Read:The easiest way to get a client

The only problem with this is that most businesses that know they need a website already have one, the businesses who don't think they need one for the most part haven't taken the leap yet. So, you end up dealing with people who aren't even sold on the fact they need a website, then it is even harder to get those people to take the next steps.

The businesses who have websites and are marketing are the ones who you know are willing to take steps to bring in more business. Sure you can offer a website revision, but not all are going to need one.

I understand your thinking, but it doesn't always play out that way. I think what businesses know they need or want really comes down to more customers and more money, whatever gets them that is what they really want you to do. It's our job to show them what will do that, and convince them to let us do it for them.

I dont know Chad, I looked in my monthly coupon magazine that all the local businesses use in my area and found a few places w/o a site that REALLY should have one. One is a dentist with a half page ad in the magazine another is a bed and breakfast. Im contacting both. I may just throw together 2 quick sites and contact them with prices.

Bottom line is, there IS no "easiest" method. It all depends upon the market you're targeting, and what your prospect's needs are/may be.

Sorry folks, but "one size" does NOT fit all.

Pete

I always outsource the web work now unless I'm just setting up a simple wordpress website with a standard template.

wordpress is great because its easy to setup and it lets the business owner update their site themselves; I dont want to manage small changes for them whenever they want to add a picture or change some text.

You guys are giving away my secrets here....

I do cold calling... I am sure there is a bunch of you that disagree with that too. You can speak to me until your blue in the face about positioning and what not. I don't care.. I know if I get on the phone and call them. Hot or cold.... and then establish interest right off the bat. "Do you have a website? Or have you ever thought about doing one?"

Some say yes.... some say no.

If they are not interested. OK, thank you .... click. Next.

If they have a website... I offer them a free consultation or report, depending if I am within driving distance or not.

If no website.... "Well _______ , I know alot of these webdesigner want to charge you $2000 plus for a simple website which is all you really need. In most cases I can't get a 5 page fully "on Page" optimized website together for you for only $599 and $30 per month for hosting and maintenance."

This is too much? BS YellowBook charges $79per month for a 5 page website.


Interest? No Interest?

Worse come to worse I will do a simple wordpress site for $299 just to lock them in.

Now I am thier web guy. So when they get a mailer that is unique and cost some other Offliner $3 to send, or they have the YellowBook rep call and offer SEO.

They got a guy/girl. They already have someone that takes care of the "web stuff" so that $3 mailer gets pitched.

Why? Because someone had the forsight that telemarketing for prospects has ALWAYS worked. And will continue to work.

The loss leader of a cheap website.... GOLDEN. Opens the door.

Establishes the fact in a cold coll whether they have a website or not.

Most people that tell me they have a website... I get a redesign on it anyway. There is no MetaTags, it's not keyword optimized, there are no calls to action, multiple tag lines. etc......

Fact: Most business like this also say, "O I only want something simple, i just need to do this"

as a precursor to a brain dead monkey should be able to pop that up in half an hour, and as a monkey i expect to pay you peanuts.

" O and i want it be be great looking, i will need you to make 100 adjustments until i am happy, it should be number one on that google thing, i heard thats important, i need it to collect money for me day and night, and if it needs any further adjustment i will call you and expect you to update it for you at no charge "

You got to love them some times.

Ha! Ive definitely worked with idiots like this before. If you let them know up front how you work and how much you charge you are usually safe. Let them know they only get 1 revision and after that its an hourly rate. SEO and anything else is totally extra. If they dont like it, theres more fish in the sea

Awesome Adriver....

A really good friend of mine is a Sales Manager for YellowBook. Yes... That is all they charge. They give the site away as a loss leader. Charge $79 per month hosting...
I pick his brain every chance I get to find out what they are doing....

Then pitch a $5,000 per month local seo contract.

TryinHere...

Freakin' Hilarious....

And I think we all run across those clients. The point is... for every one of those... we get a hundred clients that say... "I don't know... You tell me."

What I like is managing these people over the phone. It makes it sooooo much easier.

The SEO packages are a case by case scenario...

They do onpage on all thier websites... That way it is easy peasy to get the site ranked well. I tried to do a Joint Venture with my boy.... We hang out a couple of times a week. I keep wearing him down....

Anyway... Their presentation really kills. They focus on higher end clientele. So they go for the money.

Need a unique selling proposition to combat the Big Bird? (yellowbook)

What I do is offer my website cheap. $300-$599 for a 5 pager. I tell them what yellow book is going to do. They are going to say this is free. Then charge you as much as they can for hosting and maintenance. My hosting is only $30 so you pay a little upfront and you don't have to pay an extra $400 per year to have the website up. I know $400 per year doesn't sound like much... but... It all adds up.

As far as SEO or Google Places Optimization goes... They want to charge you more than what a YellowPage ad costs. And they don't do any printing. I am offering you a way to get found and not have to pay until you see results.

When you get to page one and remain there for two weeks... a payment is required for the intial fee. After that we will maintain your listing position and keep pushing it to the top for $XXXX amount of dollars. The average Yellow Book ad is a Whole LOT more than this price. So you get more value, at a lesser price. Just makes good business sense don't you think?

All I need for you to do to get the ball rolling is answer a few questions...

(immediately go into biz info questionaire for web design sales collateral)

$xxxx amount of dollars... PER MONTH...

Forgot to put the per month in that last post.

Keith Dougherty has an awesome "broken link" technique he uses with a pending video review of the prospects existing site, am looking for the info will post, its pretty effective, imho only working with prospects with existing websites is prudent

I have a guy....

That is the deal we worked... I am a self taught individual...

I have done my own Guerrilla SEO in the past.... It is just too time consuming.

So that I can focus on the incoming clients and service after the sale. I outsource.

The Guy I have I can refer to you if you want.... He is in Florida too... Orlando area.

That is the deal we set up. That way I don't have to get my hands dirty and he gets a steady stream of paying work. If they don't pay. The SEO work for the client has been done on a mirror site with a 301 Re Direct. The SEO work gets sold to thier direct competitor. So one day... Joe Bum is the top of his local listings thinking he screwed us.

The next day... His competitor is in his place and we get paid immediately.

Thank you for that very useful tips. It can help a lot.

Hah, well I never had a problem with anyone asking for too many changes before.

You have to take charge and let them know up front and feel them out too.

YOU can choose who you work with. There's plenty of work out there.

I for one don't want to waste half my time "selling" businesses on their need for online marketing. For me, they need to have some sort of website no matter how lame. It at least shows a recognition of the web.

Intelligent thought Ryan, you right most of the business owners are unaware about internet marketing, to have a website is their main priority, thus, offering a web design and development is the best front end in order to catch them.

Absolutely, especially for the smaller fishes out there such as restaurants, hair salons, blue collar workers like trades.

Businesses like furniture stores and car dealerships know that they need internet marketing services. Even professionals are figuring this out now such as doctors and lawyers.

Going out of that "cave" and meeting people in your niche market is still a very reliable offline marketing strategy. Trust is easier to build quickly in the brick-and-mortar networking world.

Good luck!

Peace, love, happiness, and prosperity,
Stephanie

Absolutely. It is called "offline" consulting isn't it?