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A new business idea

by Zaflow
19 replies
I came up with an idea of a new online based business providing online marketing services to small local businesses in my city. And i appreciate any opinion on this.

Im thinking of writing a blog on the niche and building a list of people interested in these services locally.

Also thinking of providing services like google places reviews? Just submit reviews on google, yellow pages, yelp using other people profiles or even fake profiles?

Any tips on how to go about this? Care to share an expeience?
#business #idea
  • Profile picture of the author datingworld
    [DELETED]
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  • Profile picture of the author moneymagneto
    Over saturated market. Yodle rules the industry, however you can make a few bucks.
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    • Profile picture of the author Highway55
      Originally Posted by moneymagneto View Post

      Over saturated market. Yodle rules the industry...
      Really? Pretty sure there's always room for someone else in ANY market who's willing to hustle and add value. I'm also pretty sure not every business owner has heard of Yodle, or even what they do.

      One final point - there are many "smaller" businesses - even if they have heard of Yodle - who would love to work with an individual to get more personal service.
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  • Profile picture of the author Zaflow
    Thank you guys for your encouragement, I'm going to be specifically targeting automotive dealerships in my local area, i would love to get connected with someone to mentor me as I might have specific questions here and there, no hand holding.

    Where do you think I can find someone who is doing that in a different area who might help me out?
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  • Profile picture of the author Steve B
    Originally Posted by Zaflow View Post

    Also thinking of providing services like google places reviews? Just submit reviews on google, yellow pages, yelp using other people profiles or even fake profiles?

    You have just identified one service provider that I will never employ. Thank you.

    Steve
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    Steve Browne, online business strategies, tips, guidance, and resources
    SteveBrowneDirect

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  • Profile picture of the author Alexa Smith
    Banned
    Originally Posted by Zaflow View Post

    Just submit reviews on google, yellow pages, yelp using other people profiles or even fake profiles?
    Fake profiles?!

    And you're asking this in public?? This forum's full of marketers whose businesses suffer from the idiots promoting things fraudulently with fake profiles and testimonials, because that's exactly what encourages the public to see "internet marketers", collectively, as "scammers", so it damages all of us: don't expect too warm a reception here, for that idea.

    .
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    • Profile picture of the author Zaflow
      Originally Posted by Alexa Smith View Post

      Fake profiles?!

      And you're asking this in public?? This forum's full of marketers whose businesses suffer from the idiots promoting things fraudulently with fake profiles and testimonials, because that's exactly what encourages the public to see "internet marketers", collectively, as "scammers", so it damages all of us: don't expect too warm a reception here, for that idea.

      .
      Thats what you get from brainstorming at 4 am in the morning lol, I agree that fake profiles is not a very good long term business,

      Any other ideas That are Legit?
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      • Profile picture of the author Nightengale
        You said exactly what you meant, 4 AM or not.

        As Alexa said, people like you give us all a bad name. Given that, I have no advice or resources to offer you. Nor can I wish you any success.

        Business success is all about integrity and offering real value, no matter the medium or how low the barrier to entry is.

        Michelle
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        "You can't market here. This is a marketing discussion forum!"
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        • Profile picture of the author moneymagneto
          You can't promise to increase a businesses profits with fake reviews. If the service they offer is garbage, people will find out sooner or later. You should also deal with clients who have the value of integrity as well and customer service.
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  • Profile picture of the author Jason Freeman
    Also thinking of providing services like google places reviews? Just submit reviews on google, yellow pages, yelp using other people profiles or even fake profiles?
    This is not a good way to do business. The better plan would be to help the business owner find ways to encourage actual customers to leave reviews.

    A sticker on the door of the business helps to remind people to check in.

    Offering a discount on the next service for leaving a review will sometimes remind/encourage a customer to leave a review.

    You can also teach the business owner about reputation management. One thing I often see is that business owners don't know how to handle a negative review. They often just ignore it which can be detrimental to their business. These type of comments should be responded to effectively and learned from. Of course you can never please everyone.

    Just please do not do the fake reviews because it hurts local business marketers when people do this type of stuff.
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  • Profile picture of the author moneymagneto
    It's certainly not passive income, it's a service so you will need lots of help if you can get a lot of clients. You will need to do sales, your own marketing, hire people, get an office, etc. Credibility and reputation is everything. Probably the only thing.
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  • Profile picture of the author anpharmd09
    1. Don't do fake profiles

    2. For the local niche blog, how would you be gather leads? Collecting email addresses? And if you are targeting the automotive industry, how do you plan on qualifying leads from your blog who are interested in purchasing a vehicle? Will you be charging per lead to dealerships or a flat monthly fee for this service?

    Just some more things to think about to more clearly define what you what to accomplish.


    Originally Posted by Zaflow View Post

    I came up with an idea of a new online based business providing online marketing services to small local businesses in my city. And i appreciate any opinion on this.

    Im thinking of writing a blog on the niche and building a list of people interested in these services locally.

    Also thinking of providing services like google places reviews? Just submit reviews on google, yellow pages, yelp using other people profiles or even fake profiles?

    Any tips on how to go about this? Care to share an expeience?
    Signature
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  • Profile picture of the author bones46
    While everyone might be doing it - they all might not be doing it very well. Get out and talk to some of your potential clients first to see what they actually want and if that need is being met. If not, you know what to do. If so, maybe through your discussions you will find some other need in your area that is not being met.
    The real goal is not to get stuck on one idea but be flexible until you find what works.
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  • Profile picture of the author ellenJ
    You will need to spend lots of money to advertise your blog so it wil bring traffic.. Local businesses won't give you anything, unless your popular at your city
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  • Profile picture of the author Samuel Adams
    Chances are, your potential clients have already been approached by someone else in 'the SEO business' who has proposed these ideas. To set yourself apart, you could turn that idea on it's head by showing your potential clients why such things as using fake profiles and fake reviews is bad for their SEO and reputation locally.
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  • Profile picture of the author DaniMc
    Let me ask you one simple question:

    What do you KNOW how to do?
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    Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a hard battle.
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  • Profile picture of the author shawnadam
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    • Profile picture of the author Highway55
      Originally Posted by shawnadam View Post

      Businesses are prevalent in capitalist economies, where most of them are privately owned and provide goods and services to customers in exchange for other goods, services, or money.Creating a business opportunity for anyone who can provide marketing, human resources, healthcare management or any other service a business needs.Provide employee-monitoring services, as well as some additional outsourced human resources functions, would be in great demand right now.
      Alrighty then...
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  • Profile picture of the author Jeffery Moss
    Could you revamp the idea to locate legitimate customers of the dealer and ask them to post honest reviews? This would be good for your local client's credibility. The last thing you want is word getting out locally that a company is faking reviews. You could set yourself up as social media manager for local companies, managing Facebook pages, Google+ etc. You would solicit their customers to interact with the client's social media pages. That could be a big boost for your client, leading to more paying business, proving your worth.
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  • Profile picture of the author master reseller
    There are rarely new ideas in internet marketing or making money. But, you could have an advantage in your local area. Just because others are trying this idea in their own home town does not mean anyone is doing so in your town. Also, you have a clearly identified niche of auto repair companies, so you are not chasing down leads from businesses all over town.
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