Does FSA membership bring in clients? (& other Q's)

[Joel Shapiro]

Hi all

I've been very fortunate that for most of my 4 1/2 years of FMPro
consulting, I've had one sizeable ongoing gig that has kept me with
work. I've also had a number of other smaller projects over the years,
and (again fortunately) have not had to do much work to bring in
clients. Well, things are gonna change soon. Budget cuts, blah blah
blah. So I'm looking into various ways of building up my business, and
am wondering if trying to get an Associate level FSA membership will be
helpful in bringing in new clients. Has it helped you?


Other FSA questions, if you've got the time:
1) What kinds of things would they want as "business marketing
materials"? I'm putting together a website, but don't currently have
any marketing materials, as I've never needed them.

2) If I do become an FSA Associate, will I be able to edit my record in
the FSAWeb_Directory (searchable via filemaker.com) after it's created?
For instance, can I apply before I have a url and then add it later, or
change my phone number?

3) Any other thoughts, recommendations, things I should know or think
about?

Thanks very much

-Joel

[Howard Schlossberg]

Most FSA members feel it is well worth the investment. I get at least a
dozen calls a year -- probably more -- based on my FSA listing. If you
can turn just one of those calls into a paid project, than you will have
more than made back your investment. But FSA membership also provides a
great on-line discussion group where you will have direct access to many
people who will generously provide answers to your questions. It
provides access to a bevy of on-line marketing and technical materials.
And FSA membership always keeps you updated with the latest versions
of FM Developer, FMP, and FM Mobile, plus discounts on any additional
software.

You can always edit your on-line listing at any time. As for materials
that you provide to FMI, think about anything that shows you are
professional in your work and that you are more or less dedicated to
FileMaker.

Joel Shapiro wrote:

> Hi all
>
> I've been very fortunate that for most of my 4 1/2 years of FMPro
> consulting, I've had one sizeable ongoing gig that has kept me with
> work. I've also had a number of other smaller projects over the years,
> and (again fortunately) have not had to do much work to bring in
> clients. Well, things are gonna change soon. Budget cuts, blah blah
> blah. So I'm looking into various ways of building up my business, and
> am wondering if trying to get an Associate level FSA membership will be
> helpful in bringing in new clients. Has it helped you?
>
>
> Other FSA questions, if you've got the time:
> 1) What kinds of things would they want as "business marketing
> materials"? I'm putting together a website, but don't currently have
> any marketing materials, as I've never needed them.
>
> 2) If I do become an FSA Associate, will I be able to edit my record in
> the FSAWeb_Directory (searchable via filemaker.com) after it's created?
> For instance, can I apply before I have a url and then add it later, or
> change my phone number?
>
> 3) Any other thoughts, recommendations, things I should know or think
> about?

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Howard Schlossberg (818) 883-2846
FM Pro Solutions Los Angeles, California
Associate Member, FileMaker Solutions Alliance

[Joel Shapiro]

Thanks Howard
Certainly a good recommendation.
Hope to see you on "the inside"
-Joel


Howard Schlossberg wrote:

> Most FSA members feel it is well worth the investment. I get at least a
> dozen calls a year -- probably more -- based on my FSA listing. If you
> can turn just one of those calls into a paid project, than you will have
> more than made back your investment. But FSA membership also provides a
> great on-line discussion group where you will have direct access to many
> people who will generously provide answers to your questions. It
> provides access to a bevy of on-line marketing and technical materials.
> And FSA membership always keeps you updated with the latest versions
> of FM Developer, FMP, and FM Mobile, plus discounts on any additional
> software.
>
> You can always edit your on-line listing at any time. As for materials
> that you provide to FMI, think about anything that shows you are
> professional in your work and that you are more or less dedicated to
> FileMaker.
>
> Joel Shapiro wrote:

> > Hi all
> >
> > I've been very fortunate that for most of my 4 1/2 years of FMPro
> > consulting, I've had one sizeable ongoing gig that has kept me with
> > work. I've also had a number of other smaller projects over the years,
> > and (again fortunately) have not had to do much work to bring in
> > clients. Well, things are gonna change soon. Budget cuts, blah blah
> > blah. So I'm looking into various ways of building up my business, and
> > am wondering if trying to get an Associate level FSA membership will be
> > helpful in bringing in new clients. Has it helped you?
> >
> >
> > Other FSA questions, if you've got the time:
> > 1) What kinds of things would they want as "business marketing
> > materials"? I'm putting together a website, but don't currently have
> > any marketing materials, as I've never needed them.
> >
> > 2) If I do become an FSA Associate, will I be able to edit my record in
> > the FSAWeb_Directory (searchable via filemaker.com) after it's created?
> > For instance, can I apply before I have a url and then add it later, or
> > change my phone number?
> >
> > 3) Any other thoughts, recommendations, things I should know or think
> > about?

>
> ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
> Howard Schlossberg (818) 883-2846
> FM Pro Solutions Los Angeles, California
> Associate Member, FileMaker Solutions Alliance