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My Offline Business Is Gaining Traction

by BC27
8 replies
I looked back, and saw my first post as I was diving fully into offline local business consulting/marketing was 3 months ago.

I'm happy to say that I just bagged client #5, and it is my first big dollar paying client (chump change to some of you). I am stoked AND addicted to these kinds of paydays.

WSO coming soon! LOL:rolleyes:

Thanks to this forum for all the great advice on posts, and answering the questions I do have from time to time. I'm pretty picky on my WSO's but man they are addicting at these prices so you need to be careful.

I had a slew of questions planned for this post but I often don't ask because the answers are usually all around us, especially in this forum, and I try not to be redundant. Besides, seeking the answers myself and jumping the hurdles keeps me "mostly" self sufficient and is a great motivator that I can do this without having to wait for an answer (waiting for an answer is a slippery slope).

I will ask just 1 question which is basic and I know it's been answered, but sometimes my "advanced searches" make me do a lot of reading about things that take me off focus (the reason for this post).

I found suggestions for themes and I have allowed it to be a stumbling block to the website for 2 days now...no more. I'll go pick one. Unless you want to make a suggestion for say...an "auto repair shop" WP theme. I am comfortable with WP and don't wish to outsource at this time as I feel I need to be in the trenches.

But...I would love to know again if you would take the time to tell what plugins you are using when building a new WP website for a local client.

I know it's redundant but I can't easily find a good thread on it and I'd appreciate it having it all in one place for me.

Thanks all, I'm real excited about where the next 3 months will take me.

Hopefully I'll be able to give back as much as I've gotten here soon.

-Brian
#business #gaining #offline #traction
  • Profile picture of the author stoaf88
    Plugins:

    All in one seo
    google xml sitemap plugin
    seo search term tagging
    seo automatic links
    si-contact-form
    autohyperlinkurls
    share this

    Please answer this question for me. How have you gone about finding new clients?
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    • Profile picture of the author dancorkill
      I usually just modify the standard theme that comes with Wordpress, no need to get fancy with design for a local business. themeforest.net for themes if want something real snazzy.

      These are my plugins for pretty much every client:

      Google Analytics for WordPress
      Yoast Wordpress SEO - WordPress SEO Plugin - Search Engine Optimization Plugin - Yoast
      Akismet
      Automatic WordPress Backup
      Comment Redirect
      Contact Form 7 - default email info@domain.com.au
      Redirection
      Use Google Libraries
      SEO Slugs
      Simple Tags
      Subscribe To Comments
      W3 Total Cache
      pageMash - for advanced users only
      WP-DBManager
      Blackbird Pie
      MediaRSS
      Comment e-mail verification - prevent anonymous comments
      Widget Context

      edit: oh yeah keep up the good work.
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  • Profile picture of the author crisrobert
    first do
    sitemap.xml
    roborts.txt
    webmaster
    forum posting
    article submission
    directory submission
    rss fed submission
    follow this tool and gain business.
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  • Profile picture of the author jondabach
    Are you talking strictly SEO? I find some other plugins quite useful just to make the site look nice:

    paid plugins:
    ubermenu
    lightbox evolution
    custom backgrounds for wordpress
    styles with shortcodes
    backup buddy (invaluable for backing up the site and migrating)

    SEO has really been covered here but of course, nobody's mentioning the obvious - SEOPressor - invaluable SEO tool!!!
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  • Profile picture of the author WillST
    Great to hear Brian, it seems the guys who have posted above me have answered your questions pretty thoroughly.

    Big well done on getting 5 clients! Keep it up, and keep us posted on your future successes :-D
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  • Profile picture of the author iamchrisgreen
    Congratulations on getting the 5 clients.

    I'm interested to know what your plans are to keep them on board for over 12 months.
    Signature
    The No.1 Podcast for Offline Marketers
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    • Profile picture of the author BC27
      This forum flat out rocks...thanks for replying.

      If anyone cares to share how to post the quotes for the multiple replies I'm happy to learn and make this more readable for others.

      "stoaf88"
      great info, I know a few of the plugins, use a few alternates to some, but will look into the others.

      To answer your question on how I found the clients:
      Long story short, I'm a dad of 4 young kids, my wife works opposite hours than me so we don't have to do day care, so I have little time to go meet clients, but I know I can do this.
      I recruited my brother to sell. He got me 3 of the clients. As a matter of fact they are the 3 paying clients. 2 I did Google Places for for $250 each. I knocked it out of the park for one (23+ 1st page rankings and climbing) and got 1st page rankings for solid keywords for the other. They used me for cheap, but I used them for experience. They decided not to go with the monthly maintenance...go figure (seriously undervalued my work to get myself going).
      Gotta learn the ropes, put yourself to the test and get it going by getting yourself out there.
      He's only selling me and for the most part otherwise has no clue what he's selling except that I'll come through and build a business.
      The other 2 were friends I hit up for free to build a portfolio. 1 turned out to be a flake, the other I tacked on backend pay and referrals.

      "dancorkill"
      Nice list, thank you. I'll check them out but sounds like a few are for when I get going pretty thick into it. I'll add on with the maintenance package.

      "crisrobert"
      Are those all plugins, or an seo strategy for some like the submissions. I've got Magic Submitter so I'm using that for submissions.

      "jondabach"
      Talking mostly SEO right now, the creative side will come as my learning curve improves so those are new to me. I want to get them phone calls at the moment and get referrals.
      SEOPressor is on my list of tools to get. I know seo pretty decent, but no sense not making it easier, thanks for reminding me.
      I also just got the recent WSO "backup creator" for cloning and backups, but really I don't find it too difficult to backup WP manually.

      "JSTEF"
      Thanks, the encouragement means a lot. I am very excited to kick the day job and get control of my life. Client #5 was the "whale" so far for me. Now I know it's doable, just gotta keep coming thorugh for these clients.

      "iamchrisgreen"
      Great question. I'm trying to long-term plan but obviously a little short sighted based on "getting" the clients. Currently I am requiring, as of this last client for them to stay for 90 days. This would be the maintenance plan written into the contract for 90 days minimum. I also have in that hosting is free while with the maintenance plan, but something like $39 per month if not. Decent residual after a while and a number of clients.
      Other than that just trying to kill it for them and upsell to more services I'll add as my biz grows. Trying to focus on GP and websites til things start rolling, then I'll add in social, mobile, etc... to existing clients as I grow over the next few months.
      I am totally open to suggestions and making it a stronger biz if you want to add tips.
      For instance, I learned to tell this last one I can get started after I get the check. I have upfront costs to pay for so as in a hurry as he was, he told me the check was in the mail, then told me the same thing the next day. Can you say show me the money! Seemed to work and I get the check 2 days later.

      Thanks for helping.

      -Brian
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      • Profile picture of the author Mach1Marketing
        Hello,
        Well I would say get Jeremy Kelsals Ninja Plugin. This actually gave me the confidence to start Kicking Ass and taking names. You do 1 post and it turns it into 200 - 400 - 600 specific cities posts. Which in turn become
        1st page #1's. Seriously. Out of 400 local cities I got 380 #1 rankings.
        So "Keyword Trenton NJ" plus 399 others are built for you in minutes not
        weeks. Also dont be afraid to go to a car dealer and straight up ask for
        $1500 a month and $1500 for set up fees. Just look for a Car dealer with
        low backlinks then Goto the Big time Car dealers site in your area. You know the dealer thats on TV all the time. Now his site will most likely have thousands. So you walk into the low ranking dealer tell them well you have a backlinking power of 21 and your competition has 2100. Spin it any way you want. From there they cannot let you go out the door period.
        You also throw in that your deal would lock them in and you would not do
        another dealer in the area. These dealers pay $5000 plus per month on advertising. They also know newspaper leads are drying up. You leverage
        places page - Youtube - animoto - facebook and you are set. Before you
        go to your meeting make them a free video using Animoto and pics off the net then show it to them near the end of your proposal. They will gain confidence in you and be surprised you went through the trouble to make one for them. Good Luck -

        -Steve
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