I help small businesses in financial trouble - how do I get the message out?

[Chris@sban]

Hi

I recently established a compnay to help small businesses in financial trouble and I need some clients.

I have tried a number of obvious routes. We have advertised in the local paper, attended exhibitions, cold called (phone and doorstep). I have approached solicitors and accountants. The only route that seems to be paying off is our approach to Banks - we have one about to send us business and have another waiting in the wings but I can't help thinking I am missing something.

I have just been analysing keywords on an SEO prgram that I have and it seems that no-one searches the main search engines for things like "small business problems" "debt problems" and so on - so my chances of getting the message out on the Net seem slim.

I know that there are a lot of firms out there in serious trouble and I know I can help them and probably save their businesses.

Does anyone have any ideas?


Chris

[Snippa]

Chris,

It sounds like your business is wonderful and the things you would do to help a business are wonderful. Getting the word out is one of the hardest things to do.

Whether you have money to spend on marketing your business or not, it's a hard task. You should consider social media sites, blog posts, and article marketing.

Good luck!

[telemax]

It's unlikely people are going to open up to someone that their business is in financial trouble on a cold call. However I think you need to get networking. Every local area has groups such as BNI or 4networking. This method does take a while as you need to get to know people. I've found it very effective for my business.

Jonathan

[think77]

When a company is struggling, they can't usually afford office furniture and exrtra storage space for overflowing documents. I know, this happened to me when I needed to downsize and change to smaller premises. I was able to get second hand furniture in great condition from an office furniture dealer and a place to keep the large overflow of surplus records I had to store from an archiving provider. I could recommend these types of places for finding people like me with a cash flow problem to solve,

[Chris Ashdown]

Sounds strange that you want to help companies in trouble, but don have te knowledge to be able to find or contact them

Few companies can be rescued just with money they mostly also need management help, who would know the answers to your question

Sorry to be a bit negative

[Tej]

Perhaps the small companies and their owners dont want to jump from the frying pan.......

( remember the old song... "St Peter don't you call me cos I can't go.... I owe my soul to the Company store"... Tennessee Ernie Ford??? )

:D:D

[Chris@sban]

Thanks for your help.

First - this is not jumping from the frying pan - it's exactly the opposite.

Second we don't lend or suggest that people borrow money. That's probably part of their problem.

Instead, as one of my posters has said, my process is about reorganising management of the business. I use a number of techniques designed to find out what has gone wrong and then to put it right. The best thing is that I can often get the creditors to contribute to my fee by significantly reducing what they demand.

My proposition is simple cost effective and in the end benefits both the business owner and his/her creditors by allowing the business to continue but profitably.

In short it is a bloody good idea!

I am trying networking but this is a slow burner. I need to make a more immediate impact, hence my post.

[telemax]

It may well be that the only way to build your business is on a "slow burner" I'm guessing you are in it for the long run. As a matter of interest what have you been saying on your cold calls?

Jonathan

[admagic]

Thanks for your help.

First - this is not jumping from the frying pan - it's exactly the opposite.

Second we don't lend or suggest that people borrow money. That's probably part of their problem.

Instead, as one of my posters has said, my process is about reorganising management of the business. I use a number of techniques designed to find out what has gone wrong and then to put it right. The best thing is that I can often get the creditors to contribute to my fee by significantly reducing what they demand.

My proposition is simple cost effective and in the end benefits both the business owner and his/her creditors by allowing the business to continue but profitably.

In short it is a bloody good idea!

I am trying networking but this is a slow burner. I need to make a more immediate impact, hence my post.

There are signs to look for...

Companies with judgements against them that did not have them before

Companies asking how to make staff redundant.

Many may send unsolicited proposals to sources of venture capital.
in the US the culture of pawnbroking is large, dont know about here.

I suspect there are data protection and privacy issues for banks and similar organisations from divulging what they know.

I posted a survey on UKBF a year ago asking what people percieved were their problems - almost none mentioned debt relief or asdditional finance - it was an overwhelming vote for more sales, and you can see why: two things happen as an economy slows, which are less margin and less sales, and so it would not be surprising if the affected companies are actively looking to find ways to increase sales - and see the other financial problems as a byproduct not cause

[Chris@sban]

Jonathan

Yes I am certainly in it for the long haul but I have spent time and money getting this far and I need to get some back in quickly. Hence my post.

The cold calling was very low key - we didn't think we could do it any other way. Out of about 50 direct visits over a period, we got 2 potential clients neither of whom we converted. I need two new clients a month for this product and I need them now.

I am hoping that some of those reading this post may need help and will contact me but I really need to beef up my act

Chris

[Chris@sban]

admagic

Nice and positive thanks but where do I get the list of CCJ's list of proposed redunandcies? The Data Protection industry seems to want to keep these things away from me!

Chris

[telemax]

Jonathan

Yes I am certainly in it for the long haul but I have spent time and money getting this far and I need to get some back in quickly. Hence my post.

The cold calling was very low key - we didn't think we could do it any other way. Out of about 50 direct visits over a period, we got 2 potential clients neither of whom we converted. I need two new clients a month for this product and I need them now.

I am hoping that some of those reading this post may need help and will contact me but I really need to beef up my act

Chris

Ok, so 1000 cold calls via telephone might equal 40 potential clients. Even if your close rate was only 1 in 4 that would be 10 customers. Unfortunately it's a numbers game, you've not done enough calling yet.

[Chris@sban]

Telemax

I think I thought you would say that but that's a real positive. I get free calls perhaps I should be using them.


Thank you for your positive reaction

Chris

Hey and if you hear of anyone in trouble I have a really good solution for them. Have a good day!!

[telemax]

Be disciplined, if you can make 1k calls in a month, you'll get a much better idea of if it's working

[Tej]

Jonathan

Yes I am certainly in it for the long haul but I have spent time and money getting this far and I need to get some back in quickly. Hence my post.

The cold calling was very low key - we didn't think we could do it any other way. Out of about 50 direct visits over a period, we got 2 potential clients neither of whom we converted. I need two new clients a month for this product and I need them now.

I am hoping that some of those reading this post may need help and will contact me but I really need to beef up my act

Chris

Glad you are getting positive responses.

However... if you cannot sort your own company out as regards sales etc... and getting money in....( as Admagic quite rightly points out)... what chance do you have of sorting your potential clients out?

you say... "The best thing is that I can often get the creditors to contribute to my fee by significantly reducing what they demand".

How often is often?... you have no clients thus far from the looks of it..

I am guessing that you would expect that the companies ( your potential clients).. would have to "contribute" up front for your help..to start with... as you say you need at least 2 clients per month to recoup money that you have invested so far....doesn't sound too good a deal if they are already in financial problems.

just my 2 cents

[David White]

I work with one of the members on here and we teamed up to offer a decent priced advertising spaces which might be a good option for you: http://www.advertiserbay.com/products/B2B_BANNER_ADVERTISING_SYOB_CO_UK-70-0.html.

PM me if you need any further info.

[GreenLaser]

HERE has a huge amount of comapanies , and buisness people normally knows lots of other buisness people ...Im new here but it strikes me paying to have your link on your sig here or buying a banner ad here will bring you something over the year

Long term it sounds like a hard product to sell and word of mouth is going to be the key ...but getting those initial clients is as always going to be tough

[David White]

100% agree with Gordon here, less than £40 per year and if you post on here and help others you will get others returning the favor.

HERE has a huge amount of comapanies , and buisness people normally knows lots of other buisness people ...Im new here but it strikes me paying to have your link on your sig here or buying a banner ad here will bring you something over the year

Long term it sounds like a hard product to sell and word of mouth is going to be the key ...but getting those initial clients is as always going to be tough

[Chris@sban]

Continuing thanks Guys. Your contributions are noted adn appreciated.

Jonathan.

I am getting business it's just not the qulaity I need.

So far as creditors are concerned the whole thing depends on the level of indebtedness, the number of creditors and a series of other factors. My service isn't cheap but as it benefits both the debtor and the creditors to a very large extent it justifies itself.

I hear your other criticisms but am not sure they are merited. Can you explain more?

Chris

[Chris@sban]

Jonathan

To explain a little more you said

"However... if you cannot sort your own company out as regards sales etc... and getting money in....( as Admagic quite rightly points out)... what chance do you have of sorting your potential clients out?"

I have no problem getting money in, my sales in other ares are OK. It is this specific area that I want to attract. My banking contacts are about to come on stream but I don't want to be dependent on one source of referrals and I feel I can do a better job if I can get to those ijn trouble before that trouble is recognised by the banks.

So far as payment for my services is concerned, I make taht as easy and acceptable as I can. We can freeze debt payments whilst negotiations are ongoing and can ease the debtors short term cashlfow problems just by getting involved. We expect to produce results rapidly and so the short term benefit is not just deferring the inevitable.

I hope that that explains the proposition a little clearer.

Chris

[telemax]

HERE has a huge amount of comapanies , and buisness people normally knows lots of other buisness people ...Im new here but it strikes me paying to have your link on your sig here or buying a banner ad here will bring you something over the year

Long term it sounds like a hard product to sell and word of mouth is going to be the key ...but getting those initial clients is as always going to be tough

Start giving posters on this forum good advice who need it. Don't expect anything back and who knows, it might even land you a few customers.

Jonathan

[Be Known PR]

Hi Chris,

I have been reading through the thread and there is some good advice in there. One area that doesn't seem to have been considered is ways of getting clients to come to you.

I would suggest looking at getting yourself in to the Money and Business pages of the national and regional media.

Maybe try to get success story case studies in to the press (if you have any existing clients that would be happy to do so). The Telegraph Business Club is good at running these in a positive light so that your client's business gets some good publicity for what they do and you demonstrate you ability to potential new clients who can seee that you can change their business around.

Maybe also look to try and get advice articles published on some of the business websites such as Smarta and Fresh Business Thinking as these are sites that business owners to turn to for help and research.

Rather than trying to convince people that they need to sort their problem out, you are likely to get a better level of response if you can make sure you are in the right place to 'speak' to people who have already accepted they need help and are starting to look to see where they can get it from.

PM me if you want any more info.

[Be Known PR]

Maybe also look to try and get advice articles published on some of the business websites such as Smarta and Fresh Business Thinking as these are sites that business owners to turn to for help and research.

I should point out that these are not ideas for carefully worded SEO articles but objective/neutral advice pieces that avoid a hard sell. The sell is you simply positioning yourself as an expert who can help. They are online business magazines rather than marketing article farms.

For example: http://www.freshbusinessthinking.com/business_advice.php?CID=&AID=2311&PGID=&Title=PR+On+A+Budget+%96+Making+Pay+By+Results+Wor k+For+You