Small Firms Ideas Exchange

... for "new" potential clients, a colleague suggested I add quick search on Facebook, Linked and MySpace to my normal research efforts... Ah, business in a new world. Does anyone ask for "trade references" when considering taking on a new client? After all, our print shops, couriers and the like all require it from us...

Of course I start with a google search. One of the things I look for is whether ther are political implications to the client or the project. One potential client is opposed by the surrounding land owners. My estimate of the likelihood of a successful project went down immediately. My assesment of the effort involved went up. Submit a proposal? Sure but with those things in mind even for a small project. We'll see.

If this is a company, I go to the Oregon Secretary of State website to make sure their business information is up to date, etc. I also look on there to see what other businesses they have owned (do they go through businesses fast?). More info is available if a contractor is looking to hire me by going to the Contractor's Board website. I do Google searches with their names and any other officers in their company (or if they are just a person looking to hire me for residential I do Google search). Mostly I listen to what they have to tell me. If they are firing their arcitect, that raises red flags for me. Yes some architects may drop the ball - but sometimes the client can be in the wrong. I get very clear about what I can do for them!