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Simple Offline Revenue Stream Nobody Uses ... (and it's free in cPanel)

by Dave Toomey
21 replies
Heah Guys

I'm not an offline guru and have no product to sell (.. no intention of doing one either).

I do, however, use my offline skills to barter services and earn some money on the side doing SEO for friends B&M businesses.

One little thing I do for people (can't really call them clients lol) and have never seen offered by offline marketers is right there in cPanel and is an amazing marketing and time saving tool for offline businesses.

A friend suggested I do this as a WSO and sell it but I really don't feel like padding out a good idea to be a fluff filled monster.

So use this to sell as a service or offer it as a bonus to your customers.

Here's the mind blowing idea......

Set up a support ticket system....I know revelutionary huh!
There are free ones in cPanel such as osTicket.

This really is a cool tool for offline markets.

The main benefits to a client are:

1. The reduction in time spent answering the same email and website queries (I know from experience people still call with questions answered on the website)

2. As part of an email response tickets can have special offers added in the email!!

3. The support area can be branded and have offers on it (its just a graphics/html tweak)

Simple.

If you need to learn how to set a support ticket system up there are a gazzilion tutorials on Youtube.

Good luck.

Dave
#cpanel #free #offline #revenue #simple #stream
  • Profile picture of the author Frank Bruno
    Yea that is an over looked revenue stream thanks for pointing that out.

    If they are not on cpanel there are open source sites where you can download helpdesk systems that can be used also.

    Frank Bruno
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  • Profile picture of the author Chad Heffelfinger
    That is a very interesting idea to offer clients that I would never have thought to offer. Thanks for the post, it's never bad to have new options of things that may help your clients out.
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  • Profile picture of the author nelsonbiglar
    How is this a possible offline revenue stream... not sure I understand?
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    On the other side:
    www.fishingnorthernontario.com

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    • Profile picture of the author dsprank
      Originally Posted by nelsonbiglar View Post

      How is this a possible offline revenue stream... not sure I understand?
      Clients could use this to give support online, which many businesses do not know how to do. A dentist could give advice about issues regarding their teeth. A plumber could give after service help to his customers. Almost every business could benefit from having a help desk system in place. Just like everything else offered to the offline businesses, not everyone will see a benefit to doing so, but it wouldn't hurt to have another service to offer.

      Dave
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      • Profile picture of the author nelsonbiglar
        Originally Posted by dsprank View Post

        Clients could use this to give support online, which many businesses do not know how to do. A dentist could give advice about issues regarding their teeth. A plumber could give after service help to his customers. Almost every business could benefit from having a help desk system in place. Just like everything else offered to the offline businesses, not everyone will see a benefit to doing so, but it wouldn't hurt to have another service to offer.

        Dave

        ok I get this now... wasn't sure exactly if I was using my own cpanel helpdesk to help my client in some way? Its an additional service that a client can use in their helpdesk using cpanel which they may not be aware of using... nice!!!
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        On the other side:
        www.fishingnorthernontario.com

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    • Profile picture of the author Dave Toomey
      Originally Posted by nelsonbiglar View Post

      How is this a possible offline revenue stream... not sure I understand?
      Nelson...

      Ever used a support ticket system (getting hosting support, guru's product support)?

      Well it's always a page where you chose your support from email support or a knowledgebase (FAQ) section.

      Set this up for your client...can take just minutes.

      Easy cash OR credibility...depending on whether you sell this service or give it away.
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      • Profile picture of the author BrashImpact
        Dave,
        Thanks for taking the time to put this up,
        after 8 years, like a moron i hadnt thought
        of doing this...URGGGGG. Lost thousands.

        I appreciate warriors that post up killer
        content, just another reason this place
        Rocks... Thanks again.

        To your continued Success,
        Robert Nelson
        Signature

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        • Profile picture of the author Dave Toomey
          Originally Posted by BrashImpact View Post

          Dave,
          Thanks for taking the time to put this up,
          after 8 years, like a moron i hadnt thought
          of doing this...URGGGGG. Lost thousands.

          I appreciate warriors that post up killer
          content, just another reason this place
          Rocks... Thanks again.

          To your continued Success,
          Robert Nelson
          Delighted you like it Robert and, yeah, I'm sure there are dozens of ideas like this that would greatly affect warriors botom line.
          Signature
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  • Profile picture of the author femraven
    Hi Dave,this is a great idea , i am always looking for something i could use to add value to the services i offer my clients ,this as an ad on with the other services would be a nice bonus.
    thank you
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  • Profile picture of the author TK1
    This is another out of the box thinking right here!

    You know what?

    I've been giving away those service offers for free, like setting up a support system, FAQs or setting up an autoresponder for them, too.

    If you want to make some quick cash ASAP just go to all mom and pop stores in your area and give them something for free which you know will take you maybe 2 hours of work.

    Most smaller businesses don't get the big offline marketers talk etc. and they don't even listen to NOBODY coming into their business, because they just don't believe anybody.

    So your biggest enemy is getting them to even listen to you and see you as a cool person and what's better than giving something away for free?

    Another one that I use often (or my ladies that do the clients getting stuff): Offer them to handle their professional listing on Google for free.

    TK
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  • Profile picture of the author MWGrubb58
    WOW!!!

    Such a great idea!

    Thanks for posting!
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  • Profile picture of the author multistreams
    That is a great idea! Thanks for helping us add value!
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  • Profile picture of the author ballking
    Banned
    [DELETED]
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    • Profile picture of the author AndrewCavanagh
      To elaborate on the idea what you're saying is:

      # You charge to set up a help desk for them.

      # You spend some time and effort on making the FAQ section in the help desk answer the most commonly asked questions which potentially can save the business a lot of time because people will either read the FAQ and have their questions answered or staff can copy and paste specific FAQ answers (or adjust them slightly) to the queries that can be answered that way.


      It's not an earth shattering idea but worth doing.

      Also over time becoming aware of the questions being asked may give you insights into marketing the business more effectively.

      Kindest regards,
      Andrew Cavanagh
      Signature
      Old School Copy Like This Is BACK & Converting Like Crazy!
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      • Profile picture of the author Dave Toomey
        Andrew

        Thanks for your comments. Nice to get a pat on the back from a 'name' such as yourself.

        Simplicity can be a bigger earner...even after you get the cash...like you said it can give you insights into a particular offline area and you can niche yourself as the go-to-guy for IM in that field.

        Dave

        Originally Posted by AndrewCavanagh View Post

        To elaborate on the idea what you're saying is:

        # You charge to set up a help desk for them.

        # You spend some time and effort on making the FAQ section in the help desk answer the most commonly asked questions which potentially can save the business a lot of time because people will either read the FAQ and have their questions answered or staff can copy and paste specific FAQ answers (or adjust them slightly) to the queries that can be answered that way.


        It's not an earth shattering idea but worth doing.

        Also over time becoming aware of the questions being asked may give you insights into marketing the business more effectively.

        Kindest regards,
        Andrew Cavanagh
        Signature
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    • Profile picture of the author Dave Toomey
      Originally Posted by ballking View Post

      Where you can download helpdesk systems that can be used .
      Cpanel has some. Or just look for osTicket on big G.

      Also, I have seen an IM product sold called 3 pillars but that costs diosh. Most of what it can do is in osTicket.
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  • Profile picture of the author zackpow
    Great catch. I can't beleive I never thought of it.

    Zack
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    Zack Powell

    Tampa SEO Company
    CPR Training Tampa
    Personal Injury Attorney Tampa

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  • Profile picture of the author Warren Tibbotts
    Are there different cpanels, cause I dont seem to have osticket as an option on my cpanel?
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    • Profile picture of the author GeorgeO7
      There are different hosts who may enable or disable various software. Usually you can find a few supoport ticket apps in Fantastico.
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      • Profile picture of the author T.R. McCarroll
        Anybody interested in a quick video of how to install a help desk on their servers using cpanel?

        Let me know and I will crank one out for you.

        T.R.
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