Basic Web Marketing Advice

[kess]

Hi

I recently joined this forum to pick up some marketing tips and have found your expetise very useful. I have recently set up a web development company (www.tagembedded.com) with a distinct advantage that I can offer very competitive prices (as much as 50% off the normal prices charged). The model is based on my partnership with an Indian company, whose language I can speak and culture I understand. The advantage I have over traditional outsourcing is that the point of contact and project management will be done from UK, so giving customers a greater confidence in our high value service.

Now would any one be kind enough to offer advice on the steps needed to generate new business for my company? My initial thoughts are that I target SMEs as they are more budget conscious. The other thing I have in mind is that I can target existing web development companies who might want to subcontract excess work on a 'wholesale' basis. What about partnering, would any one here consider that??

Can any one please comment on my initial thoughts and add any more?? If you agree that I should start with SMEs and wholesale to existing developers, then what would be the best way to get to these markets. I'm scratching my head as to where to start, but I know that the company has the ability to offer high value and quality to customers.

Thanking you in advance for your help

kind regards

Khawar
www.tagembedded.com
email: khawar@tagembedded.com

[ihelpyou]

Welcome to the forums kess! :hi:

The best way when starting out is to build up a client base who will give you referrals. Other than that, do research on what your targeted keyphrases might be and achieve good ranks on those phrases. The goal is to get those markets who may be interested in what you have to offer to come to the site.

You have to build up a reputation first, and that comes from clients.

[nick]

Have you considered traditional advertising?
You could place advertisements in Business Journals, Yellow Pages etc etc.
A mailshot to targetted companies is another idea.
Cold calling via the phone may also get you some leads.

As for contacting web development companies- why not?
Contact as many as you can emphasising your unique selling point. If you can genuinely deliver good quality work at a much lower cost then it means more money for them. They'd be foolish not to.
Web hosting firms also tend to outsource web design work. If you can undercut the company currently providing this service for them, then you may be in luck.

Overall I think the last two of my points are key. If you can persuade them they will be an excellent source of ongoing contracts rather than 'once-off' jobs.

I'm also UK based (kent) and have some marketing knowledge both offline and online. Send me a private message if you'd like to discuss this further.

- Nick

[ihelpyou]

I consider cold calling as spam. I hate it with a passion and simply hang up the phone. If a company builds a base first, no need to spam people in any way. You have to start somewhere and you have to start with a base. That simply takes time. There is not a quick fix nor should there be. Any new seo/design company starting up to do this has to sweat it out just like we all did. It takes work. If you simply spam people with phone calls and emails, that ain't gonna cut it. You have to prove yourself first.

[nick]

I agree and disagree

Yep, cold calling can be annoying. If it is totally untargetted with no basis then yes. But if the specific companies are on a short list and may genuinely be interested (for numerous reasons) then it is perhaps less of a crime (??)

I also think the way to go about business is to go after the sale fairly aggressively. I can't honestly see how sitting back and gradually building your reputation would work in this case. After all there are many other such firms who offer alternatives. You've got to push your USP so people are aware of it.
Once you have built that base sit back, yes.
But until then the base has to be built and it won't be done by resting on your laurels.

Just my opinion.

[ihelpyou]

Agressively? Oh no.

Agressive in advertising, yes. Throw money in yellow pages, etc, but NOT in email spam and phone calls.

Let me ask you this. Why would anyone at all wish to be on a 'short list' to be called out of the blue? I don't know anyone who 'asks' to be put on a calling list. Most of these lists are bought and sold just like with email. You sign up on a site for something or buy something, then all the sudden your email is on joesmoes email list. You don't know joesmoe, nor do you want his damn email. Same with phone calls. You bought from so and so and now you are on a list of so and so's partners. You don't want to get phone calls from the partners.

You build a base thru clients you get at the start. Do a good job for them and you will see your base grow. No Need to spam. You have to earn what you get. NO agressiveness should be used with cold calling and email spam. Not the way a professional would go about doing it.

My clients get spam daily from firms promising the world to them. They also get phone calls. They hang up and would never do business with firms who spam them.

I'm sick of spam of all kinds. :D

[Kal]

Hi Kess :hi: and welcome

Are you familiar with how to optimize your site for high search engine rankings? If not, I suggest absorbing as much as you can in these forums and applying the advice to your site. If you are, then how about conducting keyword research on wordtracker.com for search terms relating to low cost web design?

There are sure to be lots of combinations such as "cheap web design UK", "budget web designers" etc. Don't try to target competitive terms such as "web designers" or "site design" because you will likely not be able to compete. Instead focus on your niche market which is low cost design and find as many combinations of search terms relating to that niche and your regional market as you can. Once you have your list you should optimize your new site using these target terms and submit to search engines.

Once you're listed in the engines you'll start to attract traffic and links which will snowball and you'll find you'll acquire clients gradually as a result.

Good Luck!

[nick]

I didn't mean a physical list really, just number of firms which meet a highly specific criteria.

I don't really get much spam at all. I guess my opinion would probably be different if I did.

[scottiecl]

I gotta agree with Doug- cold calling is the worst, most invasive form of spam.

I've never bought anything from anyone who called me at home or the office and I never will. At home, it's bad enough but I have no problem hanging up. At the office it make me furious because I have to be somewhat polite because you never know where that person will turn up again.

I simply tell them I am sorry for their unfortunate choice of career that requires them to do telemarketing but I am not interested, take this number off your list.

[Blue]

Hi Kess, and welcome to the forums! :hi:

I'm not sure of the situation in the UK, but here in the USA most regions or city's have what is called a Chamber of Commerce that is setup for local businesses to join for the express purpose of advocating business. It can be a wonderful way to learn the ins and outs of "networking" in the sense of gaining business leads.

<edit> Here is the World Chamber of Commerce (http://www.chamberofcommerce.com/) </edit>

One other suggestion is to implement a direct mailing campiagn aimed at local businesses only offering a "Local Business Discount". Oftentimes, the business lead you are seeking is right next door and can lead to a snowball effect.

Good Luck!

[scottiecl]

Doing some free or low cost work for a high profile charity agency can get you some valuable free press as well.

Sometimes just sending a press release to the local media about the launch of your new business can get some coverage too!

Good Luck!

[bigDugan]

>I gotta agree with Doug- cold calling is the worst
I agree, phone-spam me, and I'll let you know with plenty of expletives what I think of it!!! LOL Then I hang up.