Writing content for your startup's blog should be thought of as not just a place to self promote, but to become a trusted source for the media.

Your startup and the data you are collecting has huge value as you gain critical mass.  Share your insights, knowledge and wisdom on your blog.  Photo by me.  Shot on the Santa Monica Pier.

Shifting some of the mindset in this vein makes you a more valuable source for your insights, expertise and thought leadership.

Investors in startups invest in people, not just a company.

Keep that in mind as you shop your startup for deal flow and funding.

External to how smart you may individually and collectively be, what do your personal brands say about you?  How do they attract the right people to your universe of opportunity and deal flow.

One commonality that I find in startups, is that often the founders have known each other for many years.  You may have met in high school, learned to code in a dorm room with the person who is now your lead developer, or just came up with an idea for what could be next while day-dreaming in your MBA classes.

Keep in mind that when investors are looking at your company, they are really looking at you and your co-founders.  Develop a story line on your social profiles that reflect what you're about, what you believe in and where the heart and soul of your company is.

You're not just competing for money.  You're competing for attention.  

Get it with a personal brand that attracts the right universe of people, who'll believe in your vision, your mission, and most of all, invest in the collective of what makes you and your co-founders a great team.

Part of building your startup's culture is having a tone that reflects your company's verbal persona.

We are now well into the month of January of our new year. 

Hopefully, you're rested, refreshed, and caught up on email backlog.

Being a new year and all, and in a time of starting anew, is it time to refresh and pivot your message?

Maybe what you did and how you said it has not just changed, but evolved.

Take some time and re-evaluate your message. 

An ever so slight tweak to your message, might be the best move you can make before the month is over.