Getting
a company off the ground with a tiny budget is not easy. A strong double-loop referral
program,
augmented by tools like CloudSponge, is probably the #1 best way to
get the engine fired up through word-of-mouth marketing. But success is built
on more than just marketing, and there are other excellent online business
tools available to the Lean Startup. For example, Dropbox,
Unassumer,
Unbounce
and Google Apps offer plenty of options. However,
the title of #2 best tool for a Lean Startup goes to Lean Canvas.
With it, you can create a one-page business model in around 20 minutes. Lean
Canvas is particularly popular with entrepreneurs who need to focus on building
a new business and have a limited amount of time to spend on a long and
cumbersome business plan.
Saving Valuable Time
Compared
to writing a 30-page business plan that could take weeks or even several
months, Lean Canvas allows you to outline multiple alternative business models
in one place in just an afternoon. You can easily examine important elements of
your startup at the beginning of the process, such as pricing models, potential
customers, and marketing strategies.
Appealing and Concise
If
you’re launching your business, you’ve probably got all kinds of ideas as to
how you should proceed. Lean Canvas forces you to condense everything, until
you can describe just the core aspects of your product or service. In a
face-to-face meeting, you have less than a minute to make an impression on a
potential customer. On your website, you have less than 10 seconds to hook the
visitor. Lean Canvas helps you to capture the very essence of what you’re
promoting and communicate its features and benefits as effectively as possible.
It’s much easier to share a single page business model than a lengthy and often complicated document. And unlike a traditional business plan, people will actually read the simplified model created with Lean Canvas. Your business model will not only be viewed by more people, but will also be more frequently revised. Lean Canvas makes updating your model very easy, so that people are encouraged to make recommendations, changes and additions.
Keeping Track
Once your business is up and running, you can use the built-in presenter tools to document your progress and communicate this to others. You can easily keep everyone updated, whether they’re potential investors, future clients or members of your own team. Once again, Lean Canvas allows you to concentrate on business instead of drowning in details.
You
can learn more about how Lean Canvas can help you and your emerging business by
clicking here.