[Coworking] Re: Press results
Similar to Felicity's thoughts, our local press coverage validates our existence when I go out and chat people up. I'm all about grassroots stuff and this is how we've gotten 90% of our members. I have yet to convert anyone after they've attended one of our free, sponsored events. I get more interest from folks searching "CT office space" and other similar terms. We're doing a promo this week to home-based professionals in our town, mailing them a free day pass. I got the list from the assessor because they are registered with the town for property tax purposes. This doesn't get me to the folks who are working from their basement and are not registered though. --Suzi E, group88 On Aug 20, 11:35 am, felicity at cubes <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > Cubes&Crayons gets quite a bit of press just because it is different. > In terms of butts in the seat (BITS as we call them), the small local > press has yielded about 15% of our BITS. We get the best out of > word of mouth. > > Like Tara said, the larger press and TV has mostly yielded inquiries > from investors, people who want to franchise the model, or potential > partners. The press seems to be a bit more of a time sync than > an actual way to get butts in the seat. > > Having said that, several of our straight coworkers (not with kids) > have found out about us from local press. And I do think for > newer spaces it generates excitement in the local community > and some validation. We mostly use our press as we go after > corporations to provide better flexible work options for their > employees AND to pay for it. > > All the best, > Felicity > > SPACE:www.cubesandcrayons.com > BLOG: cubes.typepad.com/blog > PERSONAL BLOG: cubes.typepad.com/cake > > On Aug 19, 10:56 pm, Derek Young <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > > Re: generations: > > > At least in this town, there isn't much of a generational thing going on. > > Our primary core tends to be GenX, but our first signed member was a > > second/third career consultant in her fifties. Our biggest challenge with > > most of the GenY we've dealt with is that the ones that come through the > > door tend to be aspirational about working independently. They don't > > necessarily have their core businesses in a mature enough state where they > > can sustain the 'rent' of a space. Individuals that have been working from > > home/coffee shops for at least a year are the ones that have had staying > > power. Those that are just starting out, tend to last a month or two before > > fading away. > > > However - back to the press question - the articles in the MSM have brought > > us a much older group than the word of mouth referrals. > > > Derek Young > > Suite133 > > > On 8/19/08 9:24 PM, "axon" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > > > So far we have five new members. We've done no promotion whatsoever, > > > and we won't even be open for another month or so. > > > > I've got an interview with the local daily tomorrow, and the > > > entertainment weekly is planning to do some sort of feature. But I'm > > > not holding my breath. We're going to do a big honkin grand opening > > > (and I hope @missrogue can attend), but even though we'll promote it > > > as a networking event (and we have some cred in this area), my inside > > > midnight guess is that it will be a bunch of backslapping > > > grip'n'grinners who won't convert. > > > > The key thing I've teased out of my analyses is that this is a > > > millennial generation thing. Not that older folks would be excluded > > > or anything, but the core segment for this is the genYers. They live > > > on 2.0, and couldn't be bothered to wipe their noses on the MSM. > > > We'll certainly show the flag, at least as long as it's free, but I > > > feel confident our community will find itself through word of net. > > > > --Ax > > > > On Aug 19, 1:49 pm, Derek Young <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > >> Here are a couple things: > > > >> About 10% of our committed monthly users (which works out to 2) came via > > >> press articles in the local business weekly and the big local paper. The > > >> rest came from word of mouth, pre-existing friends, and friends of > > >> friends. > > >> Our holiday party filled half our current seats. > > > >> Ink has given us a lot of traffic that doesn¹t convert. Each time we end > > >> up > > >> in print, we find ourselves giving a lot of tours. These have resulted > > >> in a > > >> butt-in-the-seat less than 5% of the time. When someone walks in our > > >> doors > > >> via a word of mouth referral, we¹re able to get them to commit greater > > >> than > > >> 50% of the time. > > > >> Where it gets murky is that some of our word-of-mouth referrals came from > > >> people that both knew us and were reminded of us by the > > >> newspaper/magazine > > >> article. > > > >> Derek Young > > >> Suite133 > > > >> On 8/19/08 9:40 AM, "Tara Hunt" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > > >>> Hey, > > > >>> Has anyone tracked how getting ink/television appearances
[Coworking] Re: Press results
Great point about validation of existence. I don't think any of our paying members came from traditional press. We had some conversion from the Daily Candy piece. But I've mentioned before (either here or on my blog) that mainstream press is really little more than validation for future growth opportunities. Now. If only I could get my parents to understand what this "hippy commune business" I'm running was... -Alex -- - -- - Alex Hillman im always developing something digital: [EMAIL PROTECTED] visual: www.dangerouslyawesome.com local: www.indyhall.org On Thu, Aug 21, 2008 at 10:26 AM, Suzi Edwards <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > Similar to Felicity's thoughts, our local press coverage validates our > existence when I go out and chat people up. I'm all about grassroots > stuff and this is how we've gotten 90% of our members. I have yet to > convert anyone after they've attended one of our free, sponsored > events. I get more interest from folks searching "CT office space" and > other similar terms. > > We're doing a promo this week to home-based professionals in our town, > mailing them a free day pass. I got the list from the assessor because > they are registered with the town for property tax purposes. This > doesn't get me to the folks who are working from their basement and > are not registered though. > > --Suzi E, group88 > > On Aug 20, 11:35 am, felicity at cubes <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > wrote: > > Cubes&Crayons gets quite a bit of press just because it is different. > > In terms of butts in the seat (BITS as we call them), the small local > > press has yielded about 15% of our BITS. We get the best out of > > word of mouth. > > > > Like Tara said, the larger press and TV has mostly yielded inquiries > > from investors, people who want to franchise the model, or potential > > partners. The press seems to be a bit more of a time sync than > > an actual way to get butts in the seat. > > > > Having said that, several of our straight coworkers (not with kids) > > have found out about us from local press. And I do think for > > newer spaces it generates excitement in the local community > > and some validation. We mostly use our press as we go after > > corporations to provide better flexible work options for their > > employees AND to pay for it. > > > > All the best, > > Felicity > > > > SPACE:www.cubesandcrayons.com > > BLOG: cubes.typepad.com/blog > > PERSONAL BLOG: cubes.typepad.com/cake > > > > On Aug 19, 10:56 pm, Derek Young <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > > > > Re: generations: > > > > > At least in this town, there isn't much of a generational thing going > on. > > > Our primary core tends to be GenX, but our first signed member was a > > > second/third career consultant in her fifties. Our biggest challenge > with > > > most of the GenY we've dealt with is that the ones that come through > the > > > door tend to be aspirational about working independently. They don't > > > necessarily have their core businesses in a mature enough state where > they > > > can sustain the 'rent' of a space. Individuals that have been working > from > > > home/coffee shops for at least a year are the ones that have had > staying > > > power. Those that are just starting out, tend to last a month or two > before > > > fading away. > > > > > However - back to the press question - the articles in the MSM have > brought > > > us a much older group than the word of mouth referrals. > > > > > Derek Young > > > Suite133 > > > > > On 8/19/08 9:24 PM, "axon" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > > > > > So far we have five new members. We've done no promotion whatsoever, > > > > and we won't even be open for another month or so. > > > > > > I've got an interview with the local daily tomorrow, and the > > > > entertainment weekly is planning to do some sort of feature. But I'm > > > > not holding my breath. We're going to do a big honkin grand opening > > > > (and I hope @missrogue can attend), but even though we'll promote it > > > > as a networking event (and we have some cred in this area), my inside > > > > midnight guess is that it will be a bunch of backslapping > > > > grip'n'grinners who won't convert. > > > > > > The key thing I've teased out of my analyses is that this is a > > > > millennial generation thing. Not that older folks would be excluded > > > > or anything, but the core segment for this is the genYers. They live > > > > on 2.0, and couldn't be bothered to wipe their noses on the MSM. > > > > We'll certainly show the flag, at least as long as it's free, but I > > > > feel confident our community will find itself through word of net. > > > > > > --Ax > > > > > > On Aug 19, 1:49 pm, Derek Young <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > > >> Here are a couple things: > > > > > >> About 10% of our committed monthly users (which works out to 2) came > via > > > >> press articles in the local business weekly and the big local paper. > The > > > >> rest came from word of mouth, pre-existing friends, and
[Coworking] San Francisco Visit
I am looking to trek out to SF to observe Bay Area's coworking facilities in action. I believe it will be a trip at the end of October. Is anyone willing to show me around, and where are some great, but inexpensive places to sleep (hotels, hostels, etc.)? --~--~-~--~~~---~--~~ You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Coworking" group. To post to this group, send email to coworking@googlegroups.com 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 -~--~~~~--~~--~--~---
[Coworking] Introduction - What if...?
Hi Everyone, My name is Karen Origlio and I value independence. I understand the need and value of coworking because I have a work-at- home gig. I've been reading the posts here and all kinds of ideas are starting to surface. I’m inspired by the energy, creativity, the get- your-hands-dirty-and-just-do-it attitude of this group, and see potential for coworking as an impetus for positive change on many levels. Unlike many here, I don't think my strength will be starting and running my own space. I've spent 20 years in IT in various roles, developing stuff...currently a project manager, skilled and interested in networking and organizing with an entrepreneurial streak. Just got a brand new MBA to be used in a non-corporate way; I want to foster entreprenuership and small business. I want to see coworking grow to be the de facto standard for how independents work and connect. What if there was a non-profit organization dedicated to providing services for coworking sites and members? Check out www.coworknetwork.org to read more and let me know what you think. I'm interested in all input and comments, pro or con. I look forward to hearing from you. Karen Origlio --~--~-~--~~~---~--~~ You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Coworking" group. To post to this group, send email to coworking@googlegroups.com 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 -~--~~~~--~~--~--~---
[Coworking] Re: Introduction - What if...?
A few questions, I do have a nonprofit management background: 1. Who will fund the venture? 2. You will be an insurance broker, do you have your licenses? 3. How do you seperate yourself from the numerous other organizations that provide business services; I literally have 12 knocking at my door-step? Thanks, J. D. On Aug 21, 2:27 pm, Karen Origlio <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > Hi Everyone, > > My name is Karen Origlio and I value independence. > > I understand the need and value of coworking because I have a work-at- > home gig. I've been reading the posts here and all kinds of ideas are > starting to surface. I’m inspired by the energy, creativity, the get- > your-hands-dirty-and-just-do-it attitude of this group, and see > potential for coworking as an impetus for positive change on many > levels. > > Unlike many here, I don't think my strength will be starting and > running my own space. I've spent 20 years in IT in various roles, > developing stuff...currently a project manager, skilled and interested > in networking and organizing with an entrepreneurial streak. Just got > a brand new MBA to be used in a non-corporate way; I want to foster > entreprenuership and small business. I want to see coworking grow to > be the de facto standard for how independents work and connect. > > What if there was a non-profit organization dedicated to providing > services for coworking sites and members? > > Check outwww.coworknetwork.orgto read more and let me know what you > think. > > I'm interested in all input and comments, pro or con. I look forward > to hearing from you. > > Karen Origlio --~--~-~--~~~---~--~~ You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Coworking" group. To post to this group, send email to coworking@googlegroups.com 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 -~--~~~~--~~--~--~---
[Coworking] Re: Events and Membership?
We've found that we get decent conversion over time when we target a specific community. In our case, the tech/open source community has been incredibly important for us. The big caveat, however, is that it takes a lot of time. I think we only got 1 new member in the first 6 months after our first really big event from that event. The second year we hosted the event, we got 2 members in the month after the event as a result, and have increasingly gotten meeting room requests as a result. I think the events take a LOT of time to pay off, but do pay off in the long term. Increasingly, our new members have been to "a few" events here before they sign up. The effectiveness of events is something we still struggle with also. We don't have a clear cut solution, but we tend not to be real willing to take a loss on events anymore (i.e., we need sponsors or someone to cover direct costs). Hope this helps, David CubeSpace [EMAIL PROTECTED] On Aug 20, 8:40 am, felicity at cubes <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > This is a question mostly to space owners but also > to all of those who use coworking spaces. Do you > find that events generate more members? If you > are a member of a coworking space, do you go to > the events on a regular basis? > > We are finding we get decent attendance at our > events but they do not lead to getting more > members and I am debating the benefit of them. > Any thoughts are appreciated. > > -Felicity > Cubes&Crayons Coworking > > SPACE:www.cubesandcrayons.com > BLOG: cubes.typepad.com/blog > PERSONAL BLOG: cubes.typepad.com/cake --~--~-~--~~~---~--~~ You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Coworking" group. To post to this group, send email to coworking@googlegroups.com 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 -~--~~~~--~~--~--~---
