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Any good foot in the door tips for local small businesses?

by John9586
16 replies
Hi,
I like this method: aircon company advertises to check everything about your aircon for only USD 20. Usually they find something which needs to be repaired and the customers order it from them, the average order is USD 200.

I am looking for similar methods for getting foot in the door for local small businesses, to help them with their online and offline marketing. I have searched Warrior forum, but found nothing usable.

What are your favourite methods? What do you think is the most simple service, which would take only few minutes and increase their sales or leads immediately, to give it to them for USD 20 or for free, just to get foot in the door?

Thanks
#businesses #door #foot #good #local #small #tips
  • Profile picture of the author jamesfreddyc
    Originally Posted by John9586 View Post

    I am looking for similar methods for getting foot in the door for local small businesses, to help them with their online and offline marketing. I have searched Warrior forum, but found nothing usable.
    Really? I don't see how that is possible unless you didn't put much effort into a search. I just typed in "Selling Web Design" or "selling SEO" and there's a ton of relevant information. But this one is probably all you'd need to get going, far more than just getting your foot in the door:

    http://www.warriorforum.com/offline-...t-selling.html
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  • Profile picture of the author johnabay
    some strategy not posted everywhere it only on human mind which is spark any time so don't expect this type of ideas from google or anywhere.
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  • Profile picture of the author Oziboomer
    Originally Posted by John9586 View Post

    What are your favourite methods? What do you think is the most simple service, which would take only few minutes and increase their sales or leads immediately, to give it to them for USD 20 or for free, just to get foot in the door?
    Most people try to contact businesses via email or cold calling and sure this has it merits when executed by professionals who have experience and can capitalise on the opportunities presented to them.

    However...as you imply in your OP...

    ...foot in the door...

    That is where most people just don't get off their butts and get a list of likely prospects and hit them up.

    The inexperienced flounder around when confronted with the opportunity to really discuss their services with business professionals.

    Often their scripted presentations telegraph a "bad deal" from the moment they open their mouths.

    Usually local small businesses have been around a while and tend to have encountered every type of approach be that email, phone or cold call.

    Sometimes the best approach is to call or walk in but be straight up and state what benefits your service offers and then ask if that service is of interest to the prospect.

    Surprisingly if you have something of value you may get an audience and then you can "demonstrate" the benefits and "prove" that you can deliver the results you are trying to get paid for.

    Bricks and mortar businesses have to prove day in and day out that what they are selling not only meets but exceeds their customer's expectations.

    When you exceed the business owner's expectations, prove that you can deliver and then actually deliver a tangible result, the selling of the service becomes much easier.
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    • Profile picture of the author John9586
      Thanks for the answers, but I am not looking for tips how to get going in selling. I know enough complicated stuff already.

      I just want to find out, if there is some simple method how to demonstrate value, which could be explained in 30 s like this:

      Write a classified ad in your local newspaper saying: Aircon inspection for USD 20. Wait for the calls. Visit all of them, make the inspections, tell them if they need some repair, take the orders.

      That´s it, simple method, it will work for everybody.

      I think the most sales and marketing stuff is unnecessarily overcomplicated. This is why my question is if somebody knows some simple method which can be explained in 30 s.
      Thanks
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      • Profile picture of the author jamesfreddyc
        Originally Posted by John9586 View Post

        Thanks for the answers, but I am not looking for tips how to get going in selling. I know enough complicated stuff already.

        I just want to find out, if there is some simple method how to demonstrate value, which could be explained in 30 s like this:

        Write a classified ad in your local newspaper saying: Aircon inspection for USD 20. Wait for the calls. Visit all of them, make the inspections, tell them if they need some repair, take the orders.

        That´s it, simple method, it will work for everybody.

        I think the most sales and marketing stuff is unnecessarily overcomplicated. This is why my question is if somebody knows some simple method which can be explained in 30 s.
        Thanks
        No. There's never going to be anything simple for you because you are not willing to put in the effort to make what appears to be complicated to you, less complicated.

        You said in your OP:

        to help them with their online and offline marketing
        Define this. This is your first step as it's too vague and actually downright meaningless.

        First of all, no one needs your help as far as anyone can tell.

        Now, if you were to claim, "I can consistently generate 25% more quality leads and sales for <business type> by proper SEO, AdWords and social media campaigns as well as implement copy that converts visitors to customers in their web presence" (Claude Whitaker ref) ---- then you could really focus on creating a message that conveys you can actually help businesses with their online and offline marketing (we have no idea if you actually can do that).

        I know where you are coming from but dude, read the posts I referenced, read a book (or many of them) on prospecting, sales and marketing. You are looking for a magic bullet that doesn't exist -- it's actually cloaked in establishing a sales process that you can repeat and apply consistently day in and day out. You just can't see that (or it appears to you as a complex thing) because you are looking for a magic potion to remedy all of that time and energy required to develop that sales process.

        Too bad. That link has the answers for you. It's incredibly valuable. There is even a specific link to another post there that lays out exactly what to do... if you are actually expert in and have the ability to "help the with their online and offline marketing".

        Hint: if you are expert in "online marketing" then my first thing I'd do is get search volumes for the business types and geographic locale I am targeting. Next would be to contact the business owner and let them know about that volume. From there you should be able to attach dollar values to that volume and how much of that volume you can capture for them. These are things you can build an effective sales process off of and actually establish if there's any interest, if they have the money to pay you, if they are someone you'd want to even work with!
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  • Profile picture of the author Peter Lessard
    This is easy. Here is your ad:

    "EMERGENCY [ CITY} BUSINESS ALERT - If you own a business web site in [CITY] authorities advise you to immediately inspect your web site for a hidden virus recently launched by Korean hackers. Authorities warn that failure to remove this hidden virus can lead to compromised financial information and business owners can be held liable by their web site visitors for any losses. Call Call 1-800-GET-SAFE. for more information and a FREE inspection"

    Now just wait for the phone to ring.
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    • Profile picture of the author Collarking
      Originally Posted by Peter Lessard View Post

      This is easy. Here is your ad:

      "EMERGENCY [ CITY} BUSINESS ALERT - If you own a business web site in [CITY] authorities advise you to immediately inspect your web site for a hidden virus recently launched by Korean hackers. Authorities warn that failure to remove this hidden virus can lead to compromised financial information and business owners can be held liable by their web site visitors for any losses. Call Call 1-800-GET-SAFE. for more information and a FREE inspection"

      Now just wait for the phone to ring.
      Good one bro!! Lmao!!
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    • Profile picture of the author ewenmack
      Originally Posted by Peter Lessard View Post

      This is easy. Here is your ad:

      "EMERGENCY [ CITY} BUSINESS ALERT - If you own a business web site in [CITY] authorities advise you to immediately inspect your web site for a hidden virus recently launched by Korean hackers. Authorities warn that failure to remove this hidden virus can lead to compromised financial information and business owners can be held liable by their web site visitors for any losses. Call Call 1-800-GET-SAFE. for more information and a FREE inspection"

      Now just wait for the phone to ring.
      Hello, the Mafia's extortionist trainer is in the room!

      Best,
      Doctor E. Vile
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  • Profile picture of the author helisell
    Just drop in and introduce yourself.

    "Hi there I just thought I'd drop in and introduce myself".

    "I'm running a local business just like you and I've just started offering
    local business marketing advice to small businesses in
    'sometown' if they're looking to pick up a few extra customers
    here and there"

    "So if you ever need a service like that I'm your man...."

    "In fact I've just stumbled on an absolutely foolproof
    method for getting a big surge in customer footfall
    for businesses like this if you're ever looking for that"

    "The thing is it's so drop dead silly simple you
    wouldn't even believe it unless you saw it in action he he he"

    "Nice to have met you.....I'll be on my way."

    P.S. They may ask you a few questions at this point.

    If they DO then please don't start spilling your guts..

    Just start asking them about what they are doing in terms of marketing
    at the moment......and then see what you can come up with to help them.
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  • Profile picture of the author bizgrower
    Originally Posted by John9586 View Post

    Hi,
    I like this method: aircon company advertises to check everything about your aircon for only USD 20. Usually they find something which needs to be repaired and the customers order it from them, the average order is USD 200.

    I am looking for similar methods for getting foot in the door for local small businesses, to help them with their online and offline marketing. I have searched Warrior forum, but found nothing usable.

    What are your favourite methods? What do you think is the most simple service, which would take only few minutes and increase their sales or leads immediately, to give it to them for USD 20 or for free, just to get foot in the door?

    Thanks
    What can you do for $20 that will really help a business?

    Also, a $20 door opener will position you at the low price, low skills end of the market.
    Not much credibility with a seasoned business owner who may know more about marketing
    and sales than you and is looking to increase revenues from $50k per month to $60k or more,
    for example.

    Some charge $500 for a consultation and plans, sometimes applying the $500 to the bill.

    A business solution(s) is a bit more complex than air conditioning diagnosis and repair
    (not saying AC repair does not take brains and experience- I'm looking for someone good
    in that business now).

    Can you improve a print ad? Can you improve website conversions? and so on

    Can you study a prospect before you talk and offer an immediate step that will improve their
    business?

    Dan
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    "If you think you're the smartest person in the room, then you're probably in the wrong room."

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    • Profile picture of the author savidge4
      good foot in the door tip...

      Have the ability to read "Pull" and "Push" and act accordingly. When the words are NOT present.. having the ability to on the fly make a split second determination on which method would guarantee success in getting that first foot in the door.
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      Success is an ACT not an idea
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  • Profile picture of the author animal44
    I would suggest that a top class guarantee that addresses any doubts the prospect might have is a better option than some cut price service deal.

    When we started our SEM business, we offered a free SEO audit. We got a lot of freebie seekers and people with 2p budgets... Introducing a fee for this service reduced the enquiries, but increased the quality of the prospect.

    The key is understanding who your market is and what the problems are that your service resolves... Then price usually becomes irrelevant... or at least of secondary importance...
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  • Profile picture of the author jimmy john
    [DELETED]
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    • Profile picture of the author BelfastCity
      Simply send the business more paying customers
      No brick and mortar business owner in todays climate wants to be sold seo/ smm/ web design etc
      They want paying customers
      if the services you provide can do that then simply send him a sample of paying customers
      then sit down and talk about money
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      • Profile picture of the author John9586
        I think it´s only possible to send them leads first, if I dont work with them yet. How would you send them customers?

        I want to give some leads to a lawyer. I want him to try them first and then ask him if he wants more. What would be a good approach, how to explain him what it is about? I cannot just walk in, give him the leads and ask him to call them.
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        • Profile picture of the author jamesfreddyc
          Originally Posted by John9586 View Post

          I think it´s only possible to send them leads first, if I dont work with them yet. How would you send them customers?

          I want to give some leads to a lawyer. I want him to try them first and then ask him if he wants more. What would be a good approach, how to explain him what it is about? I cannot just walk in, give him the leads and ask him to call them.
          What's funny is that in my experience giving the leads away was more difficult that i expected! Lol!

          You don't want to just dish them out to some random person that picked up the phone. You want to talk with a decision maker and even then you don't want to just give that lead, you want build a case for them to desire getting that FREE lead.

          If the response to your inquiry is, "sure we'll take the referral! Give me the info."

          Your reply should be, "well I'd like to make sure you are a business that is going to fulfill the requirements of MY customer (ie your lead). Let me ask you a couple if questions. ..."

          Now you have elevated your position from some random person that is giving up a free referral to somone that has concerns they will be able to provide a level of service you find acceptable.

          ....In essence they now have to make the case of being worthy and capable of fulfillment rather than the other way around.
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  • Profile picture of the author Barry Unruh
    Originally Posted by John9586 View Post

    What do you think is the most simple service, which would take only few minutes and increase their sales or leads immediately, to give it to them for USD 20 or for free, just to get foot in the door?
    Why not give them something for free?

    Contact your local Chamber of Commerce, Kiwanis Club, Rotary, Lions Club, and offer to do a free talk, or round table discussion, on how businesses can increase their clients using a few simple ideas.

    You create an image of authority, make lots of contacts, and get your foot in a lot of doors.

    Most business owners are not going to be browsing the classifieds to find a $20 idea to increase business. I'd be surprised if even one business owner in your community read the classifieds for that purpose,
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