I started with local networking groups etc. This can certainly be a hit and miss kind of task. Some folks only network to socialize, and a lot of the people are financial planners and insurance salespeople looking to hit up all the other networkers. So you have to try a few and see what works for you.
I think the single hardest thing I have had to deal with is explaining to the unwashed non-techniocal masses is what it is I do. It is usually a good idea to be a good listener. You will hear people say something that makes you think "gee I could solve their problem doing x,y,z". That's when you can use their own issue to show what you can do for them. When it's personalized then they get it. I went mostly on a word of mouth approach (and still do). It can be expensive to test various marketing strategies, so I stuck with what I know (which is face to face communicatioin of ideas). Eventually I took on 2 partners and we formned out current company (the one in my sig). This was to bring together a wider skill set and a broader protfolio. That gave us the ability to go after larger and more stable contracts (reducing the stress of doing a bunch of short term projects). I have also volunteered on local high-tech promoting committees, judged web competitions, etc. Anything to raise the old profile and meet some new faces. I started a CFUG in our area about a year ago, which got us noticed with federal government agency up here in Canada. Now we have a nice new contract with them and it's looking like there may be ongoing work with them after that. HTH Bryan Stevenson B.Comm. VP & Director of E-Commerce Development Electric Edge Systems Group Inc. t. 250.920.8830 e. [EMAIL PROTECTED] --------------------------------------------------------- Macromedia Associate Partner www.macromedia.com --------------------------------------------------------- Vancouver Island ColdFusion Users Group Founder & Director www.cfug-vancouverisland.com ----- Original Message ----- From: "Robert Everland" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: "CF-Talk" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Sent: Thursday, September 05, 2002 12:12 PM Subject: RE: Returned Mail: Error During Delivery > So what did you do? You don't have to go in to specifics, just generalize > what you did in order to get everything to where it is today, is your > company the one in your sig? > > Robert Everland III > Web Developer Extraordinaire > Dixon Ticonderoga Company > http://www.dixonusa.com > > -----Original Message----- > From: Bryan Stevenson [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]] > Sent: Thursday, September 05, 2002 3:06 PM > To: CF-Talk > Subject: Re: Getting a business off the ground > > > I started with no money and did everything myself ;-) > > The golden rule they taught us in business school: > If you want to run your own busines kiss 5 years of your life goodbye! > > Well it's been just over 5 years and I can occasionally sit back and enjoy > what I've built now ;-) > > Hope that doesn't discourage ya > > Bryan Stevenson B.Comm. > VP & Director of E-Commerce Development > Electric Edge Systems Group Inc. > t. 250.920.8830 > e. [EMAIL PROTECTED] > > --------------------------------------------------------- > Macromedia Associate Partner > www.macromedia.com > --------------------------------------------------------- > Vancouver Island ColdFusion Users Group > Founder & Director > www.cfug-vancouverisland.com > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "Robert Everland" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > To: "CF-Talk" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > Sent: Thursday, September 05, 2002 11:52 AM > Subject: OT: Getting a business off the ground > > > > I have started my own company a while ago and am hitting a brick wall > > on > how > > to get it off the ground. It's hard to do absolutely everything > > myself, so > I > > throw this out to some of you that have your own company. What did you > > do? Did you start with money? Hire people? Do everything yourself? > > Have a kick ass product that got you off the ground? Cold called > > people? Sent out a mailing? What did you do? I have an application I > > made that is pretty polished and am just looking for ideas on how to > > get this thing out the > door > > to people as either a service or as a stand alone app people can buy. > > WHAT DO I DO!!!!!! Anyways, sorry for the OT, flame away, but I figure > > there > has > > to be a couple other people that could benefit from this discussion, > > let > me > > know if this needs to move over to cf-community so I can sign up for > > it. > > > > Robert Everland III > > Web Developer Extraordinaire > > Dixon Ticonderoga Company > > http://www.dixonusa.com > > > > ______________________________________________________________________ This list and all House of Fusion resources hosted by CFHosting.com. The place for dependable ColdFusion Hosting. FAQ: http://www.thenetprofits.co.uk/coldfusion/faq Archives: http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]/ Unsubscribe: http://www.houseoffusion.com/index.cfm?sidebar=lists
