Stop Finding Excuses and Just Do It!
Dragging my feet due to analysis paralysis has been my way. I am wired that way. I am an engineer and I tweak things to perfection. Meanwhile, I met with a prospective customer last Friday. This customer wants a website redesign. It is a medical spa that offers everything from massages to cosmetic and plastic surgery. YES, a potential BIG offline client. So after spending over two hours with the guy, I was 2 weeks too late. I dragged my feet getting the appointment.
Two weeks ago he signed a 12 month contract for $1500 a month for SEO and AdWords. After meeting him face-to-face, he wished he would not have signed that contract. I was his man, but I was too late. How did he find the other SEO company (they are in Los Angeles). AN UNSOLICITED EMAIL. One phone conversation and some emails and the deal was sealed. No face-to-face with this company.
What have I learned from this? I have the skills to close the deal and deliver the goods. I have 10-15 offline clients, but no big fish like this. I was intimidated by the big client, but not again.
Just get out there and go after the clients. Whether you are going to cold call, direct mail, walk-ins, networking or whatever source you have just get started now.
To eliminate your insecurities, let me share with you just briefly what I took from the Offline Marketing Summit in Atlanta a few weeks ago. Without revealing any big secrets (and there were a ton) let me give you some confidence to take a strategy and RUN WITH IT!
There were a number of EXTREMELY successful offline marketers that spoke at the conference. For now, let's focus on SEO services.
Marketer 1, is a cold caller. In fact, he stated that you could not succeed offline, without cold calling. He is extremely successful. I hate cold calling but obviously it works for him. This marketer offers graduated prices based on competition. So like $400 per month, $700 or $1000 per month.
Another marketer has a fixed price for SEO. Everyone pays the same amount no matter what the niche and city. No setup fee, just straight monthly fee. Very successful marketer.
Yet another hates cold calling and only uses direct mail. In fact he follows up with direct mail and does NOT call prospects. Only once a prospect reaches out via email or phone call, does this marketer pursue a client.
Another marketer charges a setup fee for SEO, then monthly fees. Setup fee is fixed at around $500 but has a range of monthly prices depending on competition.
Another marketer charges a setup fee and first month price to get started, but then does not charge again until at least 3 predetermined keywords reach page 1 of Google. Then the price is fixed monthly.
Some marketers outsource all backlinking and others do it all in house (like to keep control). Some of these guys are one man shops and others have teams of commissioned sales reps.
If you were there, you would see that they are all 6 figure per year earners. Some will probably hit 7 figures within the next 12 months.
What was my take from all this? Do not fret on your strategy. Whether you want to cold call, email, direct mail...whether you charge a setup fee or not...whether you outsource or do it yourself...sales team or a one person shop...
PICK ONE AND GET STARTED! I refuse to let my analysis paralysis prevent me from taking it up a notch. I still have a full time job. My goal is with 6-12 months to have enough income to say goodbye to my corporate job.
You have enough knowledge from this forum and the massive number of WSO's you have purchased. Stop looking for the silver bullet (preaching to myself as well), and grind it out.
Just Do It!
Two weeks ago he signed a 12 month contract for $1500 a month for SEO and AdWords. After meeting him face-to-face, he wished he would not have signed that contract. I was his man, but I was too late. How did he find the other SEO company (they are in Los Angeles). AN UNSOLICITED EMAIL. One phone conversation and some emails and the deal was sealed. No face-to-face with this company.
What have I learned from this? I have the skills to close the deal and deliver the goods. I have 10-15 offline clients, but no big fish like this. I was intimidated by the big client, but not again.
Just get out there and go after the clients. Whether you are going to cold call, direct mail, walk-ins, networking or whatever source you have just get started now.
To eliminate your insecurities, let me share with you just briefly what I took from the Offline Marketing Summit in Atlanta a few weeks ago. Without revealing any big secrets (and there were a ton) let me give you some confidence to take a strategy and RUN WITH IT!
There were a number of EXTREMELY successful offline marketers that spoke at the conference. For now, let's focus on SEO services.
Marketer 1, is a cold caller. In fact, he stated that you could not succeed offline, without cold calling. He is extremely successful. I hate cold calling but obviously it works for him. This marketer offers graduated prices based on competition. So like $400 per month, $700 or $1000 per month.
Another marketer has a fixed price for SEO. Everyone pays the same amount no matter what the niche and city. No setup fee, just straight monthly fee. Very successful marketer.
Yet another hates cold calling and only uses direct mail. In fact he follows up with direct mail and does NOT call prospects. Only once a prospect reaches out via email or phone call, does this marketer pursue a client.
Another marketer charges a setup fee for SEO, then monthly fees. Setup fee is fixed at around $500 but has a range of monthly prices depending on competition.
Another marketer charges a setup fee and first month price to get started, but then does not charge again until at least 3 predetermined keywords reach page 1 of Google. Then the price is fixed monthly.
Some marketers outsource all backlinking and others do it all in house (like to keep control). Some of these guys are one man shops and others have teams of commissioned sales reps.
If you were there, you would see that they are all 6 figure per year earners. Some will probably hit 7 figures within the next 12 months.
What was my take from all this? Do not fret on your strategy. Whether you want to cold call, email, direct mail...whether you charge a setup fee or not...whether you outsource or do it yourself...sales team or a one person shop...
PICK ONE AND GET STARTED! I refuse to let my analysis paralysis prevent me from taking it up a notch. I still have a full time job. My goal is with 6-12 months to have enough income to say goodbye to my corporate job.
You have enough knowledge from this forum and the massive number of WSO's you have purchased. Stop looking for the silver bullet (preaching to myself as well), and grind it out.
Just Do It!