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Why not offer free websites to offline customers?

by zachary0611
12 replies
Why not offer free websites to offline customers? If they buy webhosting and a domain name through you. Setting up a wordpress blog only takes 5 minutes. You can get 100 dollars as an affiliate for hostgator on commission junction. I actually put in a Craigslist ad and got some responses a couple months ago. I was busy at the time so I didnt return their calls. I may do this again tho. I think this would be a great way for a newbie to get their foot into the door and definitely undercut competition. You can then upsell them later. What do you think?
#customers #free #offer #offline #websites
  • Profile picture of the author Teravel
    A free website doesn't get the business owner anywhere. Unless the site gets traffic, it's just another site lost in the depths of the internet. You need to give them something that can get more people contacting the business. This is where Google Places becomes a great option, as the competition is generally light out of large cities, and it doesn't cost either of you a penny.

    Make sure to explain how the website can benefit their business once they get that traffic. The website should be used to inform and connect. Once a prospect has contacted the business, it is up to them to convert that lead into a sale.
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  • Profile picture of the author denisventana
    Yes, You are right,when we expand our business then we explain our best things in dept on sites & many person reached on us by more-more ways..... when you got more prospects on Google then people get more information of our business & we get more leading of our business expansion on sites.
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  • Profile picture of the author mr2monster
    Just make sure you read through the ToS on the host you're referring as an affiliate. Some of them prohibit this very thing (although I'm not sure how they're tracking it exactly).

    I do this sometimes when I need a quick injection of cash.. but it's really too much pain for what it's worth to be honest...

    A lot of times, people take FOOOORRRRREEEEEEVVVVER getting back to you with layout options or little tweaks here and there.. and it stretches a $50-100 project out WAY too long.

    I have been meaning to set up an "application" type page so that when someone inquires, they have to fill out a form (autoresponder), click the link to get hosting and domain (affiliate links), and complete a questionnaire before I even see the request.. I've just been lazy and haven't done it yet.
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  • Profile picture of the author KO
    Offer a free website and domain with forced continuity. Setup your own reseller account and go for it. It's so easy to say yes to free, and then you get to whack their cards every month. Just be clear in the "terms of service."

    It can give you some nice pocket money with little or no effort. It's been working for me.
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  • Profile picture of the author KO
    Offer a free website and domain with forced continuity. Setup your own reseller account and go for it. It's so easy to say yes to free, and then you get to whack their cards every month. Just be clear in the "terms of service."

    It can give you some nice pocket money with little or no effort. It's been working for me.
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  • Profile picture of the author dancorkill
    Most web hosts are fine with you doing this.

    Some people do make a killing with this, it's all about how much crap you are willing to go through really to make $100.

    If your that motivated you can easily make more money helping less clients. Sell one website for $5000, or have to affiliate link and setup 50 websites (also guess who they chase when there is a problem with site or hosting). Up sell good idea but you have already said "hey I do work for free" not a strong position to be in.

    Like I say though I see people killing it with this method, there are just far more leveraged ways to make money and help people though.
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  • Profile picture of the author danielkanuck
    Originally Posted by zachary0611 View Post

    Why not offer free websites to offline customers? If they buy webhosting and a domain name through you. Setting up a wordpress blog only takes 5 minutes. You can get 100 dollars as an affiliate for hostgator on commission junction. I actually put in a Craigslist ad and got some responses a couple months ago. I was busy at the time so I didnt return their calls. I may do this again tho. I think this would be a great way for a newbie to get their foot into the door and definitely undercut competition. You can then upsell them later. What do you think?
    Maybe you should try this again. However i would be wary of offering any of your services for free. If it was a tangible product, maybe. But since it's a service, with some clients.... they might have you do the service and then ditch you. What's the intent of your strategy?
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    • Profile picture of the author smartsites
      I offer a free website just to get in the door to sell my fan page services and it works like crazy. I target businesses that have crappy websites and no fan page and there are a ton. As soon as I tell them I will build them a free site they ask what else I do This give me instant credibility.
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      • Profile picture of the author imarketingfanatic
        local business owners care about one thing only... and that one thing is customers.

        if i were given the opp to pay for leads or get a free website i would get the leads because the leads means money. all the website is something that you give me in exchange for my attention...

        its a good quick cash model. but far from a long term kind of game plan.
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  • Profile picture of the author Qamar
    I think this model is lucrative if done right. Offer them a 3 page website consisting of the homepage, about us and contact us.

    Get them to provide their contents and you simply out it on them homepage and about us page for them. For the contact us page, just place a contact 7 plug in will do.

    I am currently doing this model for some of my client. Most of the time they ended up paying me for extra pages ($50 per page) and content writing. So add all up it will bring extra profit apart from the hosting affiliate commissions.


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    • Profile picture of the author ElegantDesigns
      Hmmm sounds workable but I encounter customers who just keep asking for more even if is free and is not right to just leave them there dangling. May need to draft out a proper TOS and explain to them in details to avoid disputes.
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      • Profile picture of the author mrbueno
        So here is the main problem with free websites: You completely devalue your services.

        It has been a few years since I did free sites. In the 90s it went pretty well. Recently, we started a pretty serious campaign for free sites and email marketing list management when you do $50/month hosting. I had three sales people dedicated to calling and setting up businesses for about two weeks. I am talking about 30 to 40 calls a day with about 15 demo sites per campaign. Lots of people wanted to shop us, one bought.

        We took the same designs with the same sales team and we started making appointments for Internet Marketing consultation. My team sold three $500 to $1000 sites in about a week with $30/mo hosting fees. This was a busy week for my main business, so the sales team wasn't making as many calls. Close ratio was above 30%

        I think the problem with free sites is that it is a real take it or leave it proposition. Some of the people promoting free websites where using large call centers and slamming peoples phone bills with unauthorized charges. Sure they made money even after the FTC slapped them on the hand, but it is still dishonest.

        I would recommend you learn as much about Internet marketing as possible. Then start cold calling for appointments. After that you can sit down with your prospect, discover their true need, and sell them a product or service that fits that need.

        I would bet using this method you will see alot better closing ratio.
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