7 {{ upvoteCount | shortNum }}
7 {{ upvoteCount | shortNum }}

Websites & IM services - specialising in the "Professions

by Aussieguy
5 replies
Is anyone here doing that?

Most would agree that you don't want to try and "be all things to all people".

Obviously as a webdesigner (for example) you can make them for anyone and everyone - but you can also specialise (iAmNameLess has mentioned somone he knows who has made a big business specialising in the "Pet" area).

Food services are often mentioned here re: websites, social media, SEO and the like, and for good reason. It's a big industry - always new players, lots of competition etc. Lots of reasons.

There's also retail. My wife showed me a website a graphic designer friend of hers just did for a furniture store, and I was amazed. Very funky.


My question here is related to website services and/or other marketing services, relating to the Professional Services.

Is anyone here on WF particularly specialising there?

Comments I've read are: "too hard", "very competitive".

My reason for wondering this, is in assessing my own style. My training/work history is in the accounting/marketing/HR/financial planning areas.......and so it dawned on me (as I looked at the furniture store website) that maybe I should specialise in the area that's possibly more natural to my experience and personality. I say possibly because I am still considering this from various angles. For example - I'm a 'white collar' worker, but I've always particularly gotten along well with 'blue collar' types - possibly because I was a white collar worker in a mining company for quite a few years. Plus, I'm a pretty fun person - not a boring accountant type!

Anyway.

I do see that there is validity in specialising in an area such as "marketing for restaurants" or "the tourist industry" or "professional services" or "the entertainment industry" etc.

I'd like to hear from anyone who specialises here - and I'm more than happy to be referred to any WSO's (or other products) related to this, so that I can learn more about what these fields require in their marketing.

In case you wondered about the term, "Professional services", here is a good definition......


The Australian Council of Professions defines a profession as:
'A disciplined group of individuals who adhere to high ethical standards and uphold themselves to, and are accepted by, the public as possessing special knowledge and skills in a widely recognised, organised body of learning derived from education and training at a high level, and who are prepared to exercise this knowledge and these skills in the interest of others.

Inherent in this definition is the concept that the responsibility for the welfare, health and safety of the community shall take precedence over other considerations.'
Examples of professions include:
  • health related--doctors, dentists, physiotherapists, podiatrists, pharmacists
  • non-health related--architects, engineers, veterinarians, surveyors, lawyers.


Look forward to hearing your thoughts.....
#professions #websites
  • Profile picture of the author SoCalMarketing
    As for my experience with "the professions".. I came from the mortgage and real estate industry, have a great deal of affinity for that industry and find that as a result of my enormous amount of experience and passion for the subject matter.. I can speak with authority on the subject and create products and solutions that provide more value to my clients than many who are pandering their services to that industry and have no experience in it. I see that as a huge value proposition for me and thus, it enables me to project confidence in what I offer. I speak with conviction and that positions me advantageously over others who lack the expertise that I have.

    You may find that your strenghts are very marketable given your background. If you hang around the WSO forum (try not to go broke buying those WSOs).. you can easily spot those industries that may already be getting hit a lot. Chiroproctors, dentists, restaurants.. and you may want to go where there is less competition; engineers, surveyors, providing there is enough of a market there.

    I have found great value in listening to a young man by the name of Brendon Burchard or expertsacademy.com. He is doing a big launch right now and has a great deal of free information he is sharing as part of that launch. Check it out, see if it fits your style..

    Best of luck in your endeavors
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[5422326].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author Jason Kanigan
    I don't think you need any special marketing to appeal to these professionals. I work with accountants and IT VARs all the time, and have for web design & copywriting with engineers and architects. Your own background and how you talk to them will give you the credibility you need.

    Of course, take the time to put together websites for each profession that talk about what you can do for them, and why your background is a fit. This is the same sort of thing you'd do to appeal to any target market, right?

    Translate any successes you've had in the past working with these professional fields into "proof points." We get sent to the level of people or part of the organization that we sound like. Sound like the owner/president, and they'll talk with you. Sound like the janitor and you'll get bounced to linoleumville. Speak in the measures that they understand: professionals like metrics. More, bigger, better, faster.
    Signature
    >> How To Grow Your Online Business [FREE Training Video, No Opt-In, from 10+ Year Vet]

    >> For Agency Founders: The Fast Shortcut To Selling SEO, Leadgen, Webdesign & Other Services
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[5422959].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author Deidra Renee
    Originally Posted by Aussieguy View Post

    Is anyone here doing that?

    Most would agree that you don't want to try and "be all things to all people".

    Obviously as a webdesigner (for example) you can make them for anyone and everyone - but you can also specialise (iAmNameLess has mentioned somone he knows who has made a big business specialising in the "Pet" area).

    Food services are often mentioned here re: websites, social media, SEO and the like, and for good reason. It's a big industry - always new players, lots of competition etc. Lots of reasons.

    There's also retail. My wife showed me a website a graphic designer friend of hers just did for a furniture store, and I was amazed. Very funky.


    My question here is related to website services and/or other marketing services, relating to the Professional Services.

    Is anyone here on WF particularly specialising there?

    Comments I've read are: "too hard", "very competitive".

    My reason for wondering this, is in assessing my own style. My training/work history is in the accounting/marketing/HR/financial planning areas.......and so it dawned on me (as I looked at the furniture store website) that maybe I should specialise in the area that's possibly more natural to my experience and personality. I say possibly because I am still considering this from various angles. For example - I'm a 'white collar' worker, but I've always particularly gotten along well with 'blue collar' types - possibly because I was a white collar worker in a mining company for quite a few years. Plus, I'm a pretty fun person - not a boring accountant type!

    Anyway.

    I do see that there is validity in specialising in an area such as "marketing for restaurants" or "the tourist industry" or "professional services" or "the entertainment industry" etc.

    I'd like to hear from anyone who specialises here - and I'm more than happy to be referred to any WSO's (or other products) related to this, so that I can learn more about what these fields require in their marketing.

    In case you wondered about the term, "Professional services", here is a good definition......


    The Australian Council of Professions defines a profession as:
    'A disciplined group of individuals who adhere to high ethical standards and uphold themselves to, and are accepted by, the public as possessing special knowledge and skills in a widely recognised, organised body of learning derived from education and training at a high level, and who are prepared to exercise this knowledge and these skills in the interest of others.

    Inherent in this definition is the concept that the responsibility for the welfare, health and safety of the community shall take precedence over other considerations.'
    Examples of professions include:
    • health related--doctors, dentists, physiotherapists, podiatrists, pharmacists
    • non-health related--architects, engineers, veterinarians, surveyors, lawyers.

    Look forward to hearing your thoughts.....
    Excuse me..I am a Certified Public Accountant (used to be) and I am NOT boring! lol But you can use your experience in that field to build rapport with clients in that industry, but it's not necessary to specialize in it.

    You can offer your services to anyone, but you can tell them you specialize in building websites or doing marketing for accountants or who ever if you want and kind of use that to get them to trust you or whatever but it's not necessary.
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[5424470].message }}
    • Profile picture of the author RECHARGELIFE
      l recommend taking a look at Mike Klingler he has an exciting innovate approaching coming very soon he sharing about now for the new professionals.
      {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[5459940].message }}
      • Profile picture of the author David Miller
        Most successful operations got there by having a clearly defined mission, and in turn, an equally defined focus.

        When it comes to web design as a business, it seems that your focus can be web design as a generalist, or web design as a specialist. From my experience in working with both, the specialist seems to develop a client base faster. This seems particularly true in professions like law and medicine, and finance. It doesn't seem to take very long to build a good reputation, sadly even less time to build a bad one!

        To me it only makes sense to start in a market that you are most familiar with for many reasons:

        You may already have contacts
        You may already have a good reputation
        You have an understanding of what they are trying to accomplish
        You should already know what questions to ask
        Your knowledge should help build fast credibility....just to name a few
        Signature
        The big lesson in life, baby, is never be scared of anyone or anything.
        -- FRANK SINATRA, quoted in The Way You Wear Your Hat
        {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[5460590].message }}

Trending Topics