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Checklist for setting up a local seo company

by Noobcorp
16 replies
Trying to build a list of things I need to get started, so I can start off smoothly without making much mistakes.

- Company registration
- Business Card
- Mailbox
- Logo
- Phone Number
- Website (with domain)

Am I missing anything guys?
#checklist #company #local #seo #setting
  • Profile picture of the author bh8vn
    employer, SEO plan, SEM plan, I think
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    • Profile picture of the author 512 Designs
      Physical Items
      Business checking account
      Merchant Service such as Paypal or Google Checkout
      Invoicing program
      Company phone number (I use Google Voice)
      List-building service like Aweber
      List of local networking groups

      Mental Items
      Motivation
      Must like talking to people
      Thick skin - able to hear NO a lot

      I'm sure there's more but that's all I can thnk of for now.

      Mike
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      • Profile picture of the author Noobcorp
        Originally Posted by 512 Designs View Post

        Physical Items
        Business checking account
        Merchant Service such as Paypal or Google Checkout
        Invoicing program
        Company phone number (I use Google Voice)
        List-building service like Aweber
        List of local networking groups

        Mental Items
        Motivation
        Must like talking to people
        Thick skin - able to hear NO a lot

        I'm sure there's more but that's all I can thnk of for now.

        Mike
        Thanks.
        I knew I was missing a few! Always forget about the banking account part.
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        • Profile picture of the author ryanmckinney
          Originally Posted by Noobcorp View Post

          Thanks.
          I knew I was missing a few! Always forget about the banking account part.

          Kind of important, that's where your money goes!

          I would add some sort of method to keep track of your clients/projects -
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  • Profile picture of the author princewally
    1. Get customers
    2. Do work
    3. Worry about the rest after 1 & 2.
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    Bulk post Word documents with this amazing plugin.
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    • Profile picture of the author Hils
      Agree with all of these. Would add a basic contract too.
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      • Profile picture of the author gdale19
        Lawsmart.com A San Diego Ca. company who provides you with free legal documents for all business and personal matters.
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    • Profile picture of the author Noobcorp
      Originally Posted by princewally View Post

      1. Get customers
      2. Do work
      3. Worry about the rest after 1 & 2.
      haha i agree, but while this remains true. I think I have to at the very least get a bank account!
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      • Profile picture of the author 512 Designs
        Originally Posted by Noobcorp View Post

        haha i agree, but while this remains true. I think I have to at the very least get a bank account!
        Once you get set up with a business bank account, I would get a Paypal business account as well. They have a really cool invoicing system that I just started using. You can email very professional looking invoices to your clients and they can pay with a credit card right from the invoice. Or if they send you a check instead, you can mark it paid within Paypal too.

        Google Checkout does the same sort of thing but I think Paypal looks more professional from the customer's end.

        Mike
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        Existing PLR CONTENT Into CASH MONEY
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        • Profile picture of the author ryanmckinney
          Originally Posted by 512 Designs View Post

          Once you get set up with a business bank account, I would get a Paypal business account as well. They have a really cool invoicing system that I just started using. You can email very professional looking invoices to your clients and they can pay with a credit card right from the invoice. Or if they send you a check instead, you can mark it paid within Paypal too.

          Google Checkout does the same sort of thing but I think Paypal looks more professional from the customer's end.

          Mike

          Mike,

          I was contemplating that (as I am moving to a business account with paypal) - I currently use freshbooks+premier paypal, so the business account with the monthly invoicing (it is like $30/month?) could negate my freshbooks?

          Not sure if you use freshbooks or not, but it automatically invoices, and integrates with paypal. I can also add my business expenditures in freshbooks.

          Ryan
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          • Profile picture of the author 512 Designs
            Originally Posted by ryanmckinney View Post

            Mike,

            I was contemplating that (as I am moving to a business account with paypal) - I currently use freshbooks+premier paypal, so the business account with the monthly invoicing (it is like $30/month?) could negate my freshbooks?

            Not sure if you use freshbooks or not, but it automatically invoices, and integrates with paypal. I can also add my business expenditures in freshbooks.

            Ryan
            I also have a Freshbooks account but don't use it. Paypal does not charge you a monthly fee to use their invoicing. They simply deduct the typical .30 + 2.9% (or lower) from the transaction if the client pays with their credit card. If they send you a check, then it doesn't cost anything. You just mark it as paid in the Invoice Manager part of Paypal.

            Sorry to get off the OP oringial topic.

            Mike
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            Existing PLR CONTENT Into CASH MONEY
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  • Profile picture of the author Aaron Doud
    Looks like you need over $3k/mo in credit card sales to get a business account. Can you do paypal invoices with a normal account?
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    Aaron Doud - Sales & Success
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    • Profile picture of the author 512 Designs
      Originally Posted by Aaron Doud View Post

      Looks like you need over $3k/mo in credit card sales to get a business account. Can you do paypal invoices with a normal account?
      Really? I didn't see that anywhere. I know they give you a discount to your transaction % if you go over $3000/mo. But are you saying you need to have $3000/mo in transactions just to open up a business account? If so that's new news to me. I set up a business account about 8 months ago and it didn't cost me anything and I don't get penalized if I don't use it.

      A page about their fees is here ---> https://cms.paypal.com/cgi-bin/marke.../merchant_fees

      Mike
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      Let Me Show You How You Can Turn Your
      Existing PLR CONTENT Into CASH MONEY
      In Dozens Of Different Ways!
      CLICK HERE TO FIND OUT
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      • Profile picture of the author iAmNameLess
        Originally Posted by ryanmckinney View Post

        Mike,

        I was contemplating that (as I am moving to a business account with paypal) - I currently use freshbooks+premier paypal, so the business account with the monthly invoicing (it is like $30/month?) could negate my freshbooks?

        Not sure if you use freshbooks or not, but it automatically invoices, and integrates with paypal. I can also add my business expenditures in freshbooks.

        Ryan
        Originally Posted by Aaron Doud View Post

        Looks like you need over $3k/mo in credit card sales to get a business account. Can you do paypal invoices with a normal account?
        Originally Posted by 512 Designs View Post

        Really? I didn't see that anywhere. I know they give you a discount to your transaction % if you go over $3000/mo. But are you saying you need to have $3000/mo in transactions just to open up a business account? If so that's new news to me. I set up a business account about 8 months ago and it didn't cost me anything and I don't get penalized if I don't use it.

        A page about their fees is here ---> https://cms.paypal.com/cgi-bin/marke.../merchant_fees

        Mike
        There is a difference between web payment standard and having an actual terminal to process payments and accept their card over the phone. A basic business account you do not need the 3K in payments, but for the terminal you do. The terminal costs $30/mo plus the standard transaction fees.

        I would recommend having a paypal account to process those long distance clients who trust paypal more than giving info over the phone. Hell, paypal made more off my extra transactions through them than most people make in a year for internet marketing.

        A big thing you're missing in your plan.... is a business plan. Don't listen to those that say you don't need one, and to just go out and get started.

        There is a difference between making some sales here and there and having a real business. Get a plan, establish a marketing plan, but also focus on a plan to get the work done, how you can adapt, outsourcing structure and everything else.

        Get a lawyer, and a good accountant. You will need them. Don't think that you can avoid anything bad with just providing great supports and results, there are some crazy lawsuits that can happen over very stupid and small things just because people become bitter when things don't go their way. Have a lawyer draw up a standard contract, do not use free contracts.
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        • Profile picture of the author 512 Designs
          Originally Posted by iAmNameLess View Post

          There is a difference between web payment standard and having an actual terminal to process payments and accept their card over the phone.
          Ohh. Ok. He's talking about the virtual terminal where you can just enter the customer's credit card number right on your screen. Yeah, that costs ya.

          And as for the business plan, great idea. That should be one of the first ones mentioned.

          Mike
          Signature
          Let Me Show You How You Can Turn Your
          Existing PLR CONTENT Into CASH MONEY
          In Dozens Of Different Ways!
          CLICK HERE TO FIND OUT
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  • Profile picture of the author JustinG30
    I started doing the same thing you did. What i did and it seems to work well was make a small folder of screenshots etc of what your doing to show the client. Unless your carrying around a laptop i found this works well. Like if they dont have a website at all and their a restaurant, google restaurants+city and show them how they are nowhere to be seen but their customers are.
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