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How to Market a Local SEO Business?

by lavidaloca
8 replies
Hey all

I have a question regarding an offline/online business.
I have started a SEO company in my local region.

But I'm a little shocked to find how difficult it is to actually get offline clients.
I have tried cold calling as well as send emails to possible clients. I have done everything in a very professional measure with no real result. I also heard that advertising in the newspaper as an SEO business will only burn money and not deliver results as you might think.

Can any of you give me some advice as to how you would go about marketing an SEO business offline?

I'll appreciate it.

LaVidaLoca
#business #local #market #seo #seo business
  • Profile picture of the author jensrsa
    Originally Posted by lavidaloca View Post

    Hey all

    I have a question regarding an offline/online business.
    I have started a SEO company in my local region.

    But I'm a little shocked to find how difficult it is to actually get offline clients.
    I have tried cold calling as well as send emails to possible clients. I have done everything in a very professional measure with no real result. I also heard that advertising in the newspaper as an SEO business will only burn money and not deliver results as you might think.

    Can any of you give me some advice as to how you would go about marketing an SEO business offline?

    I'll appreciate it.

    LaVidaLoca
    The average offline business don't know what SEO means. They paid some designer to design a nice looking web site, or designed it themselves, and now you are telling the they did it wrong and and want money for "fixing" it, etc. etc. and it all sounds like a scam. They haven't made any money of their web sites in months/years (and they probably don't anyone who has) and now you want them to lay out more cash.

    My approach: target those who don't have web sites and help them get business from the net and very soon you get their friends as well. Get your name out there as someone whose methods work.

    How to find these people:
    - Start a local directory where businesses can list free
    - join business networking groups to meet the local businesspeople in a postive environment
    - attend business breakfasts, seminars, etc.
    - run your own networking breakfasts, lunches, seminars
    - get in with your local business organisations

    Just some ideas

    Jens
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    • Profile picture of the author lakshaybehl
      Absolutely..

      Once you have some "new online" offline clients, and they start making some money then you will be making money pretty fast with the SEO work as well.

      Its just about the referrals and word of mouth advertising that takes a little bit of time.

      Originally Posted by jensrsa View Post

      The average offline business don't know what SEO means. They paid some designer to design a nice looking web site, or designed it themselves, and now you are telling the they did it wrong and and want money for "fixing" it, etc. etc. and it all sounds like a scam. They haven't made any money of their web sites in months/years (and they probably don't anyone who has) and now you want them to lay out more cash.

      My approach: target those who don't have web sites and help them get business from the net and very soon you get their friends as well. Get your name out there as someone whose methods work.

      How to find these people:
      - Start a local directory where businesses can list free
      - join business networking groups to meet the local businesspeople in a postive environment
      - attend business breakfasts, seminars, etc.
      - run your own networking breakfasts, lunches, seminars
      - get in with your local business organisations

      Just some ideas

      Jens
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      WARNING EXPLICIT: This is ugly... and this is the distilled truth


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    • Profile picture of the author Internet Income
      This is a huge market, I got into back in May 08, since then I have never looked back, so much so I am taking on more staff.

      You can as suggested create a local directory, however potential customers will only think it's a scam, if it's free, so what I would suggest is that you charge them a nominal amount, say $10/20 per year to get started, if they want they can upgrade, 99.9% will not! From their you can evaluate their website and give them some pointers, if they are itnerested in your advice, you could then suggest that you could increase their Search Engine Results, thus improving their sales.

      Local businesses are not interested in SEO, it's alien to them, however they are interested in making more money and more sales.
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      • Profile picture of the author AndrewCavanagh
        You need to start thinking like a local business owner.

        First they have no idea what SEO is as Jens already said and even if they did know what it is why should they care?

        There's no connect there for them between SEO and real profits.

        Those are the connections you have to make.

        No business owner wants to spend money on anything.

        But he'll get very excited about investing small or large sums of money if he expects to get back a substantial return.

        So that's the first thing...

        You need to speak the business owners language and tap into what he wants...more sales and profits.

        You'll do far better if you talk about yourself as "having your own internet marketing business".


        The second thing is how you come across.

        You need to take the time to get to know business owners not just try to flog some service on them.

        Ask questions in a low key way about their business.

        Find out what products and services are making them the highest profits...what's selling well?

        Find out what the business owners problems are.

        Ask a TON of questions.

        Build some genuine rapport...then you have a serious chance of coming up with some ideas that will help a business make more sales and profits...and you're chances of being hired to implement those ideas also shoot up.

        Kindest regards,
        Andrew Cavanagh
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      • Profile picture of the author lavidaloca
        Fantastic tips!

        thank you so much guys!

        I'm a pretty good webdesigner and I have 3 guys that is currently helping out. I have contacted several people for designs, but they always say "We have somebody working on it" or "we don't do online marketing". So naturally I try to explain to them the benefits without coming forth as a salesman.

        Thanks for the tip on the directory. Thats a good one.

        And yes Andrew I try to build rapport, but you won't believe how busy some of these people are. They are either never in office, or they are constantly in meetings.

        I even ran reports on several people's sites, called them up and told them that we have done a free website audit for them and that I want to email them the results. Funny thing is, they sound very interested in the results, but they never get back to me.
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        • Profile picture of the author denoble
          It straight to the point.

          First help businesses that have not come online design a search engine friendly website and immediately they start getting more patronage as a result of your job.The messae about your service(s) will simply spread like a wild fire.

          Good Luck
          Afam
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          Free Traffic Secrets That Actually Sells
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          • Profile picture of the author alex84
            I haven't touched the offline market yet, but I believe it would work pretty well. If you build a website for a specific market, let's say house contractors. You build the site, optimize it for many keywords that will put you in first place, it shouldn't be hard because I doubt many contractors get their site SEO optimized.

            When you have your site in a good position, go meet some companies and show them your site, explain to them that it's getting good traffic because it's in first place in the search engines. Then tell them that you're willing to sell that site for them, put their information, maintain it and host it for a yearly fee. Then rinse and repeat for a few other positions in the search engines and for other market.

            I wouldn't be surprised that doing this could get you a much better reception and more sales.
            Anyone care to comment on this method, I will probably try it when I get back to Canada.
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          • Profile picture of the author sachibhat
            Talk with your clients in person and explain them how you can help their business to make those extra profits.
            Try to help 2 or 3 business for free and build your portfolio.
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