Ways to sell services without calling on people?

20 replies
Hey guys,

What are some ways that I could sell website development for offline businesses without having to physically call/visit them?
#calling #people #sell #services #ways
  • Profile picture of the author Jeremy James
    I don't mind - and even would enjoy - their calling me - but, not calling them. I KNOW I could close someone calling me!

    I thought about making car magnets for mine and my wife's car - that advertised my service. I have a friend who drives a van cross country - and we could put one on his too.
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  • Profile picture of the author WillDL
    Your best bet is to do seminars.

    I assume you are intimidated by the cold call or cold walk in, but aren't afraid of seeing people. Do free presentations for local business organizations and go to networking events.

    If you just don't want to talk to people who aren't interested direct mail is probably your best bet. But honestly, you're going to have to talk to business owners if you want to build your business.
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  • Profile picture of the author Fernando Veloso
    There is no best way - there are several best wayS.

    You just need to adapt your marketing with what works best for you.

    Example: my company receives a lot of traffic from search engines PLUS we have old customers always trusting us their referrals and new services for themselves.

    This is what works for ME - but perhaps it won't work for you.

    Again, you need to find out what works best for you and scale it.
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    People make good money selling to the rich. But the rich got rich selling to the masses.
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  • Profile picture of the author John Durham
    A: Go to an employment guide like monster or career builder.

    B: Create a VERY attractive position for an outside field rep/affiliate.

    C: Start giving your opportunity to offline affiliates. Create an offline affiliate Army.

    D: Over the course of a month or so, you will give the opportunity to 500 potential offline affiliates... to get a handful of 5-10 people consistently working, and those 5-10 will send you 10 - 15 sales per week. Thats not to say its the same 5-10 people every week sending you the business... not all pistons fire at once, thats why a fairly large amount of affiliates is important. You have to reach critical mass to get a consistent, predictable production. Only DOING can help you determine what critical mass MEANS given any certain level of production. Maybe it only means 100 affiliates to get 10 sales per week consistently... maybe it means 500?

    You can only determine that by doing it. Rest assured there IS a number.

    E: Now you just have to manage them online via Skype or AIM... you will spend about 2 hours per day on skype chat...

    How do I know? Because I DID it... only I sold the applicants $300 Agent packages instead of giving it away.

    Anyway, it takes work, but there you have a way to create incoming business.

    Offline affiliates tend to not take the opportunity for granted as much... they actually go out and TALK to people about your product, actively.

    Edit: "Critical Mass":
    • the minimum amount (of something) required to start or maintain a venture;
    • the minimum amount mass that can sustain a chain reaction
    Whether it be Amway, or Herbalife, or your offline affiliate Army... or even your ONLINE one... Your google ads, your print ads... they all work off the principle of critical mass.

    Find your magic number... there ALWAYS is one. How many impressions do I need to get a click? How many clicks to get a sale?
    How many ads do I need to run to insure that amount of impressions every month?
    What is my critical mass number in terms of impressions, or advertising venues in order to get x number of sales?

    In this case: How many offline affiliates do I need to consistently make 15 sales per month?

    It can always happen. What are you willing to do in order to find your magic number?

    Yes, you can have incoming business.
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    • Profile picture of the author Creativegirl
      Brilliant!


      Originally Posted by John Durham View Post

      A: Go to an employment guide like monster or career builder.

      B: Create a VERY attractive position for an outside field rep/affiliate.

      C: Start giving your opportunity to offline affiliates. Create an offline affiliate Army.

      D: Over the course of a month or so, you will give the opportunity to 500 potential offline affiliates... to get a handful of 5-10 people consistently working, and those 5-10 will send you 10 - 15 sales per week. Thats not to say its the same 5-10 people every week sending you the business... not all pistons fire at once, thats why a fairly large amount of affiliates is important. You have to reach critical mass to get a consistent, predictable production. Only DOING can help you determine what critical mass MEANS given any certain level of production. Maybe it only means 100 affiliates to get 10 sales per week consistently... maybe it means 500?

      You can only determine that by doing it. Rest assured there IS a number.

      E: Now you just have to manage them online via Skype or AIM... you will spend about 2 hours per day on skype chat...

      How do I know? Because I DID it... only I sold the applicants $300 Agent packages instead of giving it away.

      Anyway, it takes work, but there you have a way to create incoming business.

      Offline affiliates tend to not take the opportunity for granted as much... they actually go out and TALK to people about your product, actively.

      Edit: "Critical Mass":
      • the minimum amount (of something) required to start or maintain a venture;
      • the minimum amount mass that can sustain a chain reaction
      Whether it be Amway, or Herbalife, or your offline affiliate Army... or even your ONLINE one... Your google ads, your print ads... they all work off the principle of critical mass.

      Find your magic number... there ALWAYS is one. How many impressions do I need to get a click? How many clicks to get a sale?
      How many ads do I need to run to insure that amount of impressions every month?
      What is my critical mass number in terms of impressions, or advertising venues in order to get x number of sales?

      In this case: How many offline affiliates do I need to consistently make 15 sales per month?

      It can always happen. What are you willing to do in order to find your magic number?

      Yes, you can have incoming business.
      Signature
      {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[3390551].message }}
    • Profile picture of the author Jeremy James
      Originally Posted by John Durham View Post

      A: Go to an employment guide like monster or career builder.

      B: Create a VERY attractive position for an outside field rep/affiliate.

      C: Start giving your opportunity to offline affiliates. Create an offline affiliate Army.

      D: Over the course of a month or so, you will give the opportunity to 500 potential offline affiliates... to get a handful of 5-10 people consistently working, and those 5-10 will send you 10 - 15 sales per week. Thats not to say its the same 5-10 people every week sending you the business... not all pistons fire at once, thats why a fairly large amount of affiliates is important. You have to reach critical mass to get a consistent, predictable production. Only DOING can help you determine what critical mass MEANS given any certain level of production. Maybe it only means 100 affiliates to get 10 sales per week consistently... maybe it means 500?

      You can only determine that by doing it. Rest assured there IS a number.

      E: Now you just have to manage them online via Skype or AIM... you will spend about 2 hours per day on skype chat...

      How do I know? Because I DID it... only I sold the applicants $300 Agent packages instead of giving it away.

      Anyway, it takes work, but there you have a way to create incoming business.

      Offline affiliates tend to not take the opportunity for granted as much... they actually go out and TALK to people about your product, actively.

      Edit: "Critical Mass":
      • the minimum amount (of something) required to start or maintain a venture;
      • the minimum amount mass that can sustain a chain reaction
      Whether it be Amway, or Herbalife, or your offline affiliate Army... or even your ONLINE one... Your google ads, your print ads... they all work off the principle of critical mass.

      Find your magic number... there ALWAYS is one. How many impressions do I need to get a click? How many clicks to get a sale?
      How many ads do I need to run to insure that amount of impressions every month?
      What is my critical mass number in terms of impressions, or advertising venues in order to get x number of sales?

      In this case: How many offline affiliates do I need to consistently make 15 sales per month?

      It can always happen. What are you willing to do in order to find your magic number?

      Yes, you can have incoming business.
      That is a good idea. I like it.

      So, if I offer a 5 page site from Homestead for $599, I can pay like $299-$349 as a commission, and, then, have then have the residual?

      You mentioned "Affiliates." Wouldn't this be more like employees - 1099 paid employees?

      I do like the idea - and could get set up with all of this quickly.

      Thanks, John.
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  • Profile picture of the author Avesel
    Seminars are better than attending networking events as networking events are just too random. All you end up (often) is with a bunch of business cards.
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  • Profile picture of the author Jeremy James
    Thanks for the suggestions, guys. I am hoping to do my own spin on the Homestead web program. Been talking to them this week - those guys are SUPER!
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  • Profile picture of the author Creativegirl
    The problem with seminars, if you do your own that is, is you still have to market it to get people to come. Same as starting your networking meeting/group. Having an inroad with local people or scraping emails from chamber directories will give you an instant list to market your free presentation to.
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  • Profile picture of the author Quentin
    You can try this.

    http://www.slideshare.net/msincome/anatomy-of-a-mobile-website" Anatomy of a mobile website Anatomy of a mobile website

    Quentin
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  • Profile picture of the author Arc Lewis
    Post free ads about your services on Quiker and yellow pages.
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  • Profile picture of the author 70chevelleSS
    Originally Posted by Jeremy James View Post

    Hey guys,

    What are some ways that I could sell website development for offline businesses without having to physically call/visit them?
    If you think about it, the fact that they are "offline", makes it pretty tough to contact them without calling or visiting. Why are you afraid to call or visit? The worst that can ever happen is that they just say, "sorry, i'm not interested". Selling is about personal contact, not about emails, texts or facebook. If you want to be successful selling your service to someone, get in front of them or get them on the phone and explain to them why you can benefit them and their business. How you can either make them more money, or save them money.
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  • Profile picture of the author D111
    Try mailing a sales letter to a small niche. Have a deadline for your offer and wait for them to call. Follow up with at least 2 more letters/postcards/mailings to increase response.

    You could get a list of businesses from Infousa and use Amazing Mail to do some follow up postcards.
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  • Profile picture of the author ElaineBaker
    I know how you feel and I have found it difficult to approach people. I worked in a Bank for 8 years and all I had to do was sell, sell, sell, and to be honest it really put me off selling.

    But now I have a new approach to the "selling".

    I contact businesses and ask the owner/manager if they have about 15 minutes of their time to spare me to help me out with a little research I'm doing in their particular trade/field.

    I tell them the basics of what I do and then ask them if there is anyway they can think of how my business can help their business.

    It's a great starting point.

    I've recently called 5 estate agents whom have all agreed to spend time with me.

    I am offering the full package, a main website (new or revamp), a mobile site and integrating QR Codes in their business.

    Hope this helps, it certainly works for me
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    • Profile picture of the author rioguy
      John Duham had written;

      " Now you just have to manage them online via Skype or AIM... you will spend about 2 hours per day on skype chat...

      How do I know? Because I DID it... only I sold the applicants $300 Agent packages instead of giving it away."

      John,

      Not clear what you mean here.

      Are these agents/affiliates you set-up to get you "leads" so that you can "sell" the actual business on getting a website from you ?

      What did you $300 "Agent" kit contain?

      $300 sounds like a lot to charge, but if you can get it - great.

      Thanks,
      Dave
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      • Profile picture of the author Keith Boisvert
        In the past I have spoken at Chamber of commerce meetings (captured audience that I didn't have to recruit personally).

        But what works for me personally is networking via Facebook and LinkedIn. I haven't gone out and recruited a client in over a year because of it. Plus each new client refers me to others so word of mouth both offline and on is my biggest way to get new clients. I refuse to cold call.

        keith
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    • Profile picture of the author kupang
      Originally Posted by ElaineBaker View Post

      I know how you feel and I have found it difficult to approach people. I worked in a Bank for 8 years and all I had to do was sell, sell, sell, and to be honest it really put me off selling.

      But now I have a new approach to the "selling".

      I contact businesses and ask the owner/manager if they have about 15 minutes of their time to spare me to help me out with a little research I'm doing in their particular trade/field.

      I tell them the basics of what I do and then ask them if there is anyway they can think of how my business can help their business.

      It's a great starting point.

      I've recently called 5 estate agents whom have all agreed to spend time with me.

      I am offering the full package, a main website (new or revamp), a mobile site and integrating QR Codes in their business.

      Hope this helps, it certainly works for me
      Good point... it's really excellent marketing strategy but in order to sell website development for offline businesses without call or visit the prospects, the advertisement on any advertisement medium such as TVs, internet, radios, newspapers and the yellow pages are the best practice.
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  • Profile picture of the author Bruce NewMedia
    I've used mail for years to get leads. Still works fine, maybe even better today.

    I also do some very warm cold calling, but not too often. If you send the right thing, to the right prospects, you WILL get calls. So that would relieve you of the fear of initiating the contact by phone or face to face.
    _____
    Bruce
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