A little experiment...

[madpilot]

As myself and @alexpooley are known to do, we have been arguing the merits of online vs offline marketing techniques. I reckon that going out and talking to people and doing real life networking trumps online social networking, so we decided to run a little experiment: http://offlinevsonline.com.

The idea is pretty simple: Alex is only allow to use online methods to gain leads, where I can't use the trons at all. We can spend up to $250, we must track the time spent and who ever can get the most leads in the least amount of man-hours over the next month wins!

We are marketing n00bs, so feel free to heckle us along the way, because I'm sure we will make rookie mistakes.

Also, if anyone has any tips that will help me win, feel free to let me know

[Ray]

Gold! My money is on Myles.

[kay]

Haha awesome. My money's on Meftos too.

[Vee]

I'm interested in what the results are in terms of client quality and project (dollar) value between the two techniques.

Curious coincidence - I've just recently received a couple of Sitepoint books that might help each of you - The Principles Of Successful Freelancing and Online Marketing Inside Out.

[Franki]

@alexpooley, without seeing the site, I don't like your chances much as you have more factors to rely upon (ie the site being the sales person that can't overcome objections in realtime), whereas meftos can ply $250 of alcohol and get a coupla drunks to sign the dotted line...

...but you're in with a chance if the site is good. You've got no time for SEO, so spend the $250 on PPC... you may win from lead/time ratio...

[Alvin]

A tidy sum could possibly made by taking odds and betting on the outcome. Not that i would be interested in that sort of thing.

[madpilot]

Originally Posted by Vee

I'm interested in what the results are in terms of client quality and project (dollar) value between the two techniques.

Curious coincidence - I've just recently received a couple of Sitepoint books that might help each of you - The Principles Of Successful Freelancing and Online Marketing Inside Out.

While we won't be publishing actual prices, we'll try to provide some percentages or something so we get an idea of this, as I reckon that is an important metric...

Originally Posted by Franki

@alexpooley, without seeing the site, I don't like your chances much as you have more factors to rely upon (ie the site being the sales person that can't overcome objections in realtime), whereas meftos can ply $250 of alcohol and get a coupla drunks to sign the dotted line...

This is exactly the argument I have. With the short time frames I guess this is actually testing online vs offline networks, and quality vs quantity of links between people...

Should be interesting though.

[tuna]

short term - my money is on offline... go meftos.
Long term - online will win.. (sorry alex)

[alexpooley]

                      INTERNETS FOR YOU
                SPECIAL PRICE THIS WEEK ONLY

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                ||||||||||||||||||||||||||   |  |         Brown Beagle Software
                  ||||||||||||||||||||||     |  |        alex@brownbeagle.com.au
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                                           (_____)

[alexpooley]

... and that's me out of ideas. Anyone got advice?

@franki yep that's what I'm thinking too. I still get to see people IRL though, just the initial engagement has to occur online...