A 7 step plan to DAZZLE The Offliners.

[Corwinnx]

I'm not going to tell you that I made a gazillion dollars in 3 minutes doing this. My mechanic suggested I do this one day while I was shooting the breeze with him waiting on my car to be fixed. I did, it works like a charm. If you want to do some offline marketing, this is an awesome way to really GIVE them something to get their business and it dazzles them every time.

Step 1: Identify five types of businesses in your local area.

Here's the list I started this with:

Jewlery stores
Wedding Service businesses
Accounting Services
Auto Repair and Towing
Travel

Step 2: Go to Wal-Mart or your local office supply store and buy blank DVD's

Step 3: Now, make a video for each TYPE of business.
Just download pics from I-stock photo or any Royalty Free site
Import the pictures into Windows Movie Maker
Add some title overlays and effects
Add Music or voice-over, (you can use the open source Audacity for this, and a mic)


Step 4: Then make a video for your services. With your contact information on it.

Step 5: At the end of each businesses video, cut in your own video.

Step 6: Burn 5-10 copies of each video to DVD's.(put them in cases)

Step 7: Attach a miniature greeting card to the DVD that offers to customize it and upload it to their website for them for only $x.xx (whatever price your comfortable with)


There are a lot of things you can do with this idea. If you have Camtasia, you can make an Animoto video and screen capture it so that you 'cut out' the Animoto logo at the end.

If you know how to use bubbleply, you can offer to build them a site and embed their 'video with clickable links' into it on their site.

They dont' have a site? Well that's an offlind GOLD customer waiting to happen isn't it?

Take this idea, put your own spin and go make offline money. 2009 is YOUR YEAR.


Warmest Holiday Wishes,
Marcus

[robocallaghan]

Thats a nice idea there :-)

Rob

[Corwinnx]

Thanks Rob.

One of the most powerful selling techniques I ever learned was to 'put the pen in the prospects hand.'

Same concept.

Plus, it's a 'tangible gift.' Something they can touch, and use, with or without your services.

Warmest Holiday Wishes,
Marcus

[onlinemlmrockstar]

Great Idea Marcus!.

I'll try that.

Christopher Reid

[Corwinnx]

Christopher,
Let me know how it works out for you. I'm interested to hear how this bodes for others.

Happy Holidays,
Marcus

[Joel Gray]

Interesting idea, I would like to know how this works for you.

Joel

[Stangracer]

Great idea.

You could easily combine this with Here's "A Stupidly Simple Cash Cow" and it's FREE :-) to score well with business owners.

What a great way to bond with local business owners.

Thanks.

[Steven Carl Kelly]

Originally Posted by Corwinnx

There are a lot of things you can do with this idea. If you have Camtasia, you can make an Animoto video and screen capture it so that you 'cut out' the Animoto logo at the end.

Thanks for the idea!

However, just a quick comment to make sure someone doesn't unintentionally run afoul of the legal terms of use. According to Animoto's TOS:

"The Animoto Videos may only be used for personal, non-commercial, uses. You agree that you will not modify the video player code in any way, nor will you modify the display of your Animoto Video."

So you probably can't sell the videos or cut out the Animoto logo at the end. Doing so would probably lead to a little bit of legal trouble.

Animoto has a $249 per year business subscription that allows you to use the Animoto videos for commercial purposes.

[AndrewCavanagh]

You could do even better if you hand wrote on each DVD

"Has [Austin Jewellery] Missed This Amazing
Marketing Method...?"

or

"[Austin Jewellery]'s Amazing NEW
Marketing Method...?"

and change the business name in each title to the business you're sending it to.

Kindest regards,
Andrew Cavanagh

[Steven Carl Kelly]

Good idea about the hand-written DVD's, Andrew. However, if I may make one small suggestion: including the word "marketing" on the front may discourage some people from viewing the DVD because some have become averse to getting another sales pitch.

Maybe something intriguing that doesn't sound as "salesy"?

[Richard Whyte]

That is a sharp idea and an easy thing to do. I can see that this could be a good way for offliners to generate business and do some design work for companies in the area.

I'll keep this one in my bag of tricks that I pull out when needed.

[Corwinnx]

Joel,

I don't usually make posts like " I made $xx.xxx with this... ( )" [unless it's in copywriting] because these claims are too subjective, i.e., how well a marketer knows his market, how good or bad your salesmanship skills are, how motivated or lazy you are,etc, etc.

***I won't make 'posts' like that because this is a place where we as a collective help each other to brainstorm, and I don't want to 'dazzle' the newbies' with numbers, or exploit methods without models jut to impress anyone. I prefer to offer 'valuable information' to people and hope one day they might in turn share a nugget that I'm unaware of with me.

OK, OFF SOAPBOAX NOW...

but here's what I can tell you where MY results are concerned:

10/25 Recipients request more info
5/10 Express desire to purchase
1/5 Purchase.

I charge $75.00 to 'customize the video,

but prices again will be subjective to your circumstances (do you need $50.00 or $150?)and the demographics of your market (what will it bear in terms of pricepoint) and of course the customer (often a successful businessman will pay more than the market will bear if he sees that what he's buying will increase his profits.)

From there, everything is else is a service list and a negotiaion. If they have a website and it's a decent one, I won't offer to 'overhaul it' for them. I'll simply examine their online marketing method find what's missing or what does need to be 'overhauled' and quote a price for it. If all is perfect with their online marketing efforts, I tell them that and leave the gift of the video, or they will ask me to install the video for them on their site, and I will quote a price for that.

Andrew,
You know those double sided folded business cards that look like $100.00 bills? Put the "Marketing Message" you suggested on the 'back' of that card as a headline, with your company and contact and information below. This would remove the 'in your face' pitch that people are becoming 'averse' to, yet, still get your message across (people EXAMINE those $100 bill business cards with a fine tooth comb).

Faxinator,
If you (or anyone) like the Animoto app, and can afford the membership, buy it. But I think there might be a loophole in the TOS. Those vids can be exported to Youtube right from the Animoto app, and YT's TOS states that unless you're content is copyrighted or you disable the embed feature, anyone can use your video and do with it as they please. So once it's been exported to Youtube, it would technically now fall under YT's T.O.S.

*** I'm not suggesting that anyone 'exploit this is a 'blackhat' method, but if you're "A Jobless Dad".... "Facing Foreclosure".... "Saddled With A Sick Parent That Needs a $5,000 Operation".... you can 'toe a line' sometimes to overcome adversity. Just don't continue 'toeing that line'... it's not worth the hassles and headaches that you will endure even if you are proven right in the end.

So if you're in a 'dire straits' situation, 'toe the line' and get your first OFFLINE GOLD client with the method, then buy the Animoto membership to keep going.

OR- use Moviemaker, or Youtube Downloader to find good vids on Youtube, and remix with Moviemaker to make 'your/their own' 'special video.

*I've created a library of stock footage by capturing non-copyrighted Youtbue videos and splicing segments together to convey specific messages.*


Please market wisely and responsibly.

-Marcus

[Mark Riddle]

Marcus,

That's a great idea, I am going to share it with a guy in town that is wanting to start a video business.

He was wondering how he could show what he can do without having to give away his labor before they bought.

This is a great match for him.

Thanks again !

[biz_online]

Originally Posted by Corwinnx

They dont' have a site? Well that's an offlind GOLD customer waiting to happen isn't it?



Warmest Holiday Wishes,
Marcus

Marcus,

Many many thanks!

Guys like you are the reason I visit this forum. You had a great idea and you were totally unselfish in sharing your ideas!

[Steve Crooks]

Excellent idea Marcus! A new twist on working offline.. I can see this sort of technique growing as cashstruck businesses look for cheaper methods of promotion.

[Loren Woirhaye]

That's true about the cheesay $100 bill drop-cards. We can
harrumph about how people aren't vulnerable to blatant
greed appeals these days - but they are and they will look
at things that look like money.

[biz_online]

Originally Posted by Loren Woirhaye

That's true about the cheesay $100 bill drop-cards. We can
harrumph about how people aren't vulnerable to blatant
greed appeals these days - but they are and they will look
at things that look like money.

Where do you get the design for those things! I think they would be great conversation piece in my business!

[Steven Carl Kelly]

Originally Posted by Corwinnx

*I've created a library of stock footage by capturing non-copyrighted Youtbue videos and splicing segments together to convey specific messages.*

Just a quick question: I'm not familiar with a non-copyright protected Youtube video. Can you elaborate?

[Corwinnx]

faxinator,

I'm no copyright attorney, but from what I understand about Copyright unless the content STATES that it's 'copyrighted,' (or reference some type of 'Rights') it's part of the public domain.


bizonline-

Try this link... I just googled "$100.00 business cards" and I got this:

http://www.DollarCardMarketing.com. (not an affiliate link)

Print out a sample if you can and take it to a local printer.

-Marcus

[Steven Carl Kelly]

Originally Posted by Corwinnx

faxinator,

I'm no copyright attorney, but from what I understand about Copyright unless the content STATES that it's 'copyrighted,' (or reference some type of 'Rights') it's part of the public domain.

Ok, the reason why I ask is that I wouldn't want you to run into trouble by accident. I know that as a conscientious marketer, you would never intentionally violate anyone else's intellectual property rights. I think some of what you have posted above may in fact do that, though I'm very certain unintentionally.

In fact, copyright law is exactly the opposite of the above. As soon as something is put into a fixed medium, it is protected by copyright. Also, per the YouTube TOS:

A. You agree not to distribute in any medium any part of the Website, including but not limited to User Submissions (defined below), without YouTube's prior written authorization.

And:

Content on the Website is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use only and may not be downloaded, copied, reproduced, distributed, transmitted, broadcast, displayed, sold, licensed, or otherwise exploited for any other purposes whatsoever without the prior written consent of the respective owners. YouTube reserves all rights not expressly granted in and to the Website and the Content.

B. You may access User Submissions solely:

• for your information and personal use;
• as intended through the normal functionality of the YouTube Service; and
• for Streaming.

"Streaming" means a contemporaneous digital transmission of an audiovisual work via the Internet from the YouTube Service to a user's device in such a manner that the data is intended for real-time viewing and not intended to be copied, stored, permanently downloaded, or redistributed by the user. Accessing User Videos for any purpose or in any manner other than Streaming is expressly prohibited.

Also, the YouTube TOS prohibits the use of programs that allow you to download the videos such as YouTube Downloader.

Like I said, I'm not trying to be argumentative, just trying to make sure you don't get yourself into an unintentional bind.

[New Frontier]

Thanks for sharing...I will try that...cheers.

[Joel O]

A great idea Marcus!

I can just imagine walking into a store and handing the owner a DVD saying something like... "Here's something that you may like, it might help to boost your sales", and then just walk away.

[Corwinnx]

Faxinator,

Glad to know I've got someone watching my back. Every time I've asked permission to use another producers videos, they have always told me that it's part of YT's TOS that anyone can take it. I've asked permission from a few 'gurus' to use their vids and I never even thought to question someone with a rep like that. Thanks man.

Heads up Everyone:
If you're going to use Youtube videos, get permission from the content producers first.


Have a good night all.

-Marcus

P.S. I'm sure the 'cut and splice' method of creating 'new footage' will appeal to the black hatters... who's gonna write the report?

[Steven Carl Kelly]

Yep, as long as you've got permission you should be covered!

[AntonioWrightMV]

Yeah, that's really good idea! There are so many small businesses (and even big businesses) who could use thing type of exposure to start booming and you could be the one to provide them. Thanks for the tip.