Useful or crap?
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- Scotch_Roman
Anyone try this service for design studios yet, or anything like it? Or is it an overblown sham? Notwithstanding the fact that their website is utter shite.
http://blog.styleapple.com/brand…
I need to step up my sales game somehow, the potential client connections are coming slow and tedious. I know what everyone says: network, network, network... but it feels like the old-fashioned method of getting warm introductions from friends and contacts is too slow.
Have tried to find an agent, but there are not many who rep designers, and the ones I've contacted aren't responding.
- Scotch_Roman0
^
- harlequino0
Hmm, i dunno. I am always real skeptical about this kind of thing. Largely because I know not a single soul who does it. But then again, that's no guarantee either. I would just be real careful if it involves any heavy fees up front. That's the big kicker. If you talk with them, find out exactly how they do what they do, and what their numbers are if you can. Shouldn't be too hard for them to tell you if, for example, "Of the XX amount of clients we had last year, 40% made solid profitable connections with marketers looking for a Y type of designer."
- ukit0
Twitter is the answer
- harlequino0
Just another thought SR, if and I say IF you have any cash to put aside to invest.
Maybe look into hiring someone to just work the phone for you. A telemarketer kind of. Their job - come in for x hours and just start calling places - brands, agencies, marketing firms, PR firms, etc. to give a pitch about your services, your site, and try and land a meeting. Pay them 9 bucks an hour for 20 hours a week for a couple weeks, see what happens. Just an idea, we did that here to start building job cue, and honestly it's kind of workign like a charm.
- Scotch_Roman0
That's a good idea harlequino. I don't have any cash that I can invest right now without going further into debt—we're just covering our monthly expenses thus far, and I mean *just* that. The good news is that my wife only works part time, so when our little guy is taking naps she could do some phone work for me.
So you actually had someone do cold calls without so much as a warm introduction? And it led to paying projects? I've always assumed people hate to be cold-called. I've emailed hundreds of companies, agencies, etc., but so far the results are very few and very far between. No actual work has come of that yet. In fact, the only work I've got coming in right now is from people I've known for some time. It's hella easy to get work from people who already know/trust you.
- That being said, I do have several leads out there, upcoming meetings, etc...Scotch_Roman
- Nothing tangible yet.Scotch_Roman
- Styleapple0
Hi Scotch_Roman. My name is Calvin Cox, I'm the founder of the Styleapple Branded Social Network. I would be more than happy to talk to you regarding our services for design companies. My email is . Also, I'm sorry to hear that you're not a big fan of the website. Can you be more specific? We are always open to suggestions and feedback. Our goal is to provide a service that you can use to grow your design business, so connect with me. Thanks. Calvin
- btw: here is the link to our main site: www.styleapple.comStyleapple
- harlequino0
Yeah it does appear to work. But it's not easy, I don't want to mislead you. It's still a numbers game. You may call, say, 30 people one day, 25 will tell you to jog on, 3 will say "uh, just email me something", and 2 will seem pseudo warm. The key is just working the phone, and following up. Being a pain in the ass. Squeaky wheel gets the grease and all those cliches.
I think a lot of people, like brand managers, are used to getting cold calls. We rarely hit any kind of annoyance, partially because our pitch is relatively soft and informational in its tone. Maybe track down a book on phone script writing, you guys may be able to craft something from samples. If you try it, try and get an email address for the person on the phone to follow up with full portfolio.
We are getting work from this. Not our main revenue engine mind you, that comes from relationships and all, but it's a cost effective backup.
- skt0
lol @ gramme getting caught for everything he ever types on here.
- hahaha it's almost divine7point34
- It's uncanny. I stand by what I said though. Maybe I'll email the guy and be a bit more constructive...Scotch_Roman
- Lol, someone on some plane of existence is keeping you in check.harlequino
- Seriously...Scotch_Roman