broadening the client base

[skala67]

I recently jumped into the world of owning my own business 5 months ago. The company does primarily Architectural Visualization. Having a degree in architecture and having worked in architectural firms for 8 years or so, I have been able to maintain steady work for the past few months with just the connections I have made over those years (firms, consultants, clients Ive worked with.) I have decided it is time to expand beyond those boundaries and was wondering what others who have started their own companies have found to work, marketing-wise, most effectively. I have just finished a website (should be live tomorrow) and have all the business cards and postcard mailers printed and ready. I plan to hand-deliver a card and mailer to the medium sized firms in my area. Is this cold calling the best way to saturate the market? (I have done this to a few firms as a test and have not had any bites) Any advice or personal experiences would be appreciated.

Thanks,

tj

[TRUSTYGUY]

Hi

well first of all congractulation for this business...I guess you should wait first for the site to open and c its effect of the consumers....and ofcourse the site or handouts are still not enough...relations and social life are the first priority....another good idea is to check a well known restaurant or market and suggest for them to do a free poster or decoration (such as decorating a column or wall) showing a high computer graphic drawing....its can be stuck there or drawn for ages if u want and this could be good marketing for you....the rest. or market will take benefit of this by decorationg whatever they have in hand and you in another hand have a good adv. for every1 to c...

hope I have helped you in something

Thanks,

Tamer

[3da]

Hi Thomas

 

I have found sending out brochures to your target market can have a very positive effect. I always try to do some research on the company I am targeting and then adjust the contents of the brochure to suit. For instance, if you are targeting a developer specializing in the residential market, add more resi stuff and elaborate about how visualization can positively contribute to that specific market. I also like the brochure to go to a person rather than the company reception and always try to get it to the person dealing with marketing, development, ect.

 

If you are good, efficient and quick, the word will go round and you will find more work - people speak. There is always a slow curve to success in this type of business. So I suggest you do as good a job you can with the projects you have in hand and I assure you the work will start coming your way.

 

My two cents..

 

Christo

[skala67]

Thanks much for the advice and the links. I think I am half way there, but I will keep posting the successes and failures that I encounter along the way. Feel free to keep posting to this thread.

 

tj

[skala67]

ok, site is finally live. I had to make it in 2 days, so it is not flashy, but it gets the job done. let me know what you think....

[doujay888]

I've seen your website homepage.

Color composition is good "simple and neat".

 

Just a comment, hope I'm not being rude.

 

At first glance i thought I opened the wrong site. Okay, I know the phrase

printed on the object had emphasized the purpose.

 

However, the object (detergent or whatever) had dominated the whole page.

It never came in to my mind that you're into visualization projects at first

glance not unless I have to check first the galleries.

 

Just an opinion anyway.... "First Impressions always Last"