Entrepreneurs Playground

Entrepreneurs Playground

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  • H. Dean Hua
    H. Dean Hua    Group moderator
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    Ideas on how to drum up new business
    Lately, I've been thinking of ways to kick start sales of web design clients. I wanted to giveaway something for free in hopes of using it as a loss leader. Here is what I came up with but am somewhat stuck in refining the idea;

    I typically charge for the installation of a wordpress blog template. Note that I'm not referring to designing a new blog but just installing the default wordpress blog template.

    But I'm thinking I would install it for free or charge a nominal cost of $29 USD (heavily discounted from my regular cost) to anyone who would promote my special on their twitter or facebook account. So my goal is to get others to spread word of my services by incentivizing the process.

    Admittedly, I wouldn't make much money on this but my grander vision is that some of these people would have other needs such as design upgrades to the blog or may even need more big ticket items such as a new website. That's what I"m thinking.

    What do you think?
    • 30 Apr 2009, 6:18 pm
  • Mark Hauler
    Mark Hauler
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    Re: Ideas on how to drum up new business
    Hi Dean,

    Assuming the clients that take you up on your Wordpress offer are fairly visible and active on the 'net, and their own sites are getting some good hits and traction, then I think it's a sound idea and might lead to new business.

    Since it's just a template (maybe you can even install it remotely), I would think you're not out too much time and effort (except for the opportunity cost difference from your regular price).

    But what if they don't 'promote' you services on their Twitter or FB (or whatever) ? Do you have any recourse? Any way to 'pull' the template? Are you considering some sort of contractual agreement?

    I don't use Wordpress - my own blog is very basic - but assuming they do use it regularly, does the default template also point to your studios somewhere? Is the default template snazzy enough so that it reflects positively on your talents ?
    • 30 Apr 2009, 6:59 pm
  • Marc Buyens
    Marc Buyens    Premium Member
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    Re^2: Ideas on how to drum up new business
    I do not know how realistic this is, but assuming that you have some spare time and that you focus on 'standard' environments such as Wordpress... Why not show potential prospects how their blog might look like?

    This of course assumes that you do the (difficult) preliminary work of selecting the 'right' targets. In this case, the individuals or small companies that try to make a living via the net (authors, consultants, people who are selling some stuff...)

    You might do this with a small set of 'standard' templates (one for each category) wherein, of course, you have to copy their specific content. But, overall, this can be a reasonable effort. The real work comes later.

    You then produce a digital flyer that shows the 'your website looks like this, but it might look like this' comparison that you e-mail.

    Seeing is believing and I assume that for most of them, even after seeing, they have no clue how they can do it and, I assume, most of them do not yet have a firm relationship with a designer or other type of web company.

    Just a thought...

    MarcB
    • 30 Apr 2009, 7:45 pm
  • H. Dean Hua
    H. Dean Hua    Group moderator
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    Re^2: Ideas on how to drum up new business
    Hello, hello. Been so long since I've done my job on this forum of mine! lol. Thanks for your responses. Here is my answer, Mark;

    Since it's just a template (maybe you can even install it remotely), I would think you're not out too much time and effort (except for the opportunity cost difference from your regular price).
    Well, they're all installed remotely. I just need access to their hosting environment.

    But what if they don't 'promote' you services on their Twitter or FB (or whatever) ? Do you have any recourse? Any way to 'pull' the template? Are you considering some sort of contractual agreement?
    Actually, they'd have to promote it and I'd have to see it in order for them to get the freebie. On Twitter, I'll easily know if they did their job.

    I don't use Wordpress - my own blog is very basic - but assuming they do use it regularly, does the default template also point to your studios somewhere? Is the default template snazzy enough so that it reflects positively on your talents ?
    No, the default template is plain ugly. Anybody who's used WP knows what I'm referring to. But that's not a problem because I can easily throw in 1 or 2 free theme installations. It doesn't take long to install one of hundreds of customized themes. I'll even throw in a couple of free plugins as well. Obviously, this is all in balance to how I price the giveaway, but all very doable.
    • 30 Apr 2009, 9:23 pm
  • H. Dean Hua
    H. Dean Hua    Group moderator
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    Re^3: Ideas on how to drum up new business
    Marc Buyens wrote:
    I do not know how realistic this is, but assuming that you have some spare time and that you focus on 'standard' environments such as Wordpress... Why not show potential prospects how their blog might look like?
    Not sure if I know what you mean, Marc, when you say how it might look like? I guess you mean samples of blog templates and such? If so, that's easily doable.

     
    This of course assumes that you do the (difficult) preliminary work of selecting the 'right' targets. In this case, the individuals or small companies that try to make a living via the net (authors, consultants, people who are selling some stuff...)
    YES! Thanks for the reminder, Marc. Well, I had considered targeting a couple of niches such as restaurants, retail stores and authors. I have or am writing a couple of articles on blogging content development strategies for certain niche markets. I was thinking of using these articles as a way to encourage wanna-be bloggers to start thinking, "Hey- not only might I get a free blog, but I also have a nice handy guide that will get me started on blogging for my business."

     
    You might do this with a small set of 'standard' templates (one for each category) wherein, of course, you have to copy their specific content. But, overall, this can be a reasonable effort. The real work comes later.
    Yes, I can port over content and such, but that would come at an extra cost.

    Basically, here is the overarching strategy that I'm trying to implement;

    - Encourage word of mouth of my promotion to their 'social networks'. I want the promotion to leverage their social networks. Remember- it's not who I know, but who they know!
    - Use a small service like this as a loss leader in order to establish a relationship and gain future business from them or referrals.
    This post was modified on 30 Apr 2009 at 09:32 pm.
    • 30 Apr 2009, 9:29 pm