Free Tools for Offline Marketers (proposal and ROI calculator)

I'm getting swamped with writing proposals - so I wrote a tool to help make the proposals much much quicker - it is attached.

Please comment on it as I'm looking for similar solutions to save time for offline marketing. I'm sure others can add improvements.

I've included my proposal sheet (I type in how many units for that client, and delete the rest of what they don't need). There are also tabs for ROI calculations that show what the client can reasonably attain.

My business model is basically:

1. google for a local phrase ie "dallas certified electrician". Use keyword research to get something with several thousand or more searches a month.

2. go down the list of local search results and call each of them that have a website but aren't listed in number 1 spot - check for competition so you know it will be easy to deliver what you promise.

3. ask them if you can save them money on web marketing and guarantee results, will they talk to you, no obligation. Ask them if they are happy with their current "web guy" and why not? Tell them you do commission based web marketing.

4. when you meet with them, see what they need and get it done. Don't sell them - just listen to their needs and wants. After you take copious notes, come back and type up the proposal. Return and explain the proposal. Don't just give them some papers, bind them, make them look nice, include a card, etc.

5. if you don't get the sale, follow up 10 times with articles and tutorials on how to do the things you recommended or find other ways to demonstrate your expertise - perhaps showcasing your "client of the month" and their rankings.

6. Setup tracking with Google Analytics | Official Website

7. Create a wordpress blog with at least a squeeze page to contact, or do whatever it is that they need done.

8. Charge a base fee of $1000 to $500 a month + 50cents or more per unique visitor. Unique visitors have to be an improvement over the previous month, or they don't count. If I get them 4000 visitors the first month and then only 4000 visitors again the second month, there is no CPC charge.

In this way when I deliver the traffic - I get paid almost 2x to 3x as much as the base pay, so there is a very big incentive for me to perform well. And if I fail? Client only pays base and gets a website setup with some backlinks - about what they'd get when they spend 3x as much with local flash developer. So it's a win win on both sides.

Remember, not all clients want to be hammered with numbers. This spreadsheet is a tool to help YOU sell to the Client, not a tool to sell to the client without YOU.

You can opt to show your client the entire spreadsheet, or simply write a deliverables only checklist (feel out the client based on their questions). I've found that some clients nit pick what you are doing and ask if X is really necessary. So far none of them have decided to do it themselves, even after I explain what I'm going to do.

Be careful to never overload your clients with info - mostly they don't care but simply want to know you can deliver what you promise. You want to be with them and explain your proposal - in person.

I'll monitor this thread if anyone has questions or comments.

Another tool that helps generate possible domains once you get a client is a tool I wrote:

Domain Name Generator

Also, if you don't have microsoft office, you can open this document (a compressed excel spreadsheet) with:

OpenOffice.org - The Free and Open Productivity Suite


Thank you for the many warriors that have put their time into great articles that have taught me some of this knowledge.