Pinned Tweet
Hi everyone, we need your help!
We’re testing a new platform called “Spotlights”. I would appreciate you taking two minutes to watch this video and provide feedback.
Spotlights is an online platform and a community that helps you easily find the best local businesses in a given niche.
Here is how it works:
1. Search spotlights (like hot chicken, drywall repair, hair colorists, etc) to discover the best businesses in your city
2. Upvote the businesses you like for a given spotlight
3. Nominate businesses to the spotlight by answering a few questions conversationally.
We want your uncensored thoughts! What do you like/could improve? Any concerns? I would appreciate your feedback as we develop this concept. Thank you!
#BeAssuredSpotlights #buildinpublic
santoash retweeted
I think you are right, sir. xitter.cf/aravind/status/2033931…
santoash retweeted
Found a sweet tool:
It's a custom GPT that takes in your ideal customer, and spits out 100 niche communities they spend time in.
L*nk below
If AI is like internet, how long did it take for us to stop describing companies as “internet powered xyz”
One of the primary themes that came out of talking to idea stage startups is the focus they have on raising money.
I heard a lot of “when I raise xx here is the plan I will execute”.
My free (unsolicited) advice:
Explore ways to help your customers with minimal or no initial product development.
If you are an enterprise saas explore ways to build the product using client’s money. This is what I’m trying to do for both the projects I’m working on.
It was amazing to connect with startups in Bangalore.
The startup scene in Bangalore is buzzing!! There is so much excitement and activity.
It was amazing to be part of it!
Apparently none of them use X so I cannot tag them here 😀
Tomorrow and Tuesday, I'm in Bangalore to meet several startups.
My goal is to help founders from a tech perspective. With over a decade of experience in building and delivering software products, plus recently selling a ML platform company that co-founded, I've got plenty of do's and don'ts to share! 😊
If you're around, let's meet up – always thrilled to make new connections!
Tomorrow and Tuesday, I'm in Bangalore to meet several startups.
My goal is to help founders from a tech perspective. With over a decade of experience in building and delivering software products, plus recently selling a ML platform company that co-founded, I've got plenty of do's and don'ts to share! 😊
If you're around, let's meet up – always thrilled to make new connections!
santoash retweeted
What it feels like to make an eloquent, respectful comment in an otherwise heated political forum.
Took a break from Twitter in December.
Focused on traveling and work, mostly product development with less social media.
It was really productive. Traveled to several cities in India (mostly in the south).
Stayed 1-2 weeks in each city. Loved exploring new places with my kids.
Some minor hiccups but overall, it's been a fantastic experience so far!
Now it's time to put the finishing touches so I can release what I have been working on over the last month :-)
Wins this month:
- Added 2 additional paying customers.
- Completed the first version of Spotlights @BeAssuredio [xitter.cf/santoash/status/171399…].
- Migrated to @vercel for enhanced SSR.
- Seeded our database with 6k businesses in Chicago, using @outscraper.
- Finished developing the 'tap to review' feature for local businesses.
Focus for December:
- Get more customers
- Optimize SEO for our own site :-)
- Officially launch 'tap to review' with 3 customers.
- Launch Spotlights in Chicago
Super excited to see things coming together!
Hi everyone, we need your help!
We’re testing a new platform called “Spotlights”. I would appreciate you taking two minutes to watch this video and provide feedback.
Spotlights is an online platform and a community that helps you easily find the best local businesses in a given niche.
Here is how it works:
1. Search spotlights (like hot chicken, drywall repair, hair colorists, etc) to discover the best businesses in your city
2. Upvote the businesses you like for a given spotlight
3. Nominate businesses to the spotlight by answering a few questions conversationally.
We want your uncensored thoughts! What do you like/could improve? Any concerns? I would appreciate your feedback as we develop this concept. Thank you!
#BeAssuredSpotlights #buildinpublic
I got my first job through a career fair at CMU over 15 years ago.
I cringe a little, thinking back to those interviews. I would not hire myself knowing what I know now :-)
Recently learnt about Parkinson’s Law: the more time you spend working, the less productive you might be.
Balancing work as a founder with being there for my kids is top priority for me.
I’m dedicating a few hours each day just to be with them, setting boundaries to make those moments happen.
Nothing shows you the passage of time quite like parenting and passage of time makes you reevaluate your priorities. – at Oregon, USA
Posts like these are a good validation of what we are building with @BeAssuredio spotlights.
We are so close to wrapping up development.
First, we are launching in Chicago.
xitter.cf/santoash/status/171399… – at Oregon, USA
After talking with Local SEO pros and local business owners, I've boiled down the essentials of local SEO into 3 tenets:
1. Directory Listings: Start with optimizing your Google Business Profile.
2. Reviews: Focus on high-quality ones and never stop.
3. Local Content: Create content and events that are hyper-local and relevant to your niche
Each pillar can be fine-tuned with tools and strategies specific to the niche. I will post a drill down on these tenets in the coming days.