I emailed 40 local organisations asking what their problems and frustrations are

[SD Entrepreneur]

Wow - congrats on the home run!

Whatever insight you might provide will be very much appreciated.

I always deliver very high-quality content as well, but I have trouble getting past the gatekeepers.

Was your success due to a prolonged marketing effort, or do you see it more of being in the right place at the right time; in other words depending on luck somewhat and therefore hard to replicate?

Hey @Real Deal Denver, we are always doing biz dev to generate leads so it is an on going thing. With that said, we targeted specific companies within an industry and then used LinkedIn to find the correct people and titles within (our best educated guess of which titles/people made the most sense to contact).

We then email those contacts, so in a way there's a bit of luck involved but you can't get lucky without the effort. That example started as a 2.5k deal but then lead to close to 100k more of business that same year (not a typical/normal scenario for us- wish it was).

 

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[Real Deal Denver]

Hey @Real Deal Denver, we are always doing biz dev to generate leads so it is an on going thing. With that said, we targeted specific companies within an industry and then used LinkedIn to find the correct people and titles within (our best educated guess of which titles/people made the most sense to contact).

We then email those contacts, so in a way there's a bit of luck involved but you can't get lucky without the effort. That example started as a 2.5k deal but then lead to close to 100k more of business that same year (not a typical/normal scenario for us- wish it was).

Thanks SO much for that insight.

I am leveraging the internet in my marketing efforts, and it is almost successful. It's producing good results - but not quite enough yet.

Glad I showed up today because I have a project that I am working on to garner more business. I don't just "cold" call or email, but instead, try to have something of interest and importance so doors open when I knock.

Your post was helpful, and a needed boost for me to focus on results more. I kind of shut down my marketing for two months because I was overloaded with work. Be careful what you wish for, right? Well, now I am back at it. Better - smarter - faster - this time around.

 

[SD Entrepreneur]

Thanks SO much for that insight.

I am leveraging the internet in my marketing efforts, and it is almost successful. It's producing good results - but not quite enough yet.

Glad I showed up today because I have a project that I am working on to garner more business. I don't just "cold" call or email, but instead, try to have something of interest and importance so doors open when I knock.

Your post was helpful, and a needed boost for me to focus on results more. I kind of shut down my marketing for two months because I was overloaded with work. Be careful what you wish for, right? Well, now I am back at it. Better - smarter - faster - this time around.

No problem, the way you write your email/script is crucial so keep testing. They want their problems solved, if you provide an answer to their issues and a differentiator to all the others in your space, you will get replies!

 

[AmazingLarry]

Wow, some really great info in here.

I have been doing cold emails for my mechanical design business for the past 4 or 5 months. I spent a lot of time writing out a basic script and also personalize each email slightly. I get about 25-30% of people clicking the link to my website, so I'm happy about that. I've even had some people with no interest in my services respond just to tell me they normally delete solicitation emails, but they found mine different and refreshing and wanted to say thank you. I think it's important to be respectful and come across as a real person who wants to contact them specifically, not just a contact email on a big list.

Even though I've had some good responses to cold emailing, the number of people who respond interested in my services is only <1%. I'm not sure how bad this is, but it doesn't seem TOO bad considering most clients that I get will give recurring work. I've landed 2 clients so far, and I have more in the pipeline. I'm still trying to figure out a better way to narrow down and find clients who need my services. I don't think cold calling/emailing is the best way, however I am living outside my country currently and can't meet with potential customers face to face.

I've also tried email random businesses asking what their pain points were to generate ideas, and I've had some luck, but nothing amazing. This is definitely not the best way to get good ideas. I am still in the process of identifying problems and deciding on my next venture, so the advice in this thread is very helpful.

 

[Deleted69818]

I'm just starting out and I have no idea what I should be doing yet. I know that I need to find a problem to solve so instead of sitting back I thought I'd send out some emails to local organisations. I asked taxis, pubs, manufacturing, garages, charities, schools, self storage and construction organisations.

Do you think it is a productive idea? Can you give me feedback on my email?

Cheers.

I'm just starting out and I have no idea what I should be doing yet. I know that I need to find a problem to solve so instead of sitting back I thought I'd send out some emails to local organisations. I asked taxis, pubs, manufacturing, garages, charities, schools, self storage and construction organisations.

Do you think it is a productive idea? Can you give me feedback on my email?

Cheers.

well, i appreciate your attitude to be so positive and ready to find solving for problems. unfortunately (as I have experienced) the "local Organizations" usually aren't a good choice for such stuff, unless you be a famous expert. anyway, I hope you will bulk up in this matter soon and they will back you to themselves! as many of organizations don't recognize their problems, it would be a good Idea if you mention their problems by yourself, in terms of showing their defects.

 

[mattsteinman]

A business owner doesn't have time for this. Why not find out where they hang out online, like Facebook Groups, or LinkedIn, and start interacting with them there.

Reply to their questions, LISTEN to what questions they are asking (aka their problems), and start to become an expert in your field. THEN those people will start coming to YOU.

I would suggest picking one niche that you can intelligently speak upon.

Eliminate casting a wide net trying to grab JUST business owners. Niche down and use the language your target customers would be using.

 

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[Dan_Fastlane]

I'm just starting out and I have no idea what I should be doing yet. I know that I need to find a problem to solve so instead of sitting back I thought I'd send out some emails to local organisations. I asked taxis, pubs, manufacturing, garages, charities, schools, self storage and construction organisations.

Do you think it is a productive idea? Can you give me feedback on my email?

Cheers.

maybe you shouldn't tell them that u are an entrepreneur and all that stuff. Instead, try to find the direct contacts of the CEO of that company and write to him that u are a student and doing your scientific work on identifying problems that most businesses deal with. and then ask away! What they struggle with and so on.

Your first Email sounds like you are going to sell their intern problems to a competitor hahah

 

[KushShah9492]

I may be in the minority on this but am I the only one who thinks it's super cringey to ask random folks who don't know you "Hey, what are problems you have that I can solve?"

I realize it's what all the books say, but I do really feel like they are trying to tell you the IDEA of what to do, not HOW to do it.

If you want to ask questions like this, IMHO, you need to do in an appropriate, natural way. No in a "fire and forget" email.

If you are at the barber, chatting pleasantly, and asked "hey, I know nothing about cutting hair - what's the hardest part of this job for you?" well then that sounds natural. Similarly you could say "that hair clipper looks hard to use - is there anything you wish it did better?" again - makes sense.

If, however, you emailed the barber and said "I am an entrepreneur, what are your problems and I'll try to start a business based on that", it would hit the trash bin immediately.

Asking about problems is great, but they should be highly targeted, specific questions that are asked in a way that is likely to get a good response. You need to have some kind of opportunity for rapport.

That’s really a helpful approach. Thank!!

 

[hellolin]

Don't get me wrong, but your approach sounds similar like asking a girl you've just met, "what would make you fall in love with me?" - I think she would feel damn weird - I guess that's exactly how company owners felt about your e-mail, too.

Problem is this IS how dating culture goes today with all the apps, so no wonder OP takes the same approach to the problem he faced.