thorne Posted April 22, 2009 Author Report Share Posted April 22, 2009 +1 Getting rid of the Physical part and just going with "Security for a Digital Age" sounds better but still does not sound great to me. I got to look at the product a while back when you showed me and I was impressed. I have seen very few setups anywhere with the kind of quality you had and the quality at that price point. I think with a bit more refinement (from people with more experience in this area) and you would have a very marketable product. I have a few contacts at a newspaper or two that I could get in touch with. that saying persay was HIGHLY debated. Maybe my sample audiance was not wide enough since allot of the people I know are techies. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thorne Posted April 22, 2009 Author Report Share Posted April 22, 2009 Interesting, got something that doesn't require an internet connection? I would make up flyers, read the community papers and look for break-ins. Prey on the scared. For our basic small business product not at the moment. BUT the setup were demoing in a cruiser is kinda stand alone. I would prefer not go into to much detail about that portion. For a large company with there own data centers and multiple dvr's they can be stand alone. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thorne Posted April 22, 2009 Author Report Share Posted April 22, 2009 Thorn, get in touch with my sister for website design... www.boscstudio.com This is what she does for a living... and shes pretty damn good. And if you want to get the name out to businesses... PIZZA DELIVERY Do you have any idea how many coupon toppers go out the door of a good pizza delivery shop? My old store did about 3000/wk. Not only do people go to homes, but to TONS of businesses. Im sure if you set up a simple system for a store, they'd do your fliers for a year. Do I speak to the manager at the specfic store? This is one of the questions I've had. Can I as a person approach say a gas station or do I need to go find there central office. I do like this pizza idea. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thorne Posted April 22, 2009 Author Report Share Posted April 22, 2009 Sorry for so many replys. There is allot of good feedback in this thread. The end goal is a product that you purchase plug in login website config via website where its goof dick simple. At the moment were doing the installs because were still finishing that portion of the code up and the other venture side tracked us. IPS has been extremly helpful as they were out beta customer. The Alpha was a family owned business. We learned allot from IPS because they provided allot of feed back. I sent you a PM as I'm open to any feedback. I'm looking to contact a webdesigner soon. We have a few things we would like to get finished up. I will say if someone would have told me back in 2000 that you would be able to do so much with a simple website... I would have shit a brick. Gmail started it I think. Opinion....start small and don't go too far into debt at first. It's easy to spend; much harder to earn. I believe the key to being successful involves several things outside just hitting the masses. My wife started her law practice with less than $10k total first year + rent/utilities. Networking is and will always be key. Many small businesses hardly need to advertise. Case Study and Referrals: Even if you hit the masses and companies begin coming to you, they will likely ask to talk with references. Even if they don't said references will do wonders for your credibility and respect in the market. People buy from those they like, but first they look to see that you are reputable and can be trusted. Especially in today's climate. Seed the market with some key installs, perhaps businesses found from contacts right here? Then use them as case studies and references. Cover those bases and you're golden. Target a market: I see real success with Small businesses when they focus on a target market, understand the space and client needs and play to that better than anyone. Again, hold off on the masses until you can build some case sites and references. For now, my advice is to start small and work from referrals. Who knows someone that would take a few minutes to talk with you and then set up a meeting. I've worked with tons and tons of start ups to SMB resellers and work for a relatively small (65 person) company now and would be happy to share more on how they have done what they have. Many of them started as 1-2 guys, a good idea and then have grown into huge businesses. I love thinking about that in hopes that someday that will be me ROI: Don't lean on price or features without the benefits. Think ROI. Why your solution is what they need to prioritize spending towards. Capital spends today are limited. Especially where there's no plan or budget. More so in the SMB market. Think through how you are different and think of it in hard dollar savings. Present a solid ROI to go with you. Don't ever mention the competition...ever...let the client bring them up if they do. Your job will be to understand the customers business and pain points. I'm a firm believer in a solution sale and having a business process when talking to clients about how to handle their pain. The Methodology I use is a 7 step process: 1. Understand their problem: Define it with them as often they won't know. 2. Identify goals and requirements: How will the system be measured for success and what requirements do they have 3. Map their current practices: What are they doing today. Not what they "think" they are doing, but what actually happens 4. Design a solution together: Has to be a two way street with their involvement to avoid surprises 5. Calculate ROI: Bottom line, using their figures, what will this cost them, where's the break even and what will the long term gain be. 6. Document and present your findings to key decision makers. All heads have to nod or it's not likely going to sell. 7. Begin the Technical Design: What exactly is needed to make the solution work. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thorne Posted April 22, 2009 Author Report Share Posted April 22, 2009 1. i've got a pretty good grasp on because we built this because of the problem. It was built for personal use and we relized we might have something. 2. Not sure. 3. Not a problem. 4. The solution itself should be cookie cutter because we can replace current systems -- BUT atleast for now were limited to assisting the customer with the install 5. I don't know how to calculate a ROI. My only comparsion is to look at what say a honeywell costs vs what it costs me to build this solution. 6. Yes I think that is part I am unsure of. 7. Cakewalk 8. Knowing who to talk to. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iwishiwascool Posted April 23, 2009 Report Share Posted April 23, 2009 I've been using AdWords as part of an inexpensive marketing campaign for a 3-5M business. It has been pretty effective thus far. To tweak it to the point of success though takes time and research. If you choose to utilize it (which you should) it is best to develop your website around it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thorne Posted April 23, 2009 Author Report Share Posted April 23, 2009 Iwisihiwascool. I'm going to be looking into adwords and the website as soon as we get our copcar demo done. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wnaplay1647545503 Posted April 23, 2009 Report Share Posted April 23, 2009 Hire someone who has a good professional look to them to help contact new clients no offense but you need someone who looks professional to help your clients take you seriously. You need a pitchman, salesman. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TTQ B4U Posted April 23, 2009 Report Share Posted April 23, 2009 You need a pitchman, salesman. I heard he contacted Billy Mays already Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thorne Posted April 23, 2009 Author Report Share Posted April 23, 2009 Oddly enough I'm really good at selling product once I can speak to the person thats my target. I won DECA Technical Marketing 2 years in a row and the first CPS studet to win it as a junior. Free trip to Colorado first year and florida the second. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kevin R. Posted April 23, 2009 Report Share Posted April 23, 2009 If you make over a billion dollars I want logo royalties. <3, Kevin Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wnaplay1647545503 Posted April 23, 2009 Report Share Posted April 23, 2009 Oddly enough I'm really good at selling product once I can speak to the person thats my target. I won DECA Technical Marketing 2 years in a row and the first CPS studet to win it as a junior. Free trip to Colorado first year and florida the second. Looks are everything. Getting your foot in the door is the first step. Maybe get someone to do the cold sale and then you come in from the technical side for the hard sale. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thorne Posted April 23, 2009 Author Report Share Posted April 23, 2009 If you make over a billion dollars I want logo royalties. <3, Kevin done and done Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clifford Automotive Posted April 23, 2009 Report Share Posted April 23, 2009 I will give you a friends number in PM to talk to. Hell you might know him, he's on here. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thorne Posted April 23, 2009 Author Report Share Posted April 23, 2009 Awesome. Thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thorne Posted April 24, 2009 Author Report Share Posted April 24, 2009 I may have someone to do some door knocking on business for me Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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