Re:Ask HN: Looking to Set Up a Digital Agency (Python/Financ...
by brudgers on Monday November 09, 2020 @10:25AM
(#25035684)
I'm wondering if anyone has ideas on how to market such a service in the early days and attract the first clients.
Stop wasting time on HN and start contacting potential clients personally and directly.
I think I have the right background (finance & dev work) but no existing client relationships.
That's not the right background. Relationships are number one. Skill, knowledge, and ability are nice to have but can be outsourced. Indeed, they probably will need to be from time to time because a consultant's job is to solve the client's problems. It is not to use their skills.
Overall, it is best to assume that the market you want to enter is adequately served already (that's what the theory of free-markets predicts at least).
I think to start with it makes sense to focus on a niche (hence python, finance, data science) rather than offering full stack development.
This is irrational. You have no clients. The bigger the market the more likely you will find clients because there are more potential clients and they are easier to identify. Boutique firms serving niches thrive because they find the niche organically. They find the niche because their clients lead them to it.
Stop wasting time on HN and start contacting potential clients personally and directly.
I think I have the right background (finance & dev work) but no existing client relationships.
That's not the right background. Relationships are number one. Skill, knowledge, and ability are nice to have but can be outsourced. Indeed, they probably will need to be from time to time because a consultant's job is to solve the client's problems. It is not to use their skills.
Overall, it is best to assume that the market you want to enter is adequately served already (that's what the theory of free-markets predicts at least).
I think to start with it makes sense to focus on a niche (hence python, finance, data science) rather than offering full stack development.
This is irrational. You have no clients. The bigger the market the more likely you will find clients because there are more potential clients and they are easier to identify. Boutique firms serving niches thrive because they find the niche organically. They find the niche because their clients lead them to it.
Good luck.