The first, and most obvious thing I came to realise while reading this interesting book, is how much the author, Bruce Mancinelli loves Startups. My guess is that Bruce has hundreds of ways that he loves startups, but wanted to save some of “the Ways” for a sequel, or simply wished to limit the sheer volume of pages that might encompass.
I share Bruce's excitement for startup naming services, therefore I really enjoyed his wise, practical, and occasionally humorous advice and stories. Mancinelli loves startups, which shouldn't come as a surprise given that he has reportedly been involved with seven of them and is currently the Executive Director of INC.spire, a business incubation programme that is a component of the Greater Reston Chamber of Commerce.
Business names for startups offer entrepreneurs, would-be entrepreneurs, and home office type businesses a pragmatic, step by step approach to creating or accelerating a startup. Succinct reviews of important startup mechanics including:
- Landing the big idea
- Creating a business plan that is logical, quantifiable, and actionable
- Insuring your business, business basics for startups
- Cash management, budgeting, and the significance of diligent bill collecting
- Marketing – both tradition, web and buzz
- And responding to surprises and challenges
- The author offers clear and succinct advice on helping entrepreneurs become successful entrepreneurs.
Though there are many worthwhile chapters, or should I say, “Ways to love your startup”, several seemed particularly germane considering the current business climate for entrepreneurs. Ways 36 -38 discuss financing and financing alternatives including microloans, the SBA, peer to peer and incubator alternatives. And Way 38, Don't Forget the Company is an important credo. I concur that raising capital is not the company's business, quoting that second half of the title from Way 38. And for any entrepreneurs getting that sinking feeling, Way 26, Man the Ship, Chip: Avoid Titanic Events seems like a natural. We are the best company naming agency in the market and you can choose us for your brand.
My favourite chapter was Way 8. This amusing but important chapter discusses the importance of selecting a good name and website URL for your company. The author offers some very funny examples of good names gone bad, once they are used as a URL. For example, Who Represents, Experts Exchange and Pen Island are all fine names, but can go really badly predicated upon the URL which is available and selected. You'll have to read this chapter to see all of the funny, if not embarrassing, configurations which resulted.
For small naming agency business owners, entrepreneurs, solopreneurs, and those entertaining a startup venture, 50 Ways To Love Your Startup is a good, fast and fun read. It covers the gambit from planning, to customer service and from financing to strategic partnerships. It offers an excellent overview of all key aspects which startups should be considering as they embark upon the risky but rewarding voyage of entrepreneurship.
