My offline method - please help!!

34 replies
Like most, I have been dazzled by the offline marketing phenomenon, but my situation is different. I would really like to know your creative opinions about what I could do.

You see, Im 15. Yep. So, going into a shop telling the manager I am an ecommerce consultant gets me laughed out of the shop.

In the letters I send, I MUST say something about my age, since if I dont they'll just laugh when I turn up at the consultancy, and just walk out!

So far I have come up with these:

Business student doing a project
Local survey, eg. do you have a site, yes/no, would you like to find out about free marketing etc.

Any other ideas?

Thanks in advance,

Mubarak Waseem
#method #offline
  • Profile picture of the author Andyhenry
    Offline marketing isn't a phenomenon - it's the way things have always been done - the Online stuff is the new way.

    You're not in a weird situation, you're just focusing on your age - which will lead to others doing the same.

    This stuff is simple - if you can show a business owner how you can make or save them money - they'll take you seriously.

    If you have no proof or evidence to backup your claims - it doesn't matter what age you are, you're going have to rely on naive people to take you seriously.

    All you have to do is put together a proper case to show them how you will make them money. If you can't do that, maybe you should think about that before trying to sell your services.

    Andy
    Signature

    nothing to see here.

    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[552279].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author kswr123
    yes, I understand what you are saying. But I have no got any stats, or evidence to show them.
    I may go into to my local pc shop and strike up a conversation
    Signature
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[552285].message }}
    • Profile picture of the author Andyhenry
      Originally Posted by saq3m View Post

      yes, I understand what you are saying. But I have no got any stats, or evidence to show them.
      THAT is your problem - not your age.
      Signature

      nothing to see here.

      {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[552292].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author Shane N
    You could market yourself as a "marketing prodigy" or "whiz kid" if you have the skills to back it up!

    Show them stuff that you have already done and be serious and professional.

    I wish you the best!

    Best,
    Shane
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[552288].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author kswr123
    well, do any other online marketers who have marketed to business have evidence. ARE there any stats that you guys could enlighten me with?

    Shane, Thanks for your kind words. Mainly I do design, but this site is not relly in need of design.
    Signature
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[552298].message }}
    • Profile picture of the author lgibbon
      Banned
      Originally Posted by saq3m View Post

      well, do any other online marketers who have marketed to business have evidence.
      There's very little evidence of that sort around.
      It looks to me like selling the idea to others is much more profitable.
      {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[552448].message }}
      • Profile picture of the author Tsnyder
        Originally Posted by lgibbon View Post

        There's very little evidence of that sort around.
        It looks to me like selling the idea to others is much more profitable.
        Leslie... am I detecting a sense of humor here? Well done...

        Tsnyder
        Signature
        If you knew what I know you'd be doing what I do...
        {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[553265].message }}
        • Profile picture of the author lgibbon
          Banned
          Originally Posted by Tsnyder View Post

          Leslie... am I detecting a sense of humor here? Well done...

          Tsnyder
          Not at all, I was being serious.

          Let's be realistic here, if someone finds a real way of making some easy cash
          they don't go posting it on forums, they keep it to themselves.
          That's human nature.

          And why would a business pay a complete novice to build websites for them when they can hire a pro?
          After all the cost doesn't come into it because it's tax deductable.
          {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[553870].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author kswr123
    Originally Posted by beareroftruth View Post

    Riddle me this, Batman Jr.

    If you've got no evidence, no portfolio, no results... How do you know that your ecommerce consulting services are actually worth any money?

    If you've never run a PPC campaign, never set up a store, never successfully ran a SEM campaign... How do you expect to gather paying customers?

    You'd have to be an extremely convincing salesman to sell your services without any background, and you've obviously got a huge lack of confidence thing going on. So that's out of the question.

    Why don't you set up a site or two, run campaigns, and prove that you can get results? Show those projects to the business owners you want to target. Game over.
    Thanks for that. I would not say I have a lack of confidence in myself, but I feel my age will let me down. Any ideas on WHAT to say when I enter a shop? I was thinking of striking up a conversation, then just casually saying how is business?
    Signature
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[552313].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author Eric X Vignola
    it is not too hard. listen you know the value of online marketing for small business owners, especially in a local market. you should also know it is not hard to get ranked high in google, yahoo, or msn for LOCAL keywords.

    so pick out an area you want to focus on and create a "dummy" site. it should have great information and help local people out in whatever area of expertise you choose. then do your search engine marketing, spend 20 bucks on adwords, do a little social marketing and bam. you should at least be on page 1 of google for a term that the businesses you are targeting would WANT to have.

    doesn't matter your age, if you show them you can get them onto page one of google AND you explain the value of what being their means for their businesses its a done deal.

    talking casually can help but MOST business owners dont have the time to just "hang out" and "shoot the breeze" until you get to the point.

    also keep in mind you will get a lot of rejection. it is just the nature of the beast. there are ways to lessen the number of rejections you get (doing proper research ahead of time) but they will always be there.

    good luck!
    Signature

    Need Articles, Reports, eBooks, anything?
    Check Out My Ghost Writing Services

    PLR articles and reports? Coming Soon...

    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[552330].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author kswr123
    thanks. With creating a dummy site, should it just be a portal for services in the local area.
    +
    Signature
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[552336].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author freudianslip27
    I agree, you definitely need proof to back you up. I don't think your age needs to be a problem, as long as you have stuff to back it up. Having previous results is going to be even more important due to the fact that you may come off inexperienced because of your age.

    It is easy to rank for local terms, like "mytown pizza". Why not do that first, and then you could have something to show them? They could market this to all of the pizza places in your area, until one buys it from you, and then you could show others how you got that pizza place to #1.

    Matt
    Signature

    WarriorForum Rules!

    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[552354].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author kswr123
    Thanks. I love the confident approach. I really wanna try it out.

    Thanks for all your help!
    Signature
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[552394].message }}
    • Profile picture of the author TimCastleman
      Have you ever seen the old clips of a very young Tiger Woods? He was on the Tonight Show at age 3 (I think). Long story short they had him on there because of his age - because he was so talented at a YOUNG age.

      Your age is only holding you back due to your belief. I have never had to show a website once to make a sale.

      Food for thought.

      Tim
      {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[552417].message }}
      • Profile picture of the author jmidas
        I can definately see your age holding you back in some of your potential customer's eyes IF you have no track record to show them.

        So, get a track record.

        Go out and offer your service for free to 2-3 shops - use your project idea or, if you are confident enough, use the I'm a whiz-kid" approach. But have a short list of services you offer, then offer them for free to a couple lucku businesses. If you do your job well, you now have real, live customers who can be your testimonials.
        {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[552443].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author pioneertw
    Hey Mubarak,

    Firstly I'd like to congratulate you for taking action at such a young age, it's already an impressive feat. (That itself makes people curious about what you have to propose.)

    I've just sealed my first offline deal 2 weeks back, before that I was just as afraid that everything would work against me. I was a horrible sales person and got extremely nervous talking to stranger previously. At the very first meeting I managed to set up, I freaked myself out very badly and made myself looked really bad even though I knew I had a great product that the business owner badly needed.

    I adjusted my mindset and approached my second meeting with the angle that I am there to help, to genuinely improve sales for the business owner. I told myself that there's no way this guy know more about marketing online than me (if he's still not doing it), so that gave me the confidence to push through a deal and got a USD $750 check at the end of the 30 minutes.

    In fact, the client was so impressed that he had all but agreed to my up-sell of a monthly maintenance program without me even delivering any result yet.

    You may have heard this a thousand times before, but you have everything to lose if you don't try. Just take every client meeting as a training for you! If they take up your deal, great for you. If not, just reflect and fine-tune. Once you get your formula right, age is never going to be an obstacle to your sales success.

    Hope this helps
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[552444].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author ebizerati
    Mubarak,

    First thing that I would suggest for you do is to make a list of what you can do that will help a local business owner have more success with their website.

    Do you know how to?

    1. Set up and maintain an auto responder.

    2. Do basic SEO that will get a local business on the 1st page of SERPs.

    3. Set up and maintain a blog for a local business.

    4. Make a video commercial for a local business and submit it to Youtube and other video sites. " I personally think this is a great one to do"

    5. Post to online classifieds such as Craigslist, Kiiji, USFreeds, ect and maintain this service.

    6. Build or Upgrade an exist website for a local business.

    And I am sure you can come up with some other good stuff to. Remember you have a great resource in this forum that these offline business owners don't have. This forum is your secret weapon. Because if you need to know how to do something you can come here and find out how to do it.

    Now with all of this in mind, once you have decide what it is you can do to help a business owner, here is what I would suggest you do. IMHO

    Find a business owner that needs help. If you know or your parents know someone then start with them. If not go to the yellow pages and look for the businesses that have a display ad, these owners already know they need to advertise and are normally easier to work with.

    Now look at their website and look for the ones that can use the service you plan to offer. Start with the one that looks like they need you the most.

    Once you have found a business that you are ready to approach, this is what you need to do. First outline a plan of what it is that you can offer them and the benefits that they will receive from your plan.

    Now to overcome your lack of proof.

    Tell them you are studying Internet Marketing and that you are planning to become a professional Internet marketing consultant for local business owners. Be honest with them and tell them you are looking to help one local business "to do what ever it is that you have decide they need based on your analysis of their website" for free in return for a testimonial.

    Be absolutely sure that you have the skill or can get the help if you need it to do a GREAT job for them before you talk to the business. If you do an awesome job and get results for them. You will not only have proof, but also a great reference for future business.

    Don't worry about doing some work for free, it will pay off big time down the road.

    For our first job we did a big discount and kicked in a lot of free SEO and Web 2.0 Marketing. We dominated the 1st page of Google with anywhere from 3 to 7 spots in the SERP for the keywords we targeted. Our first customer was so thrilled that she now tells everybody she knows what we did for her.

    The next business owner we went to see was showing us the door until we pulled out the SERPs we had printed and showed him the result from our first customer. Within a few minutes we had a $2,000 dollar job and $350.00 per month to maintain it.

    So as you can see having proof really pays off.

    If you get some no's before you find someone who is willing to give you a chance don't worry about it just keep knocking on doors. If you don't get some no's then I would start worrying.

    I love to see young people trying to better themselves, you are already ahead of most people your age. Because you already see that if you try to succeed instead of just sitting around and waiting for something to fall in your lap you can get what you want.

    Good Luck to you and keep us informed to how it is going.

    Dale
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[552483].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author kswr123
    I understand. I am actually at a pro level for video marketing, and I do it successfully(i hope ) for warriors, so the video part should not be a problem.

    As for SEO, Im a little confused but Ill crawl through the forums!

    I will write a sample questionarie at school tomorrow, and deliver it in my school uniform with my bag on. Hopefully that makes the business survey for school look good. What do you guys think about this idea?

    Mubarak
    Signature
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[553057].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author jasonl70
    please, don't become another one of these types of people:

    "I can find your best/profitable keywords" (but I've never been able to do it for myself)
    "I can help you get to the top of google" (but I've never been able to do it for myself)
    "I can generate more traffic for you" (but I've never been able to do it for myself)
    "I can build you an email list of leads" (but I've never been able to do it for myself)
    "I can build you a customer email list" (but I've never been able to do it for myself)
    "I can set up an email campaign for your list to generate more sales for you" (but I've never been able to do it for myself)

    and so on...

    So go get a client or 2, even if it's free, and build up your proof/experience. By this summer you could be kicking butt
    Signature

    -Jason

    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[553159].message }}
    • Profile picture of the author Bayo
      Originally Posted by jasonl70 View Post

      please, don't become another one of these types of people:

      "I can find your best/profitable keywords" (but I've never been able to do it for myself)
      "I can help you get to the top of google" (but I've never been able to do it for myself)
      "I can generate more traffic for you" (but I've never been able to do it for myself)
      "I can build you an email list of leads" (but I've never been able to do it for myself)
      "I can build you a customer email list" (but I've never been able to do it for myself)
      "I can set up an email campaign for your list to generate more sales for you" (but I've never been able to do it for myself)

      and so on...

      So go get a client or 2, even if it's free, and build up your proof/experience. By this summer you could be kicking butt
      I'm with Jason on this.

      'FREE' can lead to 'FEE' and you'll gain real-world, hands-on experience at the same time...all for FREE!

      Focus right now on learning. IF you are indeed 15 you can safely dedicate the next 6 months to learning as much as you can in the real world and develop your own case studies THEN turn round and sell your experience to other 15 year olds.

      But for now your best bet is to focus on building your knowledge and skills.

      If you need some high quality original PLR to offer to get you in the door PM me and I'll see if I can sort something out for you (this would be information you offer the business owner to smoothen the deal)

      Hope this helps
      {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[553294].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author kswr123
    Thanks you guys. Tomorrow I'll go in and see how it goes. If the guy likes what I am saying, I will say I am offering it dirt cheap as a test, and the small cost (probably £100) is just to secure the work time, and that is refundble if I cannot fulfill their requests. That way I may be able to build up a portfolio of helped sites.

    Thanks you guys!

    Mubarak
    Signature
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[553181].message }}
    • Profile picture of the author jmidas
      Mubarak, I think you are missing the point of "free." Do a good job for them for FREE and you will be rewarded many times over.

      Good luck tomorrow. Let us know how it goes.
      {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[553192].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author ManBearPig
    Get creating for a local charity/etc website, then get the information released to the local press 'Local WizKid Shows them How' or whatever headline they choose. Just positioning yourself as an expert however young should be able to convert some sales for you? In the UK many many years ago, we had a kid who was an expert on Antiques, he got noticed due to his consulting business, and became a minor celeb for a while, but it helped get him positioned as an expert and the money roled in. I think he was 12 yrs old at the time.
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[554980].message }}
    • Profile picture of the author AndrewCavanagh
      Just deal with it openly and early.

      Being young is NOT a disadvantage if you play up the perception that when a parent has a problem with their computer they ask their kids to fix it.

      Movies, tv, etc etc have been filled with stereotypes of kids who are computer geniuses.

      You just need to play to that stereotype.

      Just say upfront something like "I know I'm young but on the internet it's the young people like me who really understand how to use and innovate what's available."

      And mention a couple of the things you've done and how it's your intention to use your skills to help them make more sales and profits if you can find a way to do that.

      Then start asking questions about their business, what they want from their business etc etc.

      Kindest regards,
      Andrew Cavanagh
      {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[555086].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author artwebster
    Let's be realistic here, if someone finds a real way of making some easy cash
    they don't go posting it on forums, they keep it to themselves.
    That's human nature.


    In my case, how very true those words are.

    I can show Mubaraq how to demonstrate cash savings for the vast majority of offline businesses, savings that are real cash left in the pocket - not some theoretical b.s.
    I can also show him where the buyers are for his prospects but, until I am able to find a way to capitalise on what I have, I'm keeping it to myself.
    Signature

    You might not like what I say - but I believe it.
    Build it, make money, then build some more
    Some old school smarts would help - and here's to Rob Toth for his help. Bloody good stuff, even the freebies!

    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[555087].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author kswr123
    Ok, I went to the local pc store and here is what happened:

    Me: Hi there! Can I please speak with the manager
    Man: That's me!
    Me: Great! I just wanted to tell you about an ecommerce project that I am currently doing.
    Man: Sure....
    Me: I would like to have the opportunity to increase your online sales and revenue, for free. Want to know more?
    Man: no thanks (1st no)
    Me: Ok. But I should let you know the service is now FREE for the time being. I would like to try and boost your search engine rankings, and inrease your sales. Surely that's a good thing!
    Man: NO.
    Me: Ok. So you are saying no to a free service which would potentially increase your sales just by tweaking your site a little to make it more search engine friendly.
    Man: No thanks. We would not let you change our website.

    I was kinda dumbstruck that he turned it down.
    Signature
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[555500].message }}
    • Profile picture of the author Mark Riddle
      Originally Posted by saq3m View Post

      Ok, I went to the local pc store and here is what happened:

      This approach will fail with anyone.

      You are NOT selling website design or SEO or anything that is at all to do with jargon.

      Its all about increasing revenue for the store owner.

      Successful restaurants don't sell eggs and bacon and coffee.

      They sell a fast and tasty breakfast.


      Mark
      Signature
      Today isn't Yesterday, - Products are everywhere if your eyes are Tuned!
      {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[555764].message }}
      • Profile picture of the author JohnMcCabe
        Originally Posted by saq3m View Post

        Ok, I went to the local pc store and here is what happened:

        Me: Hi there! Can I please speak with the manager
        Man: That's me!
        Me: Great! I just wanted to tell you about an ecommerce project that I am currently doing.
        Man: Sure....
        Me: I would like to have the opportunity to increase your online sales and revenue, for free. Want to know more?
        Man: no thanks (1st no)
        Me: Ok. But I should let you know the service is now FREE for the time being. I would like to try and boost your search engine rankings, and inrease your sales. Surely that's a good thing!
        Man: NO.
        Me: Ok. So you are saying no to a free service which would potentially increase your sales just by tweaking your site a little to make it more search engine friendly.
        Man: No thanks. We would not let you change our website.

        I was kinda dumbstruck that he turned it down.
        Couple of observations...

        First, that approach would not have worked on the owners I know, regardless of age. Even though you offered to do the work for free, you simply took your space in the parade of people trying to sell this person something. You, like every other salesperson pounding the pavement, assumed you knew what that business needed, without taking the time to find out what the hot buttons are.

        Second, you asked for the manager. Unless the manager was also the owner, you were doomed even if he liked what you were offering. Most retail shop managers barely have authority to unlock and lock the doors, much less commit to a marketing plan involving giving someone access to the company website. Rather than admit he didn't have any authority to a kid, he saved face by blowing you off.

        Once you do get belly to belly with a real decision maker, you need to create trust. And that means conversation. Let the owner tell you how he started his business when he was your age. Let him tell you where he wants to take it, what he's proud of, what he wishes were better. If you can get him to talk 90-95% of the time, especially about himself, he'll think you are brilliant.

        I think your idea of starting with your father is a big step down the right trail. Use the network you have. One of the huge benefits of belonging to a local network is being able to contact another member and ask, "who do you know who..." You want them to say, "You won't believe this, but there's this 15 year old kid who helped Joe do..." Followed closely by, "Do you want his number?"

        The point about you not being able to make a legal contract is a valid one. Perhaps you could set up your business with a figurehead, like one of your parents, to actually sign the deals while you do all the work. Doesn't sound fair, but until you reach the age of consent, it's likely going to be an issue.

        Keep on keeping on - just eat the elephant one bite at a time...
        {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[556155].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author deu12000
    It's your age. Here's the problem, you're 15, I let you log into my server, you completely trash it, I can't sue you. A 15 year old can not be held accountable for things like this. You can not form a legal and binding contract.

    If you're offering your services for free, some one will bite sooner or later. Keep trying. The age thing is definitely a handicap, but offering free services will build up your rep. Also create a design portfolio, businesses seem to assume if you can create a site you can do a lot more for it.
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[555697].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author PassiveProfits
    Mubarak,

    You need to show your experience. Find someone you know, your parents or other adult and tell them you need help finding a business that you can do this work for. Then using your contact offer to do the work free of charge and explain that you need to build a track record so you can begin to show clients what you are able to do.
    Signature

    To your Abundance and Happiness,

    Shauna
    Passive Profits System
    A step by step system teaching affiliate marketing.

    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[555714].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author Mark Riddle
    Super Affiliate David Wilkinson, is a 15 year old whiz kid that (just turned 15 the other day) and he has the ear of some very powerful players, because of his skills, he walks the walk and has great success.

    Age isn't a problem, its the ability to do what you promise, and can create results for your customers.

    Knock on enough doors, you can find people that will help you build your portfolio, and from that point on, use referrals and testimonials.

    Mark
    Signature
    Today isn't Yesterday, - Products are everywhere if your eyes are Tuned!
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[555741].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author kswr123
    thanks guys!

    I'll try with my Dad's business. Seems so obvious, but I guess I never thought of it!
    Signature
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[555758].message }}

Trending Topics