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Re:Ask HN: How to learn marketing and sales as a solo entrep... by neom on Tuesday December 31, 2024 @10:38AM (#42559319)
I've been doing go to market for technology businesses to some degree for the better part of 20 years now and I still learn more every day. I don't really see it as something you can easily learn by reading about, mostly because there is a lot of nuance.

That said, it basically boils down to 3 things:

Personas Channels Messages

You have an archetype of someone in your head that would like your tool, you want to test if that archetype exists. That persona likely consumes content, your job then is to understand the channels that persona typically likes to consume their content, and try to serve them a message they can understand in the time you have to serve it. There are thousands of personas in millions of channels consuming billions of messages, that is why it's hard.

I'm happy to give you an hour of my time for free to do a deep dive on your particular problems. https://calendly.com/ipconfig / je at h4x.club

Re:Ask HN: How to learn marketing and sales as a solo entrep... by metalman on Tuesday December 31, 2024 @11:56AM (#42559945)
your gooooood! humble intro that segues into a this is so, so hard.... awsome lay it all out for free, WOW! personas channels messages

smooooth finnish with a free puppy

nuance indeed

call that? the keys to the palace and a free puppy sale!, who could say no?

for the parent: hire this guy!

If you cant, then get a jobby job selling retail to the masses, and just sell sell sell, get a thicker hide, and be able to summon a smile for the worst person you are ever going to meet

Re:Ask HN: How to learn marketing and sales as a solo entrep... by neom on Tuesday December 31, 2024 @12:51PM (#42560385)
I can't tell if this is a backhanded compliment or just the backhand, but it made me laugh never the less.
Re:Ask HN: How to learn marketing and sales as a solo entrep... by yu3zhou4 on Tuesday December 31, 2024 @01:22PM (#42560629)
I think that was genuine, maybe a bit overemotional, and I’m unsure why they’re getting downvoted
Re:Ask HN: How to learn marketing and sales as a solo entrep... by econ on Friday January 03, 2025 @12:45AM (#42582888)
It makes people angry because it is true.

When I got the job selling an insanely inferior version of the product I couldn't sell the formula was this, sit down and listen...

They had 40 different registered businesses all selling the same software but with a different name to protect the guilty. A modest size call center divided into 40 groups. Each prospect would get at least 40 calls but more often something towards 120. Pricing started high then gradually lowered with a few "errors" so that the prospect could say they got a call 2 days ago and they only charged x. "Ohh, that cheap???" Etc

It worked, people got really angry 30 to 80 calls in and they purchased from the "other" company.

Re:Ask HN: How to learn marketing and sales as a solo entrep... by ayewo on Friday January 03, 2025 @11:21AM (#42586912)
That formula is definitely hilarious
Re:Ask HN: How to learn marketing and sales as a solo entrep... by econ on Friday January 03, 2025 @08:39PM (#42591482)
One of my learning moments involved the realization that keeping up with the Joneses is much more appealing than being ahead. If all npcs interact with the village fountain it makes perfect sense. If you are the first to discover tossing a coin in it and making a wish it is going to be a hard sell.
Re:Ask HN: How to learn marketing and sales as a solo entrep... by notpushkin on Friday January 03, 2025 @03:09AM (#42583641)
I can’t even decipher it tbh
Re:Ask HN: How to learn marketing and sales as a solo entrep... by sliq on Friday January 03, 2025 @09:10PM (#42591665)
sounds like a weird AI comment to me
Re:Ask HN: How to learn marketing and sales as a solo entrep... by yu3zhou4 on Tuesday December 31, 2024 @01:21PM (#42560619)
Much appreciated John, I’d be happy to discuss stuff with you once I’m ready
Re:Ask HN: How to learn marketing and sales as a solo entrep... by cpfohl on Friday January 03, 2025 @06:20AM (#42584651)
“Once I’m ready” is a trap.

It’s a free hour of consulting with someone that has experience in exactly what you’re struggling with…worst case scenario (no offense neom) you walk away with an hour less to binge Netflix and a hilarious story; best case they point something out that moves you to profitable months or years sooner.

My instinct tells me that you posted this here because you wanted something like this.

Re:Ask HN: How to learn marketing and sales as a solo entrep... by yu3zhou4 on Saturday January 04, 2025 @04:26AM (#42593663)
You are very right. I deferred it out of fear. I just scheduled a call with neom thanks to you comment. Thank you!
Re:Ask HN: How to learn marketing and sales as a solo entrep... by cpfohl on Saturday January 04, 2025 @08:20PM (#42598937)
Way to go!
Re:Ask HN: How to learn marketing and sales as a solo entrep... by yu3zhou4 on Sunday January 05, 2025 @03:33PM (#42604792)
Btw I checked out your personal website and got curious - why do you speak Polish so well?
Re:Ask HN: How to learn marketing and sales as a solo entrep... by cpfohl on Tuesday January 07, 2025 @10:52PM (#42630715)
I lived there from 5-11, then studied it again when I turned 18. I'm rusty, but after a few days of full immersion I'm back to my 11 year old fluency. In the meantime my good accent combined with my grammar and vocabulary make me sound...a tad slow.
Re:Ask HN: How to learn marketing and sales as a solo entrep... by yu3zhou4 on Wednesday January 08, 2025 @03:39AM (#42632288)
Interesujące i bardzo unikalne doświadczenie :) Pozdrowienia z Gdańska
Re:Ask HN: How to learn marketing and sales as a solo entrep... by cpfohl on Thursday January 09, 2025 @12:04PM (#42647607)
Nawzajem! Mieszkałem we Wrocławiu! Teraz mieszkam na północ do Bostonu.
Re:Ask HN: How to learn marketing and sales as a solo entrep... by neom on Wednesday January 08, 2025 @03:48PM (#42638285)
You were correct, we had a good call and I go him directionally correct. He knows what to do now. Thanks for encouraging him.
Re:Ask HN: How to learn marketing and sales as a solo entrep... by lazyeye on Wednesday January 01, 2025 @05:37AM (#42565202)
Nice summary thankyou.
Re:Ask HN: How to learn marketing and sales as a solo entrep... by neom on Friday January 03, 2025 @09:23PM (#42591741)
(HI! I can't edit this post, so: Plz email before you put down some time on my cal, 23 people scheduled themselves in without emailing first, I'm flattered, however if you're not OP please email first, when I originally responded to this post it wasn't very popular and I didn't expect it to pop off - thank you!!! :))
Re:Ask HN: How to learn marketing and sales as a solo entrep... by yu3zhou4 on Wednesday January 08, 2025 @03:36PM (#42638184)
I just had a chat with neom and he helped me a lot with going deep into personas - channels - message. A helpful dude, if anyone thinks about reaching out to him, then from my experience it sounds like a good idea