Comments on: Insights into why some of you aren’t taking enough action to market your business http://www.sitepoint.com/blogs/2004/10/11/insights-into-why-some-of-you-arent-taking-enough-action-to-market-your-business/ News, opinion, and fresh thinking for web developers and designers. The official podcast of sitepoint.com. Tue, 02 Dec 2008 11:56:31 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5 By: leadegroot http://www.sitepoint.com/blogs/2004/10/11/insights-into-why-some-of-you-arent-taking-enough-action-to-market-your-business/#comment-6137 leadegroot Wed, 31 Dec 1969 19:00:00 +0000 1826416856#comment-6137 <p>One way of taking a 'no' that I find valuable is to see it as 'not now', rather than 'never'<br /> Works for me :)</p> One way of taking a ‘no’ that I find valuable is to see it as ‘not now’, rather than ‘never’
Works for me :)

]]> By: redux http://www.sitepoint.com/blogs/2004/10/11/insights-into-why-some-of-you-arent-taking-enough-action-to-market-your-business/#comment-6138 redux Wed, 31 Dec 1969 19:00:00 +0000 1826416856#comment-6138 <p>however, when the 'no' really means 'never', it's misleading to wrap it up as a 'not now' (at least in the long term)...</p> however, when the ‘no’ really means ‘never’, it’s misleading to wrap it up as a ‘not now’ (at least in the long term)…

]]> By: cholmon http://www.sitepoint.com/blogs/2004/10/11/insights-into-why-some-of-you-arent-taking-enough-action-to-market-your-business/#comment-6139 cholmon Wed, 31 Dec 1969 19:00:00 +0000 1826416856#comment-6139 <p>I would fall into the category of people who think they are cut out for self-employment, but after giving it a shot, discover they are not. I spent about 2 years with a friend of mine trying to get a web development shop off the ground. We both had the technical talent and desire, but my biggest headache was exactly what Andrew is talking about: marketing. I had no desire to get out in front of people to try to sell our services. I basically just wanted to be a complete code-monkey, but it took me awhile to realize the my mentality would be much more compatible with a company that was already established, where I could focus the vast majority of my energy on what I really wanted to be doing. I think the lure of freedom and the potential for a big payoff can blind people like me, especially when we lack the experience to truly understand everything that goes into making a business really work.</p> I would fall into the category of people who think they are cut out for self-employment, but after giving it a shot, discover they are not. I spent about 2 years with a friend of mine trying to get a web development shop off the ground. We both had the technical talent and desire, but my biggest headache was exactly what Andrew is talking about: marketing. I had no desire to get out in front of people to try to sell our services. I basically just wanted to be a complete code-monkey, but it took me awhile to realize the my mentality would be much more compatible with a company that was already established, where I could focus the vast majority of my energy on what I really wanted to be doing. I think the lure of freedom and the potential for a big payoff can blind people like me, especially when we lack the experience to truly understand everything that goes into making a business really work.

]]> By: ecaptus http://www.sitepoint.com/blogs/2004/10/11/insights-into-why-some-of-you-arent-taking-enough-action-to-market-your-business/#comment-6140 ecaptus Wed, 31 Dec 1969 19:00:00 +0000 1826416856#comment-6140 <p>I have some of the same thoughts as I start up my biz. One more issue that I have is how to approach small businesses with proposals knowing that they do not understand the value of the services offered. </p> I have some of the same thoughts as I start up my biz. One more issue that I have is how to approach small businesses with proposals knowing that they do not understand the value of the services offered.

]]> By: sspivey http://www.sitepoint.com/blogs/2004/10/11/insights-into-why-some-of-you-arent-taking-enough-action-to-market-your-business/#comment-6141 sspivey Wed, 31 Dec 1969 19:00:00 +0000 1826416856#comment-6141 <p>I am in that spot right now. I have 5 ideas aznd partially developed projects that have been identified as having defined markets that will purchase. My issue is that, although I have been in sales in a past life, it's not how I want to spend my time. What I need is to outsource the selling.</p> I am in that spot right now. I have 5 ideas aznd partially developed projects that have been identified as having defined markets that will purchase. My issue is that, although I have been in sales in a past life, it’s not how I want to spend my time. What I need is to outsource the selling.

]]> By: droidmcse http://www.sitepoint.com/blogs/2004/10/11/insights-into-why-some-of-you-arent-taking-enough-action-to-market-your-business/#comment-6142 droidmcse Wed, 31 Dec 1969 19:00:00 +0000 1826416856#comment-6142 <p>So what do us geeks that aren't sales people do? Is Mr. Neitlich professional service the only type of solution? How much is a fair price to get gigs to keep you busy?</p> So what do us geeks that aren’t sales people do? Is Mr. Neitlich professional service the only type of solution? How much is a fair price to get gigs to keep you busy?

]]> By: Chris McMAhon http://www.sitepoint.com/blogs/2004/10/11/insights-into-why-some-of-you-arent-taking-enough-action-to-market-your-business/#comment-6143 Chris McMAhon Wed, 31 Dec 1969 19:00:00 +0000 1826416856#comment-6143 <p>Another way to look at "no" is that it moves you one step closer to a yes.<br /> </p> Another way to look at “no” is that it moves you one step closer to a yes.

]]> By: Chris http://www.sitepoint.com/blogs/2004/10/11/insights-into-why-some-of-you-arent-taking-enough-action-to-market-your-business/#comment-6144 Chris Wed, 31 Dec 1969 19:00:00 +0000 1826416856#comment-6144 <p>Hire a salesperson. And if you can find a salesperson with some geeky qualities even better. I'm one of those - it's worked well for me so far.</p> <p>IMO - fair pay will be a base that lets somebody feed the kids in a bad month, but not so cushy that they can or want to live on the base. In a pure services model - commission of 10% of revenue seems reasonable. Unfortunately, that set up is often very hard to do for the small shop.</p> <p>I've often thought I could build a decent business as an independent sales guy working with several small shops. Unfortunately, I haven't had the capital in reserve to take the plunge.</p> Hire a salesperson. And if you can find a salesperson with some geeky qualities even better. I’m one of those - it’s worked well for me so far.

IMO - fair pay will be a base that lets somebody feed the kids in a bad month, but not so cushy that they can or want to live on the base. In a pure services model - commission of 10% of revenue seems reasonable. Unfortunately, that set up is often very hard to do for the small shop.

I’ve often thought I could build a decent business as an independent sales guy working with several small shops. Unfortunately, I haven’t had the capital in reserve to take the plunge.

]]> By: JR http://www.sitepoint.com/blogs/2004/10/11/insights-into-why-some-of-you-arent-taking-enough-action-to-market-your-business/#comment-6145 JR Wed, 31 Dec 1969 19:00:00 +0000 1826416856#comment-6145 <p>The "geeks" can hire sales people to market your product and service for you. I would advise finding someone who is "part-geek" who knows what you are talking about yet can communicate to the average person why your product or service will benefit their business. </p> The “geeks” can hire sales people to market your product and service for you. I would advise finding someone who is “part-geek” who knows what you are talking about yet can communicate to the average person why your product or service will benefit their business.

]]> By: Xelion http://www.sitepoint.com/blogs/2004/10/11/insights-into-why-some-of-you-arent-taking-enough-action-to-market-your-business/#comment-6146 Xelion Wed, 31 Dec 1969 19:00:00 +0000 1826416856#comment-6146 <p>I'll be going into business within the next 6 months and I'm quite surprised about some of the issues Andrew has brought up, and also some of the comments already posted.</p> <p>One of the many reasons I’m actually going into business for myself is the “the boss” issue. I don’t have a dislike for authority and neither does it matter if I’m a boss or not. It’s more about being able to use my creative skills to contribute towards the work I do, and having a boss might actually stand in the way of that especially one that only works to work or have a paycheck every week. I think there is more to ‘the boss” than just disliking authority or wanting to be one. I honestly don’t see how a client can be a ‘boss’ ??</p> I’ll be going into business within the next 6 months and I’m quite surprised about some of the issues Andrew has brought up, and also some of the comments already posted.

One of the many reasons I’m actually going into business for myself is the “the boss” issue. I don’t have a dislike for authority and neither does it matter if I’m a boss or not. It’s more about being able to use my creative skills to contribute towards the work I do, and having a boss might actually stand in the way of that especially one that only works to work or have a paycheck every week. I think there is more to ‘the boss” than just disliking authority or wanting to be one. I honestly don’t see how a client can be a ‘boss’ ??

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