starting an agency & lessons learnt | wdc 2011
DESCRIPTION
Lessons & things I wish people had told me when I launched Strawberrysoup | WDC 2011TRANSCRIPT
21.10.11_Web Developer Conference 2011
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LESSONS & THINGSI WISH PEOPLE HAD TOLD ME WHEN I LAUNCHEDSTRAWBERRYSOUP
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_ How we got started
_ The modern day
_ You don’t need a business plan
_ Money, money, money
_ Stick to what you know
_ Learn when to say no
_ Trust your instinct
_ It’s all about people
_ Questions
WHAT I’M COVERING
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HOWWE GOTSTARTED
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HOW WE GOT STARTED
Final year of our university degrees
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HOW WE GOT STARTED
Launched in 2005 from a garden shed
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HOW WE GOT STARTED
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HOW WE GOT STARTED
Started by offering affordable website packages
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HOW WE GOT STARTED
Sold our 1st website on eBay
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HOW WE GOT STARTED
Startup funds & savings
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THEMODERNDAY
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WHO ARE WE?
Evolved into a full service agency
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WHO ARE WE?
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WHO ARE WE?
Talented team of 15
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WHO ARE WE?
Chichester, Bournemouth & London
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WHO ARE WE?
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YOUDON’T NEED ABUSINESS PLAN
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YOU DON’T NEED A BUSINESS PLAN
Planning is very important
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YOU DON’T NEED A BUSINESS PLAN
Long term objectives --> then work backwards
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YOU DON’T NEED A BUSINESS PLAN
Strategic plan showing steps to take
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YOU DON’T NEED A BUSINESS PLAN
Cashflow is very difficult to estimate at startup
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MONEYMONEYMONEY
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MONEY, MONEY, MONEY
You don’t need venture capital or investment
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MONEY, MONEY, MONEY
We used assets available to us
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MONEY, MONEY, MONEY
Months to live spreadsheet
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MONEY, MONEY, MONEY
Don’t trade services to save money
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MONEY, MONEY, MONEY
Grants available so use them!
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MONEY, MONEY, MONEY
“Cash is king” - stage payments to improve cashflow
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STICK TOWHAT YOUKNOW
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STICK TO WHAT YOU KNOW
Don’t pretend to know more than you do
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STICK TO WHAT YOU KNOW
CRM, CTi, .net, SQL
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STICK TO WHAT YOU KNOW
It’s ok to say “let me look into this and let you know”
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LEARNWHEN TOSAY NO
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LEARN WHEN TO SAY NO
The customer is not always right
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LEARN WHEN TO SAY NO
You have been hired as the expert
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LEARN WHEN TO SAY NO
My uncles friends brothers mums cat knows HTML
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LEARN WHEN TO SAY NO
Your opinion counts, make sure it’s heard
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LEARN WHEN TO SAY NO
You don’t have to accept every project
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TRUSTYOURINSTINCT
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TRUST YOUR INSTINCT
Don’t be blinded by the ££
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TRUST YOUR INSTINCT
Work with like-minded clients and team members
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TRUST YOUR INSTINCT
Follow your gut feeling
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TRUST YOUR INSTINCT
Solid contract & legal backup
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TRUST YOUR INSTINCT
Don’t loose perspective of problems
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IT’S ALLABOUT THEPEOPLE
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IT’S ALL ABOUT THE PEOPLE
Recruiting is easier than you think
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IT’S ALL ABOUT THE PEOPLE
Reliable accountant for PAYE and tax
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IT’S ALL ABOUT THE PEOPLE
It’s not all about qualifications
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IT’S ALL ABOUT THE PEOPLE
Personality vs. professional ability
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IT’S ALL ABOUT THE PEOPLE
Probation period as a contingency
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IT’S ALL ABOUT THE PEOPLE
Save money by not using recruitment agencies
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TIMEFORQUESTIONS