Could really do with moaning with someone who understands!

[MarionCole]

I'm having a real crisis of confidence at the moment.

Set up a new business back in early September. I just seem to be constantly marketing and not getting any work in and I'm wondering whether I'm really cut out for working for myself.

I'm getting lots of positive feedback, there's a few potential clients in the pipeline but nothing is converting. There's only so many times you can chase someone.

I know I've only been going for 2 months and I can't expect wonders. It would just be nice to feel as though I was starting to bring some money in.

I understand! It is a tough time at the moment and everyone is finding it hard. What sort of business are you in?

Accountancy, I do ad hoc projects for people like business plans. I do wonder whether I've just picked the worst possible time to start on my own. That said, I am marketing myself as a cheap alternative to the bigger firms!

You are possibly doing it at the best time! People like me, for example, all need accountants. We have someone at the moment and I don't quite gel with him. I'd really like to find someone who just does but don't really have time to look around.

Are you going to networking events? Advertised in those local freebie magazines? Are you tweeting and facebooking to engage with local businesses? There is quite a network of small businesses where I live and we all "met" through twitter.

Don't be put off. If you are just 2 months in it is still ear;y days.

Yes keep on at it, two months in nothing, market yourself tioll your legs drop off. Have you done a fun style mailer to caputure attention? Something like a mini abacus, times tables business card etc you get my drift? Make you stand out from the crowd? Attended networking events in your area? gor your local paper to do an article on you, local business women angle? Twitter and Facebool smarta.com has a brilliant section on using them for business. You will have the first client converted before you know it!

Oh and linkedin too!

www.aliexpress.com/wholesale/wholesale-mini-abacus-keyring.html

these are cute!

Can you link up with someone like a freelance HR consultant to offer services together? A lot of my work comes through those sorts of contacts.

Have you done any guest blogging on issues relevant to SMEs? One of the accountants I know does this really well, and offers people like me the opportunity to go on their blog too and talk about things that I do.

I use twitter to find media opps - just type in #journorequests to find them.

Can you get some short term or part time contract with a local co to keep you going while you build things up?

Some useful ideas here, thanks. I am doing a lot of marketing, sending flyers out, Twitter, LinkedIn etc. I need to do more networking events but I find them very soul destroying. I'm trying to link in with some local firms for sub-contract work but again, I'm putting a lot of effort in and I don't feel like I'm getting anything back. It costs so much too - I was shocked to discover the price of a second class stamp! Need to get into emailing my direct mailings rather than posting.

Sorry to hear it is taking a while to kick off, sounds like you are doing what you can.

You might already know but www.mailchimp.com is a free html email package. It is fairly easy to use. Guess you can focus on the forthcoming end of Jan self-assestment deadline and 31 March year end etc as the message/call to action. Maybe buy a list of local medium sized businesses?

They don't pay well, but have you looked at www.peopleperhour.com there are lots of accounting type 'projects/jobs' on there. In lulls I like bidding as it feels like I am "doing something".

2 months isn't long, although I am sure it feels like it. Have you given yourself a "deadline". I did when I started. If I hadn't made any money by 6 months I was going to consider job hunting. It took the pressure off a little.

What is about networking that you like the least? Is their something you can do to make it feel any better? Buddy up with somebody, or go to something like BNI, where it is very structured.

I don't enjoy the 60 sec pitches, I found this a useful guide - business-efficiency.theefficiencycoach.co.uk/index.php/featured-posts/business-efficiency/5-classic-mistakes-people-make-with-their-60-second-pitch/

HTH
WS

watersign - does pph work for you? I've just signed up, thought it couldn't hurt - but WOW some of those budgets are low.

ALL of my work is recommendation
I do not advertise at all, not even a business card, and all my internet postings are under this ID rather than my real name.
BUT - this is the worst I have every known it in 13 years for converting initial contacts into cleared cheques.
Hang on in there.

JJ - I've won a few small jobs on it, but most of my work comes from elsewhere.

Not sure you could make a living from it, but depends on your circumstances and what you need to earn. Odesk and elance pay even less! You need to keep an eye for the reasonable sounding projects that you have a chance of winning.

My tips on bidding for what it is worth - www.mumsnet.com/Talk/freelancers/1326332-peopleperhour-com-anyone-use-this-Help-me-with-my-first-bid-pls

Sorry for the hijack OP.

I agree with talkinpeace, almost all my work (different field..) comes through recommendation and connection.

I wouldn't put too much investment in mass mailings, giveaways and 'networking events' (where everyone is selling and no one is buying). I would put all your efforts into real networking (school gate, people you know, people you've ever worked with or for, friends and familiy etc..) and try to get some work which hopefully will lead to some more work etc...

Twitter, linked-in, blogging, website etc..are all good to do, but are unlikely to get you work directly. What they will do is to back up word-of-mouth, so that if someone recommends you to someone else, or you meet someone at a party or whatever and then they look you up, they find you really are well trusted and recommended, smart and qualified etc...

This might sound calculating, but you could consider volunteering to be a trustee/treasurer for a local charity. See if you can find one that you would like to support, that is entrepreneurial and high profile, that has good networks with local businesses etc..and that you would be happy donating that amount of your time to anyway . It would be another opportunity to get your accountancy skills demonstrated to an influential network of connected people.

Stick with it!

Thanks watersign! I'm using the top-up method and being super choosy.

Good luck MarionCole - it's a difficult time for a lot of people, don't give up yet. Go for it full scale after Christmas maybe... I know that I'm planning to panic about taxes then instead of before Christmas.

Thanks for all your comments.

watersign thanks for the link to Mail Chimp, I have been wondering about how to send out newsletters in a professional way so I will definitely have a look into that. PPH scares me, the amount people are prepared to pay is terrifyingly low. It's probably worth keeping an eye on it (beggars can't be choosers etc) though.

Talkinpeace that's very interesting to know. I am quite optimistic about the referrals I am getting, it's just the conversion that's proving difficult. It's quite nice to know that it's perhaps the market rather than something I am (or am not) doing. Perhaps I'm well placed for when the market does pick up.

I am quite good at the informal networking, keeping up to date with people I have worked with in the past etc and I am getting a lot of positive feedback. A lot of people have told me that there is a lack of approachable accountants that people (particularly women) can relate to and I can see there is a gap there. I am being very helpful to anyone who comes to me with a quick 2 minute question that they don't want to go to their accountant with. Hopefully this will reap rewards in due course!

I have given myself a target which I think should be achievable - I was to generate £6,000 of income within 12 months, so £500 per month. I'm at £459 so far after 2 months and I have £300 that will be billable in January. If all the potential leads on the table convert though I will have about another £2,000 billable over the next couple of months, so that looks more positive. It's just getting it converted!!

On a proactive note, must dash now as I am meeting a former colleague for lunch...

Have you tried approaching small/medium accountancy firms and offered your services to them too? I'm sure they'll be glad of an extra pair of hands when times are busy. I know my accountant uses a few part-time/occasional accountants to help out.

I have tried that chelseamorning, I have one pending meeting with one firm but they keep postponing it. I think there might be a problem with me potentially competing with other accountants and they'll be worried about me nicking clients.

I think I should be looking for a part-time job, but it's a rural area and there aren't that many suitable jobs.

On the plus side, all this spare time means I'm doing a wonderful job organising the school Christmas Fair for the PTA!

Can you call local businesses? We moved accountants this way. Right timing and we just needed the kick up the bottom to change.