How do you guys get clients? Online or off?

[zacsg]

Hi everyone,

I'm new here, just subscribed.

I'm thinking start a hosting business, a very small one. But it's impossible for me to get clients in the offline world since I have day job. I hate that but no choice for now:( .

So how do you guys get business? Direct from your web site or have to do marketing offline? And what's the ratio?

Thanks a lot.

Zac Hewlett
Webmaster
Working At Home Business - I mean, Internet Business (http://www.working-at-home-business.com)

[Hostings]

For me, some 30% of the clients are old schoolmates. When i provided great service, they introduce their new friends to be, thus more and more people.

For the rest, since i do IRC services as well, there'll be around 1 or 2 per week approaching me for queries, and some 80% normally sign up.

I suppose you mean after-office hours when you say offline. Yes, well, in fact, for me, doing after office hour sales are much more effective. I suppose this is true for providers targetting non-coporate sales. I believe for me, it's much due to

Students : With the current busy schedule of CCA, students often surf only after office hours

Personal websites owners : I suppose they are much like you, having a day job and only have such time for sites after their office hours.

However, since you're planning for a small time business, i suppose you don't have to worry much. If you're dealing with professional full-time freelancer of coporate standard, you'll need more than just office hours everyday. In you case, i'll suggest that you don't spend extra money on advertising yet. Maybe just ask some friends out for coffee, introduce to them. Then, from friends to friend, if the service and quality is real-time, then that'll be how your business will grow from 0 to small.

just my thoughts.

[alien]

Try submitting to search engines too..

[fred]

Big clients from offline, small clients from online.

[Hostings]

To me, bigger clients are online, as their more of coporate, they do all such during office hours. Smaller ones like students/part-time designer are more towards offline, as they either have work/study during the "online" mood.

So far i haven't made any calls. They just confirm via email, and that's that. Putra is funny. Not accepting online clients for the fear of making calls.

[zacsg]

Thanks for all your input. Quite encouraging.

[webline]

the traditional mouth-to-mouth marketing is still the best tool. "word-of-mouth" is your best friend. ;-)