15 {{ upvoteCount | shortNum }}
15 {{ upvoteCount | shortNum }}

Make a website for free in return for exposure?

by Ashwin83
12 replies
Hi guys,
So there are a couple of state associations of a particular up and coming profession that don't have a website. I am thinking of creating free websites for them... which shouldn't cost much.

When I send out direct mail to members of this profession across the US, I can advertise the fact that my company was responsible for the state association's website. I am thinking this will act as social proof.

Second, Is there anything I can directly negotiate in return for my work with this state association? Any thoughts or ideas?
#exposure #free #make #return #website
  • Profile picture of the author iAmNameLess
    Free doesn't pay the bills. Free doesn't increase your marketing budget. Free doesn't position yourself as an expert. Free drains you. Free makes you look like an inexperienced college intern.
    Signature
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[6900982].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author Ashwin83
    Its not exactly "free". I am getting a return in a different form which is ultimately more money.
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[6901012].message }}
    • Profile picture of the author garyfromdurham
      Originally Posted by Ashwin83 View Post

      Its not exactly "free". I am getting a return in a different form which is ultimately more money.
      Listen to what IAmNameless says.

      It might sound like it is a good investment on your time but it isn't. Nobody EVER appreciates anything for free.

      I know because I tried similar ideas with the same sort of reasoning as you. It doesn't work.

      There are far more effective ways to get the word out about your work (there are some great threads in this forum).

      Hope you take the advice and save yourself a lot of wasted hours and frustration.

      Best wishes

      Gary
      {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[6901056].message }}
    • Profile picture of the author iAmNameLess
      Originally Posted by Ashwin83 View Post

      Its not exactly "free". I am getting a return in a different form which is ultimately more money.
      No... It's exactly free but COSTING you money.

      In your brain, you PLAN and HOPE to get money from it...

      Kind of reminds me of what a competitor did locally. He put up a free website for an organization, almost the same thing you have described, and in turn he wanted to be able to leverage that to people that would be certified through them or members of the association. Once it was up, I already knew he gave a free website, and I contacted organization and offered to build the website for $2,000 giving them a GREAT deal, and to PAY ME to design their monthly newsletters which also includes an ad for myself.

      The organization informed the original designer, and there was nothing he could do. What kind of leverage do you have at that point? Can you all of a sudden say hey, I'll redesign it and charge you too.... they don't care about your anymore because you don't value yourself, why should they value you?

      It's funny... I can sell MORE of something, than you can probably give away. Why do you think that is? It isn't because I'm better, have more experience, or am more skilled... it's because I'm immediately offering something that is perceived to be more valuable than what you're giving away for free.

      Right now.... GOOGLE is helping my business... because they're contacting businesses offering them FREE WEBSITES and hosting. They are giving me 3rd party credibility, and I'm STILL able to sell that much more because of PERCEIVED VALUE!

      I'm no sales expert like some of the guys in here, I can't help with some of the complex topics, frankly, those kind of bore me a bit. However, this is all about how you carry yourself. Do you want to be seen as the guy that is cheap and everyone can use? Or do you want to be scene as the man that everyone wants, but not everyone can have?

      Seriously think about what I just said... it's a golden nugget you didn't have to pay for... but then again I should follow my own advice. If I just released this as a $17 WSO, you'd be more likely to pay attention and follow my advice.
      Signature
      {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[6901062].message }}
      • Profile picture of the author kenmichaels
        Originally Posted by iAmNameLess View Post

        However, this is all about how you carry yourself. Do you want to be seen as the guy that is cheap and everyone can use? Or do you want to be scene as the man that everyone wants, but not everyone can have?
        That is how you build social proof, credibility, and scarcity. ... with
        some built in WOW factor.

        props
        Signature

        Selling Ain't for Sissies!
        {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[6901115].message }}
        • Profile picture of the author FormerWageSlave
          Nameless is right as usual, but if you are dead set on doing work for no money, then build into it, a referral strategy.

          Have an agreement drafted where they agree to provide you with a list of names and addresses of businesses that know them. Make them agree that you can send out a letter in their name to all of these contacts introducing you. You will do all the work of creating the letters, envelopes, addressing, stamps, etc.

          Make sure their rolodex is big enough to warrant the mailing. A few hundred or more.

          Then you follow up with those prospects no less than 5 times via direct mail, phone, email etc.

          If it's just for the social proof, I'd say it isn't worth it. But add this and it just may work out financially in the long run.
          Signature

          grrr...

          {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[6901160].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author bluecoyotemedia
    I am nameless

    I would agree with you up to a certain point

    see what I like to do is to piggyback on all you guys that sell sites at certain pricepoints. what this provides is setting the retail pricepoints in the marketplace



    and then come in from a different angle

    for example I have built a few sites ( not me myself ) for organizations that have my would be customers. in exchange for thier endorsement via access to thier lists or webinar or seminar.

    so for that one free site I have access to a few hundred potential customers that I charge normal rates for.

    now the association that I am JVing understands full well the mutual value of this exchange.

    and by lowering the initial resistance... you will never have to worry about finding that hot sales closer on the front end.

    I know you are very successful and I respect you for that since you are in that 1%

    but your model is very difficult to scale

    you will not find another you to go out and sell

    eddie

    PS please don't compile your info and peddle it on a $17 wso charge $197 and offer a coaching webinar..
    Signature

    Skunkworks: noun. informal.

    A clandestine group operating without any external intervention or oversight. Such groups achieve significant breakthroughs rarely discussed in public because they operate "outside the box".
    https://short-stuff.com/-Mjk0fDExOA==

    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[6901114].message }}
    • Profile picture of the author iAmNameLess
      Originally Posted by bluecoyotemedia View Post


      but your model is very difficult to scale

      you will not find another you to go out and sell

      eddie

      PS please don't compile your info and peddle it on a $17 wso charge $197 and offer a coaching webinar..
      It is simple to scale. GoDaddy has done it, YellowBook has done it, YellowPages has done it, Service Magic, Thumbtack, and countless others have done it.

      I don't need another ME to go out and sell. I just need someone who is somewhat motivated.

      See, what you're doing is essentially the same thing as the OP, and the same thing that I have done. I can CHARGE that organization, for what you would do for free, and STILL be able to get their endorsement, lists, etc. You don't need to offer something for free in order to do that!

      I wouldn't have the energy to do all that for $17 WSO LOL. Or $197 coaching... maybe 11997! lol.
      Signature
      {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[6901157].message }}
      • Profile picture of the author bluecoyotemedia
        Originally Posted by iAmNameLess View Post

        It is simple to scale. GoDaddy has done it, YellowBook has done it, YellowPages has done it, Service Magic, Thumbtack, and countless others have done it.

        I don't need another ME to go out and sell. I just need someone who is somewhat motivated.

        See, what you're doing is essentially the same thing as the OP, and the same thing that I have done. I can CHARGE that organization, for what you would do for free, and STILL be able to get their endorsement, lists, etc. You don't need to offer something for free in order to do that!

        I wouldn't have the energy to do all that for $17 WSO LOL. Or $197 coaching... maybe 11997! lol.

        that's a good point. godaddy, yellowbook yellow pages and others are a good example of businesses that piggybacked off thier own client list to offer thier customers low cost websites. that was not thier initial biz model so all the work is already done.

        2 years ago we did a deal with a association in NY that caters to specialty doctors. we built out a really nice site for the association something really higher end and functional.

        this got us in front of over 1000 members... with the specific endorsement from the association almost like we were actual part of the organization.

        we signed up close to 300 members from that campaign alone in 90 days plus the backend upsells of SEO, social media and video marketing.

        so we built out complete sites averaging $1995 and up.

        just from that 1 deal

        I sold off my slice of the pie to my partner for $300,000 who continues to manage that business.

        it was a great feeling because it was the largest bank check ( actually it was broken into 2 checks ) i have ever gotten in one shot

        but there really is no right or wrong way I guess

        you do what you do.


        and regarding being able to scale.. to find someone as you say motivated to sell sites is a challenge these days.

        eddie
        Signature

        Skunkworks: noun. informal.

        A clandestine group operating without any external intervention or oversight. Such groups achieve significant breakthroughs rarely discussed in public because they operate "outside the box".
        https://short-stuff.com/-Mjk0fDExOA==

        {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[6901259].message }}
        • Profile picture of the author kenmichaels
          Originally Posted by bluecoyotemedia View Post

          but there really is no right or wrong way I guess
          yup

          the only "right" way i know.. is "the" way that works

          the only "wrong" way i know ... is "the" way that doesn't.

          btw, bluecoyotemedia i have read a bunch of your posts.
          I am glad you are here participating.
          Signature

          Selling Ain't for Sissies!
          {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[6901440].message }}
        • Profile picture of the author iAmNameLess
          Originally Posted by bluecoyotemedia View Post

          that's a good point. godaddy, yellowbook yellow pages and others are a good example of businesses that piggybacked off thier own client list to offer thier customers low cost websites. that was not thier initial biz model so all the work is already done.

          2 years ago we did a deal with a association in NY that caters to specialty doctors. we built out a really nice site for the association something really higher end and functional.

          this got us in front of over 1000 members... with the specific endorsement from the association almost like we were actual part of the organization.

          we signed up close to 300 members from that campaign alone in 90 days plus the backend upsells of SEO, social media and video marketing.

          so we built out complete sites averaging $1995 and up.

          just from that 1 deal

          I sold off my slice of the pie to my partner for $300,000 who continues to manage that business.

          it was a great feeling because it was the largest bank check ( actually it was broken into 2 checks ) i have ever gotten in one shot

          but there really is no right or wrong way I guess

          you do what you do.


          and regarding being able to scale.. to find someone as you say motivated to sell sites is a challenge these days.

          eddie
          That isn't the point... LOL. Yellowbook, yellowpages, all had the same process, when they originally started. Not talking about just web design here...

          Certainly your experience says it can work. I just don't see why you wouldn't charge for what you can charge. Know what I mean? You can offer a free website to an organization, the same organization that would likely pay for it, and STILL put you in front of their members.

          You're right... finding motivated people is tough... but... you don't need to recreate yourself. I guess we'll see! I plan on rapid growth and adding a sales staff in the near future. I'm sure that will present many struggles itself.
          Signature
          {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[6901490].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author wally247
    Don't do it.

    I know a guy who was obsessed with doing a bunch of case studies (free websites, free SEO, free G+ Places) and he ended up wasting several hundreds of dollars trying to please these people.


    You know what?


    They all ended up flaking on him and didn't appreciate what he did for them. He gained nothing out of it, and actually lost quite a bit of money and last I heard...had totally given up on IM.



    Signature
    Skype
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[6901166].message }}

Trending Topics