I know the pain. and I did AltamontCowork the same way "open it and they will come". Three years later...I'm am still getting the word out, and still hoping to bring in enough to break even (hmmm, a bank account with $$ in it is helpful!):
1. Craigslist ad every time you can renew it. 2. The chamber sort of helps....if you are great at face-to-face networking...even better. Go to ALL the mixers...coffee's, evening mixers, dances, socials, trade show,....etc. 3. Join a local BNI chapter (it is expensive, but, they help other members find business). 4. Offer your one member an incentive to bring in others :-) 5. Facebook (your personal page PLUS your business page) 6. Google +, Twitter, LinkedIn, etc etc and keep at it. 7. Blog about coworking and put links to that blog on everything in 5 and 6. 8. Talk to your local chamber....I have done that a few times. 9. TIME.....in a normal economy (at least out here in depressed land) it takes TWO years for people to get to know you, trust you, etc. I am at three years, but, I have long-time Tracy resident status which is helping (since 1985). 10. Put a magnetic sign on your car and go get Starbucks! Then leave your cards on the table...ooops. :-) 11. The BEST thing I ever did was talk to the building owner to let me put a sign (actually two on the corner of the building). I have gotten over the years 8 or 9 members from those $50 signs. (Our town made us take down the A frame signs....arrrghhh...) 12. We did this too: On a quarter, we put a small label on one side with our info on it...then dropped the quarters around town. Similar with pens....just drop them everywhere.... 13. I did TweetUps, DonutUP's, Pizza on the Patios...truthfully....all those did was cost me money when people only showed up for free food. But your town might be different... Mike On Fri, Apr 13, 2012 at 9:25 AM, Franki Lindstrom <[email protected]>wrote: > Thanks so much! We own the building and thought this would be a great > opportunity to use it. I will be getting in touch with all your > recommendations! > > > On Fri, Apr 13, 2012 at 12:12 PM, Alex Hillman < > [email protected]> wrote: > >> I don't need to chime in when you beat me to it, Joshua :) >> >> All good stuff in here already, just a few additional reminders to make >> the most of Joshua's great advice: >> >> The goal here isn't to get any members butts in seats, but to focus on a >> group of ~10 people who are attracted to each other and can use your space >> as a clubhouse. They'll become the main attraction moving forward (as >> opposed to the space itself). >> >> As Joshua suggests, you can jump-start this process by finding clubs (or >> other groups) who need a clubhouse. >> >> Also important is to realize that once you find this group, you may have >> to change your business model to make more sense. You've got a bunch of >> options on your website for membership, you might benefit from simplifying. >> Giving people too many options confuses them into making zero >> choices<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Paradox_of_Choice:_Why_More_Is_Less> >> . >> >> Remember, though, that it's not necessarily the first 10 people you can >> convince to walk in the door, but their interest in *each other* instead >> of the office itself that changes the game you're playing. >> >> -Alex >> >> >> -- >> /ah >> indyhall.org >> coworking in philadelphia >> >> On Friday, April 13, 2012 at 11:55 AM, Joshua Marpet wrote: >> >> Alex Hillman will probably chime in that you did it backwards. And >> he's probably right. I mean, hell, like I know what I'm talking about? :) >> >> Alex has written some great stuff, and his premise was basically, "Get a >> group together who want to be part of the community you want to build." >> Then build the community and space to encompass them. >> >> I bastardized it. Don't kill me, Alex. :) >> >> ok, enough recrimination. Let's talk positively. >> >> You have a space, with awesome stuff. No members. Now what? >> >> Have you located the local Linux Users Group? >> >> OWASP? >> ISSA >> ISACA? >> Chamber of Commerce? >> Rotary Club >> etc. >> >> Invite them to meet inyour space. Hey, free coffee!!! >> >> Free meeting space. >> >> Network the hell out of those meetings. >> >> After one or two, go and tell them, "Hey, your group should meet this >> other group. Similar people, differing aims, but wow, I think you all will >> get along. How about I set up a mixer, meet your counterpart type of >> event? Free coffee!!!" >> >> Infragard >> ECTF >> Federal Law Enforcement Officers Association >> Certified Fraud Examiners >> Society of Professional Investigators >> Do a meetup for freelancers >> >> Sorry for rambling, this is off the cuff. >> >> Hope this helps. >> >> Oh!!! Anybody live in the local starbucks/mickeyD's, etc? As in work >> live, not homeless living. Walk in, hand them a coupon for a free day >> pass. Free Coffee!!! >> >> >> >> On Fri, Apr 13, 2012 at 10:24 AM, Franki7225 <[email protected]>wrote: >> >> We opened 7225CoWorking in North Canton, Ohio in January. We have a >> beautiful open space, cool whiteboard furniture, and 1 member. Being >> the first space to open in our county,people just don't seem to be >> "getting" it. We need suggestions,please! We have advertised in the >> local paper and mailed out a hundred free day passes. We have the >> space, the coffee, the wi-fi... Now we need members! Our website is >> www.7225coworking.com Thanks so much for your comments. >> >> -- >> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups >> "Coworking" group. >> To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. >> To unsubscribe from this group, send email to >> [email protected]. >> For more options, visit this group at >> http://groups.google.com/group/coworking?hl=en. >> >> >> -- >> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups >> "Coworking" group. >> To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. >> To unsubscribe from this group, send email to >> [email protected]. >> For more options, visit this group at >> http://groups.google.com/group/coworking?hl=en. >> >> >> -- >> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups >> "Coworking" group. >> To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. >> To unsubscribe from this group, send email to >> [email protected]. >> For more options, visit this group at >> http://groups.google.com/group/coworking?hl=en. >> > > -- > You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups > "Coworking" group. > To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. > To unsubscribe from this group, send email to > [email protected]. > For more options, visit this group at > http://groups.google.com/group/coworking?hl=en. > -- Mike Pihlman AltamontCowork / ForCarol.com, Inc. 95 W. 11th Street, Suite 203 Tracy, CA 95376 Phone: 209-757-8862 Web: http://AltamontCowork.com <http://altamontcowork.com/> Twitter: @AltamontCowork Facebook: http://Facebook.com/AltamontCowork<http://facebook.com/AltamontCowork> Drive Safe! Never Forget http://ForCarol.com <http://forcarol.com/> -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Coworking" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected]. For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/coworking?hl=en.
