Confused

Your subject line - confused - suggests you are going through the same sort of thought process that many in your position go through before making the leap. However it also seems to me that if you really are able to generate so many leads per day and can put something together that these prospective clients want to buy then it should be an easy decision to set up your own company!

Andrew Turner
Online Designs (UK) Limited
www.onlinedesigns.co.uk

Hi Justin
If you generate the leads, who will do the work? I don't think you will be able to do both at that level. Not if you are going to provide any sort of decent level of customer service along side it at least. You will also have all the business admin and company leadership to do too.
It could also be that you are generating these masses of leads partly because you have been doing this for a while. It takes a while to build up from scratch, so it might be slightly harder just when you start out.
It does sound like you need a team of doers around you.
You do however have one amazing skill here, and you should be able to capitalize on it. Make sure you keep lots of shares for being the entrepreneur & the sales person - don't give it all to your team!!
As for finding the team or an existing team to join.... Networking, networking, networking. You need to know you like the people join or you let join you. And work of mouth. As for the idea. It doesn't have to be a unique one. Most good startups do what others have done before but better, slightly tweaked or more efficiently.
And efficient you are, of that I have no doubt. ;)
Anna
Moderator, flyingstartups.com

Thanks for your comments Anna / Andrew

Yes Andrew I think that you are right about the me going through the same sort of thought process that others have gone thru. I think that I am slightly conflicted and not perhaps as confident as I would like to be in terms of being able to sell my own services face to face, perhaps this is due to a comfort zone thing which may be overcome when I make the leap. I guess that's why I am looking for someone to team up with who is possibly more sales focused.

I think that I am either a marketing guy in search of a partnership OR I'm a potential business in search of a number of small companies to sell my services to.

Anna I completely agree I have recently been involved as a shareholder and have some bad feelings about the way certain things were handled prior to the sale of the company (which shall remain nameless due to the SPA).

Do you have any suggestions of place online and offline (as well as flyingstartups.com of course) where I can start networking with people who may be able to partner with?

Regards

Justin

Hi Justin,

I am in need of a graphics designer. If you are looking for work please may you get in touch and possibly send me your portfolio. Thanks Sam.

Hi Sam

I have tried to contact you but no joy you can view my very out of date website at www.bs6.co.uk which has normal contact details on it...

Also have found some Networking sites...
http://www.spoke.com/
http://www.ryze.com/
http://www.linkedin.com/
http://www.jigsaw.com/

Anyone know of any more that I could try?

Justin

www.bs6.co.uk

Hello

If you are setting up a company you need visibility and a network. You need to spend time on networking but you also need to make sure you get value for money.

For online networking let me recommend Viadeo - www.viadeo.com but then I am biased as I work there! You can post ads, participate in forums and build a network. It is free to join.

If you are after visibility you can join many networks online - including those mentioned above. You will get out what you put in - like all networking you need to actively participate.

Offline - you should look to the local chambers of commerce. We are in Southwark - they have good events, as do The London Chamber of Commerce. The British Library also run events. You may have to pay to join but you can often find online directories of members, and many of the events (speeddating) are free once you are a member.

A general rule with networking is that you should not expect an immediate ROI. At some event or on some network you will meet that big customer but it could be at your first event or your eleventh! Networking can be time consuming and when you are busy setting up a company you can feel that it is one thing that drops off the list! But don't neglect it!

Peter Cunningham

Thanks Peter I will look into www.viadeo.com and take up your kind invitation...

Justin

View my very out of date website at www.bs6.co.uk

Hi
I have a section on my website dedicated to networking.

There are a number of free or reasonably priced networking sites. Nothing beats going to a brekky meeting in my opinion. people buy from people - so sending e mails and adding to blogs in fine but will only have limited success. You still need to just get out there.

Business link and google will give you the best results for your industry and area.

Have a look at my site on networks and associates for my recommended sites. http://www.continualsolutions.co.uk/associates.html

Gary

Gary Sales
gary [dot] sales [at] continualsolutions [dot] co [dot] uk

Hello

May I suggest NRG, about £30.00 per month plus the cost of lunch, you can attend two lunches for the price of the lunch only. If you have any problems getting hold of them please feel free to contact me. A real cross section of businesses are represented and it's amazing what leads you can pick up.

Enjoy your journey

Harry R Smith

Hi Justin,

Just read this thread.

Webdesign is a very tough business to get into. Everyone knows someone who can design a website. If you look through these pages you will see a number of people designing website and there are always some people willing to do it for free as a refrence or first step on lader etc . Pick up any business or marketing magazine and there are lists of companies advertising, plus all the software allowing people to do it themselves. It's one thing working in house, it's another going out and actually getting and converting the sales.

It struck me that if you know the water cooler buisness inside out, and are generating those sorts of leads, why not apply you skills and setup on your own? You have the marketing skills and webdesign skills. There must be aspects of the business you think you could do better.

You won't be the first person who has worked for a company and gone out and setup in competition, and you certainly won't be the last!

Just a thought!

A

www.funkypuffin.com

Thanks Harry Smith and Funky Puffin

I know what you are saying here Funky Puffin but I'm not sure I would feel comfortable taking this route as an ex director of the company.

I know what you mean about the freelance web design side of things but I already do quite a bit of freelance work and also specialise in lead generation (thru PR, SEO PPC etc) as well as web design so I think that I may have more to offer than many others. Perhaps my business plan (which I am writing at the moment) will eventually disuade me from this course of action and I will leave to become a builder as I can't seem to find one of these guys for love nor money.

Thanks for your comments.

Justin

View my very out of date website at www.bs6.co.uk

Your so right about builders... The worlds gone virtual! If you want anything building online no problem, but so many people i know have said the same... can't find a builder for love or money!

Now there's an idea - I wonder if i can trade my dreamweaver for dummies for brikkies for dummies. 10 years sitting at a computer has given me first tool of the trade... the builders bum!

A

www.funkypuffin.com

HI Justin, i'm looking for somebody exactly like you! I've just about finished my website www.Fabulousmasterpieces.co.uk and now am looking for somebody in the marketing profession to help me market it. I'd love to hear your ideas and talk about prices etc.

Many thanks
Anouska

Actually I know several people in the building industry, they're all pretty booked up at the minute. strange as there's supposed to be a slump. The best way to find one in your area is to canvass your neighborhood, find one that people have used and found satisfactory.
Anne