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I'm a member of the American Express OPEN FORUM® for business owners and had a discussion with two of the forum hosts who commented on my article “Raising Capital – the Ben Franklin Way”.  I think their comments bring up some more thoughts on the subject of that article that might be of interest to you (if you haven't read that article yet, please read first and come back to this):

----- comments from Heidi -----

Very good points!!

I love the story about the guy talking to the men's wives. An ingenious approach!

What other oblique approaches have worked or could work?

Heidi

----- my reply -----

Thanks Heidi. Another oblique approach is one that is kind of like what we do in business forums like this one.

Business owners should consider contributing articles and information of interest on their business niche or interesting business related topics to local papers, online magazines, blogs etc. Getting the word out there on topics of interest to a specific business market or niche can catch the eye of not only customers or client prospects ... but also of investor prospects.

Many angel investor types get "pitched" on a continual basis ... a "frontal" attack if you will. As anyone with military experience will tell you ... you beef up your defenses along the main point where you expect to be "attacked". Investors do the same and have very strong positions on this. That makes many of them hard to get to and harder still to get them to give your business more than cursory consideration.

If you can pinpoint a specific industry investor type (which is doable); I recommend making it a focus to write articles on that industry and work to get them circulated in ways that may catch an investor(s) eyes.

I know and work with attorneys who represent investors and investment firms (they are the investors buffer and "line of defense") that do just that ... they look for and spot an interesting business article or news story and then contact the business owners or subject of the story to see if there are any investment opportunities with the business.

So that is another "oblique" way that I know works from practical experience.

Dennis

----- comments from Scott -----

I saw a program on Benjamin Franklin on the History Channel a while back that made note of his time in France. It was exactly as you relate. He was truly a fascinating and multidimensional man. Definitely an American hero. However, I'm not so sure his methods would work so well in today's world!

Scott

----- my reply -----

Hi Scott,

Thanks for the welcome and your feedback.

You are right that Ben had it easier with direct access to his audience and perhaps they were more willing to "listen" as conversation and discourse back then was as much an art form and entertainment as anything else. With how we are saturated (some would say we are inundated) with information and data (some useful, some not) ... today it is harder to get the "ear" of many people.

But business owners need to be the strongest advocate of and for their business ... even with today’s "chatter" ... in the right setting, time and place; a simple, focused well-put conversation can't hurt but could possibly help. Sometimes its the little things we do that add up and make a difference.

Dennis

----- reply from Scott -----

So true! It all starts with communication, and in today's world we have more outlets, resources and modes than ever before.

Scott

So an important point to make is this: if you have a business with opportunities in its market or are planning a viable business venture that is well thought-out and well-planned; then you should push (in all the different ways and mediums), to spread the word about it.

When you do that, you increase the chances you will find not only more clients/customers for your business but perhaps even investors prospects.

If you've ever thought of generating articles, blogs and news pieces etc. to create awareness and interest in your business, but need some help or ideas - contact me to see if I can be of assistance to you.