Really need to make it work!

15 years ago

You BOTH need to be responsible and try and get a job for now or at least go on unemployment.

Internet Marketing will always be there and trying to make it work when you are stressed about money and not being able to pay the bills is not a good foundation to succeed in IM.

Thanks

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[3121744].message }}

auradev

15 years ago

I hate to be a wet blanket, but you should probably go get a part time job and work on your biz part time.

A mentor once told me: You must have a plan to be secure, a plan to be comfortable and a plan to be rich - IN THAT ORDER!!!

Meaning that right now you need to focus on security meaning not getting kicked out on the street from your land lord.

Then after the bill paying is in place, a plan to be comfortable - this is your local seo and internet marketing biz. You can work for yourself and charge $100/hr for consulting.

Then once that is established and only then, you work on a plan to be rich.

Unfortunately for you it sounds like you did this in the past but now have to start over again and want to skip steps. You can't skip steps.

Thanks

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[3121751].message }}

aduttonater

15 years ago

1500 is a reasonable price, maybe if you were able to put your potential customer on a payment plan, they would agree to going through with the services. Let them know that they can pull out at anytime (unless you have contracts). You can also mention to them right after you suggest the payment plan, that you'd like to show what you can do for their company while they are in the process of paying. This way you can make it as affordable for them as you can, while generating more business. As they see your services working for them, they will use the increase of income to finish off the one time payment, and continue with the monthly payments.

Just let them know you have to charge 1500 and that you wouldn't feel comfortable going any lower for the type of services that you offer. They should see the value at that moment.

Thanks

Signature

http://newinnovativeenterprises.weebly.com

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[3121785].message }}

Brukhar

15 years ago

When you're desperate is not a good time to start in IM, you will start taking bad risks and will probably even lose money.

Thanks

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[3121793].message }}

webapex

15 years ago

There certainly are local/offline marketing courses that would provide some tips, though the cost per tip can be a bit high.

I found this excerpt in the ebook from:

Local Video Method

"You may also find businesses that don’t even have a website! It’s just crazy
for a local dentist to be spending $108,000 a year on advertising and not
even think of spending some of it on online marketing efforts. There are
over 30,000 people (per month) searching for dentists and related services
within the Toronto area (as an example) and this particular Dentist had no
site!

I created a video review about the market, the amount of people searching
and their competition. But since I couldn’t email them a video link, I
dropped it off in a DVD format.
Needless to say, they called me pretty quickly and were impressed with
both my video and method of delivering my marketing message. People
appreciate the personal touch and extra effort."

This guy has a 177 page ebook that references dentists in about 6 places.
Internet Marketing for Local Small Business | Internet Search Marketing ebook | Local SEO by Scott Gallagher

Thanks
1 reply

Signature

â€œAn expert is a person who has made all the mistakes that can be made in a very narrow fieldâ€ Niels Bohr

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[3121912].message }}

nicole1116 15 years ago

I am not sure if this is what you are looking for or not but this might be an effective way to generate some sales... I set up blogs for local businesses myself so I am familiar with local sales.

In my experience with local businesses in my area anyway, they are not willing or not able to pay $1,500 for a website. Right now I am charging $500 per blog and at that price most businesses are agreeable. For that price it is key to minimize the amount of time it takes you to build out the blog for them from a ROI perspective.

This is the model I am moving toward....using these 2 tools.

Tool 1 - I use Studio Press themes and have the pro package which allows me to use all of their themes for the same price and includes new themes as they are released. You could use any theme provider but I find their themes to be exceptional quality and SEO optimized.

Tool 2 - I also use a Wordpress backup tool called "WP-Twin". what this backup software does is clone the entire wordpress blog and lets you download the file. It backs up the entire blog including plugins, sidebar widgets, permalink structure, headers, contact pages, privacy pages, everything exactly as you see it.

Model Structure

Using a theme pack like Studio Press themes pick out 5 to 10 themes that would appeal to local business owners. Create a live, working "sample blogs" that are hosted by you on your hosting account for 5 to 10 of the themes.

Create a blog for your company with a screenshot of each of the 10 blogs and each screenshot will link out to the live working "sample blog" and these will be the blog designs that you offer to your clients.

When you are cold calling or networking or dropping off flyers at local businesses direct them to your website to check out each of the blog designs. Because they are all working samples they can click around each one and get a feel for which one they like the best.

For a set price of say $500 they would get to pick one of the 10 blog themes and you would set it up with a custom header and seo optimization (which is built into the Studio Press themes automatically).

Once the customer chooses the blog theme they like you simply "clone" the sample blog using "WP-Twin" which creates an exact duplicate of the blog.

Then you simply set up the client's hosting and "deploy" the clone of the sample blog they chose on their server, change the header, add the SEO title, description, etc and you are done.

I use WP Twin now to clone my blogs. I have a blog setup specifically for cloning like these sample blogs would be. I have all of the plugins, permalink structure and everything all setup how I like it. When I start a new blog I simply clone that blog and deploy it on the new domain. It takes about 15 mintues total to clone and deploy the blog. This saves you hours of work because you don't have to install plugins, change settings, permalinks, etc. Once deployed all you have to do is change the header out and any links in the footer and you are ready to start adding new content.

This model would allow you to offer a variety of blog designs to your customers and the ability to clone and deploy the already configured blog theme from your server to their server in 15 minutes. This will maximize your time and you can take on more clients faster. Your clients don't need to know that it is only taking you 15 minutes to deploy the blog and with your husband's help he could have the headers all ready to upload to the new sites. You could probably complete a new blog design in under an hour even with changing the header, footer text, tweaking the contact us, privacy, pages, etc.

So, if you could get your volume up even if they paid $500 per site you could complete a few a day with the cloner and make some decent money.

Don't give up and don't let other people discourage you from doing what you think is right for you at this time. If getting another job is not right for you right now then find a way to make the web design work. You can do it.

I follow a internet marketer named Lynn Terry at ClickNewz and her blog has tons of great information on marketing and she has the no nonsense attitude you need to tune into right now. She started out in IM as a single Mom of a 5 month old baby and 5 year old with $7 in her bank account and 1/8 tank of gas she says and she just made it happen. You can do it to - hang in there and just focus on what you can do right now.
- [ 8 ] Thanks
- 2 replies
{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[3123782].message }}
- fred67 15 years ago
  
  Cold calling in the local business niche is very difficult lately because of all the 'so-called' Google employees (NOT!) who constantly bombard local businesses with over-hyped prices and promises. This leaves genuine service providers looking like crooks as well sadly :-(
  
  You need to make a 'personal' contact with a local business person you can trust and then ask them if they would give you a couple of 'their' trusted contacts details so that you could quote their name as your referer. This will most likely open the door for you to at least 'pitch' what you have to offer. Your prices probably aren't the stumbling block (as long as they are genuinely fair) it's very likely because most local businesses are just sick and tired of these time-wasters who we are constantly being bombarded by.
  
  Sorry to mention 'MLM' on this forum, but the MLM concept works wonders if you use this approach .... Find one person to give you at least two contacts ... ask those two to give you at least two contacts etc, etc.
  
  Good luck .... Pete.
  
  Thanks
  
  1 reply
  
  Signature
  
  Free E-book Library/Business Promotion Resources
  http://fred67.com/library
  
  {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[3123868].message }}
  
  Custom Things 15 years ago
  
  If you don't have other options, like getting a job or loan, I'd advise you to stop cold calling and start cold visiting. Make a nice flyer with "to the point" information of what you are offering. Also, show a calculation of how much money can be saved and how many potential customers can be reached.
  
  It's important you understand your target market and understand their needs when you approach them!
  
  Thanks
  
  {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[3123911].message }}
- desgreen 15 years ago
  
  Hi Nicole
  That was very encouraging and your business model is great. The only thing with local small business is that they wont something for nothing for your idea is great
  
  Thanks
  
  {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[3298361].message }}

Barry Unruh

15 years ago

Originally Posted by AnneHouse

I'm assuming the problem is that I am not presenting the information well, or am presenting the wrong information, to the prospective clients

I'll give you one clue. This one clue might make all the difference in the world to you.

NO BUSINESS NEEDS A WEBSITE. They all need paying customers.

When you can clearly define how they are going to get a return on investment from their expenditure their answer will change.

If you can prove to the Dentist down the road people are talking about local dentists on Facebook, Twitter, or hunting for them on Google, you have a legitimate case to present to him. Then you can explain not showing up in the search results is costing him money.

If you can show a restaurant owner people search for "Mexican restaurant" on Google just as commonly as they look in the Yellow Pages, he will listen closely.

Try this with your next call or appointment. Do not tell them anything about your business, ask them everything about theirs. Find out what their biggest problems are with finding clients, keeping clients informed, or other client concerns. Ask them about their current expenses for advertising and ask what their return on investment is. Find out if they are interested in having a website which someone maintains for them, or whether they want to be trained to update a blog themselves. (You might even ask if they want more clients. Some Dentists and Doctors do not.)

Thank them for their time and ask if you can come back and visit with them again after you have time to digest their business a little bit. Now you have the power. You know what they want. You can customize your plan to meet their desires before you start talking about a website. You can bring in reports showing Google search results for their competition. You can discuss their exact concerns.

[ 4 ] Thanks

Signature

Brain Drained...Signature Coming Soon!

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[3123883].message }}

Roey Pimentel

15 years ago

Dear Anne,

It sounds like you and your husband are intelligent people who are willing to learn and more important, take action on what you learn. However, when there is a money crunch the priority shifts.

There are ways to earn cash now, then once the money crisis has passed, focus on building a solid Internet business.

I suggest you focus on offering your services now, then develop your own business. You say your husband's industry is graphics - perhaps he could design headers. There is always a need for well written articles - the payments vary, but people are willing to pay a good price for well written work. That is immediate cash! If you have other skills use those to earn the up-front cash - my guess is there will be some passive learning of different Internet businesses along the way :-)

Thanks

Signature

Need help? FreeMarketingGuides.com
Graphic Design Impact: Design Secrets That Sell!

Peace, Roey.

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[3123971].message }}

JMSD

15 years ago

Originally Posted by AnneHouse

I'm in need of some help with my "first step" on my new biz plan.

We literally have 3 weeks left before we can't pay bills. I could use some assistance in selling or at least in overcoming objectives, or making a better approach. Right now I'm cold calling.

Any help is appreciated. Because of this forum I see so many ways to make it work and don't know what the heck I'm doing wrong.

Thanks in advance.

Hi

Things must be tough and you must be under a lot of stress so perhaps this is coming across to prospective clients when you approach them.

Although advice given above is sound (ie, get a job, if you can, to cover essentials while you build up your Internet consultancy business), there's nothing to stop you from "having a go" now at starting something online, particularly as the job market is pretty depressed, right now.

As a bricks and mortar company owner of several years, I, personally, don't like cold callers and most professional companies like dentists, solicitors and accountants will not respond well, either.

However, if you haven't already tried to do so, why not write a brief, professional letter to each of your selected prospects (use Google Map to locate your local businesses - yellow pages may be dying, if not dead and GM is so quick for this kind of search) specifying the "benefits" at "affordable" rates rather than what you do or can do for them at a given price in your letter. End your letter with a request for an appointment so that you may present, without obligation, further details pertinent to their own business

For instance, a firm of accountants wrote to me after I set up another company, recently, and offered me one hour's consultation without charge to see if I could benefit from their services. I was impressed and called them back and had a long and fruitful conversation with the senior partner at the firm and gained a lot of free information. Although we don't yet need them (we do our own books to trial balance) I will be using this firm in due course because of the great information given to me without charge and the positive impression left about their way of conducting business.

If you wish, eventually, to be earning a fee of $1500+/site (high fees can be used when you are too busy to take on any new business unless they make it worth your while), make your initial fees to new clients a bargain they won't be able to refuse. Don't forget, businesses are having a tough time of it, too, so they may not have thousands of dollars to throw around.

Better still, make it a monthly payment plan (host their sites for them and offer to maintain it for a set number of months) so that
a) it's affordable for the company and it ensures a steady monthly income for you
b) they can see results before committing to more
c) trust in your professionalism is established and recommendations readily given

If they ask if you can provide other services like SEO or PPC or anything related to their website, say "yes" even if you cannot do it yourself. You can always outsource things that you cannot do to reliable experts and charge extra for each such service to make a profit.

Nicole has given you excellent advice (I've taken note for myself) about putting up Word Press sites quickly. However, don't call these sites "blogs" when talking to your clients. Word Press is just another site builder/content management system which the client could learn to manage in due course.

I wish you good luck and better fortune in 2011.

James

Thanks

Signature

Risk-Free IM Training For Newbies, Including Ready-To-Sell Digital Products

Want High Ticket Licensed DVD Products As Backend Offers
To Sell For Two, Three & Four-Figure Sums?

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[3124002].message }}

bigredrassler

15 years ago

I don't know what your sales experience is, but I do know as an entrepreneur with sales experience, the wall I hit is self-imposed. I get so focused on the feature or service I provide I forget that the client's focus is "what's in it for me?"

Get them numbers on what kind of business they will do WITH a website, let them know that SEO is not taught in highschool computer class, but is essential to their online success. And also put in their heads, either by implication or statement, what the increased business will do with their lifestyle. Will they be able to expand their practice? Raise their prices due to demand? Retire 3 years earlier?

You also need to make sure you are conducting a needs assessment. Don't go in in the first 10 minutes and tell them what you do and try to close. What are their needs, wants, goals? Find these and tailor the presentation to fit(and also the service to keep your integrity)

Lastly, I agree with many people in this thread, you should get some source of income and do this part time. "An entrepreneur works 16 hours a day to avoid working 8 hours for someone else" You may have to cut down time out entirely, get up, work a couple of hours on your business, go to your job, come home, work until bed, crash, repeat. Why do you think I am making this post at this hour, after working all day, I am still working(well, technically, taking a 20 minute break) and will work for another half hour before bed all to do it again in the morning.

[ 2 ] Thanks
1 reply

Signature

Experience is overrated, usually by old men who nod wisely and speak stupidly.-Og Mandino

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[3124063].message }}

Tess D 15 years ago

First, let me thank all of you for your advice, and rest assured we do both pick up what work is available to carry us through as best we can.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

NICOLE - you mentioned the following:
Model Structure

Using a theme pack like Studio Press themes pick out 5 to 10 themes that would appeal to local business owners. Create a live, working "sample blogs" that are hosted by you on your hosting account for 5 to 10 of the themes.

Create a blog for your company with a screenshot of each of the 10 blogs and each screenshot will link out to the live working "sample blog" and these will be the blog designs that you offer to your clients.

-------------------
Do you send those clients an email or do you visit in person to show them the sites?

-----------------
One point mentioned was preparing a presentation for a client, showing them what they can gain in business from an effective web site. Is there some kind of "formula" or facts for calculating the ROI?

Also, I didn't think of using the payment plans. Ugh - can't believe I missed that.

OK - today is a new day, and I have a fresh start with new ideas. Thank you everyone for the pep talk and excellent advice. Several of you hit on some points about sales calls and speeding up the process of site development that I had been missing and it is really helpful.
- Thanks
{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[3125037].message }}

William Prawira

15 years ago

Originally Posted by AnneHouse

I'm in need of some help with my "first step" on my new biz plan.

My husband's industry is dying, and he is unemployed. I built and sold 2 web based biz's in the past, and then started a local b&m biz. That failed and we owe a ton of money. I've been "relearning" internet marketing and SEO for the last year and have put a plan together. He is helping with graphics (his forte)
However, in approaching businesses to sell my services, all the prices that are mentioned here (get dentists to pay 1500 on a site and 300 / mo to promote it )etc, I am finding are way beyond what people seem willing to pay for a good site with good promotion.
Since I've been in sales and am comfortable with making calls, I'm assuming the problem is that I am not presenting the information well, or am presenting the wrong information, to the prospective clients - that or they are all just insanely cheap and think their high schooler knows how to do it all. Otherwise I'd expect I would see better results.

We literally have 3 weeks left before we can't pay bills. I could use some assistance in selling or at least in overcoming objectives, or making a better approach. Right now I'm cold calling.

Any help is appreciated. Because of this forum I see so many ways to make it work and don't know what the heck I'm doing wrong.

Thanks in advance.

Hi, I dropped by at your site just now. Want to inform you that there is a typing error on the link

IF YOU DON"T WANT TO Sign up, just download by clicking here and here and here.

(typpo mark by red is the one having the error link.)

hope you are reading this.

Thanks for the content. Really appreciate it.

Thanks

Signature

Thanks,

William Prawira

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[3281449].message }}

Monja

15 years ago

hello anne,

i agree with some others - internet marketing as any other business won´t work from one minute to the other. basically it´s working because of hard work and patience. so getting this done in just some weeks definitely scares me. i´d also go for a part time job which simply pays the bills until your online business is working.
good luck!

Thanks

Signature

Free Business Class on Skillshare:
http://skl.sh/2bvH8nS

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[3281503].message }}

mancmusicman

15 years ago

a common theme in this thread ...oh it can't be done..try a part time job..all the negativity and reasons why it wont work..

learn from the OP and get out there..stop the excuses and stop dragging everyone else down with your excuses

go read the original posters new thread

http://www.warriorforum.com/offline-...0-3-weeks.html

[ 1 ] Thanks
1 reply

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[3282358].message }}

John Durham

15 years ago

Originally Posted by mancmusicman

a common theme in this thread ...oh it can't be done..try a part time job..all the negativity and reasons why it wont work..

learn from the OP and get out there..stop the excuses and stop dragging everyone else down with your excuses

go read the original posters new thread

http://www.warriorforum.com/offline-...0-3-weeks.html

Absolutely. What a hero she is. If MY back was against the wall the LAST thing I would do is job hunt... get out there and make some CASH!!!!! EVERYTHING is possible. You have EVERYTHING to gain!

Thanks
1 reply

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[3288565].message }}

Kevin AKA Hubcap 15 years ago

It's amusing getting a glimpse of the different mindsets within this thread.

All I can say is a turkey can't teach an eagle nothin' about learning to fly.
- Thanks
- 1 reply
{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[3289159].message }}
- Steve MacLellan 15 years ago
  
  I admit, I did not read all of the replies, so if someone has suggested this, I apologize.
  
  I like the idea of using a blog, but rather than sell it to them, I would lease it to them. With a great domain name. I live in a town called Truro. If I'm looking for a new dentist in Truro, I'm going to google and type in Truro dentists.
  
  Same thing people are going to do when they're looking for professionals in your area. So buy some domain names: yourtowndentists.com, yourtowndoctor.com, etc... that way when people do a search based on these terms, your site will come up at the top.
  
  On the blog, have an example site setup. Do it up nice with your husbands graphic abilities. After you explain to the first dentist how easy it will be for clients to find them, you can also mention that if they aren't interested their competitor is sure to be.
  
  So there is the lease fee of $3000 for the year, and hosting and monthly maintenance of $300. Next year same price, or else someone else gets it.
  
  Many doctors won't care about working in the word press theme. They just want to advertise. They have "people" to do computer work for them. If you're offering, you'll get the job.
  
  I had a site called Truro Used Cars.com. Yep, people found it very easily, and I was able to charge used car dealers (who had their own websites) to advertise on mine, just to make sure there site didn't get over looked.
  
  Which is another idea. YourTowndoctors.com could be a directory showcasing numerous doctors around town, and have each one of them paying yearly advertising fees.
  
  Hope this helps.
  
  Best Regards,
  Steve MacLellan
  
  Thanks
  
  Signature
  
  Website building Discussion and Hosting
  https://stevemaclellan.net
  
  {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[3289361].message }}

Silas Hart

15 years ago

Originally Posted by AnneHouse

I'm in need of some help with my "first step" on my new biz plan.

My husband's industry is dying, and he is unemployed. I built and sold 2 web based biz's in the past, and then started a local b&m biz. That failed and we owe a ton of money. I've been "relearning" internet marketing and SEO for the last year and have put a plan together. He is helping with graphics (his forte)
However, in approaching businesses to sell my services, all the prices that are mentioned here (get dentists to pay 1500 on a site and 300 / mo to promote it )etc, I am finding are way beyond what people seem willing to pay for a good site with good promotion.
Since I've been in sales and am comfortable with making calls, I'm assuming the problem is that I am not presenting the information well, or am presenting the wrong information, to the prospective clients - that or they are all just insanely cheap and think their high schooler knows how to do it all. Otherwise I'd expect I would see better results.

We literally have 3 weeks left before we can't pay bills. I could use some assistance in selling or at least in overcoming objectives, or making a better approach. Right now I'm cold calling.

Any help is appreciated. Because of this forum I see so many ways to make it work and don't know what the heck I'm doing wrong.

Thanks in advance.

To be perfectly honest, if you ask someone to provide contact details for the doctor or dentist or plumber that paid someone $1500 or other claims of $15,000, you are going to receive a "Uh, no... [insert excuse here]" - Most are just selling a method.

Thanks

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[3289445].message }}

bdm

15 years ago

I find I have to 'Bring something significant to the table' when talking with local business owners. I typically pick a specific niche in a specific city and study it over and over. Once I have a handle on who the big players are and who could use some help I build unique marketing plans (well marketing plan overviews) for a handful of businesses. I send them in the form of a PDF. Then I do some follow up. Typically I get a few email responses before even making the calls. When I do call I simply ask if they have checked the report I sent. If they have, it gives us something to talk about. As mentioned above, let the potential client do as much of the talking as possible. They will tell you there marketing issuse (and other issues you don't really want to know about).

Go from there. Get a hold of their specific issues and prepare a customized marketing plan to fix them.

The key to this whole procedure is making a positive initial contact.

Hope that helps.

Thanks

Signature

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[3289507].message }}

PennyManTim

15 years ago

Similar situation - I appreciated all this advice! Good Stuff!

Thanks

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[3289873].message }}

paulie888

15 years ago

Also, if you're cold calling, please be aware that this is a numbers game. If your situation is truly as desperate as it sounds and you only have 3 weeks left, I'd go all out and call at least 150-200 businesses a day if you can swing it.

Do not be complacent. The more clients you call, the better your chances will be of landing at least a few. You have absolutely no time to lose, so when you call, try to qualify your prospects as quickly as possible and spend as little time as possible with the ones who are not interested.

Additionally, I'd price the website packages at around $500 or so - you'll get a lot more takers at that price point than $1500. You need money now, so this is not the time to be picky/demanding about pricing. You can do that later when you're established - what you need to do now is pick up as many clients as you possibly can, and your job will be made so much easier at the $500 price point.

Paul

Thanks

Signature

[WSO] Secrets To Making $100/Day In 21 Days Or Less - Starting From Scratch!

>>> Features Jason Fladlien, John S. Rhodes, Justin Brooke, Sean I. Mitchell, Reed Floren and Brad Gosse! <<<

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[3298966].message }}

Really need to make it work!

Trending Topics

Need Advice

Tribute to Mark...

Is anyone using skool or a similar platform for a course?

What if we banned Google?

Guest posts, best places to look?