/biz/, is the telephone the most powerful tool for getting started in business? With the advent of technology in the 21st century, we have an infinite number of ways with connecting to other people with the MAGIC of the internet.
However, the phone still holds a special place for connecting people. I am looking to start my own business but have been at a loss lately as to what I could even do, or how to help people. Conventional "internet wisdom" would direct budding entrepreneurs to make a shitty information product like an eBook or Website, then spam the shit out of it until it turns a profit. However, I seriously doubt if that has any potential to either make a serious profit or legitimately fill any need.
Upon further investigation I have discovered a product development strategy that involves starting a business with zero capital. Use of a phone is the key factor for success. That strategy is:
1. Pick an industry and compile a list of contacts
2. Call contacts and ask about their business, figuring out what their biggest problems and challenges are.
3. Develop a solution that solves their biggest problems and challenges, especially one that saves them time/money
4. Pre-sell that solution by offering a discount to early adopters
5. Use pre-sale revenue to fund development
6. Use the leftover profits after development to market your new product and develop improvements
7. Congratulations, you have a new business
Discuss /biz/, has anyone had success doing this before? I actually tried this approach with an industry I've worked in before (K-12 education) and got a couple of contacts on the phone. Most interestingly is that I made it to stage 4, but wasn't able to pre-sell because there is too much fucking red tape in school district purchasing to make it viable. So, I am now looking at other industries. I'd like to know what industries you think this model could be successful in.