Grassroots Marketing | Inc.com

If you are struggling to gain market traction this is for you.

Inc. put together a great list of mini articles with some equally great insight into the creativity it takes to compete in a crowded marketplace as a startup. A must read for almost any consumer focused startup: Grassroots Marketing | Inc.com (Link).

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Things I'm working on...

There is a ton going on in the Birmingham startup ecosystem, some that is public knowledge and some that isn't.

Here's a small sampling of some at least semi public stuff that I've been working on and think is worth supporting...if anything seems like a fit, give me a buzz, we can always use good help.

1. Expanding our BAN Mentorship Program
2. Creating a Culinary Startup Incubator
3. Proposing and Passing a Startup Capital Tax Credit
4. Getting regularly scheduled PR for the Startup scene
5. Supporting and expanding Birmingham Startup Drinks
6. Creating a Deal Flow Clearinghouse for non-startup related alternative investments
7. Brainstorming on ways to fill the "concept validation" gap

That's probably a good start.

If any of that strikes your fancy...come on down.

***This post probably also shows that we could use an initiative that keeps track of the various ways to get involved, but that will have to wait till another day.

No recession? Strong U.S. growth tops estimates

It is conventional wisdom today that all of the United States of America, including California, are in a recession. However, as is often the case, the conventional wisdom appears to be incorrect:

A recession is typically defined as two consecutive quarters of negative economic growth, but the just-released second quarter 2008 U.S. economic growth rate numbers show a healthy growth rate of 3.3%, akin to the average rate of growth in the Reagan and Clinton administration "boom" years, and topping estimates of 1.9% (which accounted for the economic stimulus rebate checks). Q1 2008's growth rate was weak but positive, and Q4 2007 was recorded at negative 0.2% (-0.2%).

The U.S. Labor Department also reported a decrease in new unemployment claims numbers.

Arguably, one upshot of these figures is that those who believe now is not a good time to start or expand a business may not be correct.

See also UCLA forecast sees no California recession, San Francisco Chronicle, March 11, 2008:

[T]he UCLA Anderson Forecast predict that damage from the collapse of housing will be contained and that the state's feeble economy will avoid a headlong dive into negative territory.

Real estate weakness will remain a significant drag on the economy, leaving us treading water in 2008, but not slipping under the waves into recession," the report concludes.

December 2008 Update: An official U.S. recession was announced, with its effective start being named as December 2007.