Comments on: How To Bring In New Customers With Free Work http://www.startbreakingfree.com/1286/how-to-bring-in-new-customers-with-free-work/ Experiments in tech entrepreneurship Thu, 09 Feb 2012 05:07:17 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Alex http://www.startbreakingfree.com/1286/how-to-bring-in-new-customers-with-free-work/comment-page-1/#comment-5453 Alex Tue, 02 Feb 2010 05:23:41 +0000 http://www.startbreakingfree.com/?p=1286#comment-5453 I think you have a good idea. I use a similar service. Everybody needs a good attorney, especially if you have a doubt about something. This kind of service empowers you because you know the law. I looked at your website and feel that white on black is very difficult to read. Black on white is much easier to read. Look at a newspaper and notice how easy it is to read. The best, Alex I think you have a good idea. I use a similar service. Everybody needs a good attorney, especially if you have a doubt about something. This kind of service empowers you because you know the law.

I looked at your website and feel that white on black is very difficult to read. Black on white is much easier to read. Look at a newspaper and notice how easy it is to read.

The best,

Alex

]]> By: Brian Armstrong http://www.startbreakingfree.com/1286/how-to-bring-in-new-customers-with-free-work/comment-page-1/#comment-5110 Brian Armstrong Fri, 11 Dec 2009 18:57:25 +0000 http://www.startbreakingfree.com/?p=1286#comment-5110 Yes, welcome to the site Alan! Let us know if we can help. Yes, welcome to the site Alan! Let us know if we can help.

]]> By: Anthony http://www.startbreakingfree.com/1286/how-to-bring-in-new-customers-with-free-work/comment-page-1/#comment-5109 Anthony Fri, 11 Dec 2009 17:07:29 +0000 http://www.startbreakingfree.com/?p=1286#comment-5109 Alan, Welcome to the site and congratulations on setting up a firm. As I mentioned to Brian recently, the community that he's fostered here is fantastic. Readers comment, encourage and critique, which is all anyone of substance can ask for. Also, your trip to Colombia is fortuitous given the myriad business opportunities available in South America, right now. Brazil, is the obvious call but your particular skill set lends itself to being fully realized in Panama. The Panama Canal project is going to need all kinds of products and services. Your expertise as a structural engineer should stand you in good stead, there. I wish you well in your nascent endeavors. Regards, Anthony Alan,

Welcome to the site and congratulations on setting up a firm.

As I mentioned to Brian recently, the community that he’s fostered here is fantastic. Readers comment, encourage and critique, which is all anyone of substance can ask for.

Also, your trip to Colombia is fortuitous given the myriad business opportunities available in South America, right now. Brazil, is the obvious call but your particular skill set lends itself to being fully realized in Panama. The Panama Canal project is going to need all kinds of products and services. Your expertise as a structural engineer should stand you in good stead, there.

I wish you well in your nascent endeavors.

Regards,
Anthony

]]> By: Alan http://www.startbreakingfree.com/1286/how-to-bring-in-new-customers-with-free-work/comment-page-1/#comment-5108 Alan Fri, 11 Dec 2009 16:04:28 +0000 http://www.startbreakingfree.com/?p=1286#comment-5108 I just finished read Breaking Free, and am in the process of starting a business. I think you have a great idea Patrick, and it probably just needs some marketing and a little time to succeed. And I like the feedback people give on this site. I'm looking forward to being involved here in the future. I have done structural engineering in the past, but being out of the workforce for 10 years, seems to make it difficult to be hired. So it looks like for people like me (at 54) we need to consider being in business for ourselves. Good luck and best wishes Patrick. I'm in Barranquilla, Colombia for a month with my wife and her family here for Christmas. I just finished read Breaking Free, and am in the process of starting a business. I think you have a great idea Patrick, and it probably just needs some marketing and a little time to succeed. And I like the feedback people give on this site. I’m looking forward to being involved here in the future. I have done structural engineering in the past, but being out of the workforce for 10 years, seems to make it difficult to be hired. So it looks like for people like me (at 54) we need to consider being in business for ourselves. Good luck and best wishes Patrick. I’m in Barranquilla, Colombia for a month with my wife and her family here for Christmas.

]]> By: Pat http://www.startbreakingfree.com/1286/how-to-bring-in-new-customers-with-free-work/comment-page-1/#comment-4992 Pat Thu, 03 Dec 2009 13:05:02 +0000 http://www.startbreakingfree.com/?p=1286#comment-4992 Thank you Nat. That is really good feed back and you are right about effective advertising, I think only a bit of time and some testing will tell. I have devised a system testing out different forms of advertising and so far the cheapest has been the most effective! The Matrix Chambers brand is for Barristers, so a different sort of thing, but I take your point. My website hasn't been a very important part of my PR so far but I want to change that. This is also part of the reason I wrote to Brian. It is all a learning process for me but I am enjoying every minute of it so far. Thanks again. Pat Thank you Nat.

That is really good feed back and you are right about effective advertising, I think only a bit of time and some testing will tell.

I have devised a system testing out different forms of advertising and so far the cheapest has been the most effective!

The Matrix Chambers brand is for Barristers, so a different sort of thing, but I take your point.

My website hasn’t been a very important part of my PR so far but I want to change that. This is also part of the reason I wrote to Brian.

It is all a learning process for me but I am enjoying every minute of it so far. Thanks again.

Pat

]]> By: Pat http://www.startbreakingfree.com/1286/how-to-bring-in-new-customers-with-free-work/comment-page-1/#comment-4991 Pat Thu, 03 Dec 2009 12:54:50 +0000 http://www.startbreakingfree.com/?p=1286#comment-4991 I agree. Thanks again for the feedback. I agree. Thanks again for the feedback.

]]> By: Nathalie http://www.startbreakingfree.com/1286/how-to-bring-in-new-customers-with-free-work/comment-page-1/#comment-4982 Nathalie Wed, 02 Dec 2009 23:45:14 +0000 http://www.startbreakingfree.com/?p=1286#comment-4982 Hi Patrick Like all good business models, advertising has to be the key. You have to identify your market in terms of demographics, spending power and need for your services then target them specifically. For example; Who do you see as needing your services? Where would they go to to get legal advice? Would they look in the local paper? Search Google? Ask Citizens advice? Local firms use their banks business advisors for advice on starting/building their business. Who does he/she recommend when they ask if they know a good law firm? A card in the shop window next to the citizen advice bureau may bring better results than a mass marketing campaign. When clients come to you, find out how and when and why they used you. I would say that searching out your market is key to building your business. You can have the best looking web site out there, but people have to see it. Not only do people have to see it, the right people, who need what you offer have to see it. If you employ the same type of thinking to advertising and marketing that you have obviously applied to your business model, then I'm sure you will succeed. Just out of interest. I did a quick search on Google to try and find your firm and this is what I found: http://www.matrixlaw.co.uk/ This may cause you problems further down the line with trade names etc. Good luck with your exciting concept. Nat Hi Patrick

Like all good business models, advertising has to be the key. You have to identify your market in terms of demographics, spending power and need for your services then target them specifically. For example; Who do you see as needing your services? Where would they go to to get legal advice? Would they look in the local paper? Search Google? Ask Citizens advice? Local firms use their banks business advisors for advice on starting/building their business. Who does he/she recommend when they ask if they know a good law firm? A card in the shop window next to the citizen advice bureau may bring better results than a mass marketing campaign.
When clients come to you, find out how and when and why they used you. I would say that searching out your market is key to building your business. You can have the best looking web site out there, but people have to see it. Not only do people have to see it, the right people, who need what you offer have to see it. If you employ the same type of thinking to advertising and marketing that you have obviously applied to your business model, then I’m sure you will succeed.

Just out of interest. I did a quick search on Google to try and find your firm and this is what I found: http://www.matrixlaw.co.uk/
This may cause you problems further down the line with trade names etc.

Good luck with your exciting concept.

Nat

]]> By: College Town Menus (CTM) http://www.startbreakingfree.com/1286/how-to-bring-in-new-customers-with-free-work/comment-page-1/#comment-4980 College Town Menus (CTM) Wed, 02 Dec 2009 23:25:29 +0000 http://www.startbreakingfree.com/?p=1286#comment-4980 Pat, I agree with trying to spend as little $/£ as possible, but (IMO), time spent is far more of a "Waste" than $ spent. I think starting off small is good like your doing, but if your not an IT guy that knows code and can easily/efficiently modify wordpress, it may be in your best interest to just have someone do it for you, save you time, and move on. Completely your call of course. I just figure, the $200 or whatever you spend would be very high quality, (hopefully) one time payment, vs a full week of you tinkering rather than focusing on getting more clients. Pat, I agree with trying to spend as little $/£ as possible, but (IMO), time spent is far more of a “Waste” than $ spent. I think starting off small is good like your doing, but if your not an IT guy that knows code and can easily/efficiently modify wordpress, it may be in your best interest to just have someone do it for you, save you time, and move on. Completely your call of course. I just figure, the $200 or whatever you spend would be very high quality, (hopefully) one time payment, vs a full week of you tinkering rather than focusing on getting more clients.

]]> By: Brian Armstrong http://www.startbreakingfree.com/1286/how-to-bring-in-new-customers-with-free-work/comment-page-1/#comment-4978 Brian Armstrong Wed, 02 Dec 2009 20:58:40 +0000 http://www.startbreakingfree.com/?p=1286#comment-4978 Good idea...would be interesting to see how it could be made more passive, and check back. Good idea…would be interesting to see how it could be made more passive, and check back.

]]> By: Pat http://www.startbreakingfree.com/1286/how-to-bring-in-new-customers-with-free-work/comment-page-1/#comment-4970 Pat Wed, 02 Dec 2009 16:46:20 +0000 http://www.startbreakingfree.com/?p=1286#comment-4970 Thank you for that. Website will be re done and yes UT is a great place to start, in many respects. As you point out, publicity is a lot more than a website. My thinking is, put the time and effort in now and it will eventually pay off for me. Thanks for the tip offs. I am trying to spend as little as possible so not to waste money. I was going to get another Wordpress template but will also check out 99designs as well. Thanks again for the feedback! Thank you for that.

Website will be re done and yes UT is a great place to start, in many respects. As you point out, publicity is a lot more than a website.

My thinking is, put the time and effort in now and it will eventually pay off for me.

Thanks for the tip offs. I am trying to spend as little as possible so not to waste money. I was going to get another WordPress template but will also check out 99designs as well.

Thanks again for the feedback!

]]>