Marketing a business
Discussion
I have a business idea, helping small and medium companies, locally.
What is the cheapest way to reach out to them. Unfortunately my funds are low, and I don't want to pay a lot.
It is very niche really, and as this is new business I was thinking of offering free services to build up a portfolio of customers and references.
What is the cheapest way to reach out to them. Unfortunately my funds are low, and I don't want to pay a lot.
It is very niche really, and as this is new business I was thinking of offering free services to build up a portfolio of customers and references.
Evolved said:
Stick some posts up on Facebook. If you have no budget, then conventional marketing is out of the question for you
Yes I will set up social media accounts and post some on there. It is free .Probably just trawl local company websites for email addresses and email them as well.
Firstly, keep in mind that there's a chasm between 'Small' and 'Medium' sized businesses. Officially, it describes businesses that range from companies that employee between 30 people and 250 people with a turnover up to £250m. Anything below this is classified as a 'Micro' business.
So choose your market specifically and wisely. The process of selling to these varies according to size. None are easy but the smaller the business, the easier it is to reach the key decision maker. The trade off is that they will have less money to spend and be less willing to spend what they do have.
Start small. Aim for the low hanging fruit; the micro businesses that you will encounter at a BMI or other networking events.
Nothing wrong with offering a few companies what you have for free - just manage this carefully. Make it clear the purpose is to demonstrate the product and give you something to promote to others. Don't offer it totally for free. Even if you just ask for a £1, you can then legally and truthfully claim they are 'customers'. And make sure they all give you five-star reviews.
Going forward, there's no shortcuts. If you don't want to spend money, you need to pick up the phone, go and knock on doors, attend networking events and get yourself out amongst your target market.
And being local, it's essential that every single deal is gilt-edged service. The product must work and work well. And you must work hard to be liked and trusted. Any slight slippage on any of these things will severely hinder you.
Good luck.
So choose your market specifically and wisely. The process of selling to these varies according to size. None are easy but the smaller the business, the easier it is to reach the key decision maker. The trade off is that they will have less money to spend and be less willing to spend what they do have.
Start small. Aim for the low hanging fruit; the micro businesses that you will encounter at a BMI or other networking events.
Nothing wrong with offering a few companies what you have for free - just manage this carefully. Make it clear the purpose is to demonstrate the product and give you something to promote to others. Don't offer it totally for free. Even if you just ask for a £1, you can then legally and truthfully claim they are 'customers'. And make sure they all give you five-star reviews.
Going forward, there's no shortcuts. If you don't want to spend money, you need to pick up the phone, go and knock on doors, attend networking events and get yourself out amongst your target market.
And being local, it's essential that every single deal is gilt-edged service. The product must work and work well. And you must work hard to be liked and trusted. Any slight slippage on any of these things will severely hinder you.
Good luck.
Doofus said:
BNI.
Teeth-grating, chummy, mates-rates agony, but if you can get on with it, it can work.
In a kind of 'nothing exists outside of Albert Square' way.
Is it still a thing?Teeth-grating, chummy, mates-rates agony, but if you can get on with it, it can work.
In a kind of 'nothing exists outside of Albert Square' way.
I set up a BNI "chapter" for them about twenty-five years ago and developed it into the biggest one in the area. At that time, there were loads locally. Then, the regional bod, for whom I had set it up, allowed to join "my" chapter a direct competitor, which was against the rules of BNI. So I binned it, having earned little from it.
I have just looked for chapter locally and there seems to be just one. Suggesting that the organisation is moribund.
StevieBee said:
Firstly, keep in mind that there's a chasm between 'Small' and 'Medium' sized businesses. Officially, it describes businesses that range from companies that employee between 30 people and 250 people with a turnover up to £250m. Anything below this is classified as a 'Micro' business.
So choose your market specifically and wisely. The process of selling to these varies according to size. None are easy but the smaller the business, the easier it is to reach the key decision maker. The trade off is that they will have less money to spend and be less willing to spend what they do have.
Start small. Aim for the low hanging fruit; the micro businesses that you will encounter at a BMI or other networking events.
Nothing wrong with offering a few companies what you have for free - just manage this carefully. Make it clear the purpose is to demonstrate the product and give you something to promote to others. Don't offer it totally for free. Even if you just ask for a £1, you can then legally and truthfully claim they are 'customers'. And make sure they all give you five-star reviews.
Going forward, there's no shortcuts. If you don't want to spend money, you need to pick up the phone, go and knock on doors, attend networking events and get yourself out amongst your target market.
And being local, it's essential that every single deal is gilt-edged service. The product must work and work well. And you must work hard to be liked and trusted. Any slight slippage on any of these things will severely hinder you.
Good luck.
ThanksSo choose your market specifically and wisely. The process of selling to these varies according to size. None are easy but the smaller the business, the easier it is to reach the key decision maker. The trade off is that they will have less money to spend and be less willing to spend what they do have.
Start small. Aim for the low hanging fruit; the micro businesses that you will encounter at a BMI or other networking events.
Nothing wrong with offering a few companies what you have for free - just manage this carefully. Make it clear the purpose is to demonstrate the product and give you something to promote to others. Don't offer it totally for free. Even if you just ask for a £1, you can then legally and truthfully claim they are 'customers'. And make sure they all give you five-star reviews.
Going forward, there's no shortcuts. If you don't want to spend money, you need to pick up the phone, go and knock on doors, attend networking events and get yourself out amongst your target market.
And being local, it's essential that every single deal is gilt-edged service. The product must work and work well. And you must work hard to be liked and trusted. Any slight slippage on any of these things will severely hinder you.
Good luck.
Yes I'm designing a product I think first that hopefully can show what I offer. The only issue is I need data for it to work, and I don't have that. That's why I'm happy to work for free as it will help develop my idea that I can then use as a turnkey solution for other companies.
I'm going to work on my product. I just want to see if it is viable. I think there is a market but on the other hand companies probably don't want to commit to spending.
mickythefish said:
I have a business idea, helping small and medium companies, locally.
What is the cheapest way to reach out to them. Unfortunately my funds are low, and I don't want to pay a lot.
It is very niche really, and as this is new business I was thinking of offering free services to build up a portfolio of customers and references.
Honestly: call and write to them. Not emails either - actual letters. If your addressable market is small, there’s no need to “market”, just contact them. What is the cheapest way to reach out to them. Unfortunately my funds are low, and I don't want to pay a lot.
It is very niche really, and as this is new business I was thinking of offering free services to build up a portfolio of customers and references.
Just make your comms include a focus on the value they’ll get from the interaction and you’ll have a better chance of getting what you need.
Louis Balfour said:
Doofus said:
BNI.
Teeth-grating, chummy, mates-rates agony, but if you can get on with it, it can work.
In a kind of 'nothing exists outside of Albert Square' way.
Is it still a thing?Teeth-grating, chummy, mates-rates agony, but if you can get on with it, it can work.
In a kind of 'nothing exists outside of Albert Square' way.
I set up a BNI "chapter" for them about twenty-five years ago and developed it into the biggest one in the area. At that time, there were loads locally. Then, the regional bod, for whom I had set it up, allowed to join "my" chapter a direct competitor, which was against the rules of BNI. So I binned it, having earned little from it.
I have just looked for chapter locally and there seems to be just one. Suggesting that the organisation is moribund.
Louis Balfour said:
Doofus said:
BNI.
Teeth-grating, chummy, mates-rates agony, but if you can get on with it, it can work.
In a kind of 'nothing exists outside of Albert Square' way.
Is it still a thing?Teeth-grating, chummy, mates-rates agony, but if you can get on with it, it can work.
In a kind of 'nothing exists outside of Albert Square' way.
I set up a BNI "chapter" for them about twenty-five years ago and developed it into the biggest one in the area. At that time, there were loads locally. Then, the regional bod, for whom I had set it up, allowed to join "my" chapter a direct competitor, which was against the rules of BNI. So I binned it, having earned little from it.
I have just looked for chapter locally and there seems to be just one. Suggesting that the organisation is moribund.
Pretty much.
If you provide a service (rather than make a product), then you can spend the rest of your career working only for the others in your BNI group, and they'll be the only people you will use for the service they provide.
It's all so cliquey and parochial, it make me want to tear my own toes off.
If you provide a service (rather than make a product), then you can spend the rest of your career working only for the others in your BNI group, and they'll be the only people you will use for the service they provide.
It's all so cliquey and parochial, it make me want to tear my own toes off.
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