I couldn't even give away a site ranking #1 getting leads to a business owner

18 replies
I created a website, got it ranking #1 in Bing, #1 Yahoo and #2 on Google for a local term. The site was getting laser targeted traffic and visitors were looking for a service which costs thousands of dollars. I contacted every business I could find in the city but all I got was...we have a site already we see no value in what you have.

So despite my site ranking at the top of Google generating targeted leads for a high ticket service ($10,000+) not one person was interested. Couldn't even give the site/leads away. No interest.

They all assumed because they had a site they were getting all the traffic available.

I ended up deleting the website and the domain.
#business #give #leads #owner #ranking #site
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  • Profile picture of the author YourGoToWriter
    Hi, @nichepro1!

    Don't just limit your reach to the city where you live in. Have you tried having your site listed as well? There are various selling platforms online for you to choose.

    Leah
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    • you actually can't give away free money....it was proven.

      so you need to first build trust...then try and create sales....

      Not the other way around.

      + 90% of people wouldn't see an outstanding opportunity if it bit them in the ass.
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  • Profile picture of the author Rob Harris
    Why not put their details on the website, track it and then go back to them and say "Look, I've sent you x leads in y days, shall I stop this now?"
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  • Profile picture of the author helisell
    Why would you delete the site?

    What you discovered is that you don't know how to sell.

    All you needed to do was come here and ask 'How do I sell
    this thing that I have created' (A lead machine in this case)

    Are you able to re-enable the site? Will it have the same ranking
    if you re-establish it?

    There's probably nothing wrong with the site or service....you just don't know how to sell it.

    When you called your target audience to sell them the leads/service or whatever,
    what did you actually say to them over the phone?

    Whatever it was, it didn't work, but that's not to say that with some help you couldn't
    get people to pay you.
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    Making Calls To Sell Something? What are you actually saying?
    Is there any room for improvement? Want to find out?

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    • Profile picture of the author DABK
      Hellisel is right. I get people like you all the time. They do not know how to sell or, at best, they do not know my industry.

      So, you need to stand out from the crowd.
      You need to understand the industry and the niche.
      You need tp present yourself as trustworthy and reliable.
      You need to hear.

      In one of the industries I am in leads go between 4 and 40 dollars.

      I turned down an offer at 2 per lead.
      He did not hear, therefore, he was not to be trusted.

      Cheap can be very expensive.

      Look up Jason Kanigan, he has some good posts and videos on how to sell. Also Claude Whitacre.
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    • Profile picture of the author OptedIn
      Originally Posted by helisell View Post

      What you discovered is that you don't know how to sell.
      BINGO!!!!!
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      "He not busy being born, is busy dying." - Bob Dylan • "I vibe with the light-dark point. Heavy." - Words that Bob Dylan wishes he had written.

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  • Profile picture of the author JohnnyNight
    LOL..!!

    U all been had...

    The OP post makes no NO SENSE whatsoever..!!

    If it does.. please explain..
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    • Profile picture of the author umc
      Originally Posted by JohnnyNight View Post

      LOL..!!

      U all been had...

      The OP post makes no NO SENSE whatsoever..!!

      If it does.. please explain..
      Everyone seems to get it but you, but we've "been had"?

      The guy built a lead gen site and ranked it in a lucrative niche but couldn't rent/sell it or the leads. What are you failing to comprehend beyond that?
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  • Profile picture of the author Jason Kanigan
    > What method did you use to pick the business owners you approached? How did you select your prospects?

    > How did you approach the business owners? By what means--call, email, referral, what?

    > What did you say to them?


    I would put the site back up if you can. You had an asset.

    It depends on the level of prospect you aimed at...many small business owners are a) skeptical and b) comfortable. Harder to sell to.

    I personally would have targeted larger businesses who need those leads, who are already doing well, and whose owners/marketing/sales managers are already educated up on the value of the leads you're offering. Convincing people of value is unnecessary when you can filter for those who already 'get it'.

    Looking back on how you conducted your sales conversations, did you rush to "Buy My Stuff!"?

    Answer these questions for me and I'll be able to give you further guidance.

    You should also get Claude Whitacre's books on Amazon/Kindle: Selling Local Advertising is one you can easily transfer over to your world, and Selling Essentials is another useful one for how to "think selling." Claude may recommend others, since they're his books, but I have read most of them :-) and they are affordable and good.
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  • Profile picture of the author Blakers1
    If the leads were that good, why not start a local business?
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    Blake Akers
    Webology

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    • Profile picture of the author umc
      Originally Posted by Blakers1 View Post

      If the leads were that good, why not start a local business?
      If he couldn't sell the leads, why do you think he could sell a service that he had no experience in? It's also not easy to just start a local business in whatever industry he's speaking of. I gave away two referrals for hvac systems last year. I guess I should have just started my own hvac business then, lol.
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      Simple "pay what you want" life coaching services online.
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      • Profile picture of the author Blakers1
        Good point, but if it's an easy business to get into, why not? I'm just not seeing how you could get leads worth thousands each and not find a way to make it work.
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        Blake Akers
        Webology

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        • Profile picture of the author OptedIn
          Originally Posted by Blakers1 View Post

          Good point, but if it's an easy business to get into, why not? I'm just not seeing how you could get leads worth thousands each and not find a way to make it work.
          Nothing is that easy, or we'd all be very rich.
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          "He not busy being born, is busy dying." - Bob Dylan • "I vibe with the light-dark point. Heavy." - Words that Bob Dylan wishes he had written.

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  • Profile picture of the author JohnMcCabe
    Originally Posted by nichepro1 View Post

    They all assumed because they had a site they were getting all the traffic available.
    They have their one-line listing in the white and yellow pages. Are they getting all of the available phone calls?

    Here's a Q&a tactic that got me to listen to a SEO seller, even though I had no plans to hire one.

    Caller: If I was looking for what you offer, and I didn't know your company name, what would I google?

    Me: [gave him a keyword]

    Caller: Hmm, I don't see your company here. Maybe on page two...nope. Maybe try another word?

    Me: [gave him another]

    Caller: Nope, sorry. Maybe you have a different domain name than the company name?

    Caller: Nope. Well, if you ever do decide you want a professional SEO, download our guide to selecting a SEO company at [url].

    They also sent me a nice postcard thanking me for talking to them, and reminding about the download offer.

    Maybe something like that could work for you?
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  • Profile picture of the author ecoverartist
    Rather than sell the goose that's laying the golden eggs (since you said this service was worth thousands of dollars), see if you can create an agreement where you send verified leads (meaning you call them back and verify that they want this service) to a business owner in your area that's looking for more business in that industry.

    Draw up a contract that says for every verified lead you send that ultimately goes to that business owner, you get a percentage. Because they'll be the exclusive person you sell these leads to, be sure the percentage you charge is worth your time and effort to verify those leads.
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  • Profile picture of the author yukon
    Banned
    Lol, deleted the site.

    That will show them, now they all moved up one position on the SERPs for free.
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  • Profile picture of the author Craig McPherson
    I feel your pain OP. I have had #1 for over 6 years as well as #1 on the 3 pack for the same period for Fencing. To this day I still get 25-30 requests per week for a quote on a fence.

    If I knew how to fence I would be a wealthy man.

    If anyone would like to JV with me to sell the leads I am open to talk.
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    • Profile picture of the author Michael Nguyen
      Originally Posted by Craig McPherson View Post

      I feel your pain OP. I have had #1 for over 6 years as well as #1 on the 3 pack for the same period for Fencing. To this day I still get 25-30 requests per week for a quote on a fence.

      If I knew how to fence I would be a wealthy man.

      If anyone would like to JV with me to sell the leads I am open to talk.
      What I've learnt in this business of cold calling is, those leads are best serviced by those that have a thirst for growth, someone new in business, someone that is desperate for leads.

      You cant sell leads to someone that is "happy" where they are.
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