Getting new clients--Marketing?

**joew** · 07-21-2006 02:51 PM

I am in the process of starting my own company and i am unclear on the best way to get new clients, does advertising really work? How about cold calling? my company is a service based company and i really need to get some clients right off of the bat, any advice would be most helpful.

Joe

**spyro** · 07-21-2006 07:07 PM

I to have had this problem and still don't consider myself a salesperson, but have overcome it to a degree. What it comes down to is that fact that I you want to be an entrepreneur you have to learn to sell, or have a partner that compliments you. My ideas. Start networking, go to weekly networking meetings. Get a book on cold calling, read it and try it. Figure out ways to help the community that you want to help you, such as the local business association.

**joew** · 07-21-2006 07:10 PM

those are all great ideas, i can sell very well, the hardest thing is getting my foot into the door of a new company, what have you found to be the best way to do that?

**artdrops** · 07-21-2006 07:59 PM

Do you have a store location? - If so, make your grand opening a real grand opening with flyers, ads in the paper. Have someone place door hangers around the immediate community. Let people know who you are and that you are there. Have refreshments and advertise limited grand opening specials.
Referral programs Coupons. Newspaper inserts. What type of service business is this?

Also remember brand identity, do you have a logo, flyers etc.? If you need help with this just pm me.

**joew** · 07-21-2006 09:23 PM

its a service based company...no storefront.....i have a website and a logo being designed right now, im planning on doing some press release's in the paper and cold calling, does anyone know if there is a method for cold calling?

**artdrops** · 07-21-2006 09:35 PM

Pick your target market and write scripts.

**Antdizzle** · 07-21-2006 09:57 PM

Entrepeneur.com has some articles on cold calling.

http://websearch.entrepreneur.com/cg...alling&x=0&y=0

There also might be some books on the subject. If not, then I'm sure there are some books that have cold calling as a topic.

**nado** · 07-22-2006 12:06 AM

What sort of services are we talking about?

**NeeJam** · 07-22-2006 12:13 AM

Originally Posted by joew

I am in the process of starting my own company and i am unclear on the best way to get new clients, does advertising really work? How about cold calling? my company is a service based company and i really need to get some clients right off of the bat, any advice would be most helpful.

Joe

Here's an article that might help you http://www.livinginaction.com/mind_s...ou_get_ne.html

**joew** · 07-22-2006 09:11 AM

thanks for your help guys, im really nervous about starting my business.....thanks for all you advice, i will keep everyone updated

**SSM** · 07-22-2006 10:54 AM

What service are you offering people>?

**joew** · 07-22-2006 10:57 AM

IT Consulting and service

**Aletheides** · 07-23-2006 06:40 PM

Originally Posted by joew

does advertising really work? How about cold calling? my company is a service based company and i really need to get some clients right off of the bat, any advice would be most helpful.

Joe

Yes, advertising works, lol.

Cold calling would probably be tough and disheartening if you don't have experience with it.

Since you are a consulting and service related business I would suggest building credibility with articles and forum posts. Don't forget to include your contact details!

And how is your website???

**joew** · 07-23-2006 07:12 PM

website is being designed now...its going to be a nice site

**akula** · 07-24-2006 12:30 AM

Originally Posted by joew

I am in the process of starting my own company and i am unclear on the best way to get new clients, does advertising really work? How about cold calling? my company is a service based company and i really need to get some clients right off of the bat, any advice would be most helpful.

Joe

eerrr...in this case, giving advice is like revealing a small part of a picture, and you trying to guess what the picture is.

marketing is a very complicated subject that feeds into a number of other very complicated subjects, which all need to work together - for any thing to work (i.e. calibrate logistics, with hr, with finance, with sales etc). Behold!!! The almighty marketing pyramid.

one of these subjects is often called quantitative methods in marketing.

one of the principles of quantitative methods in marketing, is the 80/20 rule.

in your case, you need to go through a sales learning curve to figure out what 20% of your marketing efforts generate 80% of your results.

Most likely, you'll find that putting in 1% of effort to secure exclusive distribution/referral programs will generate you 90% more results than all the cold calling you're supposed to get around to doing (which you won't).

any how...happy huntin'