Greetings all,
I have been running my web design business now for 6 months and have just cemented a partnership with a company that sells online data backup services. Currently they only offer their software as a download off their website, which includes a 1 month free trial.
I have now produced a CD-ROM version which includes a manual as well as a number of brochures for the product (basically i have made it marketable to the other 90% of the market). I was wondering if anyone here has experience marketing such a product as I have no marketing experience (im only 19 and have completed a software development diploma), and if so, how did you approach companies; by email/fax/mail/door-to-door?
Thanks in advance
"Whenever you do a thing, act as if all the world were watching."
The Webmistress posted this at 07:28 — 1st August 2002.
She has: 5,587 posts
Joined: Feb 2001
I take it that you are talking about offline marketing the CD version of the product rather than with the search engines. The trouble with sending out unsolicited mail in any form is that much of it will be deleted/ignored/thrown straight away, as it will be seem as junk mail. From something I read somewhere you can realistically expect only a 1% success rate with any form of cold-calling/mailing but a lot of this is down to how well you pick your targets and how unique the product is. How much money do you have to put into the marketing?
Julia - if life was meant to be easy Michael Angelo would have painted the floor....
Lukster posted this at 11:17 — 1st August 2002.
They have: 64 posts
Joined: Sep 2001
I dont have a great deal of moola to invest in this, also I sell the product for $30 for the CD+manual and then I make $12 a year from the subscription. Because of this theres no use giving out brochures that cost me around 90c each as I would need a takup of around 15% to actually make any money...
"Whenever you do a thing, act as if all the world were watching."
Online Data Backup? I'd like to see that!
mjames posted this at 21:50 — 3rd August 2002.
They have: 2,064 posts
Joined: Dec 1999
It doesn't make much sense to market it offline -- as odd as it may sound. I would primarily market and advertise it online as it is a product online, it's not like you're selling clothes or something offline.
Marc James - marc@sports-central.org
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The Webmistress posted this at 09:32 — 4th August 2002.
She has: 5,587 posts
Joined: Feb 2001
I have to agree with Marc, that marketing the site online with the search engines & directories would be the way to go and offer either the download online or the actual CD by post.
Julia - if life was meant to be easy Michael Angelo would have painted the floor....
Lukster posted this at 10:03 — 4th August 2002.
They have: 64 posts
Joined: Sep 2001
My main problem is that this product is mainly geared towards the small SME with 1-3 people (small ammounts of data). This includes doctors, dentists, accountants etc that honestly wont go looking for a data backup product unless, A. Their business burns down or B. If the product is shoved under their nose....
"Whenever you do a thing, act as if all the world were watching."
Online Data Backup? I'd like to see that!
The Webmistress posted this at 14:05 — 4th August 2002.
She has: 5,587 posts
Joined: Feb 2001
Then you are going to have to spend time collating business names & addresses and then either cold call them and try and sell it to them over the phone or do a mailshot either by post or email and then follow up with a phone call a few days later. However from what you say about the type of businesses you are aiming this towards you are going to have to be a good salesman to convince them that this is a product they need!!
Julia - if life was meant to be easy Michael Angelo would have painted the floor....