Thread: Marketing & Sales?

Yes, Zahid and I are not really talking about monetizing the site. I just think that a forum for AB readers to share their concerns about marketing and sales is a valuable addition to the site, and I'd be willing to monitor it and make sure it stays civil, spam free, and relevant.

Re: Abbreviated Business Plan

"not on the same page". I don't want a share of your Google ad fees (I wish you could see my face contort
at the thought of sharing $100 ad budget).

We're having a form of a newlywed's first spat. I am pushing you for, or to contemplate, an abbreviated
business plan (1 paragraph) for AB and a mission statement revision authorizing more aggressive
commercial operation in light of CPASS's proposal. In effect, you are El Capitan of HMS A.B.

Joint Ventures without formal partnership are oft described as a rascal of entity status, remarking on how business
formation without technical partnership's obligation is possible, and daring. I propose we attempt to solidify
commercial activities with AB in Joint Venture form (no formal contracts). Assisting students with homework questions is a
noble endeavor, though small business start-ups and QB services feed the mods and admin.

Hence my point, Helse suggests a revision to AB's mission statement. Attract small business operators and fledgling
accountants, jettison pimply-face Community College students with homework questions.

Business Plans are not written, they are rewritten" (quote from: Rutter's CA Civil Procedure Before Trial)

More money is always better than less money.

For the record I like students with homework questions. You know, after a few years a whole bunch of them are going to graduate and become prospects. If we offer them a welcoming professional community odds are they'll stick around. I'm all about cultivating relationships, and that's how I market. I play the long game.

The key is making sure when the kids grow up they don't outgrow the site. The site definitely needs to stress mature content for seasoned CPA's (like marketing )or all we're cultivating is visitors for somebody else's community when the student visitors become buyers.

CPASS crossed a line into business strategy. Eureka.

"after a few years a whole bunch of them are going to graduate and become
prospects"

&

"The site definitely needs to stress mature content for seasoned CPA's (like marketing) or
all we're cultivating is visitors for somebody else's community when the student visitors
become buyers"

I could not have expressed that observation more efficiently. Serious accounting is dirty
and often violent (auditing arguments, tax enforcement, FICA Tax enforcement, grand jury
indictments, etc.).

I am at a presuggestion point, awaiting a confluence of opinion. CPASS' observation may be our
impetus. Explain noncommercial activities theory, is AB a nonprofit corporation? Stipulate
for a moment CPASS is accepted into AB's fold. We are 4 accountants discussing
formation of a loose "Joint Venture" to: market, sell, administer and operate an efirm
with an eye to sales of services in ?2010?, ?2011?.

Effectuating the commercial act requires contemplation. What are AB's limits? Why restrict CPASS?

Did the marketing section of the forum ever take off? I just looked again, and I don't see it. Just wondering what happened...

I'm not sure where you got the idea that I don't know business strategy. Sure I talk a lot about marketing, but I'm also an entrepreneur. You don't get where we are without taking advantage of sound strategic planning.

Unfortunately the "Marketing" forum died a horrible death. I offered to moderate it and would have been willing to cultivate it, but the admin turned it over to someone else. The guy wrote one really long, unreadable, god-awful spammy post and that was that. It's been deleted now.

For the record I'd still be willing to to do it properly.

Originally Posted by CPA Site Solutions

I'm not sure where you got the idea that I don't know business strategy. .

Not sure what you mean about this. Was it pointed at me? I didn't question your business strategy...

I think the whole thread is pointed towards me; the admin who turned things over to someone else instead of the person who came up with the idea of the forum in the first place.

As far as marketing forum goes, it didn't really need a moderator since there was nothing to moderate. It needed a cultivator and no one else could do a better job than CPA Site Solutions. Unfortunately things got to a bumpy start and it didn't take off.

If you are still willing to take charge of it then it is all yours, let me know.