100UE Fundee Blog: OurBuckeyeHub.com

Founder: Maurice Womack

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November 28, 2011: Signing Up Ohio State Hoops Stars to Help Promote the Business

Week 7 of 100UE’s eight-week mentoring program begins today, and over the last two weeks, I’ve had the opportunity to assess how my business is developing. Some of the questions I’m asking myself as we move into the final stage of the mentoring program:

• What have I done to build my business in the last two weeks?
My major task for the Web site has been to create relationships and to encourage more members to blog. I’ve been actively seeking out notable former and current Buckeyes to join the site and begin blogging. Two weeks ago, I was able to get JJ Sullinger — a former OSU b-ball standout — to sign up and post. He saw the value that it could bring to his business as a marketing channel. J.J. is the brother of current OSU standout Jared Sullinger, one of the best college-basketball players in the country. So it has been a very good couple of weeks.

• How is the mentoring program affecting the way I think about and run my business?
The mentoring program has given me so much perspective. The ability to meet on a weekly basis to discuss the challenges we’ve faced during the week has been invaluable. Knowing that other entrepreneurial people are having similar issues — and have overcome them — is so encouraging. More than anything, the meetings have been like therapy, which is needed given the ups and downs that entrepreneurs go through.

• What logistical hurdles would I have to overcome if demand suddenly increased substantially?
Delivering my product to my customers has more to do with my technology infrastructure than distribution channels. For instance, if the traffic on my Web site really takes off, I’ll need to upgrade my servers to account for the increased load.

• What third-party services, if any, do I anticipate needing to use to help meet my sales-and-distribution goals?
To accelerate the growth of OurBuckeyeHub.com, I most likely will enlist the services of a social-media marketing expert. Although I already have a Facebook page and Twitter account, it becomes a burden to maintain those channels. My knowledge of those areas is also very limited. Hiring an expert who can increase the number of my fans and followers might be the best strategy.