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RE: Why do we put up with bad agencies ? Open Day
date posted 25th May 2001 17:43
This has been a most interesting thread. I'm in complete agreement with the
idea of a marketing driven approach to generating work... but an open day
could have other benefits for any of us who can occasionally generate more
work than we can handle :-)
Customers or no, an open day would be useful to me as I could use it as an
opportunity to meet other freelancers whom I might later want to involve in
projects.
--------
On a slightly different tack, IMHO, the way customers make their buying
decisions has a big influence on what kind of business organisations can
exist and why life is hard for freelancers and small companies.
I was taught a very influential idea when I was a consultant for Sybase a
few years back. As it hasn't arisen in this thread I thought I'd float it
and see what you think. It's a principle which drives most of the big
professional consultancies whom I have worked for or with.
The idea was developed in a paper written for the Harvard Business Review
back in the late 1960's. I don't have the reference to hand.
The essence is this. Customers don't buy services to get the "thing" which
we produce. Of course they want the end product. But that fact does not
totally influence their buying decision, nor does cost.
Instead what customers buy is the ability to sleep at night. Ie: You are
selling them the possibility of making their lives easier. You reduce the
risk in their projects. They buy peace of mind.
This is why, despite floating a couple of projects on Smarterwork.com and
other similar sites I either decided to a) do the work myself or b) get a
contractor from an agency. When I'm building a reasonable sized project for
an important customer I'm not interested in finding some unknown quantity in
Russia who can do the job for ?25. I'd rather pay ?2,500 and sleep at night
knowing the job is going to be done properly.
This is why customers prefer to buy from larger companies or agencies...
plus they have someone they can sue!
This is why selling via referral is the main way I sell, and by the way why
I spend a lot of time running training courses... to build up personal
relationships with my trainees and therefore to sell more projects.
.... better shut up now ...!
Happy bank holiday weekend to those that have them (I'm not one as it
happens ;-)
Paul
-----Original Message-----
From: [EMAIL REMOVED]
[EMAIL REMOVED] Behalf Of Peter Ebdon
Sent: 25 May 2001 16:06
To: [EMAIL REMOVED]
Subject: RE: FN-FORUM Why do we put up with bad agencies ?
I live in Reading with offices in Wantage (between Oxford and Newbury).
Conference facilities are available there if it's handy for everyone.
Cheers,
Pete
_________________________________________
P e t e r E b d o n
Professional Software Engineering Ltd
Microsoft Certified Professional
Email : [EMAIL REMOVED]
Tel/Fax : +44(0)118-9835002
Mobile : +44(0)973-178945
Web : www.pseltd.com
-----Original Message-----
From: [EMAIL REMOVED]
[EMAIL REMOVED] Behalf Of Carla Boulton
Sent: 25 May 2001 16:52
To: [EMAIL REMOVED]
Subject: Re: FN-FORUM Why do we put up with bad agencies ?
I know there's a blob of people in the Reading area but if everyone submits
their name and where geographically they are to an e-mail entitled 'Where
are you?' then it will be easier to decide upon a place to meet which is
more-or-less central to all interested parties and which is easily reachable
by train as well as car.
Regards
Carla (coming up for breath after a long head-down day)
--
http://www.naughtymutt.com
01728 621 052
Graphic and Web design
Free quotes, no jargon, customer service
on 25/5/01 2:27 pm, Peter Ebdon at [EMAIL REMOVED] wrote:
>> Freelancers Open Day
>
> Good idea, this. We may be able to attract some marketing people to that
> sort of event too.
>
> I think that those interested in being active members of whatever develops
> should get together to discuss aims and options. I think it would be
better
> to do this pre-drinks because we all know what happens when we meet in the
> pub!
>
> Why don't we hire a conference room for an afternoon somewhere?
>
> Cheers,
>
> Pete
>
> _________________________________________
>
> P e t e r E b d o n
> Professional Software Engineering Ltd
>
> Microsoft Certified Professional
>
> Email : [EMAIL REMOVED]
> Tel/Fax : +44(0)118-9835002
> Mobile : +44(0)973-178945
> Web : www.pseltd.com
>
>
>
>
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http://www.freelancers.net
To post to the Forum:
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