Lessons & things I wish people had told me when I launched Strawberrysoup | WDC 2011

1. @strawberrysoup
facebook.com/strawberrysoup
LESSONS & THINGS
I WISH PEOPLE HAD
TOLD ME WHEN I
LAUNCHED
STRAWBERRYSOUP
21.10.11_Web Developer Conference 2011

2. @strawberrysoup
facebook.com/strawberrysoup
WHAT I’M COVERING
_ 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
21.10.11_Web Developer Conference 2011

3. @strawberrysoup
facebook.com/strawberrysoup
HOW
WE GOT
STARTED
21.10.11_Web Developer Conference 2011

4. @strawberrysoup
facebook.com/strawberrysoup
HOW WE GOT STARTED
Final year of our university degrees
21.10.11_Web Developer Conference 2011

5. @strawberrysoup
facebook.com/strawberrysoup
HOW WE GOT STARTED
Launched in 2005 from a garden shed
21.10.11_Web Developer Conference 2011

6. @strawberrysoup
facebook.com/strawberrysoup
HOW WE GOT STARTED
21.10.11_Web Developer Conference 2011

7. @strawberrysoup
facebook.com/strawberrysoup
HOW WE GOT STARTED
Started by offering affordable website packages
21.10.11_Web Developer Conference 2011

8. @strawberrysoup
facebook.com/strawberrysoup
HOW WE GOT STARTED
Sold our 1st website on eBay
21.10.11_Web Developer Conference 2011

9. @strawberrysoup
facebook.com/strawberrysoup
HOW WE GOT STARTED
Startup funds & savings
21.10.11_Web Developer Conference 2011

10. @strawberrysoup
facebook.com/strawberrysoup
THE
MODERN
DAY
21.10.11_Web Developer Conference 2011

11. @strawberrysoup
facebook.com/strawberrysoup
WHO ARE WE?
Evolved into a full service agency
21.10.11_Web Developer Conference 2011

12. @strawberrysoup
facebook.com/strawberrysoup
WHO ARE WE?
21.10.11_Web Developer Conference 2011

13. @strawberrysoup
facebook.com/strawberrysoup
WHO ARE WE?
Talented team of 15
21.10.11_Web Developer Conference 2011

14. @strawberrysoup
facebook.com/strawberrysoup
WHO ARE WE?
Chichester, Bournemouth & London
21.10.11_Web Developer Conference 2011

15. @strawberrysoup
facebook.com/strawberrysoup
WHO ARE WE?
21.10.11_Web Developer Conference 2011

16. @strawberrysoup
facebook.com/strawberrysoup
YOU
DON’T NEED A
BUSINESS PLAN
21.10.11_Web Developer Conference 2011

17. @strawberrysoup
facebook.com/strawberrysoup
YOU DON’T NEED A BUSINESS PLAN
Planning is very important
21.10.11_Web Developer Conference 2011

18. @strawberrysoup
facebook.com/strawberrysoup
YOU DON’T NEED A BUSINESS PLAN
Long term objectives --> then work backwards
21.10.11_Web Developer Conference 2011

19. @strawberrysoup
facebook.com/strawberrysoup
YOU DON’T NEED A BUSINESS PLAN
Strategic plan showing steps to take
21.10.11_Web Developer Conference 2011

20. @strawberrysoup
facebook.com/strawberrysoup
YOU DON’T NEED A BUSINESS PLAN
Cashflow is very difficult to estimate at startup
21.10.11_Web Developer Conference 2011

21. @strawberrysoup
facebook.com/strawberrysoup
MONEY
MONEY
MONEY
21.10.11_Web Developer Conference 2011

22. @strawberrysoup
facebook.com/strawberrysoup
MONEY, MONEY, MONEY
You don’t need venture capital or investment
21.10.11_Web Developer Conference 2011

23. @strawberrysoup
facebook.com/strawberrysoup
MONEY, MONEY, MONEY
We used assets available to us
21.10.11_Web Developer Conference 2011

24. @strawberrysoup
facebook.com/strawberrysoup
MONEY, MONEY, MONEY
Months to live spreadsheet
21.10.11_Web Developer Conference 2011

25. @strawberrysoup
facebook.com/strawberrysoup
MONEY, MONEY, MONEY
Don’t trade services to save money
21.10.11_Web Developer Conference 2011

26. @strawberrysoup
facebook.com/strawberrysoup
MONEY, MONEY, MONEY
Grants available so use them!
21.10.11_Web Developer Conference 2011

27. @strawberrysoup
facebook.com/strawberrysoup
MONEY, MONEY, MONEY
“Cash is king” - stage payments to improve cashflow
21.10.11_Web Developer Conference 2011

28. @strawberrysoup
facebook.com/strawberrysoup
STICK TO
WHAT YOU
KNOW
21.10.11_Web Developer Conference 2011

29. @strawberrysoup
facebook.com/strawberrysoup
STICK TO WHAT YOU KNOW
Don’t pretend to know more than you do
21.10.11_Web Developer Conference 2011

30. @strawberrysoup
facebook.com/strawberrysoup
STICK TO WHAT YOU KNOW
CRM, CTi, .net, SQL
21.10.11_Web Developer Conference 2011

31. @strawberrysoup
facebook.com/strawberrysoup
STICK TO WHAT YOU KNOW
It’s ok to say “let me look into this and let you know”
21.10.11_Web Developer Conference 2011

32. @strawberrysoup
facebook.com/strawberrysoup
LEARN
WHEN TO
SAY NO
21.10.11_Web Developer Conference 2011

33. @strawberrysoup
facebook.com/strawberrysoup
LEARN WHEN TO SAY NO
The customer is not always right
21.10.11_Web Developer Conference 2011

34. @strawberrysoup
facebook.com/strawberrysoup
LEARN WHEN TO SAY NO
You have been hired as the expert
21.10.11_Web Developer Conference 2011

35. @strawberrysoup
facebook.com/strawberrysoup
LEARN WHEN TO SAY NO
My uncles friends brothers mums cat knows HTML
21.10.11_Web Developer Conference 2011

36. @strawberrysoup
facebook.com/strawberrysoup
LEARN WHEN TO SAY NO
Your opinion counts, make sure it’s heard
21.10.11_Web Developer Conference 2011

37. @strawberrysoup
facebook.com/strawberrysoup
LEARN WHEN TO SAY NO
You don’t have to accept every project
21.10.11_Web Developer Conference 2011

38. @strawberrysoup
facebook.com/strawberrysoup
TRUST
YOUR
INSTINCT
21.10.11_Web Developer Conference 2011

39. @strawberrysoup
facebook.com/strawberrysoup
TRUST YOUR INSTINCT
Don’t be blinded by the ££
21.10.11_Web Developer Conference 2011

40. @strawberrysoup
facebook.com/strawberrysoup
TRUST YOUR INSTINCT
Work with like-minded clients and team members
21.10.11_Web Developer Conference 2011

41. @strawberrysoup
facebook.com/strawberrysoup
TRUST YOUR INSTINCT
Follow your gut feeling
21.10.11_Web Developer Conference 2011

42. @strawberrysoup
facebook.com/strawberrysoup
TRUST YOUR INSTINCT
Solid contract & legal backup
21.10.11_Web Developer Conference 2011

43. @strawberrysoup
facebook.com/strawberrysoup
TRUST YOUR INSTINCT
Don’t loose perspective of problems
21.10.11_Web Developer Conference 2011

44. @strawberrysoup
facebook.com/strawberrysoup
IT’S ALL
ABOUT THE
PEOPLE
21.10.11_Web Developer Conference 2011

45. @strawberrysoup
facebook.com/strawberrysoup
IT’S ALL ABOUT THE PEOPLE
Recruiting is easier than you think
21.10.11_Web Developer Conference 2011

46. @strawberrysoup
facebook.com/strawberrysoup
IT’S ALL ABOUT THE PEOPLE
Reliable accountant for PAYE and tax
21.10.11_Web Developer Conference 2011

47. @strawberrysoup
facebook.com/strawberrysoup
IT’S ALL ABOUT THE PEOPLE
It’s not all about qualifications
21.10.11_Web Developer Conference 2011

48. @strawberrysoup
facebook.com/strawberrysoup
IT’S ALL ABOUT THE PEOPLE
Personality vs. professional ability
21.10.11_Web Developer Conference 2011

49. @strawberrysoup
facebook.com/strawberrysoup
IT’S ALL ABOUT THE PEOPLE
Probation period as a contingency
21.10.11_Web Developer Conference 2011

50. @strawberrysoup
facebook.com/strawberrysoup
IT’S ALL ABOUT THE PEOPLE
Save money by not using recruitment agencies
21.10.11_Web Developer Conference 2011

51. @strawberrysoup
facebook.com/strawberrysoup
TIME
FOR
QUESTIONS
21.10.11_Web Developer Conference 2011