Finding customers

COMPCAD · 6 Dec 2016, 22:47

I was wondering how would I go about finding customers. I have gone to over 2000 real estate companies.

Dave R · 7 Dec 2016, 10:18

What are you selling? SketchUp modeling services? What are you drawing?

Create an extensive portfolio of excellent work. Develop a very professional website to show off your skills and advertise your services.

If real estate companies are your target customers, how are they going to use what you have to offer? Sell them on the benefits of using your drawings instead of whatever they are using now to get the job done. What would they get by using your services that they don't already get?

Be willing to do some pro bono work for some potential clients. Show them you can get the job done professionally and in a timely fashion.

You need to be using SketchUp Pro so make an investment in your business.

I expect others will have ideas for you, too.

andybot · 7 Dec 2016, 20:00

@compcad said:

I have gone to over 2000 real estate companies.

Just sending out a resume or some kind of ad is a quick way to get ignored. My advice: you need talk with actual people, in person if at all possible. Have some clear idea of what you are offering, like Dave says, and explain it in person.

Andy

imabzeous · 7 Dec 2016, 22:30

Well i made a portfolio on behance and have my work on my tab and mobile too, so anyplace someone wants to see i provide them. if someone ask through a source i ll give them link and fix a meeting. if its a foreigner client i ll talk to them over phone messenger etc and answer to their query about time money project.

also about pro bono umm in my country i wont do it because people abuse it. u ll make a render a 3d model they ll ask no do this and that now, and thats not the point point is to show my skills which i did, so depending upon project if its a big one i ll do a small portion. if its a small one, i ll do but put a huge logo on either center or somewhere that rendered image can't be used. this i do usually here in my country.

pbacot · 7 Dec 2016, 23:59

Study the materials they and other companies are using. Make completed examples. Mock ups with made up projects and companies. I got a few jobs like this, coming into town cold, and the contacts continued to give me referrals and projects over the years. I made one-sheet brochures as they use in their marketing and what I was offering was ability to show potential build-out plans for properties. I visited them in person. Working a small community of design professionals, developers, builders, and realtors helps. You get cross-references and name recognition to build on.

juju · 8 Dec 2016, 06:08

@imabzeous said:

also about pro bono umm in my country i wont do it because people abuse it

Which country are you from? I think it gets abused everywhere, believe me. Also, pro bono work means doing it for free (thus being a deliverable, the client being able to make use of it), putting a watermark on or a logo in a corner is still acceptable IMHO, however doing work for free then putting a huge logo in such a way that it renders the product unusable puts you in a worse position than had you never approached them.

imabzeous · 8 Dec 2016, 06:51

I am from Pakistan. and really this happens everywhere? i thought its us only. and no sir what i meant was that if they want to test my skill on that particular project ok let me do it, but after doing it, i ll put a logo in place where they can't use it and i will also show them the original on my laptop and if they like it, i ll say ok now you know i am capable so kindly pay up so that i can give you this project and do more. and luckily with foreign clients nothing bad ever happened thats why i thought its only in my country.