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Asking for help or suggestions to promote a new idea

by lewernolan
5 replies
I'm wanting to promote a membership site teaching offline small business owners like dog walkers, lawn care services, home cleaning services, how to market their business online to show up on search results, google maps, create landing pages etc. I want to push it toward the people who would rather save money by doing it their self still.
I've been trying to target the keyphrase for how to market your business online, market your business online, market my business online, market a business online, etc. But not having much luck yet.
If anyone has any ideas or would want to help promote the site I definitely wouldn't mind sharing the profit if your interested.
Thanks for any help!
#idea #promote #suggestions
  • Profile picture of the author bigbrian76
    Hey there!

    Okay, you may not like what I have to say, and its just my own opinion - there's my disclaimer.

    I think you really need to consider the audience you are targeting. If you're going to be promoting to yard maintenance guys, what are the chances the owner of the business is sitting behind a computer long enough to do SEO? Wouldn't they be out in the field, dropping flyers and doing jobs?

    Let's face it.....it would take HOURS for you to teach someone SEO tricks and tactics. Think about the price you would consider charging per hour for that kind of consulting? Wouldn't it be cheaper for YOU to become the expert, and approach these owners with a 2-tier offering? Offer them the complete package, which you could put together and run for them while they are out walking dogs, mowing lawns....Or, for a higher price, you can teach them. Almost guarantee you, they will let you do it.

    Feel free to send me a PM, or find me on Skype - I'd be happy to talk more with you.
    Signature

    Brian Schilling

    Zero BS Marketing

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  • Profile picture of the author JohnMcCabe
    Hate to break it to you, friend, but while the idea might be new to you, it's been around for awhile. The folks doing it successfully are targeting one specific business sector, like Joe Polish with carpet cleaners or Rory Fatt with restaurant owners.

    Get smaller than that, and you'll be competing with outfits like GoDaddy and QuickBooks. Both offer DIY website builders included with their hosting deals, and they do their best to make is sound painless and quick.

    The common thread in both groups is that they offer plug-n-play solutions. I've been on both Joe's and Rory's lists, and they hammer the fact that they provide proven marketing materials, with just enough training to make them effective.

    Just so this post isn't totally negative, here's a variant that might work. I haven't tried, but I've heard of it working in other niches.

    Target companies that assign that kind of stuff to an employee that has other duties. Maybe it's an AA, or the office manager or one of the sales guys. Whatever.

    Collect/create easily usable tutorials for doing the kind of tasks required, along with a generic plan. Pitch it to the company owners/executives as a productivity booster for the employee. The designated employee will spend less time, get better results, and the only thing the business owner has to do is write the check. Your automatic rebilling system can even relieve him/her of that chore.

    It's a 3-way win. The owner gets both a more valuable employee and more effective marketing, the employee gets tools for doing their job better/easier along with enhanced skills (and market value) and you get paid.
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    • Profile picture of the author blackhawkup
      Banned
      in this situation your best friend might be the exact opposite of what your trying to do..

      if i was to market to this group i would go OFFLINE to the places where these people are and work on setting up flyers and other marketing materials showcasing what your product has to offer.

      i would also cold call and use word of mouth to my advantage. with cold calling you would start out by asking friends and family if they know of anybody in the (small business field) that you could speak to. **now if they can formally setup a meeting between the two of you fine..if not just get there phone number**

      once you have their phone number give them a very professional call and promote yourself and your business and tell them how you got their number.

      next whether they take you up on your offer or not, you always make sure that you ask them for more contacts...so basically everybody that you talk to you'll get contacts from them so that you can grow exponentially.

      this model will start out slow but the more you get yourself out there the better it will turn out...and the better it will pay out!

      as for the keywords..
      for one im sure your market DOES actually use the internet a lot more than one of the posters above me said.

      but im guessing that they use longtail searches, so it would benefit you to use keywords with three or more words in it. More than three will be less traffic but the traffic will be spot on targeted.

      and become familiar with the google wonder wheel..its awesome..

      also dont worry about godaddy and that other crap..yes they are bigger, but the market is big enough for us all...just imagine if you got a small 0.05 percent of what they are making each year...you would still be making hundereds of thousands..lol probably more like millions.

      so do your thang homie...best of luck, i hope it was motivating.

      SWAGGS!
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  • Profile picture of the author MadameBusiness
    Yep lewernolan - I think the better business model is for you to project manage this for them. Hopefully they will recommend you to other offline businesses and you can make a decent profit that way.
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