What are some ways that I should approach Data Center Clients with our idea?
We, have a new revolutionary product that is perfect for small and super computing data center environments. The product is mounted on the back of a server rack and has an Automated temperature control system for controlling the cooling within the racks. Here is a quick video http://youtu.be/J3kLZ0bPwpA
I think this is a great energy reduction solution but I need help getting past the front door and into the data center. I've tried cold calling, emailing, etc and now planned to walk-in but most data centers are located in many different states so I have to find an easier way to get my products and solutions in front of decision makers?
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Apr 18, 2014
Putting up a landing page on the web is nice but hard to break through the clutter. Go to where the customers are concentrated. As for "many different states", don't worry about that. Unless you live in a huge rural state like Montana, there are probably hundreds of data centers within an hour's drive of you. Many of them will be branches of the ones you think you want to sell to in other states anyway. If you can get a good foothold locally, your product will establish itself with far more credibility that being just another product on the web.
And please heed the other comments - you will only sell people on the business case, which is presumably reduced HVAC costs. If you have to, give some away in return for enough data to prove your case.
Apr 18, 2014
Hi there,
I think I might have arrived a little late to the party but I wanted to make a few comments about this website you've created.
Well actually, I have a simple question before I give you my comments.
Who made/coded the website?
Apr 18, 2014
Ok, please understand I am not attacking you. I've been 2 hours in a transfer lounge and I have another 2 hours to go before I board my next flight for 14 hours... so I'm a little jet lagged and bouncing on coffee.
Ok? : )
The website, it looks a little basic with a few mistakes. If you don't mind me saying (and again, only trying to help here), have a look at the following steps to make some improvements.
(I'm on my iPad, so I'll break this into smaller answers so I can remember them as I jump back and forth between apps and browsers... I have 2 hours, so I may as well have a quick look at the site. :)
Apr 18, 2014
- The image on the homepage is pixelled. Suggest a better image to be used.
- The nav bar doesn't fit correctly on my 17" Macbook Pro. Suggest changing the CSS.
- I went straight to the home, but already the nav bar is showing I pushed the Video link. Bad coding, suggest correction.
- The actual text on the page is HUGE. Might be seen as shouting almost. Suggest lowering the font size.
Apr 18, 2014
- Some of the images being used throughout the homepage are pixelated also. Suggest better images
- Try to get all images (Team of Partners) to be the same dimensions, looks much better.
- You have emails, phone numbers, addresses... not one with a link. That means I would have to still use my phone manually to call or contact you. Or if I’m on my smartphone, I’d have to mentally remember the correct number whilst I close my browser, open the phone App, and then write the number to call you. Make it easier to be contacted, add the links.
Apr 18, 2014
- The message”Send us your information and we'll contact you within 2 hours... Thank You”
Try not to use the we’ll. And 2 hours? Is that during business hours or Sunday at 2am? Best to say something like end of business.
- That footer is a little big, may want to think about shortening it.
Apr 18, 2014
Hope you can read the replies. Again, I mean no offence at all, just thought you might like a little critique for the website. If you want, I can go through the coding myself and give you a few tips on the SEO, links, etc... just not sure if you want to hear more from me now... hahaha... Anyway, let me know. I still got half a cup of coffee and I'm trapped here until they shout me to board.
: )
Apr 18, 2014
... oh, and I have about 40 minutes left. So if anyone else wants me to have a quick look at their site, shout out. I'm a bit of a perfectionist (as you might have realized) but it's my passion, I love web design, so helping is my kind of thing. : )
Apr 18, 2014
A question for you...What type of marketing platforms have you tried?
TalkFusionDallas
"Helping people communicate better"
Apr 18, 2014
Temi, I will take a look at your website and will give you a call. Thanks for the info and the follow-up.
Apr 18, 2014
I want to Thank you all for your insights and feedback to my question. I have taken into account what you've suggested and believe I have a good plan for going forward. I created this website www.CoolMyRacks.com that I'm going to use to market to data center clients.
Thanks again for taking your time to answer my question.
Mark
Apr 17, 2014
Do some research - who needs your product? What need are you trying to fulfill? What value are you bringing to your desired target market?
Apr 17, 2014
Quantify the value. Cost savings, savings to server life, find a way to quantify it. Otherwise it sounds like a nice idea, but what's a nice idea going to do for me or my operation?
Apr 17, 2014
Will it make the data center providers more money? The first question that comes to my mind is: "Will every rack need your solution (will it fit all racks?) to reduce energy consumption? If you can add value to an individual rack at a time and it's a money maker, top line and bottom line, then it's a great story to tell to the sales teams, executive management team, etc.
Most of the data center providers I know, I've met through networking at organizations, technical events, etc. (Hosting, Latisys, ViaWest, RackSpace, Switch, etc.) and have been very open to follow up meetings with the right messaging.
Apr 17, 2014
Dave O'Neill raises some good, up-front questions to ask (yourself, as you refine your selling proposition, and to ask prospective clients). I suggest taking another step back, depending on what stage of development the product is in. Have you gotten feedback from existing clients of an unmet need in this area? Are current server cooler solutions inadequate? How does your idea address these unmet needs or fill these gaps? Once you have a prototype ready, you might ask some existing clients who you have identified as early adapters to try the product for 1-4 weeks and see if it is doing what it is supposed to do. Ask them to track server performance and energy savings vs. their existing solution, and to provide feedback on product performance after the trial. Tweak your prototype accordingly, based on feedback, and determine some minimum thresholds of energy/cost savings or server performance improvement that your solution must meet to be a viable solution that the data center directors will be interested in learning more about. Good luck.
Apr 17, 2014
In your presentation make them aware that you know what their issue is and once you are sure that they can see you understanding their plight, then present what your product will be to eliminate that.
Apr 17, 2014
Love the idea but features don't make the sale.
I'm an IT veteran of 30+ years and would want to know what the savings are as well as knowing how this improves my uptime/reliability factors.
Does this replace other more expensive forms of cooling? Is this space saving? Does this type of technology make more sense if you are building or refurbing a facility?
Good luck!
Its just a simple point/click style website with some editing to html/css but to answer your question I'm a web developer I just don't do it for money much any more. So, I chose to take a short cut... Why you ask?