The mindsets that lead to startup failure

The Untold Story of the SolarWinds Hack

Last spring, a Texas-based company called SolarWinds was hacked. The hackers are believed to have been directed by the Russian intelligence service, SVR. It ended up being a particularly significant attack—one of the most effective cyber-espionage campaigns of all time. This article does a great job of explaining why. 

The 13 Business Failure Modes

Most businesses fail not because the ideas behind them are bad, but because founders unintentionally treat them like a hobby. These thirteen thoughts will set you up for failure, so it's best to address and shift them now. A few of the ones I've seen most often: giving up when the product doesn't sell itself (especially in the first few months), and quitting because someone else is doing something similar. Do any of these sound familiar to you?

Before vs. After Becoming a Founder

Before Dan Hightower became a founder, he worked at a VC firm. He remembers what he and his team used to say after pitches behind closed doors—things like: "Their model doesn't work," "Their competition will beat them," and "It's just a feature." Now that he's a founder himself, his first thought after hearing a pitch is, "What you're doing is hard. Keep going!"

Startups are difficult to get off the ground, but if you're passionate about what you're doing, don't let the naysayers get you down. Push forward anyway. At best, your company will take off. At the least, you'll learn a lot and make great memories. 

How To Analyze User Interviews

I'm a big proponent of user interviews, but making good use of qualitative information can be tricky. I appreciate this breakdown on how best to code qualitative data, ensure reliability, and expand its utility. You'll want to bookmark this one if you plan on doing user interviews down the road.

Do This Instead of Asking for UI Design Feedback

So many designers miss out on getting useful feedback about their UI design work because they're not asking for it the right way. If you want to solicit more helpful advice, try Elizabeth Alli's six-step process that explains exactly how to ask for UI/UX design feedback that will result in valuable and actionable input that will help you improve your design work. 

What Is a Good Conversion Rate for Your Landing Page?

When thinking about how to optimize your landing page, how do you even know what a good, bad, or average conversion rate is in the first place? This 2021 benchmark report will help you navigate the tricky question—especially post-pandemic. It covers just about everything, from conversion rate by sentiment to conversion rate based on reading ease.

The Most Powerful Content Marketing Channel in the World

Most marketers will tell you that people's attention spans are getting shorter. But one platform bucks the trend: Netflix. Over 200 million people subscribe to Netflix, spending an average of two hours per day consuming content. But the media streaming powerhouse isn't just capturing our attention—it's steering it and influencing our behavior in the process. While most marketers are playing checkers, Netflix is playing chess. Here's how. 

How Airbnb Made $3.4B in ARR During a Pandemic

Despite being in the middle of a global pandemic, 2020 was the year Airbnb decided to go IPO. It went public in December 2020 at $68 a share, and as of March 2021, has a stock price valued at $183 a share. How did the online travel and experiences marketplace pull it off? There is a lot we can learn from Airbnb's wild and inspiring journey.