Offline money has found ME!

by ShayB
64 replies
I have been watching the offline threads, of course, but really have not gone looking for offline gold.

But maybe I should! LOL

Hubby came home last night and handed me a business card. A friend of his needs a blog and some ways to make more money with his offline side biz. Hubby put in a good word for me.

No problem! I contact the friend and see what he has in mind. He wants a blog set up and an autoresponder. (About 15 minutes' worth of work.) He will worry about content later on.

He asked how much I charged. I said he was a friend of Hubby's, so whatever he wanted to pay. (I am thinking $20 or so, KWIM? I can put up a blog in my sleep.)

I nearly fell over when he offered $150 for me doing this!!! PLUS more when he wanted content!!

I aksed him how he came up with that number. (I was curious to hear his reasoning.) He said he had just spent nearly $900 for 16 weeks of advertising in a local newspaper. He thought $150 just sounded good.

I gave him a better deal than $150. But it got me thinking how different offline business thinking is! Another person I know just spent $800 on a course to learn how to put up a WP blog.

Is this typical of what others are finding with offline business owners? :confused:
#found #money #offline
  • Profile picture of the author SteelDanno
    Yup, I'd say pretty typical. We live and breathe this stuff. Like you said, you could put a blog in your sleep. Most of the bricks and mortar business types I meet are clueless about most of the kungfu we talk about in places like this.
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  • Profile picture of the author GoGetta
    Yes its like this in every trade!

    Its like a Plumber charges $100 for tightening a pipe! Same analogy! Its easy for a plumber becasue he knows what to do but to a homeowner that knows nothing about plumbing it seems like a big job!

    So to save time and energy you pay the $100 to get the expert in!

    Ok, maybe a bad example hehe but gives you the idea!

    GoGetta
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    • Profile picture of the author Micheal Perkins
      Originally Posted by GoGetta View Post

      Yes its like this in every trade!

      Its like a Plumber charges $100 for tightening a pipe! Same analogy! Its easy for a plumber becasue he knows what to do but to a homeowner that knows nothing about plumbing it seems like a big job!

      So to save time and energy you pay the $100 to get the expert in!

      Ok, maybe a bad example hehe but gives you the idea!

      GoGetta
      That's funny and true. It reminded me of some copy I read on a website one time at KnowingWhereToTap.com.

      He told a story about ship makers who were having a problem and loosing thousands of dollars a day because a ship was making strange noises. The called consultant after consultant and no one could figure it out.

      Finally they called a boilermaker. He listened to the noises, then looked at the pipes, got out a hammer and tapped on a valve. The noises stopped and he submitted a bill for $10,000. Upset they asked for an itemized bill.

      He sent them an itemized bill which listed the following:

      Tapping on valve...........$2.00
      Knowing where to tap....$9,998.00
      Total..........................$10,000.00

      The money offline businesses are willing to pay sounds pretty crazy to us, but it's the norm for them. They are used to it, and expect to pay it.
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      • Profile picture of the author TimCastleman
        Isn't it awesome when we get out of our own way and have success?

        A friend of mine taught me a great "trick" when talking about price.

        You can tell them about the services you offer and ask them what they think something like that would be worth to them.

        I did that with a client once and he said he'd pay twice what I was going to ask him. Go figure.

        Great job.

        Tim
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      • Profile picture of the author GoGetta
        haha this is classic but like you said so true!

        GoGetta

        Originally Posted by Micheal Perkins View Post

        That's funny and true. It reminded me of some copy I read on a website one time at KnowingWhereToTap.com.

        He told a story about ship makers who were having a problem and loosing thousands of dollars a day because a ship was making strange noises. The called consultant after consultant and no one could figure it out.

        Finally they called a boilermaker. He listened to the noises, then looked at the pipes, got out a hammer and tapped on a valve. The noises stopped and he submitted a bill for $10,000. Upset they asked for an itemized bill.

        He sent them an itemized bill which listed the following:

        Tapping on valve...........$2.00
        Knowing where to tap....$9,998.00
        Total..........................$10,000.00

        The money offline businesses are willing to pay sounds pretty crazy to us, but it's the norm for them. They are used to it, and expect to pay it.
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  • Profile picture of the author greenovni
    Yes, people offline have no clue. I spent 2 years being called "the computer guy & "hacker" by a community of older people here in Florida.

    They have absolutely no clue about a fantastico 3 click install and other "magic" we use in our little corner of the web.
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    • Profile picture of the author ShayB
      This really was an eye-opening experience for me.

      Do you think it would be feasible and profitable to have a business that focuses on setting up blogs for biz owners and also a monthly service that provides content for those blogs? (Perhaps 10 posts per month?)
      Signature
      "Fate protects fools, little children, and ships called Enterprise." ~Commander Riker
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      • Profile picture of the author Wakunahum
        Originally Posted by ShayRockhold View Post

        This really was an eye-opening experience for me.

        Do you think it would be feasible and profitable to have a business that focuses on setting up blogs for biz owners and also a monthly service that provides content for those blogs? (Perhaps 10 posts per month?)
        Or provide hosting, autoresponders, and upgrades to the blog as services.
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        • Profile picture of the author ShayB
          Originally Posted by Wakunahum View Post

          Or provide hosting, autoresponders, and upgrades to the blog as services.
          I would offer those, too, but since I am a writer, I was thinking of the writing services I could offer. LOL

          Since blogs need fresh content, I can provide that, too.
          Signature
          "Fate protects fools, little children, and ships called Enterprise." ~Commander Riker
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          • Profile picture of the author Brad Simmons
            Originally Posted by ShayRockhold View Post

            I would offer those, too, but since I am a writer, I was thinking of the writing services I could offer. LOL

            Since blogs need fresh content, I can provide that, too.
            You can provide hosting with a reseller account, an autoreponder with aweber, and provide the content. With writing as you skill, you could be a one-stop-shop!
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          • Profile picture of the author Glenn Leader
            Originally Posted by ShayRockhold View Post

            I would offer those, too, but since I am a writer, I was thinking of the writing services I could offer. LOL

            Since blogs need fresh content, I can provide that, too.
            You could very easily offer a writing service for those Warriors who do
            the Offline Gold thing. Focusing on a business or service rather that a
            product seems the be alien to some of the writers I've talked to.

            HTH

            Glenn
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            • Profile picture of the author ShayB
              Originally Posted by Glenn Leader View Post

              You could very easily offer a writing service for those Warriors who do
              the Offline Gold thing. Focusing on a business or service rather that a
              product seems the be alien to some of the writers I've talked to.

              HTH

              Glenn
              I have over 15 years of experience in managing retail businesses. That might help.
              Signature
              "Fate protects fools, little children, and ships called Enterprise." ~Commander Riker
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              • Profile picture of the author T.R. McCarroll
                Originally Posted by ShayRockhold View Post

                I have over 15 years of experience in managing retail businesses. That might help.
                If you haven't already you might want to jump over to Keith's site
                and check out all the stuff to do with Offline...

                LocalBizBuilders

                Thom
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                • Profile picture of the author Bcrewse1
                  Wow! What a great thread! Funny I came across this as I have been thinking about going offline for months now and was kinda between "here and there". Being online for so many years really does dull the senses as to what little the general public actually knows about IM.

                  Thanks everyone for such excellent imput!

                  Best of luck in the future Shay!

                  Barry
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      • Profile picture of the author hotlinkz
        Originally Posted by ShayRockhold View Post

        This really was an eye-opening experience for me.

        Do you think it would be feasible and profitable to have a business that focuses on setting up blogs for biz owners and also a monthly service that provides content for those blogs? (Perhaps 10 posts per month?)
        Shay - CONGRATS on getting your feet wet!

        If you limit yourself only to only setting blogs up, you'll leave tens of thousands of dollars on the table!

        Talk to business owners and they will pretty much tell you what they want and need. Then you educate them on what it will take to make what they want happen.

        Calvin
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      • Profile picture of the author Sheryl Polomka
        Originally Posted by ShayRockhold View Post

        This really was an eye-opening experience for me.

        Do you think it would be feasible and profitable to have a business that focuses on setting up blogs for biz owners and also a monthly service that provides content for those blogs? (Perhaps 10 posts per month?)

        Shay, sorry if someone else has already mentioned this, but I would recommend getting hold of Michael Sylvesters offline WSO, it is just $7 and is all about this sort of thing and he teaches you how to make a LOT of money doing this. It is definately worth getting if you are interested in this offline work.

        Congrats too by the way, that is fantastic
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        • Profile picture of the author ShayB
          Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmm....

          Okay, so how can I use my 15 years of business experience in order to sell my services to biz owners?

          Ideas on phrasing?
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          "Fate protects fools, little children, and ships called Enterprise." ~Commander Riker
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          • Profile picture of the author Maria Gudelis
            Originally Posted by ShayRockhold View Post

            Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmm....

            Okay, so how can I use my 15 years of business experience in order to sell my services to biz owners?

            Ideas on phrasing?
            How about

            "I've walked in your shoes for over 15 years and found the Holy Grail for business owners is quite simply, advertising on the Internet...

            ...You get an experienced business owner to help you increase your sales by leveraging the Internet...

            ...Forget about paying hundreds and thousands of dollars in print advertising...listen to how one small business owner saved his hard earned money...

            - and here - you insert the customer testimonial of your business owner that you set up the site for and saved him adv. dollars - if you can get a video of him (that is easy - use a flip video even if u have not experience in that it is easy to use)

            ***
            Hope that helps!

            Cheers, maria
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            • Profile picture of the author ShayB
              Originally Posted by Maria Gudelis View Post

              How about

              "I've walked in your shoes for over 15 years and found the Holy Grail for business owners is quite simply, advertising on the Internet...

              ...You get an experienced business owner to help you increase your sales by leveraging the Internet...

              ...Forget about paying hundreds and thousands of dollars in print advertising...listen to how one small business owner saved his hard earned money...

              - and here - you insert the customer testimonial of your business owner that you set up the site for and saved him adv. dollars - if you can get a video of him (that is easy - use a flip video even if u have not experience in that it is easy to use)

              ***
              Hope that helps!

              Cheers, maria
              This is awesome!

              Thank you!
              Signature
              "Fate protects fools, little children, and ships called Enterprise." ~Commander Riker
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  • Profile picture of the author Personal Coach
    Some of the easiest money I've ever made has been offline, especially after the people I end up working with go off and get quotes from web designers and programmers who expect to make thousands of dollars upfront. After they get a quote for $3,000-$5,000 to have a website with autoresponder and content built, I step in and pocket an easy $1,500-$2,000 with a monthly income for maintenance because someone else already told them the value of what I can offer and it makes my prices look cheap.
    NOTE: If you've been online for any length of time you can whip up an amazing looking site that has all the bells and whistles the client is looking for quickly or you can do what I sometimes do which is outsource that stuff and pocket the difference.
    The offline market is a much easier demographic to go after because many of the people in the IM niche want EVERYTHING you know at rock bottom prices while business people looking to get online couldn't care LESS about learning what you know. They just want to pay someone who knows how to do what they want done so they don't have to spend all their spare time trying to figure out how to do it for themselves.
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    • Profile picture of the author ShayB
      Thank you!

      This has been a very informative thread.
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      "Fate protects fools, little children, and ships called Enterprise." ~Commander Riker
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  • Profile picture of the author Adaptive
    Congratulations, Shay!

    He said he had just spent nearly $900 for 16 weeks of advertising in a local newspaper. He thought $150 just sounded good.
    This is really the key to the whole thing. The basis of pricing is not how easy it for you to deliver the results, nor how long it took you to learn how to do what you do. The key is what business results you can get for the client, and what it would cost them to get comparable results some other way.

    Do you think you'll expand to offer the same service to other local businesses?

    Regards,
    Allen
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    • Profile picture of the author ShayB
      Originally Posted by Adaptive View Post

      Do you think you'll expand to offer the same service to other local businesses?

      Regards,
      Allen
      I really think I might.

      Here is another thing: Hubby wants to quit his job/retire and work from home with me.

      He has already gotten my first client - and he never meets a stranger. I, on the other hand, don't really want to go meet face-to-face with business owners. That is the main reason why I have not tried to find offine clients.

      If he can get the clients and I can do the grunt work, I would be a happy camper.
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  • Profile picture of the author Adaptive
    If he can get the clients and I can do the grunt work
    That sounds like great teamwork.

    It would be cool to see you two become the next "offline gold" success story here.

    Regards,
    Allen
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  • Profile picture of the author TerryTelford
    Hi Shay

    Congratulations! The cool thing about offline business owners is they are used to paying for services and generally have a clue about running a business as a business and not a hobby. They don't try to get everything for free and don't expect to make a million dollars overnight. If more online entrepreneurs thought about their "businesses" like offline entrepreneurs do, I'm guessing we'd see a whole lot more success stories online. So once again, congrats on tapping into a very lucrative market.

    Enjoy your day!
    Terry
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    • Profile picture of the author melanied
      Originally Posted by TerryTelford View Post

      The cool thing about offline business owners is they are used to paying for services and generally have a clue about running a business as a business and not a hobby.
      That's absolutely true - business owners don't think about getting something for next to nothing, they think about vendors they trust and ROI. If you can show them you are trustworthy and show them you can produce ROI, you will have a loyal client for life.
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  • Profile picture of the author ShayB
    Originally Posted by Richard Odell View Post

    Nice one Shay!

    The Smiley Queen has now become the Off-Line Goddess!!!!


    What ever you do, don't be afraid to charge off-line rates - its what they are conditioned to.
    All the very best from the Warrior Borg ....

    -Rich
    Thank you!
    Signature
    "Fate protects fools, little children, and ships called Enterprise." ~Commander Riker
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  • Profile picture of the author nanexist
    I'm convinced more and more everyday to look offline for progress. Online is great...but offline has a different, personal market. Hmm, thanks for this
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  • Profile picture of the author Mark Riddle
    Shay,

    There are MANY MANY ways to add value to offline business with your writing, blog post, article for an auto responder series, and in-store information sheets.

    Call up a few ad agencys and tell them that you are looking for a website, automated system to keep track of customers, a business blog, with 10 post per month, and a email promoting once a month for 12 months.

    They won't even hesitate and tell you that will be an initial 10K and between 1200-1500 a month.

    Now consider this, the service you are providing to the company is actually worth this.

    Do some quick math and you will find for many business just what you have described will generate much more than the 28K they are spending.

    AND that doesn't include any additional promotions they do for their lists.

    There are companies that spend those kinds of dollars for a YELLOW Pages Ad EVERY MONTH.

    But one thing that I will caution you on, is the Mindset you are going into this venture with.

    You are NOT Selling websites, emails blog posts or any activity you (or someone) is providing.

    You ARE providing Marketing Systems for their business.

    Don't sell commodities, provide services and systems.

    Mark Riddle
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  • Profile picture of the author thegamecat
    Honestly, I dont think many people operating in the IM space have any idea how little the "real world" knows. Think marketing agencies - it's embarrasing. IM niche is the cutting edge of internet marketing and it wont be 2 years or more before the real world catches up.
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  • Profile picture of the author tmursch
    The offline aka real world is indeed a great place to live and make money. The amount of money I waste on Adwords each month promoting my digital products can be made up in only couple hours of consulting work for my biggest web development clients.
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  • Profile picture of the author sevenish
    Wow Shay. Nicely done.

    While indeed you may be seriously undercharging your first client, I bet he talks to his local fellow business owners about what's working and what isn't. Hmmm? And I'll bet his local fellow business owners have similar issues as does he.

    Good job! Looks like you have an opportunity to put together a whole string of win/wins.
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    • Profile picture of the author LynnM
      Congratulations, Shay. Out of curiosity, did you do a blog with a premium theme or a free theme?

      Lynn
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      • Profile picture of the author ShayB
        Originally Posted by LynnM View Post

        Congratulations, Shay. Out of curiosity, did you do a blog with a premium theme or a free theme?

        Lynn
        I did a free theme.
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        "Fate protects fools, little children, and ships called Enterprise." ~Commander Riker
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    • Profile picture of the author ShayB
      Originally Posted by sevenish View Post

      Wow Shay. Nicely done.

      While indeed you may be seriously undercharging your first client, I bet he talks to his local fellow business owners about what's working and what isn't. Hmmm? And I'll bet his local fellow business owners have similar issues as does he.

      Good job! Looks like you have an opportunity to put together a whole string of win/wins.
      Thank you.
      Signature
      "Fate protects fools, little children, and ships called Enterprise." ~Commander Riker
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  • Profile picture of the author Pete Egeler
    Congrats, Shay.

    Now, all you have to do is get past you $100 mind set. Tasks like this are simple for you as mentioned, but a nightmare for your prospects.

    At a MINIMUM, you should be charging $500 for set up, plus monthly fees. Don't forget that those fees not only include any content you might provide, but also costs of the lead capture system put in place.

    On top of all that, now ya gotta keep that husband of yours fed, and his car full of gas so he can go round up your clients. I suspect he will want a "draw" against commission too.

    Pete
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  • Profile picture of the author LynnM
    Originally Posted by ShayRockhold View Post

    I contact the friend and see what he has in mind. He wants a blog set up and an autoresponder.
    Still thinking about this thread Shay! Did the friend have exisiting hosting and autoresponder accounts or did you have to set them up too?

    What I'm wondering is - if you build a blog for someone who has a hosting account already, do you ask them for the password to their cPanel so you can get to Fantastico? Would they be happy giving it to you? Or am I overthinking things?!

    Lynn
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    • Profile picture of the author ShayB
      Originally Posted by LynnM View Post

      Still thinking about this thread Shay! Did the friend have exisiting hosting and autoresponder accounts or did you have to set them up too?

      What I'm wondering is - if you build a blog for someone who has a hosting account already, do you ask them for the password to their cPanel so you can get to Fantastico? Would they be happy giving it to you? Or am I overthinking things?!

      Lynn
      The friend did not have hosting or an autoresponder. ("An auto - what??")

      He wanted a blog and then wanted the AR once I explained what it did.

      Not sure how happily people would hand over that info. :confused:
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  • Profile picture of the author MichaelHiles
    Wait until you score a contract to do a full product launch site, with integrated marketing support for a couple hundred grand.
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  • Profile picture of the author willyboy104
    Very interesting thread, I have tasted the offline gold. I did a basic website for my dads friend for his new business, I charged him £120 and outsourced the design to another guy for $20. All I had to do was install/upload and set up the hosting, a two minute job. The client said from the start that if he did it, it would take him days if not weeks to set up because he didn't know how to do it.

    Where there is demand, there is money to be made.
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  • Profile picture of the author ronakg
    Hi Shay. David Preston teaches something similar for setting up autoresponders. You could take his letter and use it for blogging as well! Google "stupidly simple cash cow", it has everything you need.

    Good Luck!
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  • Profile picture of the author Mark Riddle
    Shay maybe rewording that to 15 years of experience being in the other guys shoes
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  • Profile picture of the author J. Barry Mandel
    Shay,

    GREAT job

    I think that you can squueze out even more money by adding on wordpress plugins like the all in one SEO plugin which will help his blog get ranked in the search engines.

    It might be worth your time to find out what the top 5 or 10 plugins do and sell him on how that could further help his blog generate even more income for his business.

    Oh and don't forget to charge him for an AR series unless you are already doing that
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  • Profile picture of the author JaySabree
    Originally Posted by ShayRockhold View Post

    I have been watching the offline threads, of course, but really have not gone looking for offline gold.

    But maybe I should! LOL

    Hubby came home last night and handed me a business card. A friend of his needs a blog and some ways to make more money with his offline side biz. Hubby put in a good word for me.

    No problem! I contact the friend and see what he has in mind. He wants a blog set up and an autoresponder. (About 15 minutes' worth of work.) He will worry about content later on.

    He asked how much I charged. I said he was a friend of Hubby's, so whatever he wanted to pay. (I am thinking $20 or so, KWIM? I can put up a blog in my sleep.)

    I nearly fell over when he offered $150 for me doing this!!! PLUS more when he wanted content!!

    I aksed him how he came up with that number. (I was curious to hear his reasoning.) He said he had just spent nearly $900 for 16 weeks of advertising in a local newspaper. He thought $150 just sounded good.

    I gave him a better deal than $150. But it got me thinking how different offline business thinking is! Another person I know just spent $800 on a course to learn how to put up a WP blog.

    Is this typical of what others are finding with offline business owners? :confused:
    Great Stuff... I had some offline success yesterday... It's a
    great feeling, eh?
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    Cheers

    Jay
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    • Profile picture of the author ShayB
      Originally Posted by JaySabree View Post

      Great Stuff... I had some offline success yesterday... It's a
      great feeling, eh?
      YES!!!

      It is awesome.
      Signature
      "Fate protects fools, little children, and ships called Enterprise." ~Commander Riker
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    • Profile picture of the author Jmn187
      I love my online business. But if I ever have a slow month or need to make cash now. I know I can always depend on the offline tactics.

      Its usually pretty easy work, and most people have no idea how much to pay. Don't rip people off and be reasonable.

      And you will make some big bucks doing things as simple as setting up a web site.
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      • Profile picture of the author parzlou
        There is nothing better than the unexpected windfall
        congrats
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  • Profile picture of the author bigmoney4me
    Wow, I guess I need to step away from my computer and go out into the real world once and a while. I am leaving lots of money on the table.
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    • Profile picture of the author AndrewCavanagh
      You know at $150 you were ridiculously undercharging.

      Most of the people I'm working with are charging $1,000 to $2,000+ to set up a simple blog.

      But to be fair they are creating it in a way that it will drive search engine traffic at least a little and convert that traffic into paying customers for the businesses they work with.

      That's the real bottom line in the Offline Gold business model...

      If you're helping businesses make real sales and profits then the price you charge for your services can be based around the kinds of profits you're likely to make them.

      If you make a business an extra $100 a week that comes to over $5,000 a year or $15,000 over 3 years (many internet marketing strategies keep working for year after year once they're set up).

      Charging $1,000+ for that seems very reasonable.


      If you help a business make an extra $500 a week in sales (not too difficult if they already have a large client database or walk in of customers...you could do it easily with email marketing)...

      That's $25,000 a year or $75,000 over 3 years.

      And now you're beginning to see how much money there is in this for everyone involved.

      It's not hard to make a very good living helping regular brick and mortar businesses and to be worth every cent your paid even when your fees are getting over the $5,000 mark.

      Kindest regards,
      Andrew Cavanagh
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      • Profile picture of the author ShayB
        Originally Posted by AndrewCavanagh View Post

        You know at $150 you were ridiculously undercharging.

        Most of the people I'm working with are charging $1,000 to $2,000+ to set up a simple blog.

        But to be fair they are creating it in a way that it will drive search engine traffic at least a little and convert that traffic into paying customers for the businesses they work with.

        That's the real bottom line in the Offline Gold business model...

        If you're helping businesses make real sales and profits then the price you charge for your services can be based around the kinds of profits you're likely to make them.

        If you make a business an extra $100 a week that comes to over $5,000 a year or $15,000 over 3 years (many internet marketing strategies keep working for year after year once they're set up).

        Charging $1,000+ for that seems very reasonable.


        If you help a business make an extra $500 a week in sales (not too difficult if they already have a large client database or walk in of customers...you could do it easily with email marketing)...

        That's $25,000 a year or $75,000 over 3 years.

        And now you're beginning to see how much money there is in this for everyone involved.

        It's not hard to make a very good living helping regular brick and mortar businesses and to be worth every cent your paid even when your fees are getting over the $5,000 mark.

        Kindest regards,
        Andrew Cavanagh
        I know. Offline is a different animal.

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        "Fate protects fools, little children, and ships called Enterprise." ~Commander Riker
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  • Profile picture of the author lacraiger
    you shoulda asked for more than $150. i cant believe he offered $150 and you took less. maybe you should learn business first or have an agent. lol.
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    • Profile picture of the author ShayB
      Originally Posted by lacraiger View Post

      you shoulda asked for more than $150. i cant believe he offered $150 and you took less. maybe you should learn business first or have an agent. lol.
      LOL

      This was for a friend of my hubby's, so that makes it different.
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      "Fate protects fools, little children, and ships called Enterprise." ~Commander Riker
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  • Profile picture of the author xlfutur1
    I must be missing something with this whole offline thing. I can't seem to GIVE a damn website away.

    These offline posts make it seem so easy that offline businesses are ready to write a check for thousands of dollars for a simple WP site, but I'm having a hard time getting anyone to even be interested in even a free website for even small monthly hosting fee.

    I've even tried hitting up hookers (a popular post lately) and offering a free site for monthly hosting...no response.

    I made this site recently to a dentist I know (who currently does not have a site) and offered to move it to his own domain...2 emails, no response.
    Frey Family Dentistry: Meet Dr. Frey

    I've offered free leads to attorneys in exchange for simply answering visitor questions at this site with basically no real interest or participation, even though it ranks high for: best chicago attorneys or top chicago attorneys: Top Chicago Attorneys | Top Chicago Lawyers

    This site I did for a realtor I know can and has gotten 100 visitors a day with a simple CL ad, but he basically does nothing with it now and has never offered a dime for what I did for him: Wyoming Michigan Homes | Wyoming Michigan Real Estate

    (I'm considering selling that to another realtor who has a brain.)

    I have a contractor website where I have offered contractors in my area a free web page on a (ex.) www.mytowncontractors.com so they can send visitors to real web page that explains their services. Not one response.

    I have not tried the vomit bag direct mailing however, so its not like I have done everything, but it sure is frustrating when you know you can get more business for business owners but they just seem to not get it, even when you make it totally painless to say YES.

    So I've taken away all risk to the above people (ala Jay Abraham) and still no takers. Any advice is appreciated.
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    • Profile picture of the author AndrewCavanagh
      Originally Posted by xlfutur1 View Post

      I must be missing something with this whole offline thing. I can't seem to GIVE a damn website away.

      These offline posts make it seem so easy that offline businesses are ready to write a check for thousands of dollars for a simple WP site, but I'm having a hard time getting anyone to even be interested in even a free website for even small monthly hosting fee.

      No business owner is waiting around wanting to give you a check for some premade website.

      It doesn't work that way.

      What's killing you is you're going in with a preconceived idea of something you're going to SELL to the business owner.

      You even have the websites ready made.

      So you are coming across as a salesman...and business owners are sick to death of salesmen.

      And it's worse than that because you're not really trying to deliver value.

      You're taking the attitude of trying to sell businesses a pre made website instead of just talking to them and seeing if you can find ways to increase their sales and profits with the internet marketing strategies you know.

      The customizing solutions and running with a solution they get excited about.

      That's the easiest way to get hired.

      And the good part about that is you're likely to make a business real profits instead of trying to stiff them with a useless website.

      I know there's been a spate of dodgy products in this niche lately...people who don't know squat about business telling you to premake sites, hire sites etc etc. without one of them ever mentioning that if you're ethical and you want a real business that grows long term you need to help the business owners you work with make real profits.

      If you do genuinely help business owners make real profits you'll have them hiring you over and over and your attitude will show in your conversations with every business owner you meet and talk to.

      Consequently you'll find it very easy to get hired.

      But if all you're worried about is yourself and trying to push some product you've made down a business owners throat then you're not going to do too well.

      Kindest regards,
      Andrew Cavanagh
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    • Profile picture of the author ShayB
      Originally Posted by xlfutur1 View Post

      I must be missing something with this whole offline thing. I can't seem to GIVE a damn website away.
      I am no offline Yoda, by any means, but here is what others seem to be doing differently than you are.

      The people we are working with have already put out a great deal of money on something. We are trying to save them money, not convince them to spend money.

      Two examples:

      1. My Hubby's friend had already spent almost $900 on advertising. I am offering a way to help him save money - spend less and get better results - with a blog, article marketing, etc.

      2. Many offline people are approaching business owners who already have a website and offer to show them a way to make that website more profitable/cut their advertising budget.

      You are creating a product that they have not seen the need to have and then trying to convince them to buy it from you.

      Totally different approach.

      Does that make sense? I hope I explained it clearly.
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      "Fate protects fools, little children, and ships called Enterprise." ~Commander Riker
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      • Profile picture of the author xlfutur1
        Originally Posted by ShayRockhold View Post

        I am no offline Yoda, by any means, but here is what others seem to be doing differently than you are.

        The people we are working with have already put out a great deal of money on something. We are trying to save them money, not convince them to spend money.

        Two examples:

        1. My Hubby's friend had already spent almost $900 on advertising. I am offering a way to help him save money - spend less and get better results - with a blog, article marketing, etc.

        2. Many offline people are approaching business owners who already have a website and offer to show them a way to make that website more profitable/cut their advertising budget.

        You are creating a product that they have not seen the need to have and then trying to convince them to buy it from you.

        Totally different approach.

        Does that make sense? I hope I explained it clearly.
        Yes, I see the approach and I totally understand it and its not a case of sour grapes at all on my part.

        The thing is, I haven't asked anyone mentioned in the original post to "buy" anything from me. I literally meant in the original post that I was surprised when I offered leads, websites, etc for free and there was pretty much total lack of interest. all of those sites weren't created with profit in mind.

        The dentist site was a site I did to practice with some new software and its a guy I know who didn't have a site., the chicago attorneys site was an old domain that I resurrected using caffeinated content to get it going again and ranked on Google. I don't charge for the leads to that site. The attorneys on board just have to answer a question and they get the lead for nothing.

        The realtor site was a case study I did to get him ranked #1 on Google for wyoming michigan realtor, and some other terms he wanted, which I did. It was also practice with some new plugins. (I'm just somewhat surprised that he has never offered a dime for all the leads and exposure I've generated for him.)

        So all of those sites I mentioned, I wasn't "shoving" anything down anyone's throat or asking for any money for those services.

        No more freebies for anyone any more though. I've learned that lesson. The vomit bag mailing idea is brilliant so when I get time I'll try it.
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        • Profile picture of the author ShayB
          Originally Posted by xlfutur1 View Post

          Yes, I see the approach and I totally understand it and its not a case of sour grapes at all on my part.

          The thing is, I haven't asked anyone mentioned in the original post to "buy" anything from me. I literally meant in the original post that I was surprised when I offered leads, websites, etc for free and there was pretty much total lack of interest. all of those sites weren't created with profit in mind.

          The dentist site was a site I did to practice with some new software and its a guy I know who didn't have a site., the chicago attorneys site was an old domain that I resurrected using caffeinated content to get it going again and ranked on Google. I don't charge for the leads to that site. The attorneys on board just have to answer a question and they get the lead for nothing.

          The realtor site was a case study I did to get him ranked #1 on Google for wyoming michigan realtor, and some other terms he wanted, which I did. It was also practice with some new plugins. (I'm just somewhat surprised that he has never offered a dime for all the leads and exposure I've generated for him.)

          So all of those sites I mentioned, I wasn't "shoving" anything down anyone's throat or asking for any money for those services.

          No more freebies for anyone any more though. I've learned that lesson. The vomit bag mailing idea is brilliant so when I get time I'll try it.
          Okay, I see.

          Sorry I misunderstood.
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          "Fate protects fools, little children, and ships called Enterprise." ~Commander Riker
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  • Profile picture of the author BBAkwe
    In the course of this post I bought some offline marketing products and bookmarked some more for future reference. It is a huge niche. That's all I do. Helping offline business owners to reap the benefits of IM. It is interesting.
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  • Profile picture of the author Herricks
    Originally Posted by ShayRockhold View Post

    I have been watching the offline threads, of course, but really have not gone looking for offline gold.

    But maybe I should! LOL

    Hubby came home last night and handed me a business card. A friend of his needs a blog and some ways to make more money with his offline side biz. Hubby put in a good word for me.

    No problem! I contact the friend and see what he has in mind. He wants a blog set up and an autoresponder. (About 15 minutes' worth of work.) He will worry about content later on.

    He asked how much I charged. I said he was a friend of Hubby's, so whatever he wanted to pay. (I am thinking $20 or so, KWIM? I can put up a blog in my sleep.)

    I nearly fell over when he offered $150 for me doing this!!! PLUS more when he wanted content!!

    I aksed him how he came up with that number. (I was curious to hear his reasoning.) He said he had just spent nearly $900 for 16 weeks of advertising in a local newspaper. He thought $150 just sounded good.

    I gave him a better deal than $150. But it got me thinking how different offline business thinking is! Another person I know just spent $800 on a course to learn how to put up a WP blog.

    Is this typical of what others are finding with offline business owners? :confused:

    I think so. Most offline business owners are not familiar with how internet marketing works at all. They will pay anything to get their business on the internet because to them, they think it will bring in double the amount of business they currently have. The catch is they don't know exactly how all of that's done, and this kind of knowledge could save them $$. Fortunately for us internet marketers, they could care less so we have the opportunity to make a little $$ from that. They think putting their business online in the fastest way possible will bring them double the income they currently have overnight and it just ain't so. It's just a means of getting a wider demographic of people aware and potentially interested in your business.
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  • Profile picture of the author Steve Faber
    If you think merely in terms of how much you're worth per hour, you're really short changing yourself, and devaluing the market at the same time. You have to think in terms of how much value you bring to the client. Selling them an integrated marketing system brings them tremendous value, no matter how long it took you to set it up. Too many people who charge $100 because it only takes them 2 hours and think they are making a killing at $50 per hour are completely missing the point. You have specialized knowledge that has value, and took you time and money to acquire. You should be paid accordingly, if the time you spend generates a positive ROI for the business owner.
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    For Killer Marketing Tips that Will Grow Your Business Follow Me on Twitter Now
    After all, you're probably following a few hundred people already that aren't doing squat for you.....
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