Who Here Does SEO/Web Design vs. "Offline" Strategies?

I tend to focus 90% of my efforts with businesses online, at least for the first few months. I would imagine the reason why people on here are focusing on the online stuff is because it is what they know better and feel overall more comfortable with. For me personally, I am kind of a control freak as well, so I feel like I have more "control" over the online stuff. Not only that, but most of us on here are not getting clients on massive monthly retainers that would justify the efforts involved for much of the purely offline stuff. I agree that many of these things are DEAD SIMPLE and in many cases EASIER than the online stuff, but because of various factors (bad employee/owner/manager communication issues, "useless" requested meetings, we are not truly "in house", days of waiting with no feedback even after promised, etc) Just speaking from my own experiences as a primarily one man band.

I enjoy incorporating the offline stuff (even simple retention stuff they aren't taking advantage of, calling on past customers, reconfirming customers contact details, etc) and doing social media promotions with employees getting customers details, etc. But it often turns into a major headache and hassle for me. Essentially, all of the offline stuff may be WAY EASIER to accomplish, but it will often require WAY MORE of your own resources (time being the major one). This is just my opinion and why I choose to focus on the online stuff primarily, as for me it really comes down to ROI (both mine and ultimately my clients -- I'm good at bringing them consistent warm leads off the internet. I might be great at running a special community promo in their store, but they won't necessarily profit from it if their employees don't do their part of the bargain and they pay these employees to work on the promo for a month straight, etc) If I were to hire someone part time, I would pay them to help me "run" some of the offline-focused administrative stuff and go after it from the get-go.

- Jim

I help organise offline marketing strategies, and even draft up plans to assist busineses stay on track - often this will include analysing costs for advertisements, looking at which advertising strategies will bring the best ROI as well as looking at various other factors of marketing such as competition analysis and other elements that will form a marketing plan

I also offer assistance getting the company online if they aern't there already, and if they are there I work on optimizing their online presence through various things mainly SEO and adding them to google places as well as SOCM (if it will help the company and it will not be used simply because it is the latest craze)

However I am studying marketing at university - so I do learn the whole marketing thing from top to bottom the online part I self teach myself using the main fundamentals and simply twisting them to work online (whereas some marketers if not most simply shift from IM, which has become massively saturated with everyone wanting to offer something to anyone with a pulse to offline for easier pickings which may result in a lesser quality service being provided to the client - however if the client is happy I guess it's all good... even if they have no idea what a real marketing strategy should consist of)

It's not too hard, you just need confidence and have the ability to handle what ever someone throws at you - keeping your posture... essentially I never work with scripts, I come from the belief that if you're selling a service you must know enough about it to do it without relying on objects to help you along (comes across really lazy/robotic - but some people have real confidence issues and that is fine in these cases)

I simply love the engagement factor, learning other peoples business models and their experience about how they evolved to where they are, and being apart of that evolution to their next stages

- JB

*Just a note I do a lot of my stuff for free - minimal cost to get experience untill I finish my degree*

PS Vaga I might buy your mindmap on wednesday - It looks interesting and packed with good solid info, rather than some BS fake guru package most WSO's are that sell simply on the back of peoples little minions hyping the crap out of them... it's refreshing.

I also offer assistance getting the company online if they aern't there already, and if they are there I work on optimizing their online presence through various things mainly SEO and adding them to google places as well as SOCM (if it will help the company and it will not be used simply because it is the latest craze)..we do seo/webdesign and also off line stratergies..

well if you can focus on both SEO and website then you are just one of those very flexible and dynamic workers. I mean you can really learn them both if you will just try and be consistent in what you do. And it is an advantage for you since its like you are learning from it.

Well I first do SEO/online just because I know that this will be great in both short term (Client sees the work I'm doing) and long term (Client gets customers because of the work). Also I believe once you can justify your cost for online marketing you can then approach them with offline ideas, ( Promotions,printed materials etc)

I have found every client different, so instead of trying to sell them a 'package' I have them fill in a 'marketing appraisal form' from this I can structure a ‘solution’ tailored to their needs and budgets, it also comes across professional.

Not only does the form give me a good insight to their business but I can usually find loads of areas for growth.

John

Our job is to increase leads/customers and by association profit for our clients (small business owners) regardless if that is done via online or offline methods. You are shutting yourself out from big part of the game if you insists on online marketing methods only.

I am falling in love with web design all over again!

Yep I'm actually turning 21 tomorrow

Normally I get testimonials and also once I have my website up and running I will be putting each client I work with in the clients zone to build some credibility, I don't really charge a big fee because I was gaining experience (real world experience - not just from text books) which is far more valuable than any money at the moment.

I just love marketing, and it's something I'm always thinking about... how to build better relationships with clients from aquisition through to retention whilst keeping costs low and generating good revenue and technology is another thing I am into, so I love theorising about how technology can be blended with the process as well...

At the end of the day, the best thing about it is I can be my own boss and everything that comes from it is from my own actions and I am in control of my life

-JB

I refer to my business as a digital marketing business. It leaves open the opportunity for me to offer other kinds of advertising and marketing services in the future.

Currently I'm just doing web design, SEO packages and consultancy. I'd like to bring more services into the mix as time goes on. I'm interested in branding, and print. I also know a fair bit about direct mail campaigns.

When I'm designing a website for a client, I always notice so many things that I could help them with, so it's good to make it clear that marketing is my area. They won't necessarily want to listen to someone who is just the friendly neighborhood web designer.

I focus 100% of organic seo/places. I try my hardest to stay away from websites, but I always get clients begging me to create something new for them.

Australia

Sydney to be specific, yeah I think we have the same mindset on marketing which is good - I was frankly tired of seeing so many threads about landing clients and not knowing what to offer... I don't understand how anyone would hire someone that didn't already explain what they'd be doing for them. =\

Then I checked out your WSO and it was like "oh wow, this guy is a solid and genuine offliner" =)

I considered the idea of the full plate route, but i decided to focus my efforts on the online marketing for small business approach. I get the "shut off from a big part of the game" argument, but I don't really want to be a generalist.

I want to focus on an aspect (a lrage one still) of the game and excell at it.

I've done specialty print advertising in the past and I understand that there are pieces of the pie I'm leaving for someone else, but I'm fine with that. I just want my peice of the pie, and I want to be so good at that piece that I am indispensible.