The document discusses the importance of having a revenue model for a startup rather than relying solely on bootstrapping. It provides examples of wrong and bad revenue model answers when asked by investors. The document then lists over 20 potential revenue ideas and 43 ways to get customers, including selling products or services individually or in bundles, subscriptions, advertising, licensing, and more. It emphasizes testing revenue models and upgrading until something works rather than remaining a "not quite for profit" organization.

1. Bootstrapping Is Good; Having a Revenue Model Is Better

3. Most common startup financial problem: Imbalanced ratio of bootstrapping : revenue generation (effort vs. sales)

4. How Fun Is This.... Half Assed Product Effort Poverty Used Car Sales Tactics Income

5. Why Not Switch It Up? Strategic Product Effort Poverty Working Revenue Model & Client-Customized Sales Strategy Income

8. What is the difference? Hobby vs. bu $ ine $$ Volunteer vs. employee $ Gift vs. sale $

9. A financial transaction makes all the difference. Revenue model Paycheck Payment

11. Revenue Ideas 1. Sell a product one-by-one. 2. Sell similar products packaged together. 3. Sell a "license" to use your product for a defined time period. 4. Sell a "subscription" to your product for a defined time period. 5. Sell a flat weekly- or monthly-fee service. 6. Sell relevant advertising space on your products, in your catalogs, or on your company vehicles. 7. Sell digital information for download. 8. Sell products one-by-one, but on an automatic replenishment schedule. 9. Sell some or all items on a minimum-purchase basis. 10. Sell discounts to others' products or services. 11. Package your products or services with another company's similar offerings. 12. Sell someone else's stuff. 13. Sell refurbished or used versions of your products and services. 14. Allow others to resell or co-market your products and services. 15. Sell a disposable version of one of your products. 16. Lease your product(s) for a defined time period. 17. Sell time: bill by-the-hour for a service related to the products you sell. 18. Sell your products in smaller packaged quantities (if typically 25/per, sell 10/per at a higher margin). 19. Sell your products in larger packaged quantities. 20. Sell your products on your website. 21. Sell your products on multiple, targeted websites focused on individual product groups and customer solutions. 22. Sell access to a seminar where you educate customers about your industry and the solutions you provide. 23. Sell training on your or others' products. From: http://ezinearticles.com/?23-Ways-to-Generate-Revenue&id=96876

12. 43 Ways To Get Customers 1. Tell people about it anywhere you see them– bus, plane, grocery store, etc. 2. Tell your family & friends about your product. 3. Hand out fliers. 4. Blog it (make sure to include a ―purchase here‖ link, or your contact info with ―contact me to purchase‖) 5. Set up and host an event & spotlight your product 6. Ask people to buy it. 7. Develop relationships with people willing to do commis-sion-based sales. 8. Talk to a buyer at a large company or store. 9. Radio ads. 10. TV ads. 11. Newspaper ads. 12. Host a relevant competition. 13. Announce a special promotion. 14. Have a frequent buyer's card. 15. Give samples out. 16. Attend/speak at a community event and talk about your product. 17. Find and participate in a niche blog community. 18. Create an awesome video and put it on YouTube 19. Put together a website, even a simple website, and feature photos of your product. 20. Send out a press release. 21. Send out an article/press release to an article distributor. 22. Call the local media & tell them your story, ask for an in-terview. 23. Write up your own article & shop it around to the media.

13. (con't) 24. Invite people to lunch and talk about your product. 25. Make arrangements for an affiliate program/referral sys-tem. 26. Set up a call center. 27. Go door to door. 28. Get on the phone and call everyone you know to ask for re-ferrals. 29. Buy lead lists. 30. Use pay-per-click methods. 31. Optimize your site for SEO. 32. Leave a comment with your link on someone else's blog/website. 33. Stand outside a major traffic-point (mall, university, etc.) with a booth, talking about your product. 34. Go to tradeshows 35. Go through specialty magazines and make a contact list of people in your industry 36. Google your ―geographic location + industry‖ to find and make a database of local experts you can network with. 37. Attend chamber of commerce & other local events. 38. Call your current clients and up sell them something new. 39. Think, ―Where would my client be in order to purchase ABC?— then go directly to that location and market there. 40. Send out cards with a special. 41. Send out email newsletters. 42. Contact businesses in your industry and exchange business cards. 43. Try Andy Sernovitz's Word of Mouth Marketing worksheet. From: http://bigpaperblog.com/classicsfromoldblog/2008/07/13/42-ways-to-get-customers/

14. For those with ADD, an activity: Pair up, ask & answer, "what's your revenue model?" If you don't know, discuss options back & forth until you find one you feel okay about starting with.

15. Last Thought If you have a revenue model that is working, then you don't have to bootstrap anymore. QUESTIONS? www.bigpaperblog.com