OPINION NEEDED: Earning money offering free websites for clients.

You'll never know why the sig link aint working.

Assuming you have the faintest idea why is a bit silly.

I had a lot of success recently with some local advertising
and had to quickly redirect away from that link.

I've just reset the redirect and it'll all be fine in the morning.

Please don't jump to conclusions just to make you feel/look good
'cos you'll just look silly.

P.S. Preach?
So the things you write are amazing insights....but I'm preaching?

Sheesh....the guy asked for an opinion.

P.P.S. The guy WILL struggle and it is kinder to let him know that than to tell us how well you did with the same plan. You were approaching NEW businesses....and that is a lot different to just approaching any old business...as THAT plan will fail.

A simple matter of changing one's mindset and getting a few calls under your belt while you develop a personal style of presentation. I don't expect anyone to be me as I would wake-up each morning, already 'assuming the sale.' Additionally, I'm an actor and can instantly adapt my presentation to jibe with what I am sensing on the other end of the line. The information is the same, but the presentation and possibly the prioritization of benefits may be juggled, based on what I'm hearing. Being able to read people is one of the first tenets to being a success in sales, but there are many people that can learn to do this. Either on their own or with proper training. It's not rocket science. Additionally, each call helps build confidence, going forward - even in rejection, as you begin to learn where you are going wrong. It's a process, folks.

My point is that this is something that shouldn't be discounted, out of hand. Depending on your financial goals, skill level, sales ability and stick-to-it-ivness, it's a valid business model that has no costs attached to it. Time, yes - but nothing in the way of start-up funds.

The other thing I left out is that through that process, I developed 2 of the best clients that I could ever want. They became the 'goose that lays the golden egg' and even though I am formally retired, I still service these two clients and will until one of us dies. They were my lotto ticket - but you know what they say, "You gotta be in it, to win it." Picking up the phone and dialing a number was just like going to the lotto store and picking 6 numbers, except I had much more control over the odds of winning.

Look, I'm oftentimes just as likely to tell someone that they are wrestling with a bogus concept, based on nothing more than what sounds like superficial thinking and a flawed thought process. As hard as it is to get a foothold in business, today - I just think I have to encourage someone that is looking at something that COULD be good for them. Just trying to offer a little encouragement, is all. I would never tell anyone to bet the farm on anything I say or do, but I certainly would never attempt to throw unhelpful advice their way. This model is a good way to get one's feet wet. Each new call presents an opportunity for anything to happen that can shift someone's life in a totally different direction, instantly. While it may be a crapshoot, sitting on your hands and just thinking about doing something won't present any opportunity, at all. Ever!. You try it on for size. If it doesn't work - no harm, no foul. At least you know instead of always wondering, "What if I had." I thought the idea was to, "Take action." With all of the trite clichés and bumper-sticker slogans that are continuously regurgitated on this site, which are totally worthless, we have one that actually means something. So - I say - "Take action."

"Follow your passion," my ass!!! lol People spouting that crap should be banned for life. Who knows how many lives and IM careers they have ruined, not to mention getting someone to take something they truly love and destroy it but making it their friggin' job? OK. Getting off-topic, but had to interject my major pet-peeve in helping to get people started in an IM career.

Almost anyone can do this. Some will do better than others. That's what makes the world go 'round. I say if you have nothing better at the moment, go for it. You can park it the day something better comes your way. Right?

I live to serve - but it's always nice to be appreciated. :-)

Thank you.

Platinum, actually - but why quibble. :-)

Normally, I would say that my work here is finished, but it may be just beginning. If I can help you by answering any specific questions, I am at your beck and call.

Cheers.

My advice is to sort by zip code and work as close to home as possible. People want to work with and support other small businesses in their community. Always keep the 'Shop Local' concept at the forefront of your thinking. Lately, most Chambers of Commerce and local business associations are promoting this concept - many in conjunction with American Express. Get plugged in.

Try to call businesses within 3 days of them filing their paperwork. Generally that means they have moved past the 'thinking about it' stage and are getting ready to take action, themselves. Also, tell them that they have 30 days from the day that they filed their paperwork for the business license to avail themselves of your free offer. Create that 'sense of urgency.'

Keep in mind that they are probably overwhelmed with all that has to be done to get their doors open. Ask them if there are any other projects facing them that you might be able to assist them with. Printing is always a good one and you can handle this in one of 3 ways.

1. Take the printing job and handle it from start to finish. Add a 15% fee to the bill. Not much on most individual printing jobs, but it can add up. This is assuming that you don't have a logistical nightmare to contend with.

2. Form a relationship with a local printer. Tell him that you will bring him all of your jobs, but he has to give you 15% off the price of every job. I've never had one say 'no' to that. It's found money for them.

3. Just recommend the printer you are working with and tell the client that by working with that printer and telling them they were referred by you could save them some money. Besides a kickback from the printer, you will help to have the client begin to look upon you as the 'go to' guy, for anything they might need. You just want to train them to always ask you first.You can juggle all 3 methods, based on what has the most upside for you. Being flexible is the name of the game.

Be careful to not make it appear that you do all of the things you offer, yourself. You don't want to look like, 'a jack-of-all-trades, but a master of none.'

I get around this by communicating the following:

"I need to make you aware of the fact that I work with a highly-skilled team of professions that I have partnered with over the years. Their expertise covers any aspect of what you might need on any given day to assist you in growing your business. While I would like to say that I do everything myself, I'm happy to honestly tell you that I don't. I have spent years honing these relationships which means that you don't have to start from scratch and take a gamble in dealing with people who's capabilities you can't be sure of. Just turn that project over to me. I'll get it handled from start to finish in the most professional and least expensive way possible. Getting that burden lifted from your shoulders will allow you to have more time to do what you do best - without getting sidetracked into areas you may know nothing about. My job is to make your life easier. I do that, in part, by saving you time, aggravation and money. It's what I do! So, in what other way might I be able to lighten your load?"

Don't bite-off more than you can chew in the beginning. You can spend months building your reputation and have it destroyed in minutes. When you work 'local' you will be dealing with business owners that might know one another through different organizations. They can be your best source of new business, but can also be the kiss of death if they have reason to bad-mouth you.

Finally, DON'T scrape the bottom of the barrel. Get paid fairly for your work. I have more than once said to a prospective client:

"If you're shopping strictly on price, looking for the absolute lowest price possible, I can't help you personally, but I can supply you with at least half a dozen names and phone numbers of other companies.

If your searching for that combination of the highest-quality work attainable, at a fair and competitive price, your search is over."

At some point, if the conversation continues, they may ask you:

"Why would you offer to point me to your competition?"

Respond with: "I don't consider them competition. Honestly, they're not in the same league with us, but if that was what you truly wanted, I'm still going to try to help you achieve your goal in finding the lowest price possible. I can do this because I'm confident that after seeing what you get for your money from them, I'm all but guaranteed to hear from you again, in the future."

Finding that fine line between sounding arrogant and extremely self-confident is very important as not to alienate anyone. I'm never afraid to sound a wee-bit arrogant as most hard-scrabbled small business owners view arrogance as nothing more than supreme self-confidence, with a cherry on top. I could never sound as arrogant as many of them come across.

Go make some phone calls. It's the only way that you will be better at this, tomorrow - than you are today!

I will be charging more and will charge at least 6 months in advance.

If lots of people are doing it, it means there is a market. That doesn't make it easy, but it DOES make it viable.