[asterisk-users] Marketing 101

[Chris Bagnall]

> What I was asking is how the traditional telco guys get new
> sales/support/consulting business.  With IT it's usually a combination of
> cold call/networking/word of mouth.  I'm hoping that Telco is the same but I
> never see any telco guys at networking events so I am thinking they cold
> call and advertise targeted at business owners.  I'm not sure though.

I should probably start by saying we're definitely *not* a traditionally telco outfit - our primary business is still IT (and probably will be for many years to come).

Generally, our biggest and best clients have been our existing clients. If you've already got a good selection of IT clients, just keep your ear to the ground when you're talking to them and try and find out whether they're having any issues with their current phone arrangement.

Two of our earliest asterisk installs came about by me overhearing one of the directors negotiating with their analogue PBX supplier about the cost of a new card for their PBX to add another 8 ports to it. He then told the director of the company next door about us (since they were also at capacity on their system) and we went from there.

I think, with only two or three exceptions, all our telephony business has been on the basis of a personal recommendation from an existing client.

Not suggesting there's no value to marketing, but rolling out asterisk to existing clients who know and trust you is a lot more fun than spending your days cold calling for business.

Regards,

Chris
-- 
C.M. Bagnall, Director, Minotaur I.T. Limited
For full contact details visit http://www.minotaur.it/chris.html
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