Taking the leap into self-employment - advice needed

gelato_cat

Thanks - was worried I was stating the obvious and would come across as patronising :eek:

Suze

prudryden wrote:

Excellent Suzey!!

EagerLearner

Hi Suzey - no thank you so much for all the advice :beer: - I do have so much on at the mo that it's hard to focus so your post is invaluable! It's true that I need to really target the right market as I have had experience of the one-man-band whose wife does the damin/banking - after all, if Mr EL started his own business, I'd do all the admin & banking !

I think I really have to put my thinking cap on this when I come back in January from Thailand hol - I will make notes in a separate pad and keep all my ideas (and yours he he !) there, and also visit Sussex Enterprise soon.

My main business, I hope, will come from recommendation. From marketing experience, not only is this the strongest form of advertising but also the cheapest as it's free... I will need to make allowances for treating people to lunches and also nice flowers... My current boss wants me for one day a week and the accountant wants me for one day a week (and she works for loads of companies as self-employed - as such has excellent contacts - I'm sure she will like flowers...;) ).

This post will become my bible and of couse as you wisely noted, I haven't written everything down here - not trade secrets, just ideas I have that aren't cemented yet!

Please visit often - apologies if I don't answer immediately, I will as soon as I can:T

clutton_2

Hi EL - this time on hols is a great opportunity to set aside 2 days brain storming time with MR EL - he will be full of ideas - men just are !!!! maybe do it on day 2-3 of the hols and get it out of the way - then relax and fully enjoy. Take your notes with you and notes from MSE and make a business plan - set time targets, take a huge next years diary with you, and put action plans and dates into it - set specific goals - and KEEP them !!!

you will never have a better opportunity for planning than this - AND it is at the right time !! no phones, no work, no shoppping, no nothing !! go for it !!!

bw

clutton

gelato_cat

ello

Glad you found it useful! :j

Do you work in marketing yourself as well (I'm a marketing manager)? I picked up on the comment you made about your marketing experience...

Networking is a good way of making business contacts. With any luck there will be some demand amongst the people in your accountant's address book! What does the accountant use you for? I personally would suggest you try one form of promotion at a time and the networking thing sounds like it could be a goer. The reason I say this is because not having defined your services and your target markets yet, it's impossible to start promoting yourself because you don't know what you're selling or who you are selling to. With the networking you can feel your way and it won't cost you much to experiment. The problem with networking/recommendations, though, is that it can be quite difficult because people often feel that if you are only talking to them because you want something, they can get put off. Also, as with any other market, you need to research to make sure the demand is there.

Have you got anywhere with the agencies yet?

I scan the forums every day and always read the new posts in this thread (been following your LL story too)! I tend not to post unless I feel that I can add something, or need to ask or answer a question which is why I've only just piped up

Please keep us informed on your progress!

Suze

EagerLearner wrote:

Hi Suzey - no thank you so much for all the advice :beer: - I do have so much on at the mo that it's hard to focus so your post is invaluable! It's true that I need to really target the right market as I have had experience of the one-man-band whose wife does the damin/banking - after all, if Mr EL started his own business, I'd do all the admin & banking !

I think I really have to put my thinking cap on this when I come back in January from Thailand hol - I will make notes in a separate pad and keep all my ideas (and yours he he !) there, and also visit Sussex Enterprise soon.

My main business, I hope, will come from recommendation. From marketing experience, not only is this the strongest form of advertising but also the cheapest as it's free... I will need to make allowances for treating people to lunches and also nice flowers... My current boss wants me for one day a week and the accountant wants me for one day a week (and she works for loads of companies as self-employed - as such has excellent contacts - I'm sure she will like flowers...;) ).

This post will become my bible and of couse as you wisely noted, I haven't written everything down here - not trade secrets, just ideas I have that aren't cemented yet!

Please visit often - apologies if I don't answer immediately, I will as soon as I can:T