Is there money in helping small business owners?

12 replies
I am in the process in launching a site to help small business owners. How can I find out that this product will work?

I am contacting small business owners and giving them a trial run of the videos I have made so far.

Is there a good way to survey them?

Here is the site.
Small Business Secrets
#business #helping #money #owners #small
  • Profile picture of the author artwebster
    If by small business owners you mean offline, you could try talking to them like they are NOT internet marketers!

    Your terminology will offend some small business owners and have others choking on their coffee. 'Blow away your competition - leave them in the dust!' - that has all the credibility of 'We do all the work while you collect all the money'.

    If you mean internet marketers I suppose they will lap it up.

    In either case, it would be better if you could rehearse what you say in the video so it comes over more fluently and with just a suggestion that you actually believe what you are saying.

    Most business people will accept a free trial of anything but you might find that many are simply too busy to take time out to watch a series of videos. Your first survey question could relate to that point. As to a good way to survey them, if they are reasonably local, why not simply call on them and explain what you are doing and see if they will spare you a couple of minutes of their time?
    Signature

    You might not like what I say - but I believe it.
    Build it, make money, then build some more
    Some old school smarts would help - and here's to Rob Toth for his help. Bloody good stuff, even the freebies!

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    • Profile picture of the author WendellC
      Hi.

      I agree with artwebster.

      Usually small offline business owners don't have the time, technical expertise, or desire to learn all the nuts and bolts of anything to do with internet marketing. They are more concerned with ROI and prefer turnkey solutions that are easy to understand.

      While a few small business owners will dig the technical IM stuff, from what I've encountered in my limited experience most will get overwhelmed and confused by the jargon and not be eager to try you out.

      Show them bottom line costs and results and how your solution will make money for them -- get more leads, increase sales, make a process for them cheaper. That's what most any business owner ultimately wants.

      Wendell
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      List your no opt-in product here for free: No Opt In Required

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      • Profile picture of the author ExRat
        Hi traffictipsnow,

        I agree with Art - the site is too 'IM'.

        I don't know if it's totally different in the USA, but in the UK the baseball cap is the part of the teen uniform of rebellion - IE - gives totally the wrong impression for 'offline' business.

        I imagine many will baulk if they assume that the site you have in mind for them will look like yours (no offence intended).

        Is there a good way to survey them?
        Cold call/send them an introductory item with a return postage paid survey included in order to signal interest?
        Signature


        Roger Davis

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        • Profile picture of the author AndrewCavanagh
          Generally speaking the real money in helping brick and mortar business owners is in providing hands off solutions...basically where you do everything for them.

          The good news is that they'll pay a premium price for the service.

          Kindest regards,
          Andrew Cavanagh
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          • Profile picture of the author plainwords
            Ryan,

            Your site lacks credibility. The average business owner is way smarter and more sceptical than the dreamers who get sucked in by typical 'make money on the Internet' style of website.

            You need to back up your offer with some kind of proof that you can actually deliver on what you promise. Otherwise, you won't get local business owners past first base. And wearing a baseball cap doesn't do anything for your crediblity. Business owners want to deal with someone who looks business like. That doesn't mean a suit and tie but it does mean a reasonably professional standard of dress.

            It's back to the drawing board, I'm sorry to say, if you're serious about making this work. But I also want to congratulate you on at least getting out there and getting started. You can correct your mistakes and will eventually succeed.
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  • Profile picture of the author Dally137
    It is a very demanding niche without any doubt. Your problem is with the promotion. In this time of economy there are lot of entrepreneurs out there looking for opportunities to invest. Find a way to reach your market segment. Spread the word about your site.
    good luck.
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  • Profile picture of the author Ryan Shaw
    thx for the input; I got a lot of work to do; just needed to get something up this week; I'll rework my strategies into something more turn-key and less "IM"
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  • Profile picture of the author Ryan Shaw
    would something like this work for newbie web designers? maybe I can make this work for them and design another system for small business owners that's much simpler and turnkey
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  • Profile picture of the author JohnMcCabe
    Originally Posted by traffictipsnow View Post

    Is there a good way to survey them?

    Here is the site.
    Small Business Secrets
    I'm guessing you are asking about getting feedback once someone has seen your free video. If so, the easiest way is to simply ask them. Put your survey form on the same page as your video and ask them to fill it out. If you've given them truly valuable information with no strings, reciprocity should get you a high percentage of viewers answering your survey. Make it anonymous, and you'll get more honest feedback.

    Others have pretty well covered the problems with the video itself. I'd add some supplemental lighting so that half of your face isn't in shadows due to the bright light from the window.

    Lose the baseball cap and t-shirt. As others have said, you don't need a suit and tie, but a fresh haircut and an obviously high-quality golf shirt - basic 'business casual' - will give you a better image.

    Whatever market you do decide to go after, you might think of adopting a uniform of sorts. For example, Jim Edwards has branded himself by wearing the same bright red Hawaiian shirt in his videos and other products.
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    • Profile picture of the author rosetrees
      With respect, I think you are asking the wrong question. Don't ask "is there money in helping small business owners (or xxxxxx)". Ask - "how can I help small business owners (or xxxxx)". Do some research. Find out what is needed, then make your product.
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  • Profile picture of the author dsmpublishing
    I have one client from the states that i do a lot of work for. She is very successful offline and has won several awards for her marketing. She doesnt understand online marketing at all and instead of learning it would rather have it all delivered to her on a plate. She has no desire to learn it she just wants results.

    If your working with offline marketers do it for them or concentrate helping out the online marketers as they both completely different in many ways.

    kind regards


    sam
    X
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  • Profile picture of the author Gene O
    Originally Posted by traffictipsnow View Post

    I am in the process in launching a site to help small business owners. How can I find out that this product will work?

    I am contacting small business owners and giving them a trial run of the videos I have made so far.

    Is there a good way to survey them?
    I am doing the same thing as you. All I have left to do is create and upload my video to my site.

    Looks like you are using the Micro-Continuity model. That is what I am using.

    Shoot me a PM if you want and we can discuss this more, maybe help each other out.
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