These are all brilliant ideas. I'm really liking the local press ideas and also never considered buying a $3 facebook ad. I'm definitely going to take Brian up on his offer to see Betahouse as well.
Thank you all so much once again! Please, keep the advice coming too if you've got any burning ideas you'd like to share. On Feb 6, 12:30 pm, Heidi and Molly <[email protected]> wrote: > When we first opened, we wrote a press release that got picked up by a > couple of local papers. We've tried advertising in some local > magazines and newsletters that we thought our target customers would > read, and we put up fliers in likely spots. The coffee shops near us > would let us put up fliers, but I hadn't thought of the survey idea. > That's an interesting one, since every time I go to Starbucks I see > potential customers everywhere :). We also had an open house when we > first opened our doors. > > With all that, though, we had maybe 3 inquiries about our space from > those efforts. Beyond that, I'd say about 5% of our business is > coming from our network of friends, family, and past co-workers. The > other 95% have all been people who found us on the Internet. We > worked hard on making sure we show up in Google searches for office > space in our area, and we keep regular ads up on Craigslist. I agree > with what someone else said, though, that most people don't go > searching for "coworking" because they don't know what it is, or that > they want it. The people who find us are looking for "office space" > or a "virtual office". > > The ideas here have been great - I'm so glad I found this group that's > dealing with so many of the same issues we are. Our initial 1000 sq > ft was full this summer, but we're back in the mode of trying to > attract new customers now that we've expanded to 3000 sq ft, and the > rate of inquiries is not as high as it has been in the past. It may > be time for us to try some additional kinds of advertising. > > -Molly > > On Feb 6, 8:04 am, evan <[email protected]> wrote: > > > Have you considered an article in the newspaper? It's free, you just > > talk up one of the local reporters in to doing a story about the space > > and put in stuff about freelancers, telecommuters, economy. The story > > practically writes itself. > > > For our space so far we've just promoted it via word of mouth. Once we > > get fully setup, we'll hold an open house party. And from that we'll > > have a friend who works at a newspaper write a story. > > > -evan > > > On Fri, Feb 6, 2009 at 12:05 PM, Kelly Brown > > > <[email protected]> wrote: > > > > JR, > > > We just started in October -- but have been testing a number of > > > marketing channels. > > > > Here's a quick brainstorm of some of our efforts / results: > > > > Certainly - working social networks -- online & off is the biggest > > > bang for the buck. A $3 facebook targeted to our geo area pulled in an > > > anchor member who's been very vocal and helped us get the word out > > > from there. Work the friends & family network -- at this point -- > > > everyone knows someone who knows someone who works at home. > > > > Reach out to local press -- big & small - - coworking's a 'sexy' > > > subject. Particularly in this economy where more & more folks are > > > launching their own business / freelance gigs. Follow the local > > > business writer's -- and ask their opinion, their guidance -- they > > > have a LOT of info and know a ton of people who can help you out -- > > > that above and beyond getting a nice plug in the paper. > > > > Local chambers - our main chamber didn't 'get it' at first -- but > > > we've had had a couple groups locally who did and that was the > > > foothold we needed to get more interest and buzz going. Plus if you > > > join the local chamber -- it's standard practice for them to give you > > > the a copy of their email list. Not saying spam them -- BUT if you > > > host an event and offer to buy bagels & beer (which might cost you > > > like $100) -- you'll get a group of people who may be interested and > > > will at least walk away talking about the subject. Frankly, when > > > doing these events -- the members actually come later as the Chamber > > > members KNOW someone who may be interested and will hook you up if > > > you're cool with them. > > > > Goes w/out saying -- but Geo targeted Google / Yahoo ads as well as > > > Craigslist. Beyond that we tested some broadcast media via Google > > > Radio -- and found that was a good play for us. If you have a good > > > site to 'fill them in on details' and drive, drive, drive to get them > > > to take a tour or attend an event -- you're pretty close to getting a > > > member. > > > > Coffee shop surveys - i got college age nephews & nieces to head out > > > to coffee shops and survey people sitting w/a laptop. Offer to buy > > > them a $5 gift card to fill out a survey. 1 you'll learn more about > > > the market, 2 you'll probably get some good leads. Play it cool with > > > the coffee shops and don't pester anyone -- they after all have a > > > business and you want to respect that -- but if you're buying coffee > > > from their shop as thank yous for the survey's, them managers are > > > generally pretty cool. Still i wouldn't do more than 1-3 people at > > > any given shop on a semi-weekly basis. > > > > Events - i *think* Alex Hillman is on record as saying 'community, > > > community, community.' But we've found hosting events, free events, > > > geting interesting speakers, speaking ourselves -- that all brought > > > people in. i know you're still trying to determine if there's a market > > > but arrange Jelly's through MeetUp or Biznik. Again if you're part of > > > your chamber they generally provide meeting / conference rooms you can > > > reserve and you can use it for that day -- or go to a coffee shop, > > > panera, bar w/wi-fi or the like. > > > > Don't try Direct Mail -- it was a disaster -- I come from a DM > > > background and the lists out there - that we tested - it was a > > > disaster. > > > -kelly brown > > > > On Feb 5, 10:52 am, Brian Del Vecchio <[email protected]> wrote: > > >> James, > > > >> betahouse in Cambridge is built around the web startup community, > > >> where all the founders were active before we opened. We have a few > > >> freelancers and remote workers now, but the initial core group came > > >> together through the extensive personal networks of the founders. > > > >> I see that you've got good goog placement for 'coworking worcester', > > >> but many of the people you're looking for haven't been exposed to the > > >> idea yet, so the challenge is getting the word out. Local press is > > >> good, and we also spent a lot of time explaining coworking at > > >> networking events like Web Innovators, Ignite Boston, etc. > > > >> If you want to stop by betahouse and talk strategy some time, drop me > > >> an email and we can work it out. > > > >> Also, you may want to update the page in the wiki with contact > > >> info:http://coworking.pbwiki.com/CoworkingWorcester > > > >> Brian Del Vecchio | Virosity, Inc. | [email protected] | > > >> 617-899-0798 > > > >> On Wed, Feb 4, 2009 at 5:55 PM, JR Moreau <[email protected]> > > >> wrote: > > > >> > Just curious to what best practices, if any are used to market a > > >> > potential co-working space to a community of local freelancers? I live > > >> > in Worcester, Massachusetts (Central, MA) and have some interest in a > > >> > potential co-working space, but need at least 4 more to show interest > > >> > and be good candidates in order to move forward. > > > >> > Obviously there are simple marketing techniques via social media and > > >> > business networks, but I'm curious if anyone on here has come up with > > >> > any other creative ideas in attractive potential co-workers.- Hide > > >> > quoted text - > > > - Show quoted text - --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Coworking" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected] To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected] For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/coworking?hl=en -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---
