How I make first contact... (works every time)

19 replies
I found some really good resources here on the forum so I would like to repay by sharing what is working for me to make first contact with a business. I hate the idea of cold calling and would never do that even if it meant going back to work in a hotel. Direct mail is a valid alternative and I do plan on doing a test, especially from a Google Places WSO I bought recently.

But what I have been doing is using a email extracting software and Autofill Forms plug in for firefox. Then, like I just mentioned on another thread, I offer a free website (again I got the templates here on the WSO section. This forum has been a wealth of resources for me!).

Almost all of my free website clients express gratitude for the site and a good percentage of them are now open to looking at other services I can offer them. I have them on my aweber list as well.

For anyone having problems finding clients I would recommend getting all the PLR/website templates you can find at the WSO section, and start giving them away as fast as you can. It gets your foot in the door and opens up communication with business owners who have major cash to spend.
#contact #make #time #works
  • Profile picture of the author Amir Luis
    hmmmm.... have a link?

    This is like the bower method on crack.
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  • Profile picture of the author Amir Luis
    Look at John Durams latest WSO......

    It explains the complete method.

    It is also what the major competition is doing in every market... which I cover in MY WSO.
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  • Profile picture of the author Michael William
    Giving away websites is not new, but the twist I use in my emails and contact forms is. I do not charge for hosting ever. I want to be able to offer 100% free offers without any obligation at any time to keep prospects at ease.
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  • Profile picture of the author redcell1
    Wait so you dont charge for the website nor the hosting ? So this is 100% free?
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    Just here to see the shenanigans.

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  • Profile picture of the author SubUrbanHype
    If you don't charge them for hosting then are you paying for the hosting out of pocket or did you find some slick loop hole, this sounds interesting.
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    • Profile picture of the author jake244
      I love the concept, it's the same as give and you shall receive.
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    • Profile picture of the author Peggy Baron
      Originally Posted by SubUrbanHype View Post

      If you don't charge them for hosting then are you paying for the hosting out of pocket or did you find some slick loop hole, this sounds interesting.
      He probably has a reseller account so he can have as many domains on there as he wants and it doesn't cost extra.

      Michael, it looks like you've got something that's working for you. Congrats!

      Peggy
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      • Profile picture of the author Michael William
        Originally Posted by Peggy Baron View Post

        He probably has a reseller account so he can have as many domains on there as he wants and it doesn't cost extra.

        Michael, it looks like you've got something that's working for you. Congrats!

        Peggy
        Hi Peggy, yes I have a reseller account and I use sub domains of my own domains unless they want their own in which I do charge. But what really impresses them is I set up a blog with lots of content making it look like it is an established publication for my target niche. I then highlight individual companies. I use link building software and the blog is starting to get ranked in google so soon it will become even more valuable for my clients. It pulls in auto content and amazingly many of the articles/videos get ranked even though they are dup content.
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  • Profile picture of the author Amir Luis
    It is the theory of reciprocity in action.
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    • Profile picture of the author WildGale
      Do you set them up on their own domain? If so, I assume you own the domain
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      • Profile picture of the author chris916
        My experience is that the customers you attract with free stuff or bargain basement prices tend to expect more and pay less. Let us know if you are profitable with this.
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        • Profile picture of the author Amir Luis
          Originally Posted by chris916 View Post

          My experience is that the customers you attract with free stuff or bargain basement prices tend to expect more and pay less. Let us know if you are profitable with this.
          There are SOOOOO many business models profitable with this... I wouldn't even know where to begin the list....


          In a former life I had a window cleaning company that focused on high end residential clients. The average house I would do was around $350. So with my marketing materials I offered

          A Pamper Package that included "FREE GODIVA CHOCOLATES" if you call me before (two week time stamp) and get your free estimate!

          So... I created urgency. Giving them a reason to call right away. Then I gave them a gift. Using the theory of reciprocity, even though my prices were a little, well, quite a bit, higher than the rest of my competition. My closing ratio was darn near 100% with this campaign.

          That is just one story....

          There are many. But that one is my own.
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          • Profile picture of the author The Kid
            I think Chris isn't referring to Michael just giving out free websites, but to Michael giving out free websites AND not charging for hosting... consequently not screening for ppl who are willing to pay for value and possibly attracting bargain hunting clients.

            At least with your Godiva promotion, your customers were already paying for a service. A high end one at that.
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            • Profile picture of the author Michael William
              Originally Posted by The Kid View Post

              I think Chris isn't referring to Michael just giving out free websites, but to Michael giving out free websites AND not charging for hosting... consequently not screening for ppl who are willing to pay for value and possibly attracting bargain hunting clients.

              At least with your Godiva promotion, your customers were already paying for a service. A high end one at that.
              I don't just offer free websites and hosting, I offer a resource and a community of like minded professionals to the target niche. I offer to "feature" their business in my "publication" that features some of their competition already. Then I tell them how we specialize in helping ______'s get listed on page one for maximum visibility. But not at first, that kind of gets worked in later. I don't have it perfected yet, and I might even try the paid hosting plan sometime, but what I have been doing works and I am comfortable with it. No hard selling, just offering to give something my clients can use for free.
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  • Profile picture of the author Voasi
    The most powerful word in marketing is FREE. It's also the most under-used, mis-understood and under-utilized. I've received $10k web design clients and $6k/mo SEO clients by using that word.

    Always try and find a way to incorporate that into your marketing message and you'll see how well it works!
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    Want $6,000/mo. SEO Clients? Watch My Free Video!
    We do WSO Designs TOO!!! Best on WF! - Click Here
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  • Profile picture of the author Droopy Dawg
    I did this a couple years ago... I ran a special where I only took on 10 clients (scarcity), and I gave away a free website, but I did charge a monthly fee for hosting/maintenance ($30). I offered to SEO the site as an upsell, along with a few other services such as a toll-free number, Google local listing and a few others.

    My 10 free websites offer still brings in over $2000 monthly residual income and I don't do any more than 3 hours of work on all 10 sites combined per month.
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  • Profile picture of the author eyfohtik
    Michael,

    Send me a PM ( i can't due post count ) I'd like to learn more about the 50/50 split JV on google places client.
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