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Ask HN: Side projects to generate leads for mobile app projects?

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Ask HN: Side projects to generate leads for mobile app projects?

#1

Post by npankaj »

I run a mobile app agency, sales is always challenging. It's difficult to get leads about projects. People suggested that I try paid lead services - I didn't and it is actually 0% effective.

I have come to realize that cold emailing doesn't work. Also the work that our agency has got till now has all been through client references and from personal network. I do keep tapping these for leads but they are not very frequent.

I came across few strategies where the agency works on few side projects which can generate leads. A good example is by crew.co - they've create two such side projects:

1. How Much To Make An App - http://howmuchtomakeanapp.com/ 2. How to Build an Online Business - https://crew.co/how-to-build-an-online-business/

I am leaning to spend time building such a project. Could anyone recommend any similar ideas for such side projects?

Thanks!

Re: Ask HN: Side projects to generate leads for mobile app projects?

#3

Post by dang »

npankaj wrote: post #2

Why doesn't anyone comment on my posts :(

Your previous two submissions probably weren't interesting enough—they read more like requests for favors. People come to HN to gratify their intellectual curiosity (https://news.ycombinator.com/newsguidelines.html), so you need to offer them something in that spirit. This one does a much better job of that!

Re: Ask HN: Side projects to generate leads for mobile app projects?

#4

Post by brudgers »

Sales is challenging for every business. If all your work has come through client references and personal networks, talking with clients and references is likely to be a fruitful path to more work.

Well established and known consultants may occasionally get work solely off their internet presence. But mostly their websites support their other marketing channels: their websites provide more information to potential clients that have heard of the consultant by other means (not via Google SEO'd search).

Good luck.

Re: Ask HN: Side projects to generate leads for mobile app projects?

#5

Post by npankaj »

dang wrote: post #3
npankaj wrote: post #2

Why doesn't anyone comment on my posts :(

Your previous two submissions probably weren't interesting enough—they read more like requests for favors. People come to HN to gratify their intellectual curiosity ( https://news.ycombinator.com/newsguidelines.html ), so you need to offer them something in that spirit. This one does a much better job of that!

Thanks dang for commenting. I would like to see my past contributions - is there a way to see them? I can't seem to find that option.

Re: Ask HN: Side projects to generate leads for mobile app projects?

#6

Post by npankaj »

brudgers wrote: post #4

Sales is challenging for every business. If all your work has come through client references and personal networks, talking with clients and references is likely to be a fruitful path to more work. Well established and known consultants may occasionally get work solely off their internet presence. But mostly their websites support their other marketing channels: their websites provide more information to potential cl…

Thanks for replying.

> If all your work has come through client references and > personal networks, talking with clients and references is > likely to be a fruitful path to more work.

I do that already. I talk to my past clients frequently - I do believe that they would recommend me whenever they get an opportunity - they've done so in the past. But it looks like I'm facing a dry spell right now for about last 2 months - which is a really long time for me. I think I'm wasting my time :-/

That is why I think building side projects which generate leads for me can be productive. Do you have any creative ideas for my side projects? I can build mobile apps and web apps.

Re: Ask HN: Side projects to generate leads for mobile app projects?

#7

Post by dang »

npankaj wrote: post #5
dang wrote: post #3

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Your previous two submissions probably weren't interesting enough—they read more like requests for favors. People come to HN to gratify their intellectual curiosity ( https://news.ycombinator.com/newsguidelines.html ), so you need to offer them something in that spirit. This one does a much better job of that!

Thanks dang for commenting. I would like to see my past contributions - is there a way to see them? I can't seem to find that option.

See the links at the bottom of your profile page: https://news.ycombinator.com/user?id=npankaj.

Re: Ask HN: Side projects to generate leads for mobile app projects?

#8

Post by npankaj »

dang wrote: post #7
npankaj wrote: post #5

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Thanks dang for commenting. I would like to see my past contributions - is there a way to see them? I can't seem to find that option.

See the links at the bottom of your profile page: https://news.ycombinator.com/user?id=npankaj .

Thank you, I got it!

Re: Ask HN: Side projects to generate leads for mobile app projects?

#9

Post by brudgers »

npankaj wrote: post #6
brudgers wrote: post #4

Sales is challenging for every business. If all your work has come through client references and personal networks, talking with clients and references is likely to be a fruitful path to more work. Well established and known consultants may occasionally get work solely off their internet presence. But mostly their websites support their other marketing channels: their websites provide more information to potential cl…

Thanks for replying. > If all your work has come through client references and > personal networks, talking with clients and references is > likely to be a fruitful path to more work. I do that already. I talk to my past clients frequently - I do believe that they would recommend me whenever they get an opportunity - they've done so in the past. But it looks like I'm facing a dry spell right now for about last 2 mont…

My advice is to identify potential clients and cold call even though cold calling is harder than doing something less effective. One way I've heard to make dealing with the rejection it entails easier is to measure the number of rejections rather than the number of leads.

In terms of what to build, build something that solves someone else's problem. Essentially, build a product. 'How much does an app cost' websites don't do that because they're focused on solving your problem (getting clients) rather than the clients' problems in their business domains.

To put it another way, build something that shows people that you have the skill and knowledge to solve one of their business problems rather than building something that generates leads.

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