How to make $125 in 30 minutes giving free consultations

13 years ago

Very cool Nate! I think I'll be giving this ago, it's a fantastic way to get your foot in the door. What method do you use to set up your free consultations?

Thanks
2 replies

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fitz10

13 years ago

This is a simple good idea that works. You could also give a short lesson on websites to businesses without websites and pitch them hosting on HostGator ($50-$125 commission depending on volume). Or you could offer to make a one page site for them for free as long as they pay for hosting.

Thanks
1 reply

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NateRivers

13 years ago

Originally Posted by fitz10

This is a simple good idea that works. You could also give a short lesson on websites to businesses without websites and pitch them hosting on HostGator ($50-$125 commission depending on volume). Or you could offer to make a one page site for them for free as long as they pay for hosting.

Definitely- I've done that as will with a few clients.

They have a site that sucks- and you just say, "look- you should at least add a blog- and just write an article a month to kind of keep in contact with your customers". Then explain how to use the email list and blog in conjunction.

It blows their mind sometimes- it's funny.

Thanks

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NateRivers 13 years ago

Originally Posted by AmandeepS

Very cool Nate! I think I'll be giving this ago, it's a fantastic way to get your foot in the door. What method do you use to set up your free consultations?

I usually contact them through the contact form on their site- or if I can tell it's like a mom and pop type place- I just call.
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xlfutur1

13 years ago

Thanks for the post, never thought of this! It never ceases to amaze me how many ways there are to make money in the IM or offline world. The hard part is sticking to just ONE and exhausting it before you get ADD and move onto another.

Thanks
1 reply

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rotten72

13 years ago

Originally Posted by xlfutur1

Thanks for the post, never thought of this! It never ceases to amaze me how many ways there are to make money in the IM or offline world. The hard part is sticking to just ONE and exhausting it before you get ADD and move onto another.

It's even harder if you really do have ADD! I have to keep a notebook with my to do list and refer back to it when I get off track. Like now I should be doing doing my homework so I can finish my MBA in marketing!

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John Durham

13 years ago

I had thought at one time that one might do the same with the hostgator plan... because you get a hundred bucks... there are alot of ways your idea here could work for folks. Good one! Every now and then you see an out of the box idea that has all kinds of creativity oozing out of it...and I think there could be alot of good twists to your idea here. Nice one!

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Sondor

13 years ago

Great suggestion, and this can turn into a rather nice list!

Having worked for my friend's PC repair company when he needs an extra hand over the last year, I've found that selling offline folks Kaspersky AV, and Malware Bytes Premium is not just easy, but keeps your average user out of trouble!

Both have a good affiliate program, but it's not super fast to get approved for either. At least it wasn't when we started last year.

Each office we're in often has multiple computers. It can be a nice additional income stream if done casually.

Thanks

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larrybr

13 years ago

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RKCastillo

13 years ago

Originally Posted by larrybr

Do you charge them up front or only per sale?

I don't think he charges them anything. He gets the affiliate commission from iContact and that pays for the 30 min consult.

Thanks
1 reply

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NateRivers

13 years ago

Originally Posted by RKCastillo

I don't think he charges them anything. He gets the affiliate commission from iContact and that pays for the 30 min consult.

Yeah that's why it's easy to book the appointment- I do tell them that all they have to do is sign up for the email plan that's $10/month so that I'm not wasting my time- but for my labor I don't charge them anything- the iContact commission is how I get paid.

Thanks
1 reply

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Yogini

13 years ago

Originally Posted by NateRivers

Yeah that's why it's easy to book the appointment- I do tell them that all they have to do is sign up for the email plan that's $10/month so that I'm not wasting my time- but for my labor I don't charge them anything- the iContact commission is how I get paid.

Nate,

That is very creative. Do they commit to the idea before the meeting or do you meet with them , even if they just seem curious? Also what do you do if they already have a webmaster. Would you help them put the optin box on another platform if you can't get ftp info?

Debbie

Thanks
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NateRivers

13 years ago

Originally Posted by Yogini

Nate,

That is very creative. Do they commit to the idea before the meeting or do you meet with them , even if they just seem curious? Also what do you do if they already have a webmaster. Would you help them put the optin box on another platform if you can't get ftp info?

Debbie

If they have a web guy, I just show them how to create an opt-in form and then tell them to have their web guy put it on their site.

As far as meeting with them- I try to get them to commit so signing up for the email service- but sometimes I'll go if I feel like I can talk them into it too- it just depends.

One big thing is- don't spend a lot of time trying to convince skeptic people- just move one. People need to already see the value in it- don't spend a bunch of time trying to sell them on it if they just don't get it.

Thanks

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TheKeys

13 years ago

Interesting! I never thought about that before! Interesting concept

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Cray

13 years ago

that's is really smart actually..
thanks for the share

Thanks
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Adrian John

13 years ago

I will give them a free 30 min training on email marketing- and I'll help them setup their account and get their first few emails setup + give them a crash course in how to use email marketing in their business

Is this course an online thing? Like an video course or a book?
Or do you set appointments and explain them in person?

I am asking you this because i want to try your method but i'm not in US, i'm from Europe and i want to target businesses abroad.

Looking forward for your suggestions.

Adrian

Thanks
2 replies

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NateRivers

13 years ago

Originally Posted by banditu

Is this course an online thing? Like an video course or a book?
Or do you set appointments and explain them in person?

I am asking you this because i want to try your method but i'm not in US, i'm from Europe and i want to target businesses abroad.

Looking forward for your suggestions.

Adrian

I've actually thought about putting it into a "free course" that I'll send to every single person I contact- not a bad idea-

But so far, I do it in person.

Thanks

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Ricki Roma 13 years ago

my friend
like u i dont live in the u.s & in my country 1 guy does the same thing with the hostgator deal he shows u how 2 build a WP website
his doing very well
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kershawm

13 years ago

How do you contact the business? What is your conversion rate? Businesses that I contact by cold calling are very resistant to most techniques because they are bombarded with similar offers.

Thanks
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NateRivers

13 years ago

Originally Posted by kershawm

How do you contact the business? What is your conversion rate? Businesses that I contact by cold calling are very resistant to most techniques because they are bombarded with similar offers.

90% of the time I email them through their contact page. I go after mom & pop-type businesses usually. I have never measured conversion rates- I send about 10 emails a day, and do anywhere from 3-7 of these a week.

Whatever that equals I guess.

Thanks

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Julie McElroy

13 years ago

Does iContact pay you $125 just after the initial sign up? What if the customer cancels?

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NateRivers 13 years ago

Originally Posted by Julie McElroy

Does iContact pay you $125 just after the initial sign up? What if the customer cancels?

Yeah the $125 goes into your "new commissions", then it has to be "locked", and from signup to you getting a check takes about 2 months it seems like- so you have to start getting them in the pipeline then it's like clockwork- as they say.
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IMguy123

13 years ago

Originally Posted by NateRivers

This is something I've done a few times lately, I don't do a lot of offline stuff- I've mostly done membership sites online up to this point.

Anyways- through CJ iContact pays $125 per sale if someone signs up for just the $10/month subscription.

So, I look on google maps for businesses, see what their website looks like, see if they have a Facebook page-- I'm basically seeing if they have any clue about how to do online marketing- then I contact them and tell them I will give them a free 30 min training on email marketing- and I'll help them setup their account and get their first few emails setup + give them a crash course in how to use email marketing in their business.

If you explain this right- it's a no brainer because any business will recoup their $10/month easily by sending out one coupon/deal email a month to their customers.

Obviously- you just sign them up through your affiliate link- that's it.

Plus, it makes you seem like a genius, and makes you their new online marketing consultant when they want to do more in the future.

Wow, that is a great way to establish a relationship...could also be a seminar to get many clients at once.

Thanks

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Anthony seoserviceagents

13 years ago

Great Method keep it up.

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Mark_Austin

13 years ago

Nice idea and thanks for sharing. As well as the initial commission the potential for upsells is massive. Thanks.

Thanks

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deepali goyal

13 years ago

Interesting! I never thought before.what method do you use to set upyour free consultation?

Thanks
1 reply

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NateRivers 13 years ago

Originally Posted by deepali goyal

Interesting! I never thought before.what method do you use to set upyour free consultation?

I just contact them- whether it's over the phone or through email or through their contact form on their site.
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Yogini

13 years ago

I'm more familiar with aweber but it does seem that pricing is more appealing using icontact. Do you send out their first month's emails for them or just help them create the messages? I would think that you might get a lot of questions after the consult but maybe you go over it very step by step. Do you give them a hands-free option if they don't want to do it themselves and if so what do you charge them for that?

Debbie

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NateRivers

13 years ago

Originally Posted by Yogini

I'm more familiar with aweber but it does seem that pricing is more appealing using icontact. Do you send out their first month's emails for them or just help them create the messages? I would think that you might get a lot of questions after the consult but maybe you go over it very step by step. Do you give them a hands-free option if they don't want to do it themselves and if so what do you charge them for that?

Debbie

Somtimes I'll help them write the first few emails- it just depends.

And I do actually offer to manage it for them for $49/month or if their a bigger client and they're eating up what I'm telling them, I'll charge more.

It's a really good way to become their internet expert for things in the future.

Thanks

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xlfutur1

13 years ago

I applied for iContact in CJ and was declined a few days ago. No reason given for the decline. I have probably 8000 people on various lists of mine, and many different niche websites. Now I'm beginning to work with offline businesses, and I planned on helping them with email marketing via the method outlined in this thread.

I do wish that some of these CJ affiliate programs would list EXACTLY what they want in an affiliate. I know I could send them lots of business, but I guess I'll have to promote Aweber, a service I have used for 7 years.

Thanks

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Yogini

13 years ago

Nate,

Do you focus with them on the ability to send out special offers? If icontact is anything like aweber I think it could be intimidating to people. Does someone at the place of business just manually add the names in as they accumulate?

Xlfutur1,

In past when I've been rejected by a cj merchant I'd write affiliate manager. Some of them are automated declines and I'm not sure what it's based upon.

Debbie

Thanks
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dtaylor 13 years ago

This is a great idea for getting your foot in the door and could probably be the opening to a great business model.

Thanks for sharing. It pays to belong to WF.

DTaylor
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NateRivers

13 years ago

Originally Posted by Yogini

Nate,

Do you focus with them on the ability to send out special offers? If icontact is anything like aweber I think it could be intimidating to people. Does someone at the place of business just manually add the names in as they accumulate?

Xlfutur1,

In past when I've been rejected by a cj merchant I'd write affiliate manager. Some of them are automated declines and I'm not sure what it's based upon.

Debbie

Yeah I do if special offers make sense with their business- and they do for most businesses. You can tell them to ask every customer for their email address and then someone puts them in at the end of the day, as well as putting an opt-in on their site.

I also explain the concept of a monthly newsletter to their customers.

Thanks

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xlfutur1

13 years ago

Originally Posted by Yogini

Nate,

Xlfutur1,

In past when I've been rejected by a cj merchant I'd write affiliate manager. Some of them are automated declines and I'm not sure what it's based upon.

Debbie

I did email the affiliate manager and everything is fine now, they let me in. It was worth an email to explain the situation.

Thanks

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johnhoefer

13 years ago

Great info! I can put this to use immediately. Awesome.

Does iContact allow single opt-in lists? I haven't been able to find the answer on their site and all the info on blogs seems to be from 2009.

Thanks!

Thanks
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NateRivers

13 years ago

Originally Posted by johnhoefer

Great info! I can put this to use immediately. Awesome.

Does iContact allow single opt-in lists? I haven't been able to find the answer on their site and all the info on blogs seems to be from 2009.

Thanks!

I'm pretty sure iContact doesn't even have double opt-in. So yes, they are single opt-in, which is better anyways.

Thanks

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mj2059

13 years ago

Another great idea. This targets smaller biz than my preferred market, but I can see hiring some local help to work it and being able to eventually upsell many of these to bigger and/or recurring services.

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ramireec

13 years ago

so many simple way to make money, just need to be a bit creative and take action thanks for the post
Suave

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Big Gee

13 years ago

hmm, Ill try it thank you

Thanks

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RKCastillo

13 years ago

Nice. There are definitely a few up sides to doing this. For one, you almost guarantee that you'll make a $100 commission. For two, it allows you to meet with people who are more apt to call you in the future (assuming you're like-able and trustworthy). Thanks for the post.

Thanks

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Murlu

13 years ago

Have you considered adding a backend that keeps people around for additional services such as collecting your information and compiling it into a checklist of some sort so you can hand off to business owners?

The consultation is great especially if you land that sale. A lot of potential can come around if you keep you in their minds through some kind of regular update.

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golf69

13 years ago

great post...im going to do this asap

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jkuhry

13 years ago

Thanks Nate,,, another great method for me to profit with.. cant wait to see what else you write.

Thanks

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Emarketing Excellence

13 years ago

Thanks Nate, that is something you should have sold for some bucks through WSO. You have shared the technique for free!! Great man

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idreesfarooq

13 years ago

Something really new and refreshing for me. Thanks for explaining another way to generator some money. You are so generous to share your method here for free as it can be a successful WSO.

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How to make $125 in 30 minutes giving free consultations

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