Offline Approach not converting HELP!

Banned 15 years ago

Originally Posted by Ernie Lonardo

After having some success with the offline cash method, sending David Prestons email to businesses in my local city, (Had a 4% response rate) ........I thought I try sending it to interstate businesses.

Now since they cant call me due to interstate phone charges and since I cant really discuss it the greater details in person, I thought I'd set up a live chat room on my website so I can chat with these businesses I email......or if they chooose just exchange emails instead if they prefer,

Anyway i sent about 50 emails in the beauty niche and about 25 in the car niche

not 1 reply at all!

I'm very disappointed....anybody know why their not interested.

Get a 800 number or the Australian equivalent so they can call you.

You can also add a phone number to skype that they can call which will be cheaper and make you look "local".

Thanks

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Jared Alberghini

15 years ago

Ernie,

First of all, don't be disappointed. It takes time to learn this skill and you are well on your way if you have already had some success.

I can't give much advice without knowing your exact approach. What was the email that you sent out? Can you post a generic version of the email you are sending out?

Also, I think using email as 'first contact' may be looked upon as 'spam' by your potential clients. I personally have had great success with doing business in person (initially by phone to setup a meeting). A handshake and a 'non-pushy' sales chat works much better for me. (However if you are not able to meet in person, a phone call is almost as good... much better than an email)

Jared

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Ernie Lo

15 years ago

I stutter pretty bad on the phone so I cant talk on the phone for a long time....in person I'm good enough though

Thanks
1 reply

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Tom B

Banned 15 years ago

Originally Posted by Ernie Lonardo

I stutter pretty bad on the phone so I cant talk on the phone for a long time....in person I'm good enough though

If you are concerned about stuttering than hire someone to take the calls, on a commission base. That will also give you time to continue marketing and working the business side.

Or hire a salesperson in each area to do the cold calling for you. That can also be commission based.

Thanks
1 reply

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Jared Alberghini

15 years ago

Originally Posted by Thomas Belknap

If you are concerned about stuttering than hire someone to take the calls, on a commission base. That will also give you time to continue marketing and working the business side.

Or hire a salesperson in each area to do the cold calling for you. That can also be commission based.

Excellent idea Thomas, 'commission based' I think is the key for someone not ready to 'hire' just yet.

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Kyle Tully

15 years ago

Originally Posted by Ernie Lonardo

Now since they cant call me due to interstate phone charges and since I cant really discuss it the greater details in person, I thought I'd set up a live chat room on my website so I can chat with these businesses I email......or if they chooose just exchange emails instead if they prefer,

1. These guys most likely don't know what a "live chat room" is -- or they think it's what their kids do on the computer, not the impression you want to give.

2. A serious business dude will pay the 50c interstate fee if he wants what you've got.

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Mark Riddle

15 years ago

Just an observation, When you deal too far outside your local marketing you no longer are seen as having any interest in the local companies success.

You're just some big company selling some pre-designed program that has no idea of what things are like where they live.

Local knowledge is a powerful key in offline.

I worked in radio sales for YEARS and they only cared what I could do for them when they understood how their business fit into the local mix.

It didn't matter that I would be getting them customers from a large area, what was important is that I understood what worked where they lived.

Just think in terms of, Yeah that works there, but you can't do that here.

With out their confidence in you being able to do that here, its an uphill battle.

Mark

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Ernie Lo

15 years ago

I think your on the money Mark....that would explain why when I emailed my business in my own city the response was great.

Just thought some businesses interstate could use my services....just need to find a good method to get my message across. If i didnt stutter id be all for chatting with them via the phone.

Originally Posted by netmalls

Just an observation, When you deal too far outside your local marketing you no longer are seen as having any interest in the local companies success.

You're just some big company selling some pre-designed program that has no idea of what things are like where they live.

Local knowledge is a powerful key in offline.

I worked in radio sales for YEARS and they only cared what I could do for them when they understood how their business fit into the local mix.

It didn't matter that I would be getting them customers from a large area, what was important is that I understood what worked where they lived.

Just think in terms of, Yeah that works there, but you can't do that here.

With out their confidence in you being able to do that here, its an uphill battle.

Mark

Thanks
1 reply

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Wah Bhatti

15 years ago

i think you are taking them on line to quick they dont know what a conference room is

Originally Posted by Kyle Tully

1. These guys most likely don't know what a "live chat room" is -- or they think it's what their kids do on the computer, not the impression you want to give.

2. A serious business dude will pay the 50c interstate fee if he wants what you've got.

A visit adds more value and build a beter relationship
i cant spell but still post so dont let the stutter stop you listening
is better anyway and then take action on what you hear

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4morereferrals

15 years ago

Being in Southern California, its challenging for me to fathom the idea of running out of local OFFLINE Biz prospects

Why not just take it back to local biz? 4% return on cold emails is nothing to turn your nose up at!

Not sure what your email client is, but I use outlook. I picked up a great little application called Anagram. It lets me browse websites and go to their contact pages ... select / highlite the relevent data:

Name
Address
City State Zip
Phone Fax
Email

I hit F1 or F12 [depends on what machine Im using, and Anagram takes all that info and intelligently adds the info as a contact in my outlook. They have a web based app for Gmail accounts too!

I now have a prospect, in my email client

Search google
click link to their site
look for mailing and contact data
select/highlite
hit F1
Select what "group/category" they belong to
Save

Rinse repeat ...

I would then take an interesting screen grab of their website - missing the Opt In Form ...

Id go into my Lumpy Mail Sending program ... upload the screen grab of their site - circle the area where the optin form should be and add a bit of text ... "What You're Missing Here is costing you thousands"

That image would become the front of my marketing piece. Theyd open that up to read my salesletter / offer and call to action. Id send it to them in such a fashion that they could not resist opening my piece.

Attachment 1343

One of the questions I heard another warrior is asking his prospects which resonated with me - an offline business ... "If you needed or wanted to reach every one of your clients and prospects TODAY with a special offer or product you sell - could you?" [95% will answer in their dome honestly - NO!]

I'll help you implement a simple and cost effective solution that will allow you to say YES ... today...

Probably sounds like a lot of work - but the truth is - for the products we're promoting [insurance packages] to offline businesses - we're finding we have to send far less pieces as we get far better response. That COLDER methods.

The ROI math works great for us - our targets are $25k in premium @ 15% gross affiliate comm. [every year as long as we keep them] Lifetime client value is 5x $3759 = $18,750. [Think continurity vs. passive residual]

Some of you guys are hitting these folks for $2k a whack - netting what $1500? + the continuity potential and ongoing revenue from maint/service/add on products and building a list!

3 yrs of client relationship at mere profit of $50 a month [lowballing for effect] $1,800 there .... + $1500 profits above or around $3500 in value per client won.

Does it pencil for you to make a little more effort to prospect by doing more upfront work per mailing, and spending a few more bux getting the piece Out/Opened/Read/Remembered?

Works for us ... Your mileage may vary.

[ 3 ] Thanks
1 reply

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Ernie Lo

15 years ago

WOW Steve that's very handy, might have to give that one a go!

Originally Posted by 4morereferrals

Being in Southern California, its challenging for me to fathom the idea of running out of local OFFLINE Biz prospects

Why not just take it back to local biz? 4% return on cold emails is nothing to turn your nose up at!

Not sure what your email client is, but I use outlook. I picked up a great little application called Anagram. It lets me browse websites and go to their contact pages ... select / highlite the relevent data:

Name
Address
City State Zip
Phone Fax
Email

I hit F1 or F12 [depends on what machine Im using, and Anagram takes all that info and intelligently adds the info as a contact in my outlook. They have a web based app for Gmail accounts too!

I now have a prospect, in my email client

Search google
click link to their site
look for mailing and contact data
select/highlite
hit F1
Select what "group/category" they belong to
Save

Rinse repeat ...

I would then take an interesting screen grab of their website - missing the Opt In Form ...

Id go into my Lumpy Mail Sending program ... upload the screen grab of their site - circle the area where the optin form should be and add a bit of text ... "What You're Missing Here is costing you thousands"

That image would become the front of my marketing piece. Theyd open that up to read my salesletter / offer and call to action. Id send it to them in such a fashion that they could not resist opening my piece.

Attachment 1343

One of the questions I heard another warrior is asking his prospects which resonated with me - an offline business ... "If you needed or wanted to reach every one of your clients and prospects TODAY with a special offer or product you sell - could you?" [95% will answer in their dome honestly - NO!]

I'll help you implement a simple and cost effective solution that will allow you to say YES ... today...

Probably sounds like a lot of work - but the truth is - for the products we're promoting [insurance packages] to offline businesses - we're finding we have to send far less pieces as we get far better response. That COLDER methods.

The ROI math works great for us - our targets are $25k in premium @ 15% gross affiliate comm. [every year as long as we keep them] Lifetime client value is 5x $3759 = $18,750. [Think continurity vs. passive residual]

Some of you guys are hitting these folks for $2k a whack - netting what $1500? + the continuity potential and ongoing revenue from maint/service/add on products and building a list!

3 yrs of client relationship at mere profit of $50 a month [lowballing for effect] $1,800 there .... + $1500 profits above or around $3500 in value per client won.

Does it pencil for you to make a little more effort to prospect by doing more upfront work per mailing, and spending a few more bux getting the piece Out/Opened/Read/Remembered?

Works for us ... Your mileage may vary.

Thanks

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MouseandMice

15 years ago

Try a toll free number :-)

That will get you the best results!

Thanks
1 reply

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Sonni 15 years ago

Are you trying in your local market when it comes to old school marketing nothing beats face to face. Maybe you can set up a few meetings.
Sonni
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- Ernie Lo 15 years ago
  
  Hi Sonni....yes Ive managed to get 2 clients so far in my local area
  
  I just thought id give interstate businesses a try too as there are much larger cities than mine.
  
  Originally Posted by Sonni
  
  Are you trying in your local market when it comes to old school marketing nothing beats face to face. Maybe you can set up a few meetings.
  Sonni
  
  Thanks
  
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tonyscott

15 years ago

Hey Ernie,

set up a portal for the area that you want to target.
Spend a year or so building it into a useful resource for the area
call up the businesses and offer them a free listing for their website
the rest is just natural stuff that follows on.

long term i know, but it works

re. the stutter thing - doesn't matter at all (:

cheers

Tony

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rondo

15 years ago

I agree with Kyle - These guys most likely don't know what a "live chat room" is.

Use a moblie number - same call cost across the country.
In your emails make them understand the offer is Australia-wide

Andrew

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Offline Approach not converting HELP!

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