April 2nd, 2009 by Joshua Bob
Welcome to KnowThenGrow!
Know Then Grow is a consulting firm that helps new ventures get off the ground. We specifically work with new small businesses – and ones that don’t yet exist – and help them succeed. We work with your company to find experts who can help you grow, regardless of your current size.
Know Then Grow is a both a resource and a service provider, customizing our consulting approach for each client. From early-stage feasibility studies and market research, to branding and raising capital, every business has different needs, and Know Then Grow understands the steps necessary to take start-ups from concept to success.
Know Then Grow levels the playing field for would-be entrepreneurs by helping with everything from concept research and product development, to branding, marketing, and raising capital. We take a “can’t-miss” idea and make sure that it doesn’t, by helping research the market, competitors, and other factors that a new entrepreneur might not consider.
Know Then Grow allows clients to forego the normal fee structure, and instead give a small stake in their firm in exchange for services rendered. This allows early-stage companies to spend less on consulting and more on succeeding, as well as giving Know Then Grow a stake in our clients’ success.
September 25th, 2009 by Joshua Bob
Using Twitter to brand your company is an art form, but it’s becoming easier every day to replicate results. There are a number of key components to any Twitter branding campaign:
1. Tweet regularly, but don’t overuse it.
2. Twitter is an informal tool, so don’t make every post a link with a stuffy title.
3. Remember that Twitter is a conversation – just like a real life conversation, there are unspoken rules:
a. Don’t be the only one talking
b. Converse – but remember that everyone in the “room” can hear you, so don’t get into long, drawn-out conversations with one or two other people
c. Don’t only talk about yourself
d. Know your audience.
4. Monitor, monitor, monitor. If you’re not monitoring what people are saying about your brand on Twitter, you’re missing about 75% of the point.
5. Use positive feedback as a chance to build brand, and negative feedback as a chance to make things right.
6. Make time to tweet, but don’t get caught up in it. You can easily lose four hours a day on Twitter.
7. Don’t get caught up in your follower count. Talk to people, help them solve their problems, and your count will grow.
8. Remember to identify yourself and your brand – otherwise, people won’t know where to go if they want to use your services.
I hope these tips help you grow your business using just another weapon in the marketing arsenal.
April 22nd, 2009 by Joshua Bob
Want to start your venture? You’ll need funding.
Want funding? You’ll need to know how to pitch.
Check out this presentation from Nivi over at VentureHacks. Great points!
April 21st, 2009 by Joshua Bob
Think you want to be an entrepreneur? Are you sure?
Now read this article about the unintended consequences of startups – the “downside” to entrepreneurship.
Jason shares some fantastic – and very personal – effects of starting his own company. If you think you want to found a startup, you’ll want to read this.
April 20th, 2009 by Joshua Bob
If my business was based in New York, I’d definitely love to have the endorsement of NY Mets shortstop Jose Reyes and pitcher Johan Santana, but I think I’d be daunted by the cost.
One beverage firm found a way around that price by offering each a 1% stake in the company in exchange for a photo session and the right to use the players’ names as endorsers.
Think about what this could mean for your business. Think your brand is too small to get a celebrity endorsement? Think again.
April 20th, 2009 by Joshua Bob
Think you want to pay for publicity? Think again – get some press, and you’ll get more “eyeballs” at a far lower cost!
Check out TPE’s 54 Best PR Tips for Entrepreneurs. You’ll find some fantastic, creative ideas – many of which you’ve probably never thought of – as well as some refinements on concepts that you probably already knew.
April 19th, 2009 by Joshua Bob
Scott Gerber of YoungEntrepreneur.com takes us through five tips to make your brand look bigger and more valuable – even if you’re not.
I’d add #6: Good customer service. Even if you can’t have an office front or a top-notch business card, making sure you always respond to your customers will win you enough points to compensate and keep them coming back.
April 18th, 2009 by Joshua Bob
There’s team building, and then there’s team building. I’m pretty sure this article describes the latter.
One addition: sports. Depending on which one you choose and how it’s played, sports can be a fantastic team-building activity — you just need to foster an air of encouragement instead of one of competition. Try kickball. 
April 18th, 2009 by Joshua Bob
Toilet Paper Entrepreneur has a great article about How to Hire Someone in the Recession. It includes five points, each of which stresses attitude as much as aptitude.
I would add a sixth point: Don’t bite off more than you can chew. Hiring only makes sense for your company if you need someone, so make sure the position meets that criterion before you leap into the hiring process.
April 18th, 2009 by Joshua Bob
Check out the article: 10 Do’s and Don’ts for Naming.
Some smart stuff. I’d add #11: Make sure your URL is available, or at least an alternative is. You don’t want to have a spectacular name that ends up with a .ru domain name because everything down to the .us was taken.
April 14th, 2009 by Joshua Bob
I think I invented a new phrase today, and I’m blogging about it to make sure there’s a record:
Pre-Network (v.) – To network online with someone whom you have never met in person, with the express intent of meeting in person in the future.
(just wanted to get this out there!)
