Offline Services

Personally I start with helping a new client get a google maps listing. It is easy and can show immediate returns for the customer. I strongly recommend using the coupon feature on google maps as well.

Hi,

I don't tend to have a fixed set of offerings - I just like helping people so I find out what they need and then tell them what I can do.

Some people come to me and say their friend said I could set them up a brochure site (they don't call it that) quickly and cheap without them having to get too involved and can I help them with that. Usually they're traders who don't really understand websites but they know they should have one so that they can just tell people where to contact them or find out more about them.

I do a special for local traders in my area where they can literally be hands-off - they just give me their business name, contact details and any slogan/logo and I 'get it done'. That means I choose a suitable domain, set up hosting, set up a couple of email accounts and create a brochure site for them. I offer this with a 2 day turn-around so they can call me Monday and have their site live before Friday.

Other people have a website and think it needs "redoing" or "updating" and want me to come up with something new for them.

Some people have a website and it's not getting them any business - so we look at what they're doing, how the site fits with that and whether it's right for the job, and then discuss some promotional options.

A lot of people understand the need for new content and links but don't have the time or attention to give it and just want it done for them.

Some people have a business idea and want an online presence which can include new stationary, business cards, videos, social network accounts, even daily/weekly tweets.

I haven't yet had anyone ask about mobile websites - although some have been buying ipads and noticing that flash isn't supported and wanting non-flash versions of the existing website built.

Because I'm focused on them rather than me - I end up doing all sorts of things for all sorts of people from life coaches, restaurants, investment groups, consulting firms, chiropractors, carpenters, radio stations etc.... I've never had 2 clients the same.

A lot of people get started in offline consulting by focusing on themselves - what they can offer, what tools they have, what knowledge they have etc.. but I've always found that if you just look for how you can help others - you'll find lots of opportunities.

SEO/SEM is the easiest stuff to provide because it's a well-documented area where you can do what needs doing and play the linking numbers game, what's more powerful is aligning your thinking with how the client's business works and then insightfully adding value in places that leverage their existing systems.

It's often much easier to help someone make more money just by telling them to deliver to their customers premise as well as run their shop, rather than trying to find a way for internet technologies to fit into what they're doing.

I used to make the mistake of selling people whatever they wanted to buy - but soon found a couple of clients paying for email systems they weren't using, so I stopped charging them and stopped selling anything I didn't 100% believe was going to make a difference to them.

I make a lot of videos for people too, but they take more resources to manage and distribute so I only do them in batches when I'm happy for my internet connection to be tied up for hours uploading videos. I'm thinking of getting my programmer to set up a new server just for handling the videos.

A lot of people think that if you get a client more traffic - they'll get more business, but it's not always as simple as that, so be wary of making any promises/commitments about the relationship between search rankings, traffic and revenue.

It's great fun though and you can make a small fortune working with the right clients.

Andy

I would do a lot of youtube work. I believe, you can have full tours with youtube. You can have real case studies with youtube. And pretty much for any offline business.

You can show off your work, show off your business location, compare your service verse someone elses.

A big one you are missing is actual business consulting. Things that go behind the scenes of marketing, like developing a usp, training a sales staff, etc. Probably a level above what many here could service, but is in VERY high demand right now.

I would recommend getting them on first page business listing, bc most local businesses are only into that and the ones that want more or know more...then do the upsell but tell them unless you think they want it all..to start with the basics and get your check 50% upfront and have a contract ready to go for them to sign.

I also do offline consulting and what's discussed here are pretty much what I do. My primary focus is local businesses though and I rank their sites on the 1st page and preferably in the 1st spot.

In the realm of low entry point pricing, I just can't go wrong with Google Places optimization. It only takes a few minutes, makes the clients happy and I get my check.

I also like Maria Gudelis' strategy of selling a marketing blueprint. Zero cost for me and it is all profit, plus when you throw their company logo it always impresses.

For easy-peasy, I have had good results with creating a lead capture light box to install over their existing sites. Aweber + a little time = fun money


As for higher end services, I am getting a good return on mobile marketing solutions (such as sms text autoresponders)

I absolutely HATE doing website fix-ups!!!!! If the site is broken, I just prefer to set up a keyword/city targeted site and drive traffic to their main site (if they are absolutely married to the site).

-Scott Voss

Has anyone heard of this service, Addlocallisting.com. The grammar on the site is pretty poor and they charge just $25 to list a business in google, yahoo, and bing maps as well as several other local directories. Seems too good to be true.

I have been recommending to people to take advantage of Ken's course on Google Places. It just plain works. If you either talk to Ken or look at this testimonials, you will see that it really is worth your time:

http://www.warriorforum.com/warrior-...ister-now.html


Check it out if you have time.

CT