By CmsTT on

Hello, again, and Kudos, once again to Dries, and the Drupal team, and Drupal users for making Drupal what it is today. As, I said before, I am considering opening a company (web design) around Drupal's framework. However, I have reached a stumbling block, in the marketing section of my BUsiness planning. The book I am currently reading "Essentials of Entrepreneurship" It stated that it's better to create a narrowly defined niche market, than trying to be everything to everyone. This sounds like good advice. However, I am trying to carry across this idea to Drupal. My thoughts are, for now, because of limited staff and small capital, to market my company as focussing on a specific niche, much like :

http://www.scorpiondesign.com/SWLawyerPortfolio.aspx

I am in the process of finding this niche in my county. I think because of Drupal's structure (tons of modules, to put together if you are doing different projects) it would be better to create an installation profile geared towards my chosen niche, and host it for clients, instead of taking on sites in different subject areas.

For instance, if the niche is Doctor office websites, we can build an install profile with suitable modules, and other things that Doctors may find helpful to them contact info, services, experience etc. (BTW I think this is a very good idea for an installation profile)

What do you all think? Is a niche market, worth it, when doing web design? Or does web design thrive more when you "accept every thing that comes your way" (I think this is a very dangerous practice though)

I am new, to business, and starting a structured web design company, so help form experienced players would be golden. Suggestions, are welcomed

Thanks.

⋅ Categories: Drupal 5.x

Comments

nevets’s picture

nevets commented

While taking on everything that comes you way can be a dangerous practice, focusing on a niche the way you have can be limiting. Instead I take on jobs that fit my skills, resources and interests. Skills is a combination of program skills, html/css, knowledge of drupal and theming as well as a number of other things. If someone requests a web site that involves something I do not know how to do I generally turn them down though there are exceptions. For example if someone wants a multi-site setup, having never done that I will not pursue the oppurtunity. Something that involves interfacing with an existing external API I might persue based on how well documented the API is. If a job requires more resources (time availability for example) than I have available I also turn it down. I also tend to take on jobs that interest me in some way, be it subject matter and/or a particular challange of the task.

In short figure out what you are good at and what you like an persue those possibilites that you feel are a good fit. Generally it will lead to interesting and successful projects.

CmsTT’s picture

CmsTT commented

Thanks for thoughts on the matter. As I am now starting off, I want to s tart off as small as possible, to get expereince in the field, and not finding myself in a case where I bit off more than I can chew. That's why I considered a niche market, for now. And, based on Drupal's multi install, and custom installation profiles, it seemed like a good Idea. But, you brought up a valid point. In choosing a niche market, I have to MAKE sure that market has growth potential (Doctors would soon run out) That sort of thing I w as considering. But, After some brain storming again (my head hurts) maybe interviewing possible customers (via questionnaire) and building a site to cater to their needs, might in fact be a better way to do it. However my pseudo niche would be "small business" BUt, this in itself is to broad. For example, how do you define small businesses? Much headache I am having. I think client needs analysis is in order. In the form of questionnaires, meetings, etc. Though, I think Drupal's Basic install can suit most "small business" needs. thanks for your advice, and suggestion though. Back, to doing market research (quote end quote)

Tmanagement’s picture

Tmanagement commented

It depends what your niche is. Most markets that fit the qualification of being niche are niche because you need specialized skills to deliver what is asked.

With this in mind you first have to figure out if you have to be a niche player and if you can be of importance in that niche. When you do not need specialized skills for the market you choose you might end up competing with the big boys once they see potential in your "niche" market.

Then you have the difference between specializing in a certain submarket or being general. The reason to specialize first in something you are good at is often because of the lack of resources/assets. Google started as "just" the best search engine on the web but currently they are so wellknow and have plenty of assets which will give them the opportunity to broaden their market with for example office application. Suddenly they are competing with microsoft!

So you have to ask yourself first 2 questions:
1) Is there really a niche market or not
2) Are my assets enough to generalize and compete on many markets or need I to specialize

My personal opinnion is that webdesign, webdevelopment, webmarketing can all be viewed as specialization. Taken toghether you will be a fullservice company. I do not see the market as being categorized into market branches such as real estate, health care etc.

Leaving one important business point. You need to have focus!
When you are small and unfamiliar you cannot just say, I can do everything, although you might actually be capable of doing so. Try to practise with your focus to explain in two sentences what your company is doing. When you get big and well know such as microsoft you can generalize your focus because people already know how big and diversified you are.

Succes!