Presentation: Bootstrapping to Seven Figures by BigCommerce Co-Founder Mitchell Harper

Published on August 19th, 2010 by Mitchell Harper

About the Author

Mitch (@mitchellharper) is the co-founder and CEO of BigCommerce. Way back in 2007 he built what eventually became BigCommerce as you know it. Today he runs the company alongside Eddie and along with our 100+ team members, is passionate about helping businesses succeed with e-commerce. Mitch spends time between our Sydney and Austin offices and is giving the keynote at TechConnect 2012 in Sydney on April 19th.

If you haven’t already guessed, I’m big on educating people. A few weeks back I put together a presentation called “Bootstrapping to Seven Figures” which took me about a week to create.

Basically it contains the core ideas and strategies we’ve used to build our company to over 50,000 clients and high seven figures in yearly revenue. I shared my presentation with around 3,000 people on a webinar I did recently for one of our design partners and was blown away by the response – I even managed to score two marriage proposals before I was done!

Anyway, I wanted to share the exact same presentation with you, our loyal clients. If you’ve just started your business and you’re looking for a way to grow your sales to $1,000,000 within 12 months then this is it.

I’ve broken my presentation up into four videos, each of which is embedded below – the entire presentation runs for around 40 minutes. It contains absolutely no sales pitch (I HATE pitches) – just good, honest advice based on my experiences building Interspire (the parent company of BigCommerce) to what it is today with co-founder Eddie Machaalani and our awesome team.

The presentation I used in the video is also embedded at the bottom of this blog post.

Part 1 of 4:

Part 2 of 4:

Part 3 of 4:

Part 4 of 4:

The Presentation I Refer To In The Videos Above

Download it here

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Comments

Blake Schreck (August 20th, 2010, 7:22 pm)

Mitch,
Great presentation! We’re already doing a lot of the things you mention, but I can see that I really need to pick up the pace..so to speak. Thanks so much.

[Reply]

Tom (August 20th, 2010, 11:54 pm)

I am gonna have to find time tomorrow to watch this. I always learn from your videos.

Mitchell, can you tell me where (what panel/file) I need to place my Wibiya bar script for it to work across my pages, such as the categories, product pages etc… I am up late trying to figure this out and getting frustrated. ( If anyone else can lead me in the right direction that would be great also).

Have an awesome weekend !!!

[Reply]

Mitchell Harper Reply:
August 21st, 2010 at 8:29 pm

Hi Tom. Sure. PageFooter.html is the panel you need.

[Reply]

JaneBordeaux (August 22nd, 2010, 7:31 am)

Thank you so much Mitchell. Very useful. I will share this with my friends. I realize now that we have a lot of work to do on our other main site http://www.BellaCouture.com. Thank you. Jane

[Reply]

Sharyn Murray (August 27th, 2010, 6:37 am)

Mitch,

Great presentation. You inspire me.

[Reply]

Rick Yanez (September 3rd, 2010, 1:12 pm)

Mitch,

Your presentation pumped me up!

Thanks 4 your the motivation!

Rick

[Reply]

Jodi (September 9th, 2010, 4:34 pm)

Awesome presentation! I’ll admit I’ve been lazy with the site, hoping people would just magically appear and buy from me…I’ve been more focussed/successful at trade shows, but they’re SO much work. I’m amped up after seeing your presentation and going to implement some new marketing strategies.

On a side note…the testimonial thing is a big one for me. That’s why I chose BigCommerce, and the always speedy replies of my emails and questions sealed the deal! LOVE your company!

[Reply]

Mitchell Harper Reply:
September 12th, 2010 at 10:52 pm

Thanks for the kind words Jodi! Glad you liked it.

[Reply]

Michael Homer (September 9th, 2010, 8:12 pm)

Mitch,

You did a fantastic job! You kept it simple and it was informative. Thank you. I will listen to it many times.

Thank you,

Michael

[Reply]

Peter (October 10th, 2010, 6:34 am)

Hi Mitch
This is exactly what I was looking for. No bull%$@ talking just straight how it is and what will work and what won’t. I think you just turned me in your raving fan
I’m just working on my store when I write this and will be full on in few days.
I see you on Forbes 500 soon
All the best
Peter

[Reply]

Sue (October 30th, 2010, 12:08 am)

Mitch,

All I can say is “WOW” with the marketing. That is the side I love to do and you had some real great tips in those 4 video’s. I cannot wait to get it up and going with my sales. I have just about turned your website upside down and right side up now, in the last 10+ hours! I am truelly amazed and I see you have many more video’s to go after this first one!

I have used others and your website is what I have been looking for and so glad I have found it!

Look forward to the great relationship in business as partners!

[Reply]

Mitchell Harper Reply:
October 31st, 2010 at 12:23 pm

Great to hear Sue. We wish you all the best!

[Reply]

10.

Matt (December 4th, 2010, 1:19 am)

I loved the presentation. I’m ready to make my first million in 12 months. Wish me luck.