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New Guy looking for help with Small Biz Marketing Idea

by CANIMBILL
7 replies
Hi,

I have started a site called SmallBizViz.com in order to generate some cash flow in the short term. I am targeting mostly businesses that are local to me (within 200km say) here in British Columbia, and I want to provide advice and SEO services to small businesses that are looking for an internet presence.

My focus in on helping businesses Get Found, that is, making sure that when customers or other small businesses look for them they will show up easily in search results.

I am already helping some local businesses get onto services like Google Business Solutions, building hubpages and lenses, using facebook, and checking out their web pages (if there is one) for ability to be in search results etc.

What I would love to hear from other forum members, especially the more experienced ones, are some brainstorming ideas on making this service work.... how to contact businesses that aren't brick and mortar, what sort of services they might sign onto for free or small charges and so on. I am offering a range of services, including

*following my blog (free),
*getting a free, quick analysis of their current visibility (free or small charge),
*downloading some e-book material on basics
*a basic service like Google business, directory register, hubpage and lens build
*a higher service to include ad copy or sales copy

Any ideas are greatly appreciated! Like I say, this is more as a means of developing a following, gaining some trust, and being able to put my knowledge, such as it is so far, to work. I can generate some dollars and experience to plow back into my greater IM goals, gain some testimonials, etc.

Also, anyone who might want to share ideas to the extent of setting up a similar service, or JV'ing on mine, are also welcome.

thanks!

Bill
#biz #guy #idea #marketing #small
  • Profile picture of the author Chianti
    Hi,

    I'm new here - just signed up - and new to the idea of generating income from the internet.

    I was thinking of doing a few online projects, and one idea was similar to yours. I live on a small Spanish island, and despite having lots of small businesses and tourism, the online presence here is abysmal.

    I was thinking of a tiered structure along the lines of packages which concentrate on giving the businesses SEO rather than having a snazzy website:

    - starter websites for 200€ with SEO included, but they have to host with me (recurring income).

    - a 'profile' page and sticky search results in my own business directory for premium biannual payment.

    - a text advert in the directory (1 year free, then low biannual payment)

    However, getting started is the tricky thing. I would need to have great search results before anyone even considered signing up for free. But of course, if there is no content or users, then I can't get the search results.

    Any comments about whether this sort of idea has any merit?

    It differs from yours, Canimbill, in that I'd take the approach that small business owners don't want anything to do with the site or SEO themselves, they just want a directory which works in their favour. Although, some may get a kick out of logging into their profile and posting some special offers now and again.

    Thanks for any advice and suggestions.
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    • Profile picture of the author CANIMBILL
      Chianti,

      you make me jealous living on a Spanish island!

      I think the idea is good, and I think that keeping it simple is the main thing. Around here virtually any business could benefit from being found, and as you say the need for a snazzy website is not there.

      So I think that SEO is the main target. I know some businesses would be suspicious of paying a $400 fee to set up a site, so I am going to try upselling from a free service (the quick analysis of current visibility) to increasing levels of service.

      I like the idea of doing the hosting, but i also think that the owner needs to know that they retain control of the site, so I would throw that in that if they choose to discontinue you will push their domain to another host.

      I see it as a kind of training process that starts with demonstrating a)their poor visibility, and b)the upside of being visible. Everyone knows the value of advertising, even if it's just a sign on a door, but for many non-tech types the internet still seems too complicated.

      Do you think you could visit my site and tell me what you think of the general design? And I would be happy to keep trading ideas!

      bill
      Smallbizviz.com
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      SmallBizViz.com is where I help local offline businesses in central British Columbia get their business online!
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      • Profile picture of the author Erinmcd
        Hey Bill. I like your site. I took a look at it because its something I've been thinking about. I have a lot more to learn before I'd feel confident to start it though.

        One thing that came to mind while I was looking at your site was that it would be helpful if there was a portfolio of high ranking niche sites for your customers to see. Maybe show them the Google placement in realtime?

        Good luck

        Erin McD
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        • Profile picture of the author Chianti
          IMO, the first problem you have is actually explaining to potential clients what service you provide and why they need it. So your frontpage content would be better being static pages, I think. You should perhaps use the blog frontpage for articles regarding free information, advice and tips.

          For instance, the page 'introduction to marketing for you small business' should be the first thing a potential client sees, since it clearly explains what the site and your business is about. This should probably then link to a short case study, which then links to your 'Services' page.

          Also, in case people don't land on the frontpage, I'd have a block somewhere that displays on all pages (maybe at the top spanning the two menu blocks), which explains in a couple of sentences what you do.

          In the same vein, the slogan 'big online marketing...' should perhaps be a graphic incorporated in the header, under 'smallbizviz.com'. When I see the word 'biz' in the header, the first thing that comes to mind is that you're doing something connected with 'show biz', like a casting agent or something. I didn't see the slogan until after minute or two.

          I don't understand this sentence: "Today, independent business people consistently turn first to the Web to start shopping" HUH? I thought it was consumers and clients who turned to the web to start shopping or looking for services? Don't independent business people turn to the web to promote themselves and their products?

          If I were to generalise the above points, I would say that you have the difficult job of explaining your service to people who don't know that they need your service. Some of your 'sales copy' is in the form of a tutorial, and I think you probably need to continue down that route, so by the end of it potential clients know why they need to give you money. It just needs to be more formalised, step by step, leading up to a good final sales pitch.

          Bear in mind that I'm a total noob at this myself, so my points may be entirely the wrong advice.
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  • Profile picture of the author CANIMBILL
    Wow, Chianti, thanks for putting so much thought into your reply! I have changed my front page to static as you suggested.... it was a learning moment in wordpress for me. I was looking at some similar sites today and see that i have to also (i think) have ME at the top of the page welcoming visitors.

    I am planning on using some methods like postcards, dropcards and targeted email to get my foot in the door. Right now I am getting work through word of mouth and finding that many small businesses are wanting to be findable on the net.

    The statement about businesses looking for businesses on the net comes from some recent studies, and I was surprised too... small businesses look first on the net for other businesses.

    I am working out how to offer different services to different types of businesses. A painting business I did work for was just looking for a web site. I plan on creating a Google Local Business listing for every business.

    I listened to a webinar for Offline Hero recently and really liked her idea of a)offering a free analysis of web presence, and b)sending a video of the results with a walkthrough of search results, and c)what you can do to improve the situation.

    I hope to have my website actually structured properly in the next couple of weeks. There seems to be a lot of interest by small businesses to create web presence, even in my small town of 10,000 or so (with population within a two hour drive of about 80,000)

    thanks again for all your thoughts and input, I really appreciate it! If anyone wants to write a guest post sometime let me know, you'll be famous eh!
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    SmallBizViz.com is where I help local offline businesses in central British Columbia get their business online!
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  • Profile picture of the author John Pawlett
    Hi Bill and Chianti

    Chianti (Italian wine, Spanish Island, couple of my favorite things) has given you some great advice here and I would like to help a little more if I may.

    I have had a look at your site and its way to busy, the template is totally wrong and adding images has just pushed it out.

    There are a few things I would suggest you do before you even start on the copy, the first would be to get a cleaner template, have a look at this blog I just set up http://www.expertwebsitemarketing.com/websitemarketing go to the bottom and you will see the name of the template is Plainscape, if you like it just click on the link and download it.

    As you are using the blog as your website then I would write the front page as your 'sales letter' then display that as opposed to blog posts.

    Get rid of most of the links on your blog roll.

    Add some kind of lead capture on there.

    Your links like 'Archive' don't work!

    Use the SEO plugin.

    My focus has always to tell people how to do 'stuff' themselves, especially in the 'offline' market, because it all looks more complicated than it really is, businesses won't do it themselves even though you have shown them, what they end up doing is buying your time!

    Hope this helps

    John
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    The Secret Awakening - Yes, YOU Can Have it All
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    • Profile picture of the author CANIMBILL
      thank John,

      I've been writing and re-writing my front page... I got rid of the links in Blogroll after figuring out where to do it. I don't like the two columns of widgets either but can't get rid of them. I think you're right, time to use a different theme. I like wordpress and I started using the cutline theme because it's clean, but i agree it's time to use a different look. I like your intro page on Expert Website Marketing, it's straightforward and clear what the viewer is to do.

      I need to add an email capture widget but haven't figured out which is best. It's a slow process but it is also making more sense too.

      thanks again!
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      SmallBizViz.com is where I help local offline businesses in central British Columbia get their business online!
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