9 rules for better start-up marketing.Mike Carden.

1. Avoid tables with Skirts.

If you have to choose between professional or memorable, always choose memorable.

If you want to be a disruptor, you will need to be comfortable with being disruptive.

2. When everyone else Zigs, Zag.

Where do your prospects get information from?

Google

Elsewhere

If your chart looks like Pac Man, then your competitors will go after the yellow. Chasing the grey will probably be more cost effective.

3. Be simple, not big.

4. Be likeable…

…but don’t get hung up on everyone having to like you.

5. If your Marketing doesn’t have measurable outcomes, then it ain’t 2013.

I like you

I may want to buy

something from youreal soon

time

A simple model is better than no model.

6. Remember, 57% of statistics are made up on the spot.

I used to think that correlation implied causation

Then I took a statistics class, now I don’t

Sounds like the class helped

Well, maybe.

Marketers need to understand the difference between correlation and causation.

There are two types of marketing: Wild-eyed ideas, or Data centric. Choose one.

7. Marketers are people too. Manage them.

“If you need to drug test a candidate to know they are on drugs, then your probably shouldn’t be a hiring manager.”

- Anonymous previous manager of mine.

Hire good people, no exceptions.Deal with staff problems now.Hire people smarter than you.Say thank you.Treat people like adults.Let them eat cake (in an inclusive non-French Revolution kind of way).

8. Momentum is more important than perfection.

Even Van Gogh started out badly. Trying too hard for perfection is the single biggest waster of time in a startup.

9. Never believe your own hype. Most breakthrough decisions are made out of necessity.