS222: What High Performing Content Marketing Actually Looks Like with Christopher Gimmer from Snappa appeared first on RogueStartups.
In this episode Craig is joined by Ward Sandler, cofounder of MemberSpace. Here Craig and Ward talk through how the Memberspace team is organized, how the run the business, and what successes they’ve seen in growth in the past few years, especially during the Covid crisis. Ward is a firm believer that EVERY business should […]
The post RS221: Optimizing the Customer Feedback Loop with Ward Sandler from Memberspace appeared first on RogueStartups.
After a few weeks away to process what is going on in our lives between the Covid-19 pandemic, a crumbling economy, and police brutality and the Black Lives Matter movement we’re back to talk through how all of this has affected us. Also in the startup news cycle this week was Basecamp’s “Hey” email client, […]
The post RS220: A few rants, and some business appeared first on RogueStartups.
The term Product Led Growth is quickly becoming commonplace in the SaaS marketing and product world, but what does it mean when it comes to implementing this into your business practice? In this episode I sit down with Moritz Dausinger, founder of Refiner.io, to talk through how he is building a suite of tools to […]
The post RS219: Product Led Growth with Moritz Dausinger appeared first on RogueStartups.
In this episode, Craig chats with Geordie Wardman about his experience working with both SaaS and agency models. They go over the pros and cons of an agency model, Geordie’s tips on how to build a great offshore team, the art of dabbling, and what he looks for when he buys businesses. He also covers […]
The post RS218: Running a Hybrid SaaS and Agency Model with Geordie Wardman appeared first on RogueStartups.
In this episode Craig and Dave talk through a few updates from our businesses. With the Covid-19 crisis beginning to settle down in some areas we’re all experiencing more freedoms and becoming better adjusted to the proverbial “new norm”. Resources Mentioned Twitter thread from David Perrell
The post RS217: How World Views Are Shaped appeared first on RogueStartups.
In this episode Dave and Craig catch up on what’s been going on in their businesses in the past few weeks. We feature the first of our companies from the Help Founders program, Nodewood. Nodewood is a “SaaS application in a box” for developers who want a head start on their next Node.js project.
The post RS216: Channeling Uncertainty appeared first on RogueStartups.
In this episode Craig sits down with Robin Warren of Corrello. They talk through managing the risk of building an extension to an existing platform, doing user testing to release better products the first time, and how Covid-19 is affecting our businesses (and personal lives). Robin’s team has just finished a long (multi-year) development project […]
The post RS215: Managing Platform Risk with Robin Warren appeared first on RogueStartups.
Having a plan, even if it’s an imperfect one, is a great starting point for many business owners. Especially when it comes to the meta question of “how to run your business”. In this episode I chat with Kevin McArdle from Sureswift Capital to talk through how he has implemented the EOS, Enrepreneurs Operating System, […]
The post RS214: Implementing EOS with Kevin McArdle appeared first on RogueStartups.
The Covid-19 crisis may just be getting started. And with it the impact that the economic slowdown, changes in customers’ buying patterns, and our own general social activities are all changing. So how can we adjust or position our business to survive (and maybe even thrive) in these times? In this episode Dave and Craig […]
The post RS213: Positioning Your Business For Survival appeared first on RogueStartups.
Welcome back to Rogue Startups. On today’s episode, I sat down with one of my oldest bootstrap web-world friends, Dave Schneider (formerly the co-founder of NinjaOutreach) to talk about SaaS, how our companies are doing, the current trends in the SaaS market, and Dave’s newest business (a digital marketing agency, Shortlist.io). We also cover the […]
The post RS212: Reflecting On A Life Changing Exit appeared first on RogueStartups.
On today’s episode of Rogue Startups, we talk about how weird it has been lately because of the uncertainty of the Coronavirus (COVID-19). There is uncertainty when it comes to the state of the world and our health, as well as the economy and the future of our businesses. We are both anxious and calm, […]
The post RS211: Coping Best We Can appeared first on RogueStartups.
Covid-19 is changing much of our lives. personally, professionally, and socially. In this episode Craig and Dave talk through changes they’re seeing personally, things they’re facing with their businesses in light of the Coronavirus situation that many of us are grappling with.
The post RS210: Is This The New Normal? appeared first on RogueStartups.
In this episode Craig is joined by the former founders of FeedbackPanda, Danielle Simpson and Arvid Kahl. Danielle and Arvid are a great story that many of us heard initially at MicroConf Europe 2019 where in their attendee talk they described the journey of building, growing, and exiting their EdTech SaaS app. It’s great to […]
The post RS209: $0 to $55K MRR in 2 Years, Then an Exit with Arvid Kahl and Danielle Simpson appeared first on RogueStartups.
Coronavirus is the topic of the day, in so many ways. In this episode, Dave and Craig talk through what Covid19 is (or could be) affecting in your business. Whether it is a slowdown or change in buying habits for your customers (and their customers) or a direct impact on you and your team’s ability […]
The post RS208: How Coronavirus Is Affecting Our Businesses appeared first on RogueStartups.
In this episode Dave and Craig talk through what aspects of our childhood affect us as founders. And not just our life now as founders, but what drew us away from the corporate life and into entrepreneurship. Often it is some traumatic or high impact experience from our youth that sends us down an entrepreneurial […]
The post RS207: Nature or Nurture appeared first on RogueStartups.
In this episode Dave and Craig talk through the sales process that PodcastMotor has adopted since bringing on a dedicated sales team member. Finding, training, and successfully onboarding a sales person for your company is a key step in enabling growth, especially for businesses with a LTV > $5k. Resources Mentioned Dynamite Jobs The Who […]
The post RS206: Sales Hiring and Process appeared first on RogueStartups.
On today’s episode of Rogue Startups, Jake Jorgovan shares his thoughts about productized services, sales, and “almost” selling businesses. Jake owns and runs Lead Cookie (a LinkedIn, email, and phone outreach, lead generation, and prospecting service) and Content Allies (content marketing for consultants). Jake also has a website/personal blog, and a podcast where he talks […]
The post RS205: Productized Services At Scale with Jake Jorgovan appeared first on RogueStartups.
After a brief delay Craig and Dave are back. This week talking about some of their recent experiences in paid acquisition. Dave has had some early success in the Shopify app store with paid acquisition of new trials. Craig and his team are continuing to evolve how they approach paid acquisition for Castos, and are […]
The post RS204: Paid Acquisition Experiments and Tiny Confs appeared first on RogueStartups.
Today, Dave and Craig go through a few updates: vacations, new developers, input from customers, TinySeed, and funding “paychecks” versus lump sums. We also talk about what it means to add value to your company and when you should let go. The focus topic for the day is all about cofounders and multiple-founder businesses. What […]
The post RS203: Letting Go appeared first on RogueStartups.
With Dave off this week, Craig spends this episode talking about achievements in 2019 and “doing it better the second time around” with Benedikt Deicke, from Userlist, which is a lifecycle messaging and email for SaaS products. We go over the various lessons we have learned from going through the process once before, then approaching […]
The post RS202: Better the Second Time appeared first on RogueStartups.
Today on Rogue Startups, Dave and Craig are talking about a timely and time-alicious topic: looking back on 2019 and what they will do for 2020. We talk about luck surface area; tactical vs strategic planning for 2020; increasing our goals and scope; learning from your mistakes/competitors; and praise for Asia Matos, TinySeed, and Obviously […]
The post RS201: What Lessons We’re Taking From 2019 appeared first on RogueStartups.
Today on Rogue Startups, we take a moment to thank everyone for the past 200 episodes, especially the listeners. We also go over a few things that we’ve learned over the past 200 episodes including: “What tactic are you finding to be uncommonly effective in the recent past?” and “What tactic have you used before […]
The post RS200: We’ve All Learned A Lot appeared first on RogueStartups.
In episode 199, we talk about our surprise Christmas plans for episode 200 (a Q&A from some great people in the start-up community, to be released on Christmas Day). Dave talks about how well things are going with Recapture and how the progress has been post-”Black Friday”. He also talks about paid/pricing program, forecasting for […]
The post RS199: Doing The Product Dance appeared first on RogueStartups.
Today, I am talking with Asia Matos (the CEO and founder of Demand Maven) about marketing. This episode is not for the faint of heart; it’s mainly for people who already know a bit about marketing. If you’re new to marketing, there will still be a lot of great information for you today. Asia and […]
The post RS198: Marketing 201 with Asia Matos appeared first on RogueStartups.
This week Dave and Craig talk through the challenges of maintaining a level head even in the face of some of the most challenging emotional times as a founder. The particularly difficult times for us include: Navigating times of slow or negative growth Competitors moving faster (or in an interesting direction) than we are Work/Life […]
The post RS197: Not Losing Your Mind appeared first on RogueStartups.
Today on Rogue Startups, Dave and Craig talk about when and why we should move horizontally in the podcasting world and in eCommerce. They talk about the pros and cons of moving horizontally and branching out, checkbox strategies, and when it can be a boat anchor instead of propelling you and your business forward. Dave […]
The post RS196: Getting Outside Your Wheelhouse appeared first on RogueStartups.
In this episode Craig and Dave talk through the challenges of middle and bottom of funnel marketing attribution after a great suggestion from former guest on the show James Kennedy. If you’re not already using UTM parameters to track external links to your site in emails, guest posts, marketplace listings, etc. that’s the easiest and […]
The post RS195: Mastering Marketing Attribution appeared first on RogueStartups.
Dave and Craig talk are both back and today they’re catching everyone up on some surprise snow, school vacations, and Craig gives Dave a recap of the MicroConf in Croatia. Not only did Craig spend a lot of time with entrepreneurs, but he also got the chance to go kayaking at Blackwater Bay, and go […]
The post RS194: MicroConf Europe Recap appeared first on RogueStartups.
Today on Rogue Startups, Dave is talking with “one of the ten youngest billionaires in Africa” Adii Pienaar about his entrepreneurial history and Conversio’s acquisition by Campaign Monitor. Adii talks about why he took the exit fro Conversio, the difficulties in e-commerce and e-marketing, the move from customer campaign monitor to the acquisition, the difference […]
The post RS193: A little bit Carnegie, a little bit Tennyson – Adii Pienaar on life and two exits appeared first on RogueStartups.
Today on Rogue Startups, Craig and Dave talk about masterminds, peer feedback, and a tweetstorm by Briana about Stripe. They go over the benefits of mastermind groups, the different types, and what makes a good one. They share their experiences, what they each need from a group, and how that’s changed as they grow as […]
The post RS192: Do You Need A Mastermind? appeared first on RogueStartups.
In this episode, Dave and Craig talk through Recapture’s recent growth spurt and the opportunities (and challenges) that it provides to Dave and the team. Resources Mentioned Microconf State of Independent SaaS Companies Survey NetworkThinking SysAdmin/Devops Team
The post RS191: The Baggage That Comes With High Growth appeared first on RogueStartups.
Today Craig talks to Andy Baldacci about Andy’s background, his current projects, and what it takes to be an effective founder. Craig and Andy also talk about cofounders and sharing duties, the extra stress that comes with being a founder, “wearing the product hat”, optimizing, mapping out the process, and finding a system that works […]
The post RS190: Andy Baldacci on being an Effective Founder appeared first on RogueStartups.
Today on Rogue Startups, Craig and Dave catch up on some lifestyle changes: mainly Whole30, the AIP diet, Profitwell emails, the importance of keywords, human versus automated customer support, Black Friday posts, and Craig’s new “Office Hours”. Craig and Dave go over the idea of growth teams based on Lars Lofgren’s article on the topic. […]
The post RS189: Are Growth Teams Overrated? appeared first on RogueStartups.
In this episode of Rogue Startups, Dave and Craig chat about recent updates with their businesses. After a busy summer, Craig catches everyone up with how Castos is doing. He also talks about the pros and cons of credit card trial processes, micromanaging, and references David Hensel’s great management techniques. Dave talks about the growth […]
The post RS188: Recapture Growth and Changing the Trial Flow appeared first on RogueStartups.
This episode of Rogue Startups, Craig chats with fellow entrepreneur Jordan Gal. Jordan is the founder and CEO of CartHook, which is a software company that provides an e-commerce platform for online businesses and the Bootstrapped Web podcast. Craig and Jordan talk about product development and process; the difference between “hovering” and managing; the role […]
The post RS187: The Evolving Product Process with Jordan Gal of CartHook appeared first on RogueStartups.
This week Craig catches up with fellow TinySeed founder Bryan Marble from ClientRock. Bryan is a multi time SaaS founder in the legal tech space and is growing out his second app as part of the innagural TinySeed cohort. Craig and Bryan talk through the ups and downs of being part of a remote accelerator, […]
The post RS186: Inside TinySeed with Bryan Marble from ClientRock appeared first on RogueStartups.
This week Dave and Craig are catching up on a few developments in their businesses. Craig has been busy with onboarding and getting a few new team members started. Both in PodcastMotor and in Castos he’s hired some senior level folks in Sales and Marketing roles, respectively. Turns out that hiring senior level talent into […]
The post RS185: Hiring Senior Level Team Members appeared first on RogueStartups.
This week Dave and Craig talk about something that none of us really love chatting about, but it absolutely needs to be addressed. How this path we’ve chosen is tough, full of uncertainty, and can definitely lead to burnout. Dave has been feeling some frustration with consulting clients, and the cumulative weight of it is […]
The post RS184: Founder Mental Health appeared first on RogueStartups.
In this episode Dave and Craig talk through a few updates and the very compelling article from Alex Turnbull, the founder of Groove on what it’s like to grow a company to $500k/mo MRR and then realize that the house is crumbling down all around you. Resources Mentioned Original Groove article Groove article (part 2)
The post RS183: Almost Quitting a Successful Business appeared first on RogueStartups.
In this episode, we discuss upping Podcast Motor’s marketing game, what’s new at Recapture, and making new hires for the first time ever. Topics: What we did on our summer vacation. The current state of Podcast Motor. Hiring a full-time marketer or sales team. Updates on Recapture. Using Google Analytics to help customers track their […]
The post RS182: Marketing Attribution, and a Few New Hires appeared first on RogueStartups.
Today, on Rogue Startups, Craig has a conversation with Shai Schechter from RightMessage. Together, they discuss how Shai and his team got started, acquired funding, and then later pivoted their business. Tune in to hear about all of this and more! Topics: How Shai’s team got started with RightMessage Raising capital for RightMessage When and […]
The post RS181: Better Website Personalization with Shai Schechter of RightMessage appeared first on RogueStartups.
In this episode Dave and Craig catch up after a few weeks of interviews and weeks without updates. From Craig’s side, Castos is hiring a full time, full stack marketer. They’ve got a bunch of really highly qualified candidates, but are still accepting applications through the end of July. If you’re interested check out the […]
The post RS180 – Castos is Hiring, and B2B Facebook Ads teardown appeared first on RogueStartups.
In honor of Craig’s absence, I am going to rant about WordPress with special guest, Matt. Matt and I go on an extended rant, where we break down all our issues with WordPress, past and present. Topics: The new Guttenberg format The installs required for the new format vs. the classic editor The Pearl community […]
The post RS179: The Future of WordPress Rant appeared first on RogueStartups.
On this episode of Rogue Startups, we discuss cognitive biases and how they affect your decision-making process. Tune in to hear us discuss various types of biases that affect the way we do business every day. Topics: Craig and Dave’s respective business and personal updates How bias is unavoidable The survivorship bias Confirmation bias Innovation […]
The post RS178: Cognitive Biases That Affect Our Decisions appeared first on RogueStartups.
Today Craig has on Jane Portman and Benedikt Deicke, the team from Userlist.io. Userlist is a lightweight customer communication tool for SaaS applications, and in this episode Craig, Benedikt and Jane dig into many aspects of email onboarding for SaaS. Specifically they talk about: Why custom events are better than tags Where and when in-app […]
The post RS177: Better SaaS Onboarding with Jane Portman and Benedikt Deicke appeared first on RogueStartups.
Today Dave and Craig catch up on updates in their businesses and talk a bit about market dynamics and the influences that they have in your businesses success potential. Dave just recently released a major point version of his AWPCP plugin, which has been a long time coming now and introduces automatic renewals for their […]
The post RS176: How a Market Influences Your Success appeared first on RogueStartups.
In today’s episode, we discuss a variety of topics, including Craig’s Castos getting accepted into TinySeed and the growing No-Code movement. Tune in to hear us discuss these things plus the limitations of Excel, the general need for more distraction-free time, and so much more. Topics: Castos was accepted into TinySeed Pushing sites updates The […]
The post RS175: Castos Joins TinySeed, and the NoCode Movement appeared first on RogueStartups.
This episode is a slight departure from the normal startup-y banter between Dave and Craig. After a horrific school shooting at the school where Dave’s children go there is a lot of unrest in the Denver community around school safety, gun control, and what everyone can/should expect at the intersection of those few parts of […]
The post RS174: Getting All Political appeared first on RogueStartups.
In this episode, we discuss some changes to our recording process, growth within our own companies, and having a holistic marketing plan. Tune in to hear us discuss all these things and more. Topics: Recording with Zoom. Getting reviews from customers. Attending FentoConf Growth and progress. Having a holistic view of your marketing plan. Measuring […]
The post RS173: Loops Over Funnels appeared first on RogueStartups.
Craig speaks with Pedro Cortes about converting high end Saas customers. We based a previous episode on Pedro’s blog on this very topic. We thought it would be a good idea to bring him in and hear ideas from the horse’s mouth. Tune in to hear what Pedro has to say about converting high-end Saas […]
The post RS172: SaaS Landing Page Best Practices with Pedro Cortes appeared first on RogueStartups.
In this episode, we are joined by Kevin McArdle, the Co-Founder and CEO of SureSwift Capital, a holding company that acquires and operates small businesses in perpetuity, Tune in to hear us discuss how SureSwift Capital maintains its portfolio and important tools that keep the company running. Topics: SureSwift’s operating infrastructure. Why and how SureSwift […]
The post RS171: Running a Portfolio Business with Kevin McArdle appeared first on RogueStartups.
This week Dave and Craig catch up on their businesses after a few weeks without updates. Craig is looking forward to the end of the year to put together a SaaS specific founder retreat in Tuscany, Italy toward the end of the year. If anyone is interested in joining head over to saasretreat.com and drop […]
The post RS170: Doubling Down on What’s Working appeared first on RogueStartups.
In this episode, the discussion surrounds the tailwinds and headwinds of business. Tune in to hear this discussion about the ways in which business has changed and can potentially change in the future. Topics: A message from Rob Walling regarding their MicroConf episode. The binary thinking of the MicroConf community. How MicroConf and other conferences […]
The post RS169: Headwinds and Tailwinds in Your Business appeared first on RogueStartups.