testing the water

Hi,
I am thinking of starting a marketing drop in clinic in Cheddar for small business owners. The idea would be to hold the clinic once a week or fortnightly and provide one to one advise on marketing issues relating to individual businesses. There would be a joining fee for the year which could be paid up front for six months or spread evenly over the same period. The service would include a free Marketing MOT at the start of membership and support through out the membership period. More in depth marketing mentoring would be available for up graded membership or hourly fixed rate. Considering introducing a regular guest such as a web designer, copy writer or journalist, PR expert, Networking group organiser etc. who would be available for assistance and advise in their specialist area.
The clinics I think would have added value if they doubled up as networking events as the clients waited for their one to ones before and after through out the allocated morning.
The advice clients and members could expect to recieve would be creative marketing solutions, where to target and who to target depending on the nature of the business, communication issues with customers, referral advise and issues relating to PR, advertising, copy writing, and social marketing, plus much more.
Do you think that this is a good and attractive idea? would you attend? how could it be improved and how great is the need do you think?
All thoughts shared will be gratefully received. Lastly what would you be prepared to pay for a six month membership?

 

[sstiles]

It might be an idea to host a free or one off taster session first so people get an idea of what you are offering. That could give you a chance to highlight all the reasons they need to take part and you can hint at how you can help address those issues.

Without a track record of your particular offering (even though you may have many years of marketing experience) I would expect a lot of people to be wary of committing to paying without knowing what to expect (of course I'm always prepared to be proved wrong!). Then offer a special price to people who sign up on the night.