My Entrepreneur Dream Became a Nightmare.

My Entrepreneur Dream Became a Nightmare.

Very recently I had a dream from which I awoke both confused and, quite honestly, embarrassed...

(This is my first go at posting to Medium.)

#entrepreneur #startup #launch
https://medium.com/@lscottharrell/my-entrepreneur-dream-became-a-nightmare-8bce027225ef

Well, this startup was anything but easy. #grind

Well, this startup was anything but easy. #grind

Originally shared by VideoToOrder.com


VideoToOrder.com has been open to the public in beta now for 7 days. The site launched at approximately 5pm on May 19, 2017 to very little fanfare but constant messages from users eager to get a jump on getting their freelancer profiles and video services up before others.

This first week, VideoToOrder.com added 62 users who posted 37 video services, which was higher than I had expected.

The week did not go without technical challenges, which has completely aggravated me with the web development company I have been using to build the site since last September. I’ve spent way over $25,000 and we’re six months into the build and it seems that I cannot get a simple contact form implemented on the site.

https://videotoorder.com/blog/website-launch-week-1/

#startup #launch #marketplace
https://videotoorder.com/blog/website-launch-week-1/

My name is L.

My name is L. Scott Harrell and I am the Founder and CEO of VideoToOrder.com. Thanks for clicking through to read this article; I’m truly excited that you’re interested in our video production marketplace. I am 100% committed to supporting you and your success through our new and innovative video services marketplace. Whether you are buying or selling video-related services, it is absolutely important to me that have a fantastic and rewarding experience.

Let me quickly fill you in with a little bit more information about VideoToOrder.com (VTO) and what will happen in the next few weeks; hopefully I’ll answer some of your questions along the way, too...

Originally shared by VideoToOrder.com

Freelance VIdeo Production Website Launching

VideoToOrder.com, the video production marketplace where buyers can find freelance service providers online to make videos for them, is launching with exclusive beta access to early adopters and those who want to take advantage of "being in" at the very top.

Let me quickly fill you in with a little bit more information about VideoToOrder.com (VTO) and what will happen in the next few weeks; hopefully I’ll answer some of your questions along the way, too...

#startup #videoproduction #videography
https://videotoorder.com/blog/freelance-video-production-marketplace-launching-may/

Working Smarter, Not Harder, is the Secret to Success for Your Startup or Small Business

Working Smarter, Not Harder, is the Secret to Success for Your Startup or Small Business

We’re all familiar with the age-old phrase about “working smarter not harder” – and you know what? It is absolutely true! In any startup or small business you don’t have to be the best to succeed, but you do have to be smart!

There are over 28 million businesses in America. Therefore, the chances are good that your big idea is not completely unique. As a matter of fact, your business has probably been duplicated a number of times already. If it has not yet, then someone is on the verge of recreating it as we speak. Let’s face it, there are very, very few truly unique ideas anymore. With that said, you need to be able to differentiate yourself in a sea of similarity in order to succeed. The best way to differentiate yourself is not necessarily by being the best, but being “smart.” You only have so many hours in the day and while there is much to be said about working hard, you can only do so much.

What does it mean to “work smart?”

Here are my 3 tips to help you focus on working smarter not harder if your startup or small business is going to succeed:

#smallbusiness   #startup   #advice  
http://lscottharrell.com/working-smarter-not-harder/

"Work like there is someone working 24 hours a day to take it all from you."

"Work like there is someone working 24 hours a day to take it all from you."

More than required reading. This is required doing.

#startup #smallbiz #entrepreneur

Are you a startup, small business mentor or insatiable entrepreneur?

Originally shared by ****

Are you a startup, small business mentor or insatiable entrepreneur? 

YOU can do something great today for someone else and provide some thought leadership for thousands of others by answering this new entrepreneur's question: 

http://freestartuphelp.com/questions/what-should-my-current-goal-be/

Everyone's input makes a difference!

#startup   #entrepreneur   #smallbusiness  
http://freestartuphelp.com/questions/what-should-my-current-goal-be

Pre-Launch Private Beta Update

Originally shared by VideoToOrder.com

Pre-Launch Private Beta Update

An email we sent out to our private beta invitees this morning...

Unfortunately, it often happens in a startup working with newly created technologies, we suffered a few set backs this week.

As many of you know, we started letting sellers into the system on Monday, December 1, 2014. We only let in 15 users that day but, despite our best testing efforts, a super-user found a way to crash the system. 

And, quite frankly, we’re glad he did.

I’m already embarrassed enough having to write this email, but it would have been almost catastrophic had we encountered this total systemic collapse if it occurred several days or weeks into beta; we may not have recovered.

This week the development team and I looked at the circumstances and made the painful decision to step away from pioneering and find a better, time-tested solution to handle the core processes of how our website works, at least for now.

That means there will be an unavoidable delay of approximately 2 weeks - though we are trying to get back on track over the next few days. I think we might be able to resume roll-out in a week (keeping our fingers crossed), while we’re working out some of the non-critical functionality and design. After you’ve all had sufficient time to test the system and, most importantly, set up your shops, we'll do a “soft open” public beta before moving on to adding the features that will really set VideoToOrder.com apart from other marketplaces and freelance websites. We’ll have an official launch party some time in January 2015.

So, in short, thanks for your patience.

Know that we are working very hard right now to rebuild what has failed and offer a rock-solid "Jay proof” platform when we resume our pre-launch beta sometime next week.

Lastly, my unwavering commitment to you, our VTO users, starts and ends with transparency. Honesty is always the best policy and I though it was important that you understood our delay. I will be sending out updates to you as necessary.

#startup   #fml   #hiccups

Are you heading up a startup?

Are you heading up a startup?

Me, too.

Really excellent article for those of us who are in "pre-launch." I wish I had read this article 6 months ago!

#startup   #prelaunch   #growthhacking  
http://blog.gleam.io/prelaunch/

"Semi-Retirement Sucked After My Last Exit, So I'm Back in a New Startup"

"Semi-Retirement Sucked After My Last Exit, So I'm Back in a New Startup"

Don’t let them fool you, semi-retirement isn’t all that it's cracked up to be. I was never fully able to relax knowing that I’d eventually have to either find a J-O-B or get cracking on another business startup sooner rather than later to ensure that I’d maintain an uninterrupted stream of income. My options within the private investigation profession are really very limited these days due to a non-compete clause in the agreement outlining the sale of my former education websites and online magazine for private investigators. My private investigation agency in Pensacola, FL is still running very well but out of necessity, and my day to day absence at the agency while on sabbatical, I find myself transitioning out of the investigations professions. You know what they say,

“In business you don’t get what you deserve, you get what you negotiate.”

So, after a few false starts and a missed opportunity I’ve finally settled on a new direction. I am building a vertical market around video content because it is clear to me (and every other marketing professional out there) that video has become, and will remain, the absolute best way to promote a business online and by most accounts over 80% of the traffic flowing through the Internet will be video in just a couple of years. The problem for most businesses and content publishers is that there is a huge skills gap when it comes to the process of creating video content. To a lesser degree, there is also a disconnect when it comes to the effective distribution and marketing of that video once it has been created. My mission is to create a website in which people and businesses who need video content and other video related services can find talented entrepreneurial filmmakers, video editors, CGI effects artists and marketing professionals at price points from the micro job to full scale commercial video production.

The subject is a completely different tack for me, but the process is not.

So here is what is going on...

http://lscottharrell.com/back-startup-mode-time-new-direction/

#vtrep   #startup