Here’s a somewhat developed (get it? get it?) concept about how an independent web map developer can drum-up some business:
Recently, one of the big online custom printers (think business cards, stationary, that sort of thing) began offering a little web map type of service into its offerings. I was in the middle of designing a postcard when I noticed an “Add A Map” button. This button takes you to a pop-up screen with a small map and a place to input a location. This puts a star on the location and then allows you to put that map (for an extra fee) on the postcard, business card, or whatever it is you are designing.
Now, I’m not entirely convinced of this particular concept since it seems as though it is rudimentary for the time being, but I could see it being useful for certain businesses who want an easy to display a basic map on their printed products. My point in using this as an example is that there are all kinds of places where your web map expertise can be applied that nobody has thought of yet. Independent consultants could come up with a list of these integration ideas and then get the word out to those businesses about how much potential value there is. (Hey, for all I know, you are already doing this. If so, be kind and let us know how it is working out.)
This is different from building a web mapping concept into its own business. An event mapper sent me a twitter message the other day as soon as I announced the details about an environmental film night happening locally. These types of web mapping services are also neat, and some of them will probably catch on in some form or another, but this is a whole different angle from the web map integration concept. In the web map integration concept you are going directly to an already established company to propose a solution you can provide. This can bring in revenue much faster than the web map service-as-separate-business concept.
The trade off here is potential for fast revenue versus potential for automatic revenue. A fast revenue stream gets food on your plate quickly but you have to keep getting new business to continue to eat. The automatic revenue stream is most likely going to induce famine at the outset and only potentially bring about a feast later on. If that’s not your bag and you are freelancing, get your creative-mind on and start making out that list of companies that could would have never dreamed of integrating a web map themselves but with your help will see its value.
Focus on a small number of customers on your list at first so that you can deliver a personalized proposal to each. If you’ve made a huge creative effort to come up with a concept then you will be psyched up enough to put forth a huge effort to pitch it to company reps. With the right concept and a thorough follow-through these efforts could enable a prosperous business.
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