tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6989809223124377270.post3414196773914199578..comments2023-07-14T03:52:56.764-04:00Comments on Mark Smith On The Business of Home Built Cars: Victoria's not so secretMark Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03963858222707593914noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6989809223124377270.post-53047558361686312052011-06-25T08:47:47.878-04:002011-06-25T08:47:47.878-04:00Mark,
Thanks for taking the time to write these. ...Mark,<br /><br />Thanks for taking the time to write these. It takes a lot of guts to vet not only the product, but the personal and business process of a start-up. It's cool that you've recognized the shift in product promotion seen in these niche industries and Facebook is a very good tool for that, as it allows you to build a fan base and enter meaningful discussions with your fans (and perhaps convert to owners). It's easy to get caught up in the seemingly endless ways to tweet, like, blog, post, etc. and I've seen lots of startups try the broad reach perspective where, like McDonald's or GM, there's a formal presence on every single aspect of the Internet. Screw that! You've chose, rightly I think, to limit the discussion to a few select paths, giving clarity to your fans. As you grow, sure, have a fancy website and forums and go for more eyeballs. For now, you don't need that. Build the tribe and build meaning for your fans into the product. The folks that you need now are the dedicated few who are searching for your solution. There's a lot of noise out there and tools like Facebook make it much easier for those potential buyers to find gems among the swarf. FB is large enough where, although there's not much control of the format, it's mature such that I wouldn't expect any radical swings in the platform.Stan DeForesthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10398530397527861477noreply@blogger.com