u/Fair-Stop9968

So since my post ~21 days ago, I have instituted changes and made a little progress.

My open rate on follow up emails (i.e. the ones with tracking) is up now at 30%-45%, this is after eliminating false flags like security/firewall email opens.

In terms of offering I've gone through three different iterations. Following a conversation with what I thought was my ICP, I changed tack a bit and also got pushed onto a rabbit hole which led me to some great industry knowledge. This helped to further refine the pitch and messaging. While the actual offer didn't necessarily change, but the wording did.

This change got me into a call with an actual potential customer/buyer. Unfortunately this didn't lead to revenue, however that is simply because I am too early to bring them on board, they aren't design partnership material. Perfectly understandable. Nonetheless an invaluable 30 minutes and once I get something that is functional and looks decent will come straight back to them for a pilot!

Im still running the campaigns and we will see how we do, currently on two mailboxes only.

I am also trying to work out how to redo my company website as I need to balance messaging for my outbound campaigns as well as what I actually do at the moment.

Cautiously optimistic!

Hi guys!

I've been experimenting a lot with project management recently and have gotten back into systems thinking (engineering) which I had as a module at university.

Because I can't help building things, I've built Despatch, link attached in the post.

I think I've crossed off the fundamental points about systems thinking that I remember from University, but there's probably bits I've forgotten or have got confused about. I'm reading through Donella Meadows' book at the moment. HBR's handbook on Project Management was really helpful though!

I would love feedback on whether I've correctly understood systems thinking and how I've modelled it in my app?

Theres no pitch here or monies asked for, just genuinely trying to understand if I've done this correctly.

After doing a round 1 of poorly implemented cold outbound I took a step back.

My framing and offer wasn't quite clear, and perhaps who I was targeting wasn't entirely realistic.

I came back, scoped down my offering and ICPs by segment. Built the appropriate copy and some leads for a couple segments. I also worked out how to explain it with the "how" being secondary to the "what".

I wake up this morning a couple days into the campaign with my warmed accounts, to find my email provider has blocked me account wide, including the one I wasn't using for outreach.

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I'm now in the hole £80, my sanity and many many wasted days.

Please tell me how marketing/client acquisition works. I can't watch another Alex Hormozi where he says agencies/service based businesses are the easiest one to start.

I'm at my wits end. I can do everything else in the business practically blindfolded at this point. I just don't understand how to get into the room.

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Edit with example email I'm sending. I'm also doing some A/B testing to see what happens:

Subject: automated [regulation] compliance with remote sensing

Hello {{firstName}},

I am partnering with [subject area] assessors to automate [regulation] compliance monitoring for their clients. A small device per [thing] entity that logs [variables] and other factors continuously — no manual readings, no gaps in the compliance record.

I do this through the design and building of internet connected sensing devices from scratch, built to match your requirements, not a pre-existing product.

Let me know when would be good to chat on this matter.

Thank you for your time,

[name]

{{accountSignature}}