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How to get yourself out there in a big way?

by techlover
12 replies
I set up a web consulting business that specializes in mobile websites, websites, and social media campaigns in June and I have assembled a well-qualified team. I am at the moment providing free services for large charities and non profits and asking for a recommendation to any business that donates to them.

I need something that will have people calling me, I don't mind cold calling but haven't found very much success as I can not get an owner on the phone.

Flyers, newspapers, something that is affordable and eye-catching. I am getting pressured by my family and they have said that if I can't start making money with it by middle of August (I'm still in school), then I have to shut it down. I don't want to do that, I love this stuff to much!


Thanks all, looking for some suggestions from fellow warriors!
#big
  • Profile picture of the author DWolfe
    You have not reached any owners ? Sounds like you are not trying hard enough. What time of the day are you calling ? How many calls have you made ? Sounds like you are not taken action just doing busy work IMHO

    Look at some of the other theads around here the suggestions are there to help you become successful
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    • Profile picture of the author webideasonline
      Don't let anyone make you shut it down. You are doing a great service. If you have to shut it down because they are your financial backing, then find some other freelancers in your industry and get some help with the financial side. Go into businesses rather than calling. Find strip malls and spend 8 hours a day going in and introducing yourself. It can take a few weeks for those relationships to develop into business, but it will happen.
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      • Profile picture of the author robd1302
        Email, email, email. That's my recommendation. Don't spam anyone. Just find businesses you think you can help, find their email address, and send them a personal email. If you don't have the time to spend on that, outsource the email address finding, and the actual mailing.

        As for what to say in the email, don't send an ad, as tempting as it may be. Tell them who you are, why you're writing, and how you can help them. Offer to take them to lunch, or to do some sort of small free thing to ease their mind that you are not trying to screw them over. Make it clear that if they don't want to hear from you again, all they need to do is say no thanks.

        For anyone who doesn't respond (which will be most of the businesses), email them again (with a different email) a week or two later. This method is perfect for anyone who doesn't like cold calling, or who isn't successful with it.

        This is obviously a numbers game, but when I started out, I got all of my clients this way, and I was typically pulling in at least 5k a month. Once you're established, networking and word of mouth are great as next steps.
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        • Profile picture of the author cshilling22
          Originally Posted by robd1302 View Post

          Email, email, email. That's my recommendation. Don't spam anyone. Just find businesses you think you can help, find their email address, and send them a personal email. If you don't have the time to spend on that, outsource the email address finding, and the actual mailing.

          As for what to say in the email, don't send an ad, as tempting as it may be. Tell them who you are, why you're writing, and how you can help them. Offer to take them to lunch, or to do some sort of small free thing to ease their mind that you are not trying to screw them over. Make it clear that if they don't want to hear from you again, all they need to do is say no thanks.

          For anyone who doesn't respond (which will be most of the businesses), email them again (with a different email) a week or two later. This method is perfect for anyone who doesn't like cold calling, or who isn't successful with it.

          This is obviously a numbers game, but when I started out, I got all of my clients this way, and I was typically pulling in at least 5k a month. Once you're established, networking and word of mouth are great as next steps.
          When you send the second e-mail do you forward the first one as well or just forget about the first one and send a totally new e-mail without mentioning it?
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          • Profile picture of the author robd1302
            Originally Posted by cshilling22 View Post

            When you send the second e-mail do you forward the first one as well or just forget about the first one and send a totally new e-mail without mentioning it?
            I don't forward the first one, but I mention that I sent them an email a few weeks back and hadn't heard from them, so I wanted to get in touch with them again. I'll usually up the ante a bit. Maybe offer to give them something free, or buy them lunch, etc.

            My second email typically gets a much better response than the first.
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  • Profile picture of the author techlover
    Trust me, I've been trying hard. I have 2 potential deals in the works, one deal is with a guy that doesn't do mobile that has tons of clients without mobile websites, I'm trying to partner with him on a 60/40. It would involve the possibility of a mobile website in all 125 or so of his clients

    The second is for a local charity that is huge who I am trying to help out greatly for free in exchange for possible referrals from them to the 250 businesses in my town of 50,000 that donate to this charity each year.

    I've been cold calling places, but the owner is never there or busy. I have made follow up calls and tried other places. Should I try walkin in?
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    HELP SAVE KIM, ONE PERSON AT A TIME!
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    • Profile picture of the author rlhurst
      Originally Posted by techlover View Post

      one deal is with a guy that doesn't do mobile that has tons of clients without mobile websites, I'm trying to partner with him on a 60/40. It would involve the possibility of a mobile website in all 125 or so of his clients
      Offer him the "60" part of that. 40% of "tons" of work is much better than nothing, right? Plus you avoid getting shut down.
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  • Profile picture of the author JHolness
    I suggest you email them with a small video that shows what your company offers, and what you can for them. I would also provide them with some free, like a free mobile website.

    After the first email, if you have the phone number of the individual, you can then call them up saying that you are calling about the video you sent to them last week, and would like to know if they watched it. That's a great way to get past "gatekeepers" too!

    You - "Hello, may I speak with John please?"
    Gatekeeper - "Who may I say is calling?"
    You - "This is Techlover from 123Web Consulting. I'm calling about the video I sent to him last week. I told him I would be giving him a call to followup."
    GateKeeper - "Oh, um, yes, one moment please, let me get him for you.."

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  • Profile picture of the author robd1302
    Also, you mentioned your family making you shut it down in August. You are in college, I assume? Real businesses rarely turn a profit in the first few months, especially something like this. Doing pro-bono work for charities is a great way to build your name a reputation, but it won't bring in a ton of cash flow.

    On the other hand, shutting down your business after building good will like that would basically be throwing away tons of potential income.

    There is a good side to having family and friends pull you back to reality if you get too enamored with a business idea, but unfortunately, I've heard far too many stories of people who are making good money online being told "it will never work", even after it clearly already is working. Try as hard as you can not to let other people dictate what you decide to do, especially if running your business isn't costing them anything.
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  • Profile picture of the author kmalikis
    All good advice given so far! i really think the 60/40 deal with that potential client has the biggest bang for the buck!.. what would you have to do to get this guy to work for you!

    Do what ever you have to for this guy on your side. Do his mobile site.. show him how it benefits him. how it makes him stand out amongst others in his industry.. show him how he looks like a Genius by referring this to the other business... it increases his stature amongst his peers and also increases his bank balance!
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    • Profile picture of the author techlover
      Originally Posted by kmalikis View Post

      All good advice given so far! i really think the 60/40 deal with that potential client has the biggest bang for the buck!.. what would you have to do to get this guy to work for you!

      Do what ever you have to for this guy on your side. Do his mobile site.. show him how it benefits him. how it makes him stand out amongst others in his industry.. show him how he looks like a Genius by referring this to the other business... it increases his stature amongst his peers and also increases his bank balance!
      Right, I'm doing everything I can to get him with me, it would be a fantastic deal if I could land it.
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      • Profile picture of the author KingOfContentMarketing
        It sounds like your support group there thinks you are working on a "hobby" or something that might detract from school.

        You can do it part-time but this is a real business. What if you got 5 orders tomorrow? If you don't spend the time to fulfill client expectations then you are really hosed.

        I would make sure my friends and family are on the same page so you are not fighting two battles at once.
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