How to Launch and Grow Your Startup | Marketing That Actually Works | Lauren Petrullo
In this episode of the An Hour of Innovation podcast, Vit Lyoshin sits down with Lauren Petrullo, growth strategist, entrepreneur, and founder of Mongoose Media, to unpack what it really takes to launch and grow new software successfully. They dive into attracting early users, building awareness before your product is fully developed, and positioning your software as a must-have solution rather than just another tool.
Lauren shares hard-earned insights on selling benefits to non-technical audiences, scrappy marketing tactics that actually work, and how to avoid the all-too-common mistake of launching too early. They also explore why people are more likely to want what others are using, and how to use that psychology to your advantage.
Whether you're a startup founder, product leader, or early-stage marketer, you'll walk away with actionable strategies for building demand, creating real user engagement, and standing out in a crowded market. Stay tuned until the end, Lauren breaks down the biggest pitfalls she sees founders make, and how you can sidestep them.
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/
Connect with Vit
- Website: https://vitlyoshin.com/contact/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vit-lyoshin/
