Breaking the Myths: What I Learned About Starting a Business

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Today’s LOWDOWN: 😎 6.5-minute read time

• 🦾 How To Use Notes App in Your Ads

•  🤳Theo

• 💰 Why Your Pitch Deck Is the Most Important Document You'll Ever Create as a Founder

• 🤖Marketing Tool Spotlight: Ocean.io

• 🔦 Breaking the Myths: What I Learned About Starting a Business

• 📲 From Fuzzy’s TikTok Library

🦾 How To Use Notes App in Your Ads

@marketingmei

Replying to @User398764689543 unveiling all my secrets in my skool community 👀

🤳Theo

THEO is a platform designed to enhance AI assistants by providing them a structured understanding of a business's unique context. By consolidating scattered business documents and URLs into an AI-friendly knowledge format, THEO ensures that AI tools can deliver consistent and accurate outputs tailored to a company's specific nuances.

Key Features and Benefits:

• Quick Setup: In just three minutes, users can transform their business information into a consolidated format, enabling AI assistants to grasp intricate details that might otherwise be overlooked.

• Consistent Outputs: With a structured knowledge base, AI assistants can provide uniform responses across various interactions, reducing the need for repetitive explanations.

• Productivity Boost: By streamlining AI interactions, THEO can save users up to 12 hours a week, enhancing overall efficiency.

• Zero Learning Curve: Users can continue utilizing their preferred AI assistants without any additional training, as THEO integrates seamlessly into existing workflows.

• Data Privacy: THEO processes all information securely on the user's end, ensuring that business data remains confidential and is not used to train external AI models.

How It Works:

1. Data Submission: Users provide their business documents or URLs.

2. Context Structuring: THEO automatically organizes this information into a structured, AI-ready format.

3. AI Integration: The structured knowledge is then used to train AI assistants, enabling them to understand and respond accurately to business-specific queries.

Additional Offerings:

Beyond its core platform, THEO offers the "Ideal Customer Discovery Mastery Program," which aims to help B2B SaaS startups more effectively identify and connect with their target market.

In summary, THEO empowers businesses to optimize their AI interactions by providing a structured and comprehensive understanding of their unique context, leading to more accurate and efficient AI-driven outcomes.

💰Why Your Pitch Deck Is the Most Important Document You'll Ever Create as a Founder

I will die on this hill: A good idea and a half-hearted pitch deck are no longer enough to secure funding. The startup ecosystem has evolved, and the bar for early-stage founders has been raised. If you're serious about building your dream company, you must over-invest in your pitch deck and every other touchpoint in your fundraising journey.

The New Standard in Fundraising

Unless you're a household name like Sam Altman or Elon Musk, your pitch deck will likely be the most critical document you create as a founder. Why? Because it’s your first and often only opportunity to capture the attention of investors in an increasingly competitive market.

As someone who reviews hundreds of pitch decks every month, I can tell you that the competition for venture capital dollars is at an all-time high. An excellent pitch deck is no longer a luxury; it’s the standard. Investors expect it, and anything less will leave you at a disadvantage.

The Power of First Impressions

Most investors won’t admit this, but the quality of your pitch deck disproportionately impacts how you’re perceived as a founder. It's not just about the slides—the story they tell and the meticulousness they convey.

A pitch deck isn’t just a tool to present your business; it reflects your operations. Attention to detail in your pitch deck signals attention to detail in your company. It tells investors that you are the kind of founder who leaves no stone unturned and takes the most minor aspects of your business seriously.

What Makes an Excellent Pitch Deck

To meet the new standard, your pitch deck needs to excel in several areas:

1. Clarity of Vision: Can someone understand your company’s mission, value proposition, and potential in under three minutes?

2. Data-Driven Storytelling: Back up your claims with data. Show your traction, your market opportunity, and your financial projections with precision.

3. Visual Design: A sleek, professional design shows you care about presentation and understand the power of branding.

4. Compelling Narrative: Your pitch deck should tell a story—one that excites, engages, and motivates investors to learn more.

The ROI of a Great Pitch Deck

Investing time, money, and effort into a stellar pitch deck might feel daunting, but the return on investment is undeniable. A high-quality pitch deck can mean the difference between getting a second meeting or being passed over.

When done right, your pitch deck becomes more than just slides; it becomes a powerful testament to your vision and execution ability. It tells investors, "This founder is ready. This company is ready."

Final Thoughts

The days of landing millions with a back-of-the-napkin idea are over. Founders who understand the importance of their pitch deck—and treat it with the respect it deserves—are the ones who stand out in today’s crowded market.

So, if you're preparing to pitch, take the time to craft a pitch deck that not only meets but exceeds expectations. Because in the venture capital world, details matter, and your pitch deck is where those details begin.

Over-invest in your pitch deck. Your future depends on it.

🤖Marketing Tool Spotlight: Ocean.IO

Ocean.io is a B2B prospecting platform that leverages artificial intelligence to help sales and marketing teams identify and target ideal customers. By analyzing vast amounts of data, Ocean.io enables businesses to discover lookalike companies, streamline account-based marketing (ABM) efforts, and enhance lead generation strategies.

Key Features:

• Lookalike Search: Users can input the URL of an ideal customer, and Ocean.io generates a list of similar companies, facilitating the expansion into new markets and verticals.

• AI-Powered Company and People Search: The platform utilizes AI to provide detailed information on companies and key decision-makers, aiding in precise targeting and outreach.

• CRM Integration: Ocean.io integrates with popular CRM systems like HubSpot, Pipedrive, and Salesforce, ensuring seamless data synchronization and efficient workflow management.

• Data Enrichment: The platform offers comprehensive company profiles, including size, location, contact information, and social media links, enabling businesses to fill data gaps and improve lead scoring.

• API Access: Developers can utilize Ocean.io's API to integrate its functionalities into their own applications, enhancing product features and services.

Benefits:

• Efficient Prospecting: Businesses can focus their efforts on high-potential leads by identifying companies that closely resemble existing customers, improving conversion rates.

• Enhanced ABM Strategies: Ocean.io's data-driven approach allows for creating targeted campaigns, reducing off-target results and optimizing marketing spend.

• Improved Data Quality: With access to verified emails and up-to-date company information, sales teams can reduce time spent on data entry and focus on building relationships.

Pricing:

Ocean.io offers various pricing plans to accommodate different business needs. The Professional plan starts at $109 per user per month, billed annually, and includes features like global data access, advanced filtering, team management, and CRM integrations. Custom plans are available for agencies and enterprises with advanced requirements.

🔦 Breaking the Myths: What I Learned About Starting a Business

I used to think starting a business was impossibly complex.

For years, I procrastinated. I felt trapped in a whirlwind of business gurus, misinformation, and get-rich-quick schemes. I'm stuck in the never-ending cycle of watching tutorials and dreaming about “someday.”

I finally decided to take the plunge when I reached the breaking point with my 9–5.

Here are the biggest lies I believed—and what I discovered you should do instead.

Lie #1: You Need to Wait to Monetize

I wasted two years waiting for the “right time” to monetize.

I thought I needed permission from some imaginary monetization gods. I was wrong.

The truth? You should monetize from day one. Create an offer—even if it’s something as small as $10.

No one is coming to save you. If you wait for someone to give you the green light, you’ll be stuck in neutral forever.

Here’s how to start monetizing now:

1. Audit Your Skills: What knowledge or expertise do you already have?

2. Create a Minimal Viable Offer (MVO): Package what you know into a simple service. For example, offer 1:1 coaching sessions for $50/hour to start.

3. Plug Your Offer Everywhere: Share it with your network, post about it, and get the word out.

Don’t worry if your first offer isn’t perfect—it won’t be. That’s okay. The goal isn’t to build something scalable; it’s to learn.

Your first offer is a way to get paid while doing customer research. Over time, you’ll refine it and identify common problems your audience needs solved.

The bottom line: Stop waiting. Start monetizing.

Lie #2: You Need to Go Viral

Going viral feels amazing. The likes, comments, and shares flood in, and it’s a massive dopamine hit. But here’s the harsh reality: virality doesn’t pay the bills.

In fact, going viral can hurt your business. It often attracts low-quality leads and people who aren’t serious about what you’re offering.

I’ve stopped chasing virality and started optimizing for conversions instead.

What happened when I made the switch:

• My engagement plummeted.

• My ego took a hit.

• My income skyrocketed.

Focusing on attracting higher-quality leads and long-term clients has been a game-changer. While the drop in engagement was tough at first, it was the necessary step to grow my business.

The lesson: Viral content doesn’t equal revenue. Optimize for meaningful connections and conversions.

Lie #3: You Need to Be an Expert

You don’t need to be a world-renowned authority to help others.

If you’ve solved a problem in your own life, you’re qualified to guide someone a few steps behind you. In fact, people prefer to buy from someone they can relate to—someone who understands what they’re going through.

Here’s how I approach this:

• My target audience is where I was 3–4 years ago.

• I help others achieve the same success I’ve had by sharing my proven methods.

• I shortcut their learning curve by sharing what worked for me.

Remember:

• If you solve a problem in private, it’s self-improvement.

• If you solve a problem in public, it’s business.

The truth: Expertise doesn’t come from a degree or a certificate. It comes from solving real problems for real people—starting with yourself.

Lie #4: You Need a Killer Idea

Entrepreneurship isn’t about finding a groundbreaking idea. It’s about solving a painful problem for a specific audience.

You don’t need to:

• Invent the next revolutionary product.

• Chase innovation at the expense of profitability.

Instead, focus on:

1. Identifying a Painful Problem: What’s something people struggle with that you can help solve?

2. Serving a Specific Audience: Who are you solving this problem for?

3. Using One Distribution Channel: How will you reach them?

The Truth About Starting a Business

Here’s what you need to succeed:

• Monetize from day one.

• Stop chasing virality and focus on conversions.

• Use your own life experiences as the foundation for your expertise.

• Solve a simple, painful problem for a specific audience.

You don’t need permission, followers, or a revolutionary idea to start.

Start where you are, with what you have. Monetize the knowledge you already possess and build from there.

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📲 From Fuzzy’s TikTok Library

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