T-shirt at the tire dealer: TYPO3 acquisition with a difference
Have the article read aloud.
While some complain about a low order situation, others are making new customer contacts at the tire dealer. Our August roundtable showed that the TYPO3 community is full of practicable strategies - you just have to know where to listen.
You know the situation: it's the vacation season, the order situation is bobbing along and you're wondering whether others are feeling the same. Our last community meeting started with exactly this question - and what happened next shows perfectly why the exchange with other TYPO3 professionals is priceless.
The vacation season trap and how to escape it
One participant put the problem in a nutshell: "Are you also running so slowly?" The answers were golden. While some confirmed that August is traditionally weak, one experienced colleague had a simple but effective piece of advice: proactively approach your existing customers.
Sounds banal? But it's not. He reported a success rate that surprised him. Customers are often grateful for personal contact and often have small optimizations on their list that they "wanted to tackle at some point". You take the first step - they give you the job.
Networking still works (even for tire dealers)
The best acquisition story of the day came from a participant who simply wore his TYPO3 T-shirt to the tire dealer. The owner recognized the logo, spoke to him about it - result: a new customer. It can be that simple.
Another uses association work. His reasoning: Company owners and managing directors are often active in associations. The conversations there lead to trust, trust leads to recommendations, recommendations lead to orders.
Content blocks vs. technical ballast
The technical discussion was exciting. One participant criticized the increasing "technical ballast" of TYPO3 for small projects. Others immediately spoke up: content blocks and extensions such as the Bootstrap Package, for example, enable faster implementation than ever before. One agency owner reported on themes with which she implements small websites in 8-16 hours.
The discussion showed that TYPO3 continues to develop, but not everyone is aware of all the innovations. This shows the value of the community - you learn first-hand which tools really work.
LinkedIn, AI and the truth about the skills shortage
When it came to marketing, everyone agreed: LinkedIn is the B2B platform. Regularity beats quantity, and AI tools can significantly speed up content creation. One participant shared his strategy: post less, but more consistently.
The topic of skills shortages was controversial. One participant doubted that there really are too few qualified developers. Her point: the problem lies in unsuitable applications and poor pay. Others warned of a worsening economic situation and recommended realistic assessments.
Accessibility is moving into the spotlight
A topic that came up almost incidentally, but has great potential: Accessibility. The Accessibility Reinforcement Act (BFSG) is making companies more aware of the issue. Many are not yet set up accordingly. Those who position themselves here can tap into a lucrative business area.
Diversification or specialization?
The strategy discussion divided the panel. One participant advocated diversification: a mix of front-end, integration and project management as an advantage. Another saw the risk of a pure TYPO3 focus and recommended a broader positioning.
Both sides had valid points - and that's exactly what makes the exchange so valuable. You hear different perspectives from people who are all successful, but who take different paths.
What you can take away from it
This roundtable was a prime example of why exchanging ideas with other TYPO3 professionals can't be replaced by Google searches or YouTube videos. You get:
- Immediately actionable strategies from people who are using them successfully themselves
- Honest assessments of the market situation from different perspectives
- Current developments such as increased awareness of accessibility
- Technical updates on tools and workflows that really work
- Realistic perspectives instead of marketing promises
The next roundtable is sure to come
The dates have not yet been set, but we will probably meet again at the end of September. Do you want to keep your TYPO3 strategies up to date instead of having to invent every solution yourself? Then you should become part of our community.
Our community is not about theoretical concepts, but about what works in practice. From people who work with TYPO3 every day - just like you.
BackDo you have a question or want to discuss the topic?
In the Community Hub for TYPO3 you can exchange ideas with other TYPO3 users. And if you don't want to miss any new articles: The TYPO3 Newsletter comes once a month, without spam.
![[Translate to English:] Wolfgang Wagner, TYPO3 Experte und Trainer](/fileadmin/_processed_/3/3/csm_DSCF2343_1600x900_9655ab17bc.jpg)
Hi, I'm Wolfgang.
I have been working with TYPO3 since 2006. Not in theory, but in real projects with real deadlines. I've probably had the problems you're having three times already.
At some point, I started putting my knowledge into video courses. Not because I like being in front of the camera, but because I kept hearing the same questions over and over again. There are now hundreds of videos. Every single one was the result of a specific question from a specific project.
What makes me different from a YouTube tutorial: I not only know the solution, but also the context. Why something works. When it doesn't work. And which mistakes you can avoid because I've already made them.
My participants use me as a sparring partner. Not in the sense of "call me anytime", but like this: You come to the live session with a specific problem, post your question in the community or watch the appropriate video. And get an answer that works because it comes from practical experience.
As a member of the TYPO3 Education & Certification Committee, I make sure that the certification exams are kept up to date. What is tested there flows directly into my courses.