Episode 560 | When to Hire, Square Business Banking, and More Bootstrapper News
Jul 27, 2021
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Einar Vollset, an expert in hiring strategies, and Tracy Osborn, a community management specialist, share valuable insights on when to hire in startups. They discuss how to optimize roles for efficiency and the surprising productivity boosts of working while traveling. The conversation also touches on a Delta pilot's legal battle over app ownership and the shifting dynamics in advertising as Facebook faces user backlash. Plus, they explore the exciting developments in fintech with Square's new banking services.
Founders should strategically identify and hire support roles early to enhance efficiency and focus on high-level tasks.
Changing work locations can significantly boost productivity by eliminating distractions and fostering a collaborative environment.
Deep dives
Deciding When to Hire
Determining the right time to hire within a startup can be challenging. It's common for founders to overlook necessary hires until they feel overwhelmed, leading to suboptimal efficiency. Founders should evaluate their tasks and identify which responsibilities can be delegated to increase their capacity for more high-level activities. Often, support roles, such as customer service, should be among the first positions to fill, as they are repetitive and can be effectively managed by others.
Productivity Hacks: Working While Traveling
Traveling, particularly by plane, can significantly enhance productivity for some individuals. This is attributed to the enforced time constraints and lack of distractions while in transit. Being unable to access various distractions prompts a focused work environment, allowing tasks that would typically take longer to be completed in a shorter timeframe. Many find that changes in their work location, such as being in a coffee shop or co-working space, can also induce a productive mindset by creating a collaborative atmosphere.
Navigating Company Growth Stages
Founders often grapple with the transition between different stages of their business, primarily from product development to building a company. The distinction lies in the focus shifting from hands-on product creation to management and organizational growth. Many technical founders struggle with this shift, as the skills required to develop a product differ significantly from those needed to manage teams and operations. Recognizing when to step back and allow others to take on operational roles is crucial for a company’s continued success.
The Impact of Tracking Opt-Outs on Advertising
The recent shift by users to opt-out of tracking on platforms like Facebook is expected to affect the efficiency of advertising campaigns. With reduced tracking, advertisers may face rising costs per click and difficulties in measuring campaign success. This challenge highlights the tension between user privacy and advertisers’ need for data-driven marketing strategies. As consumers become increasingly aware that they may be the product, businesses must adapt their marketing tactics to address these changes.
In Episode 560, Rob Walling is joined by Einar Vollset and Tracy Osborn to talk about deciding when it's time to hire someone, how to think about which role to hire next, changing location to force productivity, and more.
The topics we cover
[2:52] Deciding to hire a community manager
[9:28] Location hacks for improved productivity
[14:52] Delta airline pilot suing Delta for stealing app
[20:35] Product → Business → Company
[27:18] Facebook Users say "No" and Advertisers are Panicking
If you have questions about starting or scaling a software business that you’d like for us to cover, please submit your question for an upcoming episode. We’d love to hear from you!