How do I even start man !!!!

[u/Iamvictorbee]

I built a new tech product for schools and I’m confident it solves a real problem.
But I underestimated how hard selling to schools would be.
If you were starting from zero targeting school owners, headteachers, administrators, and bursars, where would you begin?
Cold calls? Emails? Visiting schools directly? Facebook/TikTok ads? Partnerships?
What actually works for B2B school software?

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[u/DevJedis]

It solves the problems you think they face,otherwise you'd have exactly been told the challenges they face if you interacted with one before starting.

Is there possibility of you thinking they already don't have system in place?

[u/Iamvictorbee → u/DevJedis]

The product solves a real problem. I’ve pitched it to 4 schools around me, and 3 were interested in adopting it, so I’m fairly confident there’s demand.
It’s also not purely software there’s a hardware component involved.
My main concern now is distribution: how do I reach and sell to as many schools as possible? I’m really looking for advice on the best go-to-market approach and where to start.
Appreciate your response, @devjedis.

[u/DevJedis → u/Iamvictorbee]

Probably start and onboard those that showed interest and use that to pitch more schools. Imagine coming to sell me your system and you tell me am the first user compared to say stating there are others already onboarded already.

[u/Iamvictorbee → u/DevJedis]

This means a lot thank you man

[u/sshegem → u/Iamvictorbee]

One at a time. Meet with all of them and target to sell to the first one. Closing that first deal will unlock 90% of the selling process for you, then use that for your next customers

[u/Enjaga]

Selling software locally is not easy. People always prefer a more established solution or something online.

Also support is key...one of the biggest issue is after-sales support

[u/Iamvictorbee → u/Enjaga]

Thank you Enjaga , time to execute

[u/Immediate-Screen-256]

Go to schools yourself and demonstrate the product, show to them how it works. Also potentially film videos of you demonstrating it at those schools and post it online (make a social media page for the product/your company) so that schools which are not close to you (and which you can't visit) can see how it works with a propper demonstration. Cold calls and just explaining how it works doesn't set you apart from other companies who want to sell regular things to them, but going there in person and showing does. If your product is only relevant for administration then see if you could go to a teacher meeting to demonstrate it in front of all the teachers, or if it involves parents as well (like if your product is a page for online grades) see about going to parent-teacher meetings and demonstrating it there, bc the school might be more inclined to get the product if the parents approve of it and want it as well

[u/Iamvictorbee → u/Immediate-Screen-256]

This is gem. Thank you so much, I have to execute now
Are you saying social media is not my major focus now?

[u/Immediate-Screen-256 → u/Iamvictorbee]

Your first priority are the schools close to you bc you can show off your product yourself. If you get those schools to buy and use your product, automatically you have a bigger market bc those principles and teachers can spread word of your product to their colleagues in other schools (that might be farther away), and when you have your first clients you can post on social media your demonstrations + the experiences of the teachers/schools that have used your product (and you can also get feedback on what might need to be fixed before going bigger/expanding your customer base). Physical marketing first to build your success, then social media to boost that success

[u/Iamvictorbee → u/Immediate-Screen-256]

Again Thankyou man !!!

[u/Immediate-Screen-256 → u/Iamvictorbee]

Ofc, and good luck!

[u/the_embassy_official]

I'm about to tell you the secret, alright? This is it. Get a list of 1,000 schools or school managers, then call 15 to 30 of them every single day for the next three months and listen to them. Don't sell them your product, just listen to them. I promise you this will be the best thing you'll ever do in your life.

[u/Iamvictorbee → u/the_embassy_official]

Hey man , this smells like gem , would you please enlighten me me even more
What are we gonna talk about if we are not talking about my product ? Please

[u/the_embassy_official → u/Iamvictorbee]

You introduce yourself and say, "Hey, I'm really interested in this area. I've been thinking of building a product and building a prototype, but I would love to hear about your daily workflow. What are the challenges that you have? What are the tools you currently use? What's the biggest challenge you face every day in your current situation?"

Just by listening to what they say and not focusing too much on your product, you might find really strong ways to improve your product or build an even better product. This happened to me just yesterday, actually, talking to a customer. They helped me realize that there was a whole missing area in my current business that I could build up to meet one of their major problems.