The direct marketing thread

[wurzel]

In your introductory spiel, why not offer a free introductory consultation? You never know what might come of it .

[minsky1]

presumably your main service is software development?

You need to market yourelf on the freelance bidding sites.

http://freelanceswitch.com/finding/t...s-2009-update/

scroll down to the job bidding section

[suityou01]

You might want to use a telesales company. Vivienne Hallett is a friend of mine.

http://www.e-face.biz/index.html

Give her a call and see about a paid telesales campaign to get you infront of the customers.

Will give that some serious consideration. Budget is tight this year, so I may need to get another gig first. We will see. I'll give her a call anyway.

Cheers DP

[d000hg]

presumably your main service is software development?

You need to market yourelf on the freelance bidding sites.

http://freelanceswitch.com/finding/t...s-2009-update/

scroll down to the job bidding section

That sure is a big list. But how many of them are in the same boat as RentaCoder, and how many manage to attract market-rate?

suityou, It sounds like you are doing similar stuff to me, but slightly more up-market - I'm more code-oriented than all that systems intregration type stuff, which sounds messy

[suityou01]

That sure is a big list. But how many of them are in the same boat as RentaCoder, and how many manage to attract market-rate?

suityou, It sounds like you are doing similar stuff to me, but slightly more up-market - I'm more code-oriented than all that systems intregration type stuff, which sounds messy

I wouldn't be so downbeat. I am after all from a hardcore coding background too. You could write someone a CRM database right? You could integrate an off the peg CRM solution with their accounts package if you learnt the APIs? That's largely all systems integration is.

Message queues, APIs, SOA.

[motoukenin]

If the rate is Sh!t then the Advert is genuine

[d000hg]

I wouldn't be so downbeat. I am after all from a hardcore coding background too. You could write someone a CRM database right? You could integrate an off the peg CRM solution with their accounts package if you learnt the APIs? That's largely all systems integration is.

Message queues, APIs, SOA.

I suppose you're right. The problem is that in my experience, this would require getting a rig running that's a reasonable copy of their system, with potentially expensive software and lots of app-specific config.

Maybe that's only on some systems though, and I just had bad experiences Certainly with a test system, it mostly all ends up being the same thing in the end.

[suityou01]

I suppose you're right. The problem is that in my experience, this would require getting a rig running that's a reasonable copy of their system, with potentially expensive software and lots of app-specific config.

Maybe that's only on some systems though, and I just had bad experiences Certainly with a test system, it mostly all ends up being the same thing in the end.

VMWare, Microsoft action pack.

Around £300 in total. All the popular server OS's and apps in one bundle from MS for £200.

HTH

[suityou01]

Right, just back from breakfast club. A few first impressions.

1. A good opportunity to talk to other small businesses in the local area. At worst case an opportunity to build up a network of people just in case you need something.

2. A good way to learn about offers for local businesses, such as just up the road are offering free office rent for 6 months! Nice posh new offices "n'all".

3. A slightly terrifying experience as you need to stand up and give a 60 second spiel about what you do. This came off the back of talking to an ex IT manager about what I do prior to the round the table, who after my carefully worded planned spiel said, "right, but I still don't know what you do." After my 60 seconds in the limelight many people came and spoke to me afterwards, and seemed to grasp perfectly what I do. Needs some pondering because all feedback is valid, and if this one guy represents 10% of future clients who don't geddit then the pitch needs tweaking.

4. Good opportunity to catch swine flu, with all the coughing, sneezing and handshaking going on at close quarters in a stuffy Travel Inn conference room.

5. It made me reflect on how many businesses there were, and what different types of business showed a slight sniff of interest. The johnny pr men, or HR peeps did not seem interested. The corporate branding guy was interested as he does a lot of CMS work, and the IT services company were similarly interested.

It would seem initially from this learning experience my next targeted local campaign should be to IT related businesses, be it web houses that turn work away because they can't do databases, or the IT services company that are in a similar spot. By offering my services to these established businesses they can fortify their product range a bit, and approach clients with a bit more width to their services, I get to trade on their coat tails a bit (unashamedly) so their could be a sort of symbiosis.

I would not rest on my laurels though, and would still do the breakfast clubs, still do the cold calls.

This is my immediate thoughts, just back so flame away.

Oh and NO MOLLIE F*****G RINGWOLD WAS NOT THERE.

[d000hg]

VMWare, Microsoft action pack.

Around £300 in total. All the popular server OS's and apps in one bundle from MS for £200.

HTH

Not really, when MS represents about 1% of software out there. For a start, what about Oracle, Sybase & DB2? Then, all the millions of random apps out there... anyway I suppose for anything non-standard you can legitimately request the client provide a configured test-box, and for standard things (like databases) maybe you just splash out on the cheapest license you can find. I was amazed to find you can get a DB2 license for £hundreds, I'd expected it to be in the thousands.