Slow take up!

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YourProcurement

  • #1
    Hi All,

    Some advice on my business proposition please! I run a business cost-reduction consultancy. We have been running since the end of last year and have helped and made effective savings to a small number of firms, who have been happy with our service. We operate on a no-savings, no-fee service, so our clients do not have any outlay over and above their existing outgoing costs (Important when companies are looking to make savings). I have utilised telesales, adwords and linked-in ads, but the take up rate of the service is much lower than I would have expected and it is proving difficult to find clients.

    As business owners, can you see an issue with the proposition or explain the low take up - Why wouldn't business owners want to see if any of their costs can be reduced?

    Any advice would be appreciated?

    Thanks

    David
     
    fisicx

    fisicx

    Moderator
    Sep 12, 2006
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    www.aerin.co.uk
  • #2
    Quite possible because your website is a bit of a mess.

    Reviews are not permitted for free members but look at your website and try to work out if there is a focus if there is a real call to action. Everything just keeps saying 'click here'. Even you contact form says 'send feedback'.

    Can't say anymore otherwise the thread could get knobbled.
     
    Upvote 0
    T

    telemax

  • #3
    YourProcurement said:
    Hi All,

    Some advice on my business proposition please! I run a business cost-reduction consultancy. We have been running since the end of last year and have helped and made effective savings to a small number of firms, who have been happy with our service. We operate on a no-savings, no-fee service, so our clients do not have any outlay over and above their existing outgoing costs (Important when companies are looking to make savings). I have utilised telesales, adwords and linked-in ads, but the take up rate of the service is much lower than I would have expected and it is proving difficult to find clients.

    As business owners, can you see an issue with the proposition or explain the low take up - Why wouldn't business owners want to see if any of their costs can be reduced?

    Any advice would be appreciated?

    Thanks

    David
    Click to expand...

    We've had several clients in this field. The most successful have been specifics eg a food buying group reducing food costs, selling into restaurants etc. Truly phenomenal interest via telesales!!

    However the world and his wife are doing what you do ie general cost reduction. It's pointless trying telesales for a month then dropping it if nothing comes through. You need to employ someone good and throw at least a year at it.. Also make sure you target the correct size companies to make it worthwhile. ..
     
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    S

    shadesofblue

  • #4
    YourProcurement said:
    As business owners, can you see an issue with the proposition or explain the low take up - Why wouldn't business owners want to see if any of their costs can be reduced?

    Any advice would be appreciated?

    Thanks

    David
    Click to expand...



    I would want my business looked at from top to bottom and if you don't have the relevant experience how do you propose to help say, an engineering company deal with their supplier of materials and negotiate better timed deliveries or cheaper goods whilst at the same time not destroying relationships that have been built up.

    When I look at your website and because of it's generalisation I immediately think you'll get me to switch energy suppliers, card processing companies and printers for my stationery and that's about it.
     
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    fisicx

    fisicx

    Moderator
    Sep 12, 2006
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    www.aerin.co.uk
  • #5
    As already stated, procurement is just one part of the business - it's quite likely that the processes need reviewing or the workflow or retention, training, distribution, marketing and so on.

    BTW, you presentation doesn't load for me.
     
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    KateCB

    KateCB

    Free Member
    May 11, 2006
    2,273
    539
    Barnsley, South Yorkshire
  • #6
    Quite aside from the poor website design, because a business owner doesn't have an idea of what the costs will be if you make them a savings, then this can be off putting - whilst many want to save on costs generally, some HAVE to save on costs in order to stay in business at the moment, and if you save a business £5000 over a year on abc supplies, but then want £2000 for the 'savings' you have made, the small business may not actually have that in their cashflow.....

    Yes, you have 'saved them' that £5k, but it doesn't actually mean that they will have that 'extra' money in the bank......
     
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    T

    the king

    Free Member
    Oct 14, 2009
    123
    28
  • #7
    fisicx said:
    BTW, you presentation doesn't load for me.
    Click to expand...

    You should worry - I get:
    Not Found The requested URL ...
    /costreduction.htm was not found on this server.
    /product.htm was not found on this server.
    /news.htm was not found on this server.
    ​
    although the look 'n' feel of (what there was of) the website I found was perfectly adequate (precisely what you want for a business website) with the exception of:
    bold text that would benefit from professional copywriting or at least chuncked with benefits and as the main focus of the page being widened.
    ​
    ¨
    - but Kate says it all really; no point doubling your profit if you can't pay the bills
    (were woz you guys for Northern Rock?)
     
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    lynxus

    lynxus

    Free Member
    • Business Listing
    Jul 5, 2011
    1,343
    316
    Gloucester, UK
    imsupporting.com
  • #9
    Driving business to a website can be hard.

    One suggestion I would make to at least make you site more appealing to search engines etc is to use some thing like websitegrader.com to help analyse your site and see what can be done to make things better.

    Your site looks like it currently shows 14%

    You need to get this up to at least 90%
     
    Last edited:
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    C

    Craig HelpTrainingCourses

  • #12
    Hi David

    I have a few top tips that have worked for our business. Firstly doing only one form of marketing will not work, you need to come up with a plan and analyse the results on a regular basis to make sure you are getting a return on your investment.

    Have you tried networking and generally building good relationships with businesses in your region?

    I use telesales and I agree with an earlier comment, you need to do intelligent telesales for a long period of time. Keep a diary system and make every future call, chase everything up and again build relationships. Most sales on the telephone will take weeks if not months.

    There are a lot of comments about your website, I would only say that it could be improved a lot however I have seen far worse.

    A great tactic with a local company is to tell them you are local, most people would rather do business with a local company if the service / product was competative with suppliers further away.

    I hope this helps - good luck

    Craig
     
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    fisicx

    fisicx

    Moderator
    Sep 12, 2006
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    www.aerin.co.uk
  • #15
    On the other hand since the OP hasn't been back to the forum since they posted I suspect they either don't care or don't like the advice given
     
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