Last Updated on December 15, 2020
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About John Bedford
I spent most of the last decade working on the SEO and content strategies for a publisher in the entertainment space. During this time I also founded a website in partnership with the owner. When the company was sold, this stake in the business gave me the financial freedom to break out on my own, and start exploring one of my other passions.
About Viva Flavor
As much as I enjoyed my old career, I’ve always had the urge to build my own business. Having spent so long launching and growing websites for someone else, I realized I had all the skills I needed to strike out on my own! I’ve always been passionate about cooking, and so it seemed the perfect avenue to explore.
Contents
How Did You Get Your First Several Customers Or Users? How Many Users Or Customers Do You Have Now?
The website began building traction around six months after launch – a slow trickle at first, but one that I’m delighted to say is now growing quickly. Building relationships and raising awareness of the site has been crucial for achieving this. Right now Viva Flavor attracts around 10,000 monthly visitors, and I expect this to grow significantly over the next 12 months.
How Does Your Company Grow And Acquire New Customers?
There’s a simple answer to this one: content and external links. By expanding the editorial scope of the business, I open it up to new markets. By forming relationships with other media publishers, I grow the authority I need to get that content in front of new users.
What Actionable Tips And Tricks Do You Have For New Founders Who Are Looking To Get Their First Thousand Users Or Dollars?
Write a business plan for yourself, and even if you don’t need any external funding. Once you’ve worked out what you want to achieve, assign realistic, measurable targets to each goal that will lead you to that destination. Don’t question your faith in the business until you’ve met those targets. Once the excitement of the launch period is behind you, it’s easy to start doubting yourself. If you haven’t met your targets, you lack the data to justify that doubt. I’ve found it immensely useful to be able to refer back to that plan on the challenging days.
What Is Something You’ve Learned That Would Not Be Obvious To Somebody Who Hasn’t Worked In Your Space Before?
I’d been used to working from home in my previous career, and long before COVID forced that change globally. I’d have a remote team I was in constant communication with though, and an office to go to when I needed it. The difference between working from home and working on your own as a sole business owner cannot be overstated. The responsibility can be suffocating, and it’s really important to lean in to your network of close friends and family. Don’t be afraid to share your doubts and fears with them.
What’s The Craziest Thing That’s Happened To You (Good Or Bad) On Your Founder Journey?
I’m sure I won’t be the first person to mention COVID-19 in this response! It’s been a challenge juggling childcare during the school closures, and with my wife working from home as well. We’ve had to learn to work around each other, and be extremely flexible with each other’s changing work demands.
What Are Your Favorite Books?
I love Sapiens by Yuval Noah Harari. It’s a non-fiction book I think everyone should read once for a perspective on how we get where we are.
Anything You’d Like To Plug?
I’m always happy to welcome more readers to the site. You can find what I’ve been getting up to at Viva Flavor [https://vivaflavor.com/]
Recommended posts:
- Building An Affiliate Marketing Business With Joshua Kennedy
- Building A Private Community With Georges Khairallah
- Building A Donut Business With Influencers With Leslie Polizzotto
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