How to Launch and Grow Your Startup | Marketing That Actually Works | Lauren Petrullo

In this episode of An Hour of Innovation podcast, host Vit Lyoshin and guest Lauren Petrullo discuss the essential strategies for launching and growing new software. They explore the balance between launching too early and waiting for perfection, the importance of user feedback, and the role of social proof and influencer marketing.

Lauren Petrullo is a growth strategist, entrepreneur, and founder of Mongoose Media, where she helps startups and brands scale through creative, data-driven marketing. With a background in digital advertising and product strategy, Lauren specializes in launching software and ecommerce products that actually get noticed and bought. She’s passionate about making tech relatable, positioning products as essentials (not just nice-to-haves), and building marketing strategies that convert.

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Takeaways

* Perfectionism can hinder timely software launches.

* Gather user feedback early to shape your product.

* A clear online presence is crucial before launch.

* Crowdfunding can validate ideas but requires careful management.

* Influencers can effectively communicate your product's value.

* Focus on storytelling to highlight product benefits.

* Customer comprehension is key to successful marketing.

* Personalized advertising enhances relevance and engagement.

* Startups should prioritize SEO and organic growth strategies.

* Investing in quality content can yield long-term benefits.

* Language diversity in content creation is crucial.

* Crafting messages for non-technical audiences is essential.

* Founders often make mistakes by focusing on ego and perfectionism.

* Delegation and empowerment are key for successful product launches.

* Studying both good and bad outliers helps in understanding traction.

* Effective storytelling is vital for product relevance.

* Guerrilla marketing can provide invaluable consumer insights.

* Using AI can streamline the process of crafting personalized pitches.

* Building a waitlist can gauge interest before a product launch.

Timestamps

00:00 Introduction

02:26 Balancing Perfection and Timeliness in Launching Software

05:06 Identifying Red Flags for Early Launch

06:48 The Role of Prototypes and Crowdfunding

10:04 The Importance of Social Proof and Influencer Marketing

14:36 Crafting a Compelling Product Narrative

17:01 Understanding Customer Comprehension

18:09 The Impact of Personalized Advertising

22:07 Marketing on a Budget for Startups

27:13 Optimizing for Search Engines and LLMs

30:54 Rank on Search Engines Fast in Spanish and Other Languages

35:59 Crafting Your Message for Non-Technical Audiences

44:06 Common Mistakes Founders Make

46:36 Troubleshooting Traction Issues

52:24 Effective Launch Strategies and Guerrilla Marketing

Connect with Lauren

* Website: https://mongoosemedia.us/

* LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/laurenpetrullo/

* X: https://x.com/LaurenEPetrullo

* Other: https://www.laurenpetrullo.com/

Podcast Links

* https://www.anhourofinnovation.com/

Connect with Vit

* Website: https://vitlyoshin.com/contact/

* LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vit-lyoshin