JoeDRL

Hey everybody!
I tried selling mobile sites to local businesses by email and I go ZERO answers for about 15 emails!

I know I didn't try a lot but my fear is that trying that in a small city where not much people know about mobile technologies is a bad idea?

Has any one you had success in a small town?

Thanks

HypeText

I cant comment on the size of your location but I can comment on your prospecting style.

1) Email only has a 10% open rate and a 1% to 3% response rate

2) 15 emails isnt enough to base ANYTHING on.

You would need to send literally 100X that many to get any sort of significant response.

JoeDRL

Yeah I am aware of that, I know my experience isn't enought to conclude anything.
What I asked was what is YOUR tested experience. Is living in a small town an issue when it comes to making money selling mobile site?

I didn't express myself properly, I know sending 15 emails is not enough

~ JoeDRL

HypeText

I live in a Metropolitan Area so I really cannot answer that.

Obviously your Pool of potential clients is going to be much smaller and that could def be an issue.

stevet563

Well since you live inthe area you are trying to target, you should make up a brochure, write out a script and go in person. Wear a suite and tie. Look professional. If they say no, ask for referals.

Take Care and good luck,

Steve

Highly skilled, professional, passionate and experienced web designer For Hire.

rlhurst

If it's that small of a town, you shouldn't have any trouble getting out and actually showing them in person, on your phone, how a mobile site looks. Do that 15 times like you did emails and I bet you get a better response.

Better yet, if any of those businesses use print ads in your town, put a qr code on one that leads to a mobile site. The site could be a generic one so you can photoshop the same qr code on different ads. Go in with the ad, scan the code and show them how they can get more for their money out of that print ad than they're getting now.

Don't try to sell mobile sites...... sell the benefits!

rlhurst

OK, how much!

HypeText

FREE, of course! didnt think I was in this to earn a living did ya? lol

NYC SEO

Less competition trust me I know here in NYC

Mobileico

I totally agree with you there.

"My aim in design and UX is elegance, intelligence, functionality, and fun." - Wallace Morrison.
Desktop - Mobileico.com / Mobile - m.mobileico.com
Featured in Google's video about mobilizing, Mobile 1:35
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature...&v=Rzs5Iud20bk

Mobileico

How many marbles are there compared to bags of marbles? I have to let you in on a little secret. If you don't have a portfolio, you have nothing, especially when it comes to your competition. A business is like a website..content is king. My business is growing everyday and I live in Greeneville, Tennessee of about 40,000 people and very little businesses. The funny thing is, the majority of my business hails from small towns in Alabama, Georgia, NC, SC, Florida and Texas. I am actually doing business in other small towns better than here, mainly because people are finding me and have seen my portfolio from those areas, and well I just moved back from Florida. It may not be the best, but it's darn way above par. The fact that I keep adding stuff to my FB page, FB profile, website, makes my portfolio just awesome. Add content..content is king. I will say one more thing. You can make a lot of money with mobile websites alone and showing your local businesses how to campaign it OFFLINE, especially with small towns. That's the best thing about us small towns. People love to see you in person and if they can wear some ugly Nascar shirt, they'll wear anything. Content is king, but you need online and offline content together. Stay true to what you believe in my friend
Morrison

"My aim in design and UX is elegance, intelligence, functionality, and fun." - Wallace Morrison.
Desktop - Mobileico.com / Mobile - m.mobileico.com
Featured in Google's video about mobilizing, Mobile 1:35
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature...&v=Rzs5Iud20bk

JoeDRL

Thanks guys that's truely appreciated.
I guess I should just try it for myself and report here when I have the time.

See you around,
~ JoeDRL

braincandy7

I agree fully. If you are confident in your skills and have a laptop just take a walk and go speak to people. Ask them if they have a site. Many small business will not. Get started by offering a great price but ask, and get "the gentleman's agreement" at least, that if they like what you have done they will refer you some others.

Referrals are golden! And if you get that agreement and ask once you have one a good job..........don't accept "i'll email them to you" just get 2-3 from each client and you will be rolling

Bars, eating places and any other social places are the easiest to approach. Might be best to include facebook pages in your package and intergrate them with the sites.

Magnum1

JoeDRL,

I'm not sure how small your town is, but there should be opportunities out there for mobile sites.

There's nothing wrong with using email in your marketing, but as mentioned earlier, it has a low response rate. If you want quick results and a much higher closing ratio, hit the streets and call on businesses in person. That's what works best for me.

Also, in case you haven't seen it, this is a good thread on your topic:

http://www.warriorforum.com/mobile-m...all-towns.html