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Where Are Small/Local Businesses Hanging Out Online?

by Xebekn
9 replies
I've been trying to find a good forum or something similar that local/small businesses hang out at.

Most of the forums I found by Google'ing "small business forum" are incredibly underpopulated.

Does anyone else have any ideas?
#businesses #hanging #online #small or local
  • Profile picture of the author salegurus
    Small business owners don't have time to "hangout" online...
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  • Profile picture of the author OfflineWars
    Look for groups on Facebook to join that cater to your type of business owners, i.e. painters, car salesmen, etc.. and the location of your interest, and then visit the group in the evening when people are there reviewing posts and commenting.
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  • Profile picture of the author Steve B
    Originally Posted by Xebekn View Post

    I've been trying to find a good forum or something similar that local/small businesses hang out at.

    Have you tried authority sites, portal sites, and the top traffic-getting sites in various markets and niches? Business owners will want to know what's happening online in their own niche.

    Steve
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  • Profile picture of the author Jack Hunter
    Originally Posted by Xebekn View Post

    I've been trying to find a good forum or something similar that local/small businesses hang out at.

    Most of the forums I found by Google'ing "small business forum" are incredibly underpopulated.

    Does anyone else have any ideas?
    Its because they would not be on a 'small business forum'. Thats far too general of a term to search for. Be more specific. Search for large forum dedicated to the type of business, that has demographic subsections with individual cities. Like Craigslist.

    Go check Facebook groups and search for 'cityname business type', as in 'New York Musicians'.
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  • Profile picture of the author Erick Griffin
    You could try LinkedIn. Should be able to find people no problem or try http://www.manta.com/
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  • Profile picture of the author focusedlife
    If you've done any real prospecting, I'm sure you realize that these folks are not hanging out online, all too much.

    You know why?

    They don't need to.

    Sales folks are walking through their doors day in and out to sell them some shit.

    They're emails are getting hammered by Indian SEO folks.

    Yelp is constantly hitting them up to "upgrade" their listings.

    Yellow pages is trying to sell space in their antiquated giant yellow books or...make a video that they can feature on their youtube channel.

    You want to get a hold of a small business owner that's established enough to have a gate keeper?

    You've GOT to arrive differently than the rest.

    One way I've found to do it is send an email that's tracked.

    Once they open it...I call.

    Don't want to call folks?

    Hang out at their trade associations.

    None nearby?

    Offer to help the folks that create your ideal clients.

    I once helped a dog trainer trainer with his social media marketing because he produced, at the time, my ideal clients.

    He was, literally, creating dog trainers.

    They paid him to get certified in dog training.

    Those folks, once they got certified, needed my services.

    What better type of partnership?

    You gotta think laterally.

    I hope this was helpful.

    Regards,

    Los
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    • Profile picture of the author Jack Hunter
      Originally Posted by focusedlife View Post

      You want to get a hold of a small business owner that's established enough to have a gate keeper?
      One way I've found to do it is send an email that's tracked.
      Once they open it...I call.
      That's not different than the rest. Its actually why lot of people, myself included, push for harsher Can Spam and why we place phone numbers on do not call lists.

      I will never have interest in doing business with people who email me and/or call me with solicitation calls. It signals desperation and lack of professionalism. Professionals do not chase clients. They advertise. And have clients find them.

      Its like years ago they'd call trying to sell toner cartridges, its insane. Any decent company has refilling or bulk deal better than what some cold caller can offer.
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  • Profile picture of the author selfdisciplineacademy
    Type the following into google

    '[Niche] + forum'

    For internet marketing forums, you would type..

    'Internet Marketing + Forum'

    Gives great results
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