What I have done to market my business

[callthatgirl]

I have been asked by a few folks here to post what I have done to get business starting in 2007. Here is a list of things I have done that are in the norm and outside of the norm I guess. I have more to add, I haven't reviewed my list in some time. As you can see, I'm a crazy person, but as a crazy person does, I think with a mind of "drive to bring in business" and will do anything if it's free. I have a limited budget, bootstrapper and from scratch. I don't have family money nor investors. I had little to start on...but I did have energy, a social appeal and a willingness to kill myself to make this work.

Q4 2007
mailed out personal hand written brochures (lame but gone one client who needed training and have helped her 25 times now)
hand and foot of cards (great!)
truck wrap (awesome!)
Face to Face networking events (totally awesome!)

Q1 2008
Vistaprint direct mail (did ok, didn't make all my money back though)
Women's Expo (excellent! boothing at events make money)
womens press (local print ad, didn't make my money back)
vita.mn ad (local print ad, didn't make my money back)
Email Marketing (this is well worth it! start doing it if you can, keep your clients in the loop)
All over Media (bathroom ads, just barely made my money back)

Q2 2008
LinkedIn (150 clients so far)
Referrals (totally awesome from Q4 of 2007)
Speaking gig/DSWA (speaking engagements bring in tons of referrals and clients!)

Q3 2008
Gay Pride (boothed with hopes of getting the gay market, didn't make money back)
50's car show (700 ladies from out of town, failed, no money made, 3 day event too! but cheap to do)
ewomen (National women's networking organization, made all my money back and some)
yellow book (just barely made my money back)
Speaking gig/Pampered chef (speaking gigs=money)
Northbrain partnership (good to partner with Mac folks)
Lake Street council Expo (booth I did, made my money back)
Speaking gig/St. Olaf (again, do speaking gigs!)
Women's Press article (this was my first press piece, it was cool to have a story wrote about you)
Around Town TV commercial (local tv commercial, not one client)

Q4 2008
Jimmys List (local email distribution promotion company, paid off BIG)
Speaking gig/St. Olaf (see above, did well here)
Google ad (um, no calls)
Upswing (another boothing event, great for exposure)
Project Link It Forward (a pro bono venture I created to help the unemployed learn how to use LinkedIn for getting jobs, I have literally boosted my business by giving back to this community!)
LinkedMinnesota manager (started to manage the biggest LinkedIn group in Minnesota)

Q1 2009
Star Tribune article (was featured in our local paper, on the front page, right after new year, in business section, tons of web hits)
pizzz place magnet drop (no money)
Speaking gig/NAPO (big money, spoke to a group of organizers)
Speaking gig/PMI (big money, spoke to a group of Project managers about LinkedIn)
Speaking gig/PLIF (did approximately 40 workshops for this, tons of marketing)
Speaking gig/STC (again, made good money)
Speaking gig/SamsNet (another good speaking gig)

Q2 2009
jimmy johns ad (got one client)
twitter (no joy)
facebook (no joy)
Server company referring partnership (brought in a great client list, find server companys that don't do want you do)
Eclub--(workshops I promoted to learn how to use social media)
Website tranformation to Word press (this was HUGE for me! my hits went up at least 75%)
Speaking gig/White Bear Chamber (again, speaking gigs pay off)
Referral plan (from interns, no joy)
Melting Pot (event, made 1 client)
Started getting interns (they have been working on projects for Q3-4, 2009)

Q3 20009
VIP Linkedin email (exported out all VIP in my LinkedIn, no money)
50% off for the unemployed (made big money and the state of MN promoted me all over the place and continue to do so!)
psyhcotherapists page (cheap ad I put out, no money)
Reboot Marketing (a local computer refurbishing company gives my business the computer repairs, I give them purchasing clients)
MyCityScene (ad for the gay market, no joy)
Ask Program (asked folks to refer me, no joy)
Neighborhood marketing (intern idea, no joy)
Interns started up (they work on many projects listed below)

Q4 2009
50% off unemployed push (worked for me and great press)
Realtor email (sent emails to thousands of realtors, made my money back)
All state promotion (Allstate went independant, tried to market, made a few buck)
Business Park marketing (where I office, send out an intern with biz cards)
Radio Half off deal (not one call, wtf!!! they gave me free radio time too!)
Senior housing marketing (had a senior lady try to help me market to seniors)
LinkedMinnesota holiday event (Gave out my card to 400 people at a holiday event)
Outlook promo (email marketing push)
LinkedIn groups telephone promo (Group message push)
Sunday only computer cleaning (omg, I have made tons of cash by offering a $25 off special for only a few days, sent by my email marketing. Done this twice when business was slow, picked right back up.)


Q1 2010
Started writing ebook
Found Technibble (have had members purchase ebook and refer me clients)
Another local computer repair business partnership (brought in 10 new clients)
Another local server business partnership (no referrals, but we cross marketed)
Ask Lisa promo--(didn't work, took down after a few weeks)
Breast awareness speaking engagement (2 clients)
Another local computer repair cross partnership (0 clients, but they backlinked me which brought webhits)
Virtual Assistants Speaking Engagement (2 clients)
March cleaning sale (sold 22)
Women to watch award (didn't win, good marketing though)
WCCO Good Question--(was on 10:00 news, 8 clients)
Jimmy May special--(email marketing company, total of 20 clients)
Margie promotions--(no clients, marketing only)
Comcast blog--100's of webhits a month

Q2 2010
IIAP expo--marketing only
Train that girl special--sold 10
Staff handed out flyers in uptown--no clients
LinkedIn non-profit push--no clients
SCORE promotion--2 clients
Womens Press award--no clients, but good for marketing
MN CUP application--no clients, but good for marketing
QVC application--just for fun to see if I would win/didn't win
Outstate Craigslist promotion--failed
Rochester Marketing Start--win, did tons of things, joined Chamber, working
Facebook wall cleaning sale push--sent to hundreds of peoples walls, worked
LinkedMN Summer Event-marketing (350 attendee's got my card)
Oasis Church speech (all unemployed, no clients)

Q3 2010
Workforce center speech (all unemployed, 1 client)
Chamber After Business Hours--In progress, marketing
Women of Today booth--no clients, good marketing though to 100 women
Summer protection promotion--sold 3
Facebook group push--marketing
Facebook friend push--marketing
Rochester PB piece--good exposure, 5 clients
Voicemail--fun marketing
myTalk 101.7--on the radio and on their website
LinkedMN website--logo with link on website
American Marketing Association Speaking--marketing 2 clients
Rochester Post Bulletin Executive Profile--5 clients
Rochester Hard Launch--
SCORE ROUNDTABLE--(no clients, marketing)
SCORE speaking event (120 people, 2 clients)
A computer sales store parternship (cross marketing
Text that girl--1 client
Womens Press Directory Ad--1 client
Force Field interview--no clients, but tons of new friends online and backlinks
Podnutz interview--no clients, but tons of new friends online and backlinks
eBook published--sold over 100 in the first month


Q4 2010
Created brochures and sent to all hotels in the city for patients and travelers
Pre-pay packages--win, sold 15
Linkedin Direct Ad--marketing
Mac Support push--3 new clients
SAS giveaway--marketing
Computer drop off promotion--1 new client
Chamber emails with 35% off--4 new clients
Email to Rochester Women Ad--1 new client
Emails to Womens Directory--1 new client
Another server company cross partnership (no clients and no win)
Daily Deals for Rochester--no clients
Facebook fan page--1 Grammy Winner as a new client, win!
Yellowbook ad for Roch--2 clients in 2010, ongoing into 2011
Hired one person to make calls to 2nd locations-1 new client (paid off big)
LinkedMinnesota Holiday Event--400 attendee's got my info
Donated to 2 auctions (no clients yet)
chamber newsletter (marketing)
2nd Force Field interview on ebook (sold a bunch)

 

[Secret Agent]

Wow! You have quite an extensive list of things that have worked and not worked for you. It's nice to see what others have tried... makes me think I should join LinkedIn.

 

[cmonova]

What impresses me is I can't remember what I had for breakfast and you know what you did for an entire year....Looks like someone keeps good notes

 

[callthatgirl]

haha! I have kept a list. I track all the calls I get too, how they heard of me. My interns have created reports and financials based on what I have done. this is a raw version. You should see the real reports. Yikes.



What I spent vs what I made...the real Big Money.

LinkedIn is the shitznit! Ok, me being fun, but it does work.

 

[Mr I]

that's the best example that many technicians fail to do. This business is not only about fixing computers only, it's about marketing, managing, hiring, and so many other things.

So many entrepreneurs failed not because of lack of motivation but because lack of management skills.

Keep up the good work!

 

[lgtechcomputers]

that's the best example that many technicians fail to do. This business is not only about fixing computers only, it's about marketing, managing, hiring, and so many other things.

So many entrepreneurs failed not because of lack of motivation but because lack of management skills.

Keep up the good work!

sorry to get on a tangent.

I liked your Orca site! I have been meaning to say so.

btw - since you're right there. Did you go to TechEd 2008?

======

Back on topic...
This great information to share! Thanks.

Although I feel like I have pretty good mgmt skills, there's a lot to learn about marketing.

 

[Mr I]

I sent you a PM. I don't want to hijack this thread

 

[Iconic]

A very comprehensive list of things you have tried and the outcome of each. I have to admit that I have been a little leary about jumping into a lot of the different marketing items that have been presented to me in the last 6 months of my business for the reason that I do not want to get too invested so early and end up having huge marketing bills but no profit.

LinkedIn has been on the back of my mind for some time and I will be looking into it further.

 

[callthatgirl]

Ironic, I just stay away from any "pay to play" marketing ploys.

I'm too creative to do that right now. I pay for my time.

Not everyone has the energy that I have to get out there. I know that, but the list is a good idea stirrer for those that are in a funk or something.

 

[perryny]

What a comprehensive and useful post! I have absolutely no doubt whatsoever that you will reach and surpass your projected million dollar achievement.

Thanks so much for having the ability to record your efforts and progress in such detail... and for sharing it.

-Robert

 

[LunchBox]

WOW, to recap this is a great thread and its very helpful and informative. I am sure your knowledge will be me.

Thank you

 

[Davena]

I am in awe at your ideas. As a female tech I see lots of possibilities in what you have done. We live a very poor area (Appalachia) and love the idea of 50% off for the unemployed. Please explain how you approached the County to help others. I fully intend to do this.

 

[harbordatasystems]

Hello Lisa,

What do you mean in the first section "hand and foot of cards (great!)"?

Also, what kinds of things do you speak about when you go for public speaking gigs, and networking opportunities? I'm afraid I'd sound too spammy

 

[krutoi]

what kinds of things do you speak about when you go for public speaking gigs, and networking opportunities?

I am also curious about how you leverage your speaking engagements into customers, and what sort of topics you cover when you speak. Great list of stuff at the beginning of this thread btw

 

[kagman]

Now thats a list

Wow.. Yeah i cant remember what i did last night let alone make a list like yours. Now my memory never fails me when it comes to tech and computers.
Must say that your list is a prefect way to get started. You had some ideas that I liked which I will start putting into place for my own startup.

Those speaking gigs you had seem to have paid off for you. How did you go about doing that in the first place? And helping those that are unemployed by giving them a 50% discount is just brilliant!!!!!!!!!

Lisa you are the best. We have talked a few weeks over email.

Everyone must listen to her Besides her staff of interns is really good looking. lol...

--Jose from NYC--

 

[Iconic]

hand and foot of cards (great!)

I am curious what this is? do you mean standing on the street corner handing out flyers?

 

[MakoLogics]

Hi Lisa...

OK I have looked over your list of marketing strategies. I have a question though. I'm not much of a public speaker and I don't really do social media outlets. It sounds like a huge part of your business comes from that. What other options have worked that don't require that?

So far for me I am literally going door to door at local business, I hand them a 4 page packet. Very clear, clean and it explains all of our services with examples of web sites. This has been OK for me.

Google... sux for me In Houston it's $7 a click for the big key words.

Yahoo local listing... Nothing!

Word of mouth... Great

Getting truck wrapped tomorrow.. we will see how this works. No clue, but its cool looking lol

I'm truly at a loss right now and I need to drum up more business soon as I do this full time now.

I own a web hosting company and it does ok, it's fully automated and it's great for my clients. www.web-rocket.com My PC site is a take off from my web hosting site that cost a fortune because it was designed by one of the top firms. My advice don't waste your money on high dollar sites. Just make a clean professional site like Lisa did.

I also own a web design company where I sub all my work out to a team of developers. THIS IS HUGE MONEY! I sell my sites from $400 to $1200 they never cost much in development.

Any how I hope some of this info helps you guys and Lisa if you read this I would love your feed back.

Best

Russ

 

[callthatgirl]

Wow, looks like this thread has gained some steam since I last checked! I will update all your questions this weekend when I take packing breaks.

I'm moving next weekend and yes, that's a marketing strategy too!

 

[kagman]

Hey Russ the website you build for your clients, are you outsourcing it to people you know? What happens when clients need there sites updated? Always wondered about stuff like that... Do clients go to you or the people that actually built the site.



--Jose

 

[PorterComp]

When you run specials, like the 25% off on certain days...how are you advertising them?

Also, I think the half off for the unemployed is great, helps them and you and gets you good media...My question is...how do you know they are unemployed? Just by their word or do they have to provide proof?