When growth stalls, the default is often to chase more top-of-funnel leads. Instead, founders should first focus on optimizing their existing funnel through lifecycle marketing and better converting the leads they already have.
MicroConf replaced an afternoon of talks with excursions like boat trips. This intentionally unstructured time outside the formal venue helps founders build genuine connections and better process event learnings, moving beyond surface-level networking.
Giving a talk on a topic you're passionate about is an effective way to attract and connect with like-minded people at an event. It acts as a filter, making networking highly efficient by drawing in those who already share your interests.
At MicroConf Europe, 90% of attendees had revenue and 30% ran seven-figure ARR companies. This concentration of experienced operators challenges the perception that smaller, niche communities are primarily for aspirants, revealing them as hubs for experts.
Host Rob Walling abandoned a talk idea based on 'hard thing' founder stories because it lacked an actionable takeaway. An effective talk must provide a path to action or deeper thinking, not just normalize struggles or entertain.
MicroConf's friendly and helpful atmosphere, where even eight-figure founders are humble, is attributed to the non-polarizing personalities of its founders. Aggressive leaders attract aggressive followers, while supportive leaders attract a supportive community.
Scaling to $2M ARR with only two co-founders led to severe burnout and created a business entirely dependent on them. This made it difficult to step away or sell, highlighting the risk of staying too lean for too long.