Turning a Disaster into an Opportunity

14 replies
I've just moved into my new house with my two kids - and I'm loving the fact that I have my own space...but only three days in and disaster struck...

My two year old woke up bright and early this morning while I was still in the land of nod...and found one of my red lipsticks and proceeded to scribble all over the carpet

Now, for the life of me, I couldn't get it out of the carpet - I tried everything from washing powder to soap to nail varnish remover. The damn thing wouldn't budge, so I got online and looked up a local carpet cleaner.

Bless him, he came straight away and had the stains out in less than 10 minutes. Now here's the thing. When I looked this guy up, I was looking for someone who specialized in difficult stain removal and whose work was insured.

The Google search I did meant trawling through several pages to find him and his website was TERRIBLE. Badly put together, bad design, spelling mistakes - the LOT!

So, not being one to waste an opportunity, I offered him a coffee and we got chatting about his website. I quizzed him on all aspects of his site, from the design and copy to the SEO and how he was marketing himself.

And so now, I have an order for re-doing his website completely, re-writing his copy and doing his SEO (this will of course be outsourced, and I just make money for doing nothing but re-writing his content). He has also agreed to a monthly retainer for SEO and Google places listings.

Not bad for an initial disaster

So what can YOU learn from this? I've seen so many newbies asking about client acquisition, and here's the thing: If you're not already, you NEED to start being an opportunist.

I never waste any time asking the right questions, doing my homework and grabbing as much opportunity as I possibly can. Put it this way, if I don't take the time to market my business, no one else will.

I've got several offline clients who have me on retainer (yes, some of these requests are very small, but guess what? They ALL add up and means I have work on a regular basis).

And this is where newbies can take some inspiration. Getting clients isn't that hard because there are opportunities absolutely everywhere you look. Local businesses such as health professionals, lawyers and professional services all have money to spend AND need good copy. Approach them directly - face to face is always better than over the phone.

Make the attempt to get to know them and perhaps sample their services and more importantly, ASK if they need help advertising and marketing. If you don't ask, you don't get - it's as simple as that.
#disaster #opportunity #turning
  • Profile picture of the author Mark Andrews
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  • Profile picture of the author phillimac
    Congrats, glad to see you got a good outcome from all of this. I bet the guys happy he's getting a decent site now.
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    • Profile picture of the author Hugh Thyer
      I'm going to put together a product right now for web developers to get new clients.

      For $97 they're going to get a script and a tube of lipstick.
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      Ever wondered how copywriters work with their clients? I've answered that very question in detail-> www.salescomefirst.com
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      • Profile picture of the author ewenmack
        Originally Posted by Hugh Thyer View Post

        I'm going to put together a product right now for web developers to get new clients.

        For $97 they're going to get a script and a tube of lipstick.
        You're forgetting the racy lingerie, the instructions on how to lick one's lips,
        a twirl of the hair and the batting of the eye lashes.

        Response rate now 100%.

        You're on to a winner here Hugh!

        Best,
        Ewen
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        • Profile picture of the author Mark Andrews
          Banned
          Originally Posted by ewenmack View Post

          You're forgetting the racy lingerie, the instructions on how to lick one's lips,
          a twirl of the hair and the batting of the eye lashes.

          Response rate now 100%.

          You're on to a winner here Hugh!

          Best,
          Ewen
          I've got just the costume here for you. And if you need instructions how to apply lipstick to a grizzly chin, this can be supplied too. At a cost of course.

          Although I will give away this free tip... being the kind 'lady' that I am.

          If you've got hairy legs and want to make them smooth and beautiful like mine for your fishnets, buy a roll of gaffa tape, apply to the leg and rip off quickly. Works every time! Try it for yourself Hugh!

          I'm still working on Malcolm Lambe to join the club, if you get in now Hugh, we could have a threesome.

          No, that kind of threesome ya dirty minded bug***!

          Pete bats his own eyelashes seductively.
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  • Profile picture of the author gjabiz
    which is very annoying to people who don't want to join the club...but basically, they teach people to solicit ANYONE who comes within 3 foot (PLEASE MLMers, no need to take offense if your group doesn't teach this, OK?)

    The point is:

    You can't get hired if people don't know what you do...people who COULD hire you.

    arfasaira, GREAT STUFF HERE...thanks.

    gjabiz


    Originally Posted by arfasaira View Post



    So, not being one to waste an opportunity,

    a monthly retainer for SEO and Google places listings.

    you NEED to start being an opportunist.

    if I don't take the time to market my business, no one else will.

    Getting clients isn't that hard because there are opportunities absolutely everywhere you look. Local businesses
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  • Profile picture of the author EricMN
    What a fantastic opportunity!

    This thread's also hilarious.

    Another good idea for any college students out there who are thinking of venturing into the land of copy. Does your landlord own more than one house? Are they making a business out of renting houses? What a fantastic way to live for free if you just help him out with your skills!

    I really wish I thought of it while I was still in school =(
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  • Profile picture of the author wchin
    Thanks for sharing that. I love to write, but am very shy to talk to people, or share anything about the thing that I know, cause I'm afraid that they might laugh at me, or might say I'm not good on what I'm doing now.

    That also let me learn that when ever something bad happen, it might be another turning point. God has and will always arrange a way to help us in life.

    cheers,
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    • Profile picture of the author arfasaira
      Originally Posted by wchin View Post

      Thanks for sharing that. I love to write, but am very shy to talk to people, or share anything about the thing that I know, cause I'm afraid that they might laugh at me, or might say I'm not good on what I'm doing now.

      That also let me learn that when ever something bad happen, it might be another turning point. God has and will always arrange a way to help us in life.

      cheers,
      No need to be shy - just be yourself! People love to talk about their business - so that's a great place to start. Ask questions about THEM and their business and naturally angle your discussion towards your area of expertise.

      As long as you don't appear pushy or forceful, you should be fine.

      And remember, no one will laugh at you unless you don't know what you're talking about. Most people (like in the case of this carpet cleaner) are glad that they've found the solution to their problems - so sell yourself in the best possible light without being pushy or sounding like you're a know it all.

      best
      Arfa
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  • Profile picture of the author jetcaptain
    I've found that the first step towards being successful in ANYTHING is to be able to comfortably talk about it and explain it to a total stranger. When I was getting started in local search marketing, I would practice my lingo by starting up a conversation with a total stranger and see if I could get him or her interested in my business, not necessarily in using my services. Great practice and confidence builder!
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