Please Help - I have to have this ready for tomorrow but my brain has STOPPED WORKING

[mookinman]

I've finally accepted it: I need to ask for help.

Let me put you in the picture...
There is a live music/wedding reception/conference venue/restaurant in my town that has a basic website. It's clearly a home-made job, and it has very little search engine juice. It does little to "sell" the venue. I know exactly how to re-design the site so that it not only appears on page on of google for relevant search terms, but also turns it into a moneymaker for the venue.

Here's what I've done so far: I wrote a letter to the owners, telling them that I know how to turn their site into a "bookings generating, money making machine for years to come" - they liked it so arranged for me to speak to the manager, who agreed with me, likes the idea etc, and was impressed by the price I quoted. He has now asked me to put together a "proposal" for the owners, in time for their weekly meeting tomorrow. Basically, my foot is well and truly in the door, but I need to explain everything in a language that the owners can understand, in order to "seal the deal". The owners are a bit older than the manager, and they're not really internet-minded. I guess I need to write in a way that my grandparents might understand.

Problem is, I'm having a total nightmare with writers block at the moment. I'm having some personal problems at the moment that are making it extremely difficult for me to concentrate.

This deal is SO important right now - I really need this job. I just don't know what to say in this proposal. I've pretty much already sold it to the venue manager, but he needs me to really show the owners what it's all about and how it will make them more money, and then (hopefully) they will sign up.

The key points I am selling are:
1. Search engine optimization
2. Re-design of the site (better navigation, more appealing design/layout/graphics etc)
3. Opt-in (mailing list).

If there's anybody out there who can give me some tips, or a clue about how to write for these people, I'll be eternally grateful.

Can anybody out there lend a hand?

Thanks in advance.

David.

[grumpyb]

I used to own a reception centre in Australia called Tudor Lodge
Most of our business came from yellow pages and at that time I did not know or care about web sites.
The Bottom Line is Lead generation and Sales Pitch
IMHO to write a good web site on this subject will require a great deal of collaboration from the management of the venue.
So make your presentation Short and to the point

say the 6 key points in your origianl submission put in a more succinct presentation

1/ design New Website focused on the needs of (theire company
acheived by extension collaboration of management to identify key factors in making a sale.
2/ redesign web site to make it customer/user freindly
3/redesign web site to easily present selling features of reception centre
4****

and so on

This is a big task for the industry you are pitching too so i hope you have not under estimated how much time and work will be Involved
Good Luck with it

[grumpyb]

PS
Just remember its about them making sales !!!!!!!!
It is not about you making a pretty web site with bells and whistles

[Kay King]

Stop trying to write - and start talking and taking notes. As you practice explaining and come up with a good sentence or phrase, write it down.

It works wonders when you need to find a way to explain a process. While you don't want to sound like you are throwing technical terminology about to impress - don't make the mistake of talking down to these folks.

Sounds like the manager will be present at the meeting - thus I would aim at a clear explanation he would understand and could explain further to the owners if needed. The owners may not understand all you tell them but will look to a trusted person (the manager) to see if it's accurate info.

Good luck with it!

kay

[Edward Green]

David, You are asking for quite a lot as people are busy and this sounds like a slog but I will try to help you out;

Firstly search google for a similar proposal. I am sure you will find one. Once you get it write the bullet points that are inline with what you want to offer that should jog your memory into action.

Do you have mindmap or similar software that should get you going.

If all else fails talk yourself thru the presentation and stop to write your bullets down. Do it in front of a mirror it will help.

I do a lot of offline business and I can email you one of my proposals for a beauty salon or hair salon, that might get you going, let me know?

Good luck

Ed

[Steven Wagenheim]

David, you're suffering from stage fright...that's all. Don't make this more
traumatic than it has to be.

Here is what I would do.

Ultimately, you need to show them WHY they need a web site and what it
will do for them.

So start from the beginning.

Explain to them that today, many people use the Internet to search for
things. Then, if you have the stats, show them how many monthly searches
there are for your particular niche. This gives them a visual in their mind
of what kind of potential income they could see from this.

Then explain to them why you've put together the site you have and what
each part of it is going to accomplish, such as getting prospects, etc.

Just take the whole process from beginning to end in a logical sequence.
If you can relate any of this to any type of promotion in the off line world,
do it. The more they can relate to what you are talking about, the better.

Try to stay away from techno speak as much as you can. Don't try to
impress them with that nonsense. Simply explain how this can put more
money in their pocket for a very small cost.

Like I said, don't make this more complicated than it has to be. Just explain
it simply so that even somebody with no knowledge of the Internet can
understand it.

[Edward Green]

Originally Posted by mookinman

I've finally accepted it: I need to ask for help.

Let me put you in the picture...
There is a live music/wedding reception/conference venue/restaurant in my town that has a basic website. It's clearly a home-made job, and it has very little search engine juice. It does little to "sell" the venue. I know exactly how to re-design the site so that it not only appears on page on of google for relevant search terms, but also turns it into a moneymaker for the venue.

Here's what I've done so far: I wrote a letter to the owners, telling them that I know how to turn their site into a "bookings generating, money making machine for years to come" - they liked it so arranged for me to speak to the manager, who agreed with me, likes the idea etc, and was impressed by the price I quoted. He has now asked me to put together a "proposal" for the owners, in time for their weekly meeting tomorrow. Basically, my foot is well and truly in the door, but I need to explain everything in a language that the owners can understand, in order to "seal the deal". The owners are a bit older than the manager, and they're not really internet-minded. I guess I need to write in a way that my grandparents might understand.

Problem is, I'm having a total nightmare with writers block at the moment. I'm having some personal problems at the moment that are making it extremely difficult for me to concentrate.

This deal is SO important right now - I really need this job. I just don't know what to say in this proposal. I've pretty much already sold it to the venue manager, but he needs me to really show the owners what it's all about and how it will make them more money, and then (hopefully) they will sign up.

The key points I am selling are:
1. Search engine optimization
2. Re-design of the site (better navigation, more appealing design/layout/graphics etc)
3. Opt-in (mailing list).

If there's anybody out there who can give me some tips, or a clue about how to write for these people, I'll be eternally grateful.

Can anybody out there lend a hand?

Thanks in advance.

David.

David check your email I have sent you 2 proposals that I use to pitch offline local search businesses. This should help you.

If you need anything else dont hesitate to contact, I am only in London UK

Ed

[Ken-g]

Hi Dave,
I'm just down the road from you, here in Bristol...

Dave what you are asking is in your post, you all ready laid out your idea on how to improve their web site, just get a pen and paper and write it down in non tecky type of way.

1. SEO - Explain what key words are and how they are used to find web sites, why it is important to get it right to gain more traffic = more money (bookings)

2. A pro site will in time get them more repeat orders as the site you are about to revamp and look after in the future ( up sale your self here) it will need to be kept up to date etc, etc, don't go over the top, keep it plain and simple, (more work for you long term.)

3. Opt-in list in lay mans terms just tell them what it is and how it will build there business for long term growth even in the recession we are in...

4. Small bite size easy to under stand information, that us older one can get to grips with Ha...

Do this now, go out side, fill your lungs with fresh air, no I mean really fill your lungs as much as possible, it will put more oxygen in your blood which we help clear your brain, hey it works...

Want some one to talk too You can phone me if you want but before 2200Hrs 0117 9079045

Good Luck ken-g...

[Dee Scofield]

My first reaction is that you need to keep it basic without talking down to them. Avoid jargon and use language that the owners can relate to.

So another way to look at the three points you mention is that you want to:

1. Make it easy for people to actually find their website in the first place, given how much competition there is on the Internet (statistics would be helpful here, but don't go overboard lest their eyes start glazing over).
.
2. Re-design the site to be easy to use and to give a good first impression of the business - keep visitors interested long enough for the owners to be able to present all that their business has to offer (which is cost-prohibitive in offline advertising).

3. Design the site in a way that encourages people to join their mailing list to be notified of special events and offers. Explain how a mailing list can help cut down on offline advertising costs and bring them new and repeat business.

As a couple of people have already mentioned, you have to make a case for how improving their website will increase sales. They will want to know why the three points you mention are good for their bottom line. And I think Steve was right that you're simply suffering from stage fright. If you truly believe that your services can help their business, then you will be able to convey that.

[mookinman]

Thanks to everybody for your excellent tips, they are all really helpful. I'm deeply touched and extremely grateful for your time and your expertise. I now feel ready to attack this thing and get it finished and ready to hand in tomorrow.

Thanks again,

from a very grateful and newly-motivated Dave!

[Rachel Zaouche]

Hi David

I only saw this now so am too late to help but hope it goes really well - as the others have said you have done the hard work really by opening the door.

Remember KISS -keep it simple stupid. You could also bring your laptop with you to the meeting and using firefox show them an example of perhaps a competitors site in another country to illustrate the key words

I hope it goes really well and you land your deal. And I hope you get your personal circumstances sorted as well.

Let us know how you go.

Best wishes

Rach

[Glenn Leader]

Good luck tomorrow David,

Don't forget to sell them on marketing their website online and offline.

Glenn

[grumpyb]

I was hoping you would let us know how your presentation went.
Did you get the Job ?

[mookinman]

Hi there! It wasn't a presentation, just a proposal type thing for the owners of the venue to mull over. So, I'm now waiting around for a response, which is apparently due before the weekend!

Thanks for everyones help.

Originally Posted by grumpyb

I was hoping you would let us know how your presentation went.
Did you get the Job ?

[Rachel Zaouche]

Keeping our fingers crossed for you David!