874: Simply NotedRick Elmore, Simply Noted

Summary

In this episode of the Sharkpreneur Podcast, hosts Kevin Harrington and Seth Green interview Rick Elmore, founder of Simply Noted, a platform that automates handwritten notes for businesses. Rick shares his journey from a professional athlete to the founder of a successful business, detailing how Simply Noted helps companies build relationships through personalized notes. He talks about the challenges, the technology behind the handwriting robots, and his entrepreneurial lessons, emphasizing the importance of persistence, problem-solving, and testing in business. A compelling conversation on innovation and customer experience in modern marketing.

Takeaways

• 😀 Rick Elmore's background in athletics and experience in medical device sales led to the creation of Simply Noted, a platform automating handwritten notes for businesses.
• 😀 Simply Noted started as a school project in 2017 and has since grown to serve over 300,000 monthly users.
• 😀 The core technology behind Simply Noted includes a handwriting robot with a genuine pen, offering real handwritten notes at scale.
• 😀 The company has invested over $800,000 in developing a vertically integrated handwriting robot, focusing on automating personalized notes for clients.
• 😀 Simply Noted's approach focuses on customer experience, offering automated handwritten notes for client acquisition, retention, and upselling.
• 😀 Rick initially struggled with traditional sales techniques like door knocking and networking but found success through digital marketing strategies such as SEO, PPC, and funnels.
• 😀 The company has a large repeat customer base, with over 60% of their monthly business coming from returning clients.
• 😀 Rick emphasizes the value of handwritten notes in today's digital age, with people receiving fewer than five handwritten notes per year, making them stand out more.
• 😀 Simply Noted’s platform allows for both retention (thank you, anniversary, birthday notes) and acquisition (prospect outreach) strategies.
• 😀 The company is self-funded, with Rick starting it with a $10,000 zero-percent interest credit card, highlighting the importance of betting on yourself as an entrepreneur.
• 😀 Rick shares the importance of testing and refining business ideas using the 'bullets and bowling balls' metaphor, stressing smart risk-taking with limited resources.

Q & A

What was the inspiration behind starting Simply Noted?

Simply Noted was inspired by a professor who mentioned that handwritten notes had a 99% open rate. Rick Elmore, the founder, believed that automating handwritten notes for business purposes would significantly enhance client relations and lead to better success.

How does Simply Noted differentiate itself from other handwritten note services?

Simply Noted focuses on automating real, handwritten notes using a robotic handwriting system. This technology allows businesses to send personalized notes at scale, making it different from competitors who only serve niche markets like weddings or personal thank you notes.

What kind of clients use Simply Noted's services?

Simply Noted serves businesses looking to improve customer retention, prospecting, and sales. Their platform helps companies send automated thank you cards, anniversary cards, birthday cards, and prospecting notes, primarily focusing on B2B clients.

How does Simply Noted's automation system work?

The system merges customer data (names, addresses, etc.) into handwritten notes, using a writing robot that is completely vertically integrated with the operation. This means data enters the system and is directly sent to the robots, ensuring efficiency and scalability.

What were some early challenges Rick faced in growing Simply Noted?

In the beginning, Rick was focused on traditional sales methods, like networking and door-to-door sales. However, he quickly realized that increasing his business output would require a stronger focus on digital marketing strategies such as SEO, PPC, and content marketing.

What is the key to Simply Noted's consistent growth?

Simply Noted's growth can be attributed to investing in a strong digital presence, focusing on customer experience, and offering a product that generates repeat business. Over 60% of their monthly business comes from repeat customers.

What role does technology play in Simply Noted's business model?

Technology plays a crucial role in automating the handwritten note process. The company has invested heavily in creating a proprietary writing robot and integrated software that allows businesses to scale their note-sending process without manual intervention.

What are some of the unique benefits of sending a handwritten note according to Rick Elmore?

Handwritten notes stand out because they are rare and personal. In a world filled with digital messages, a physical handwritten note is seen as thoughtful and unique. This can create a lasting impression and build stronger relationships.

How does Simply Noted plan to scale its operations?

Simply Noted plans to scale by expanding its infrastructure, including increasing the number of robots and potentially investing in a larger facility. They are also focusing on automation and refining their internal processes to handle higher volumes.

What advice does Rick Elmore offer to aspiring entrepreneurs?

Rick advises aspiring entrepreneurs to bet on themselves, take risks, and be fully committed to their ventures. He stresses the importance of pushing outside your comfort zone, learning through experience, and solving every problem that arises. He also highlights the value of testing ideas before fully committing to them.