New concepts to boost start-up businesses have many takers

Shah’s services included providing consultation and execution plans for the firm’s social media and online marketing strategy,providing content for the website/blog/SEO Requirements or any other requirement,and giving inputs/suggestions and feedback on online reputation management and online promotion strategies the client’s firm.

“We came up with this mainly as we wanted to increase awareness about online marketing for startups and new business owners. The concept has seen overwhelmingly successful and we have managed to not only get amazing paying clients but also built really good relationships with them. However,we are selective about the firms we work for,” says Shah.

The concept,says Shah,has twin effects. There have been times when the client chose to not pay him at all and there have also been cases when the client was so happy with the service of Shah’s company that he gave him additional paid projects. “If the client is happy,it results into a long-term contact with the company,” he says.

Taking a similar initiative is Nilesh Bhojani,co-founder of the firm Markitty,who conducts a two-hour free counselling session for the start-ups on every Thursdays. In this session,he gives one-on-one advice to the people who have queries such as what channels to use for marketing,how to reach international market,how to improve their website,using social media and so on. “It also helps in networking,” says Bhojani.

Aman Jha,who has been an entrepreneur for over seven years,is the founder of S4Startups. He follows a different mantra to boost new startups. While his consultation comes free of cost,he also works as service aggregator,which means that if the client needs a service for which cost needs to be incurred,like deploying a person,it is at actuals and is incurred by the client; Jha does not charge anything as a fee.

“I tell them in advance that if you are able to make profit then pay me else they don’t need to pay me,” he says. Like Shah,even Jha has restricted this only to a selected few. “This is only for startups not for those who have a big clientele and are dealing in big figures,” he explains.

Apurva Chaturvedi,founder of http://www.litizen.com is one of the budding entrepreneurs who has received a boost from such initiatives. In his case it was the pay-as-you-feel concept.

“Unlike well-established companies,the requirements of the start-ups are different. With limited money to invest,it becomes important to collaborate with the right people and choose the right strategies when you want to expand. With pay-as-you-feel concept,I am getting to test the skills of the other party without paying a stipulated amount,which can be heavy if you go the conventional way,” he says.