Rand Fishkin, Wizard of Moz | @randfish | rand@moz.com

The Story of Moz 2001-2016: What I’d Change, Keep the Same, & Don’t Yet Know

9 Things I’d

Change

#1: Learn Software Engineering

#2: Spend Time at Another Startup or Two

#3: Reject No-Touch Onboarding

#4: Push My Investors to Be Tougher With Me

#5: Only Launch EVPs, Not MVPs

#6: Hire Less. Build Less. Focus More.

#7: Pay More for Fewer, Proven Hires

#8: Multiple Products vs. Singular Focus

2007-2014 2015-2016

#9: Sell Early. Start Again.

7 Things I’d

Keep the Same

#1: Geraldine

#2:

#3: IC vs. PW Tracks

#4: Marketing First. Product Second.

#5: Live Our Customers’ Lives

#6: Raise Capital (at least this time)

#7: Choose a Sector Other Startups Avoid

5 Mysteries I

Don’t Yet Know

#1: Whether the Juice is Worth the Squeeze

#2: Whether I’m any good at designing software, or just got lucky a few times early on.

#3: Self-Service vs. Enterprise SaaS (source)

#4: Acquisitions vs. Build-In-House

#5: Making Work Personal

I urge you to make your own 3 lists:

What you’d change.

What you’d keep the same.

Mysteries you don’t yet know.

Rand Fishkin, Wizard of Moz | @randfish | rand@moz.com

Bit.ly/storyofmoz