Business
Why Amazon HQ2 Should Choose Austin
Published
6 years agoon
By
Ginny NguyenAmazon had made October a busy month for city officials. The bid for Amazon HQ2 had a deadline of Oct. 19, 2017. The city to make the top 20 list featured Austin, Texas. The Greater Austin Chamber of Commerce had presented the city’s proposal for Amazon’s HQ2 on Wednesday, a day ahead of the deadline. Austin officials confirmed that there were no local financial incentives included in the proposal for Amazon HQ2. Despite the bid, this does not eliminate Austin from the competition. Instead, this forces companies to focus on the great surroundings of Austin and of what the community has to offer.
The city of Austin is the fastest growing city in the United States with an economic growth rate of 6.1% from 2011-2016. This is due to their status of being the next Silicon Valley. Austin is gradually morphing their city into a tech hub. This version of Silicon Valley offers high affordability to Austin investors, which is unlike the original hub. The community preserves a young, educated population and is surrounded by Venture Capitals. The living factors include a thriving restaurant and music culture. The city of Austin is an attraction to young techies and entrepreneurs.
“Texas is a hotbed for the tech industry, and both Austin and Dallas have proven themselves to be among the most sought after locations for companies looking to grow and thrive,” Governor Abbott said. “… I am confident that the economic advantages of an Amazon expansion in Texas speak for themselves, and make either Austin or Dallas an ideal fit for Amazon’s HQ2.”
Image From iStock
The job growth for Austin predicted a production of 9,000 new tech jobs in 2017. Professional engineers, researchers, and etc were already flooding the city. When Amazon decides to pick Austin as their new home for HQ2, it won’t be difficult to search for employment. Perhaps Amazon will relocate to the next Silicon Valley.
“Austin, for several years, has been getting global recognition as a great place to work with. When you look at South by Southwest (festival) … the (Formula) 1 race, (Austin City Limits) festival … that certainly puts Austin on the map for not only Amazon, but other companies that may decide this is the right place for them.” told Mike Berman of the Greater Austin Chamber of Commerce.
The tech company will announce the winning city later in 2018. Meanwhile, small businesses and agencies within Austin are able share their professional insight to Amazon also. This is why Amazon HQ2 Should Choose Austin:
How will Amazon HQ2 affect the economy of the city?
‘With Amazon HQ2 in Austin, we will see the opening of 50,000 new direct and indirect jobs, most of which will north of six figures, not at all surprising given the nature of the business and the high demand for tech professionals in the area’. Told Ricardo Casas of Fahrenheit.io.
‘It will obviously have a big boost, especially if it landed in one of our suburban communities. When you talk about each job equaling more than one person entering the community, and all the rest of the jobs created in the community because of it, it becomes a tremendous addition’. Redroc Austin spoke from Redroc Advertising.
“The impact on Amazon HQ2 to the Austin Metropolitan area would be significant. As a city Austin has a thriving tech and startup scene, one of the best in the country; but when you look at the list of publicly traded companies with headquarters in Austin it is extremely minimal compared to other cities of our size. Amazon building their new HQ2 in Austin would impact infrastructure, urban growth, tech talent pool and countless other aspects similar to what has happened in Seattle”. -Darryl Stevens of DIGITECH Web Design.
“With intentions to invest $5 billion into new construction and create 50,000 new jobs, the Amazon HQ2 will undoubtedly boost the local economy through the tax roll alone. The ripple effects of the HQ2 will also give the economy an added boost. More companies will follow suit and set up their headquarters in the same city, more jobs will be created, trade activity will increase, then the population and house prices will rise…. all of which will keep generating more and more tax revenue”. -James Trumbly of HMG Creative.
Image From Austin Economic Development
Amazon is searching for talent in software development and related fields. What is your city’s tech scene like?
‘Austin has one of the most vibrant tech communities in the country boasting of a strong higher education system and a strong pull from other tech hubs, offering relatively affordable housing, high culture, and growth potential to newcomers’ – Ricardo Casas of Fahrenheit.io.
‘The Austin area is about as good as you can get for tech. Lots of universities. A great environment for you people. SXSW. The list goes on and on’, Redroc Austin spoke from Redroc Advertising.
“Austin has one of the best tech scenes in the country outside of Silicon Valley according to most major editorial reports and industry research, what we are missing is a stable presence of large publicly traded companies”. -Darryl Stevens of DIGITECH Web Design.
“The tech scene in the capital of Texas is thriving. Tech giants such as IBM and Dell have their headquarters in Austin. Facebook, Amazon, and Apple also have offices here. This is just to name a few. SXSW alone attracts thousands of influential people in tech every year”. -James Trumbly of HMG Creative.
Image From AmericanInno
How will the community welcome Amazon HQ2?
‘Austin will benefit tremendously from this new investment. Our roads and developments, however, will suffer with the inflow of new workers. Higher real estate prices and more congested roads will be the most obvious immediate changes’, told Ricardo Casas of Fahrenheit.io.
‘It would be mixed. Everyone knows the boost it could bring, but one of our biggest issues in this town is transportation. No one can fathom how rough this could be on our already saturated freeways. We also don’t seem to have a local government that interested on making transportation better as it is, much less with the addition of Amazon. The HQ2 would certainly need to be on the fringes of town where there would be more room for development’, Redroc Austin spoke from Redroc Advertising.
“Austin is known as a forward thinking city that thinks outside the box, but we are still in the south. We will welcome Amazon with open arms and roll out the red carpet to make HQ2 a success”. -Darryl Stevens of DIGITECH Web Design.
“I think there will be a mixed reaction. I think some members of the community will be excited about the employment opportunities and the value of their property increasing, whereas others will be angry about the growing population. Many feel that Austin is already too overcrowded and traffic is definitely a problem here”. -James Trumbly of HMG Creative.
Image From Lennar Homes
Do you support the major’s proposal? Why, or why not?
‘As a tech professional myself, I do support the proposal and hope we follow this major investment with substantial investment in infrastructure and high density urban living…and please…lots of parking!’ told Ricardo Casas of Fahrenheit.io.
“We support the major’s proposal because we feel that it will be a benefit to the economy and culture of the city as a whole”. -Darryl Stevens of DIGITECH Web Design.
“I support the proposal because of the tremendous amount of capital this will bring to the city. It will help develop the infrastructure, provide employment opportunities for local talent (at all skill levels) and it will ultimately catapult the growth of the city. I think it will be a big win, not just for Austin, but for all of Texas”. -James Trumbly of HMG Creative.
Image From Patch
Besides financial incentives, what does your city offer?
‘Austin offers a vibrant culture, young demographics, buzzing music scene and great night life. It also offers relatively inexpensive housing and a growing pool of qualified workers’, told Ricardo Casas of Fahrenheit.io.
“Austin. Everyone wants to be here these days to be a part of the city and the energy. People want to move here. That makes it so much easier to hire and bring people in’, Redroc Austin spoke from Redroc Advertising.
“While not all details have been disclosed, our cities offers one of the largest university campuses in the nation; The University of Texas. This would provide a constant stream of new talent for the brand including other major institutions in the area such as St. Edwards University, Texas State University and Texas A&M”. -Darryl Stevens of DIGITECH Web Design.
“A business-friendly environment, an exciting networking scene, a well-educated recruitment base, an international airport, plenty of culture and great weather. Amazon wouldn’t have to worry about regular snowstorms disrupting business”. -James Trumbly of HMG Creative.
Image From Austin.com
What is in your city that isn’t found anywhere else?
‘Austin has a very unique vibe and a culture that is only found in much larger centers. It is fun, it’s smart, it’s fit and healthy, it’s outdoors and it’s inclusive’. – Ricardo Casas of Fahrenheit.io.
‘SXSW. ACL Fest. “Live Music Capital of the World” Texas state capitol. Willie Nelson’, Redroc Austin spoke from Redroc Advertising.
“We offer a similar culture to San Diego and San Francisco in which the cost of living is still actually affordable. This is truly the only place in the country that can still be found”. -Darryl Stevens of DIGITECH Web Design.
“A unique kind of weirdness that everybody loves”. -James Trumbly of HMG Creative.
There are other agencies however who actually believe, ‘I’m not sure I do think Austin’s the best place for an Amazon headquarters. We’re already bursting at the seams with so many people and don’t have the infrastructure for the population we have’, told Kristen Hicks of Austin Copywriter. While the opportunity is at large, many other agencies do not see fit in this business deal.
Image From Austin Music Source
If you are an agency from Austin, and wish to contribute, please fill out this form here: https://ownersmag.com/need-talk-marketing-pr-agencies-amazon/
*Sponsored by Penji*
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How a Startup Incubator Can Accelerate Your Business
Published
1 month agoon
August 21, 2023By
Carmen DayIn today’s fast-paced and competitive business landscape, startups often find themselves navigating a maze of challenges that can hinder their growth and potential.
This is where the concept of a startup incubator comes into play as a guiding light for emerging ventures. A startup incubator is more than just a physical space; it’s a dynamic ecosystem designed to nurture and propel early-stage ventures toward success.
In this article, we’ll tackle some of the most common questions surrounding incubators. For instance – what is the role of a startup incubator? How does it differ from an accelerator?
And most importantly, how can it optimize your business?
Let’s begin!
What is an incubator in a startup ecosystem?
In a startup ecosystem, an incubator refers to a supportive environment or program designed to help early-stage startups grow and develop.
Incubators provide a range of resources and services to entrepreneurs, typically for a fixed period of time, with the goal of nurturing and accelerating the growth of their businesses.
Here’s the usual process of how an incubator supports a startup:
Onboarding
Startups who applied and were accepted are welcomed into the incubator with an orientation session. During this phase, startups get an overview of the program’s structure, expectations, and available resources. They also meet their mentors, advisors, and fellow cohort members.
Mentorship and Guidance
Startups are paired with mentors who have relevant industry experience or expertise.
Regular mentorship sessions provide guidance, feedback, and insights to help startups navigate challenges and refine their strategies.
Workshops and Training
Incubators organize workshops, seminars, and training sessions on various aspects of entrepreneurship. Topics covered during the startup incubator program may include:
- Business planning
- Marketing strategies
- Product development
- Legal and regulatory matters
- Fundraising
Access to Resources
Aside from training sessions, startups can also gain access to resources such as:
- Office space
- Co-working environments
- Internet connectivity
- Meeting rooms
Some incubators provide access to shared equipment, startup software, and other tools needed for product development.
Networking and Events
Incubators often facilitate networking events, pitch sessions, and demo days where startups can showcase their progress to potential investors, partners, and the broader community.
Business Development
Startups work on refining their business models, products, and market strategies. They receive support in identifying their target audience, creating a value proposition, and developing a sustainable revenue model.
Funding and Investment
Incubators may provide introductions to potential investors, venture capitalists, and angel investors Startups also learn about different funding options and how to pitch their ideas to secure investment.
Graduation
Successful completion of the incubator program results in a “graduation” for startups.
Graduated startups may continue to receive support through alumni networks, ongoing mentorship, or access to incubator resources.
Startup Incubator vs. Accelerator
A startup incubator and a startup accelerator are both support programs designed to assist early-stage startups, but they have distinct characteristics and objectives. Here’s a comparison between the two:
- Focus. Incubators typically have a broader focus and cater to startups in various stages of development. They often work with startups that are in the ideation or early development phase. Accelerators, on the other hand, are more specialized and typically work with startups that have a viable product or service and are ready to scale rapidly. They focus on accelerating growth and reaching key milestones quickly.
- Stage. Incubators are well-suited for startups that are still refining their business models, conducting market research, and building their initial product or service. Accelerators, meanwhile, are best suited for startups that have a minimum viable product (MVP) and are seeking to refine their business model, gain traction, and secure funding to scale.
- Mentorship. A startup incubator provides mentorship and guidance, often with a focus on helping founders refine their business ideas, develop prototypes, and validate their concepts. On the other hand, an accelerator’s mentorship is often geared towards specific aspects of growth, such as scaling operations, marketing, fundraising, and product-market fit.
Startup Incubator Examples
If you’re looking for the best startup incubators in the world, here are a few you of the most popular ones to consider.
1. Y Combinator
Situated in the USA, Y Combinator is considered one of the best startup incubators which has played an instrumental role in fostering the growth trajectories of some of the most renowned startups globally. The Y Combinator program spans a duration of three months, during which startups receive a funding injection of $500,000, albeit subject to certain conditions.
Subsequently, founders are immersed in a sequence of mentoring and refinement initiatives that culminate in the prestigious Demo Day. Here, founders showcase their concepts to an audience comprising investors and handpicked media representatives.
Mentees: Airbnb, Dropbox, Coinbase, Gitlab
2. Techstars
Techstars directs its energy toward nurturing startups rooted in technology. Since its inception in 2006, Techstars has been a driving force behind the growth of numerous startups. Annually, they select more than 500 fledgling companies, providing them with up to $120,000 in investment and the invaluable chance to partake in mentorship programs.
Backed by an impressive funding sum of $21.3 billion, Techstars stands out as a reliable choice for technology-oriented startups. Within its portfolio of activities, Techstars hosts several high-profile events and initiatives, including Startup Week and Startup Weekend.
Mentees: Uber, DigitalOcean, SendGrid
3. 500 Startups
500 Startups operates as a dual-purpose platform, functioning as both an accelerator program and a seed fund dedicated to startups. Positioned primarily as a venture capital entity, they proudly proclaim a management portfolio worth $2.7 billion. Their primary interests converge on sectors where technology, innovation, and capital growth converge harmoniously.
Their extensive investment history spans more than 2,600 startups worldwide, underscoring the maturity and comprehensiveness of their accelerator program across diverse markets.
Mentees: Grab, Canva, Credit Karma
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Do I need an incubator for my startup?
If you’re in the early stages, lack experience, and could benefit from structured guidance, resources, and mentorship, an incubator might be valuable. However, if you’re aiming for rapid growth and have a clear roadmap, an accelerator could be more appropriate.
Do startup incubators provide funding?
Yes, many startup incubators provide funding as part of their support package. However, the funding offered by incubators can vary widely depending on the specific program, location, and the terms of the agreement. Some incubators offer direct funding to startups, while others may connect startups with potential investors or provide resources to help them secure funding elsewhere.
Business
Preparing the Shift to Mobile eCommerce: Tips + Tools
Published
1 month agoon
August 15, 2023By
Skylar LeeWe Are Social reported that around 50% of the 16 to 64 demographic use their mobile to purchase something online weekly. With those in mind, your eCommerce business shouldn’t be confined to one place. It’s essential that you have a website and social media sites. Plus, don’t be afraid to list your products other than those platforms. Here’s how to make a successful shift towards mobile eCommerce.
1. Use Website Builders
Most website builders nowadays can optimize your eCommerce site on the desktop or mobile. These tools help you design and layout your website and make tweaks before publishing it. Moreover, you can add pages, such as blogs, products, and contact pages, to make your eCommerce site operational.
You don’t need to hire a web designer or developer immediately when creating your site on these builders. It’s ideal for new eCommerce site owners, considering you want the business up and running from Day 1 without any hassle.
2. Set Up Secure Payment Methods
One way to enhance your customer’s experience in your eCommerce site is setting up payment gateways. Although you install payment gateway plug-ins on your desktop, it’s crucial that it’s working on your mobile site, too. This way, your customers won’t experience any mishaps or issues when paying via mobile.
3. Widen Reach with Social Commerce
Mobile eCommerce isn’t only about a mobile eCommerce app. After all, it’s a catch-all term to describe all eCommerce-related strategies done on mobile. Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok have opened avenues for eCommerce sites to integrate their store into these platforms. Plus, social media sites are easily accessible on phones, allowing customers to browse anywhere.
You can promote your best-sellers and new products on these platforms. Then, ensure that you link to your website. This way, your customers can view other products, regardless of where they’re browsing them.
4. List Products on Other Relevant eCommerce Marketplaces
Even though you have a website, you can reach more people when posting items on other eCommerce stores. This allows you to get more exposure. It’s possible that your competitors are in the same marketplace. However, if you have the correct copy and high-quality images, your customers are likely to buy your products.
5. Develop an App or Hire an App Designer and Developer
Not all eCommerce sites have an app for their eCommerce products. But you can change the game by having one for easier browsing and a smoother experience. However, app development is challenging for non-developers. There are no-code app makers to use for your new app.
Or, if creating an app is too tedious, hiring an app developer and designer is a much better alternative. They have the know-how to create an optimized app for your eCommerce site. You can find them on freelance sites like Fiverr or Upwork.
Mobile eCommerce Tools
1. Shopify
Shopify is one of the top eCommerce tools for all businesses. You can build a site, sell online, market your products, and manage your business. You don’t need experience developing or designing a website on Shopify. The eCommerce platform has a no-code website builder, letting users create sites in minutes. Additionally, Shopify allows you to integrate apps into your online store, including payment gateways.
2. Wix
Another contender in website building is Wix. Like Shopify, it’s fast, easy, and simple to create and design a website. Their web design feature, “Editor X,” allows you to customize your site. Also, you can use their Wix Payments feature. It’s their solution for all payments, allowing customers to pay via Apple Pay, credit card, and other payment methods.
3. Stripe
If you need a payment method solution, Stripe is one of the best eCommerce payment tools! You can accept payments globally. Plus, Apple Pay and Google Pay are two payment methods to integrate into your Stripe account. Stripe is also advanced because it can detect fraud and block it. Plus, you can increase conversions and launch subscriptions.
4. PayPal
An alternative to Stripe payments is PayPal. As one of the oldest payment methods, you can trust this tool for easy payments. You can install PayPal for your checkout needs. Plus, you can even request payments! Additionally, PayPal accepts credit and debit card payments worldwide!
5. Sked
Don’t have time to post all the time? Consider Sked as your social media management tool. You don’t need to publish and tag your posts manually. Sked helps you tag posts directly on their dashboard. You don’t have to worry about losing your product tags. Plus, Sked will add your shoppable posts in one gallery!
Post your products on these sites:
- Threads
- TikTok
- YouTube
6. Planoly
Another social media management platform to consider for your mobile eCommerce needs is Planoly. Like Sked, Planoly enables users to tag shoppable posts without leaving the social media management platform. You can post your products with Planoly:
- TikTok
- YouTube
7. Canva
Content creation tools are necessary to make your mobile eCommerce strategies successful. Canva is one of these tools to promote your eCommerce site and products. You can use the abovementioned social media schedulers or other options. It’s easy to create designs for your social media platforms. Or you can create custom designs for your website and post them on other eCommerce marketplaces.
8. Jotform
If you want a simple yet functional app, you can create one with Jotform! They use a drag-and-drop model when you build and design your app. Plus, you can use their templates to build your app in minutes. Finally, you can share your app with a QR, which will download the app to your customers’ devices.
9. Glide
Glide is another no-code option to consider when building your app. Like Jotform, you can create using templates and customize your app design. Additionally, you can integrate productivity tools into creating your app and automate workflows!
10. Buildfire
Our final mobile eCommerce tool is Buildfire! They have a dedicated eCommerce solution that allows you to sync your products and organize your inventory. You can even add a notification so users are informed when their products are in stock or when they need to complete checkout.
Business
How to Grow a Business on TikTok: 8 Branding Strategies
Published
2 months agoon
August 11, 2023With over 1 billion average monthly active users, TikTok provides new opportunities for businesses to engage with audiences. TikTok for Business has emerged as a dynamic social media marketing channel that helps small businesses grow. Have you ever wondered how to grow a business on TikTok in a highly competitive social media marketing world? Explore the best TikTok branding strategies that could help your business reach a massive audience.
1. Choose Your Niche Topic
Like most social media platforms, you must create and share-worthy content to be popular. You must create consistent branding if you’ve chosen TikTok to promote your brand. The possibilities to produce excellent content are endless. Pick a more familiar topic and share your knowledge and experience about it.
First, research your competitors to see the types of content they post on the platform. Then, try your best to produce better content to outrank them. Likewise, monitoring and analyzing user feedback will let you understand whether or not you are moving in the right direction.
2. Create Engaging Content
Working with TikTok influencers and putting hashtags is crucial for promoting your brand to a large audience, but let’s face the truth: these strategies will only work if the content you share is balanced.
Remember that on TikTok, you only have 15-60 seconds to convince the users to follow you. So, pay more attention to the quality of content rather than posting irrelevant things just to be active.
Be sure to create a pleasant, understandable video, as this is the first thing that catches a visitor’s attention. As a creator, you must ensure the correct design is used for all posts. Think about the captions of your videos. If you need more insights, read our blog about what to consider in creating a TikTok content strategy.
3. Work with Influencers
TikTok influencers may be known for their small audiences compared to Instagram influencers. But, reaching out to target users will help you promote your brand or company.
Develop professional partnerships with influencers whose audience might be interested in your brand and will likely buy. This is similar to the principles of Instagram advertising works.
Tapping influencers into the TikTok platform is one way of producing high-quality content. It also enables you to get more sponsored publications. So, if your budget allows partnering with the influencer to promote your product, go for it!
4. Join a Hashtag Challenge
The TikTok hashtag challenge is a dynamic marketing strategy that encourages users to participate in creating and sharing content about a specific theme. The goal is to generate user-generated content that aligns with your brand’s message, values, or products. It also aims to drive user engagement and increase brand visibility.
TikTok content creators might have a limited following compared with Instagram influencers. Nevertheless, the key lies in connecting with your desired audience to market your business effectively. Collaborating with influencers whose followers align with your brand’s appeal can attract potential customers inclined to purchase. This process is similar to the principles of advertising on Instagram.
5. Collaborate with Other Creators Via TikTok Marketing Campaigns
Sometimes, you want your brand to reach a large audience, but your budget is limited. In such situations, a partnership with content creators or other brands may work for you.
For instance, if you work in the fashion industry and want to promote your company, you may find other people from this field with a solid following for potential collaboration. Reach out and tell them you’re interested in a partnership project. The mutual potential benefits of collaborative projects are noticeable, so there is a high chance someone will take up your suggestion.
6. Invest in Advertising
TikTok introduced a specialized advertising system, benefiting brands from a large user base. TikTok offers three types of digital advertising:
- Native In-Feed Ads
- Hashtag Challenge Ads
- Brand Ads.
Brand ads are the most efficient way to drive traffic to your landing page. And when it comes to targeting TikTok ads, there are two options:
- Interest Targeting. Like Facebook ads, this option lets you pick an interest relevant to your target audience. The platform shows ads to a particular group.
- Behavioral Targeting. This ad targeting type allows you to advertise to people based on their behavior within the last week or two.
7. Keep Up with Trends and Make Them Work for Your Business
As you’ve already noticed, TikTok is full of trends. This is a social network where trends change over time. It ranges from popular songs, video effects, challenges, and hashtags. But how do we identify a trend among millions of videos on TikTok? Keep up to date by tracking hashtags and themes. You must follow these trends and analyze how your business can benefit.
8. Monitor and Assess the Results of your Campaigns
Hashtags and creativity are all good, but remember that a fundamental element of any marketing strategy is evaluating the results of a campaign. Using an analytics tool, you can get valuable insights from your promotional efforts and how to improve them. If you need more engagement, consider what mistakes could have caused such an effect and how to fix them. Your clips may be underperforming because they’re not funny enough. Updating yourself with analytics is a powerful way to enlarge your audience and generate more sales.
Conclusion
TikTok stands as a significant milestone in the evolution of contemporary social media. Centered around interaction, it has attracted millions of Gen-Z users and become the most active advertising channel. With these eight branding strategies at your disposal, you’ll be able to understand how to grow a business on TikTok. Once you’ve learned the basics, showcasing your product or brand to a large TikTok community will be easier.