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How to approach offline business questions?

by Tekstar
7 replies
For those of you that dabble in offline marketing how do you approach businesses and explain, if asked, if you yourself don't have a brick and mortar building and work virtually or home based. I'm not sure if I should say that I have a virtual office that allows me the freedom to work where it is most convenient and also thus saving them money. As my business is online and offline I want to be able to convey that professionalism to the business owner.

As I'm a bit new to this I want to try and instill confidence in the business owner that they should go with me and I will provide what they are looking for.

Bottom line is how do you also give the impression that even though you are new, you know what you are doing and can help them.

Any suggestions are appreciated.

-Bob
#approach #business #offline #questions
  • Profile picture of the author Keith Boisvert
    Originally Posted by Tekstar View Post

    For those of you that dabble in offline marketing how do you approach businesses and explain, if asked, if you yourself don't have a brick and mortar building and work virtually or home based. I'm not sure if I should say that I have a virtual office that allows me the freedom to work where it is most convenient and also thus saving them money. As my business is online and offline I want to be able to convey that professionalism to the business owner.

    As I'm a bit new to this I want to try and instill confidence in the business owner that they should go with me and I will provide what they are looking for.

    Bottom line is how do you also give the impression that even though you are new, you know what you are doing and can help them.

    Any suggestions are appreciated.

    -Bob
    To be honest, most business owners understand. When I started I worked from home. What they care about is if you can do what you say, not where you do it from. Look and act professional and the rest will fall into place.

    I currently have an office, and hardly ever use it as far as clients because I am usually at their place of business.

    The one thing I do suggest is making what you do have professional. Make sure you have great website with good content and make sure it ranks good for local search results so you can at least use your site as an example if you dont already have some, and make sure your correspondence is professional as well, ie: letter heads, signatures in your emails, a nice message on your answering machine etc. None of this takes much time and will convey what it is you are after.

    Keith
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  • Profile picture of the author chrisnegro
    I work from my home and currently never got any vibe or questions on why I do
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    • Profile picture of the author JohnMcCabe
      Many of the professionals small business owners deal with regularly are working from home offices these days. Real estate and insurance pros, independent sales reps, technicians, and so on.

      If the points of contact you do have with clients and prospects are professional, the location of your office probably won't come up at all. If it does, just say you work from home to keep your overhead down.
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  • Profile picture of the author BrianMcLeod
    To be blunt, I think this is a problem you've invented for yourself in your own mind. In other words, you are focused far more on YOU than your prospects will be.

    What the business owner cares about is RESULTS, that you know what you're talking about, and that you are responsive to their needs and communicate professionally.

    If you have a handle on those issues, no client worth having will give a rat's tail where your "corporate offices" are located, IME.

    Best,

    Brian
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    Brian McLeod
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    • Profile picture of the author TracyNeedham
      I think I've gotten asked a handful of times over the course of 5 years in business and I just say I have a home office. I think it's pretty well accepted these days, but like Keith said it's important that everything about your business look professional--your website, your business cards (why some people don't pay the $10 to get the VistaPrint logo off the back of their "free" business cards I'll never understand!), etc.

      Usually they want you to come to their business anyway, but I've also set up meetings at coffee shops.

      You could also get a mailbox at UPS to have a physical address if you don't want to use your home one.

      And on the off chance your home office situation is a problem for a prospect, then they were probably just looking for an excuse to say no and weren't going to hire you anyway.

      Tracy
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  • Profile picture of the author artwebster
    I'm with LoudMac on this.

    I work with off line businesses and, to be brutally blunt about it, if they start asking me where my office is or who else I have worked for I know that I have made a bloody mess of my presentation because they should be asking me how their problems can be solved - especially if it is a problem that they didn't realise they had until I told them!
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    Some old school smarts would help - and here's to Rob Toth for his help. Bloody good stuff, even the freebies!

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  • Profile picture of the author Joseph Then
    I know at least 10 professionals in various industries who don't have an office, but mostly work at home.

    And man, they charge big sums too.
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