See the growth at AltamontCowork attached....FYI. On Fri, Apr 13, 2012 at 10:09 AM, Mike Pihlman <[email protected]>wrote:
> 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/> > > -- 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.
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