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My first offline experience...

by AidenChong
9 replies
Well, technically speaking, I have yet to get any offline clients, I've drawn interest on them, I've got their contacts etc, but I haven't provide any service to them.

My "offline" experience would be different from what you've seen in the WSO section in WF...

Well, I tried to tell them about taking their business to the online world, teaching them how they could easily get more exposure using various kind of internet marketing power...

However, after the initial contact with the prospect, I would ask them more about their business - be genuinely interested about their business.

I would then try to find out WHAT and WHERE is the part of the business that I can help them to bring in INSTANT PROFIT for the owners.

That's how I think we offline-online marketer could make more money, often over-see by many internet marketers...
#experience #offline
  • Profile picture of the author DaniMc
    This is so true. Listen to them. Read between the lines. Develop questions that you use to figure out their true priorities. Use these same questions every time.

    Once you know their priorities, you can fulfill them. You will make yourself different from 90% of the other salesmen who walk in the door.
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  • Profile picture of the author AidenChong
    Yeap, that's the whole point, Daniel.

    When the rapport is there, it's easier to get things going on... So much easier than if we were to do cold callings, etc...

    That's why I think it's a good idea to focus on a "repeat customer", rather than running around searching for tons of new clients...
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  • Profile picture of the author freudianslip27
    Rapport with the business owner is everything. It is where many do drop the ball, and it is the perfect opportunity to get in and build a great relationship with a potential client.

    In particular with web designers (I do NOT mean for this comment to apply to all web designers) that I've come across, they aren't good at selling their services, and establishing relationships.

    If you are able to just listen to business owners, you can find out more about what they do, and then tailor what you say to fit their needs. It's perfect!

    Plus, once they get comfortable with you they will be more likely to want to deal with you in the future

    Andrew Cavanaugh is an excellent teacher on how to establish rapport with businesses.

    Matt
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    • Profile picture of the author AidenChong
      Originally Posted by freudianslip27 View Post


      If you are able to just listen to business owners, you can find out more about what they do, and then tailor what you say to fit their needs. It's perfect!
      Enough said

      Yes, everything else you said is correct. I see Andrew as an expert in this case, however, my "teacher" is another low profile guy in the forum, Millard
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  • Profile picture of the author Rus Sells
    Every single business owners priorities are to make more money. The two things that we need to focus on is helping the owner make more money from existing customers and gaining new customers, I know because I was a brick and mortar business owner for many years. All I was concerned with was how to get more customers, albeit my business model did not allow for repeat work. To the normal B&M business owner repeat customers can be a big profit center.

    The things we should be focusing on is the sales and marketing funnels, back end sales or repeat sales.

    We should be asking questions centered around this aspect of the business and help the owner understand that the internet is a tool that has one of the best ROI.

    There are many other aspects of the face to face sales process before you can even begin to talk about the inner working of a prospects sales and marketing funnel but I won't go into that on this thread.
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    • Profile picture of the author AidenChong
      Originally Posted by Rus Sells View Post

      Every single business owners priorities are to make more money. The two things that we need to focus on is helping the owner make more money from existing customers and gaining new customers, I know because I was a brick and mortar business owner for many years. All I was concerned with was how to get more customers, albeit my business model did not allow for repeat work. To the normal B&M business owner repeat customers can be a big profit center.

      The things we should be focusing on is the sales and marketing funnels, back end sales or repeat sales.

      We should be asking questions centered around this aspect of the business and help the owner understand that the internet is a tool that has one of the best ROI.

      There are many other aspects of the face to face sales process before you can even begin to talk about the inner working of a prospects sales and marketing funnel but I won't go into that on this thread.
      You are right on the point, Rus.

      Who doesn't want more bottom line profit, right?

      It's true that one of the elements to look at, would be the marketing funnel... But if I want to increase their bottom line profit, I would even look at the current business model or the current things that then are doing, say, if they are spending TOO MUCH on something but not getting the result (maybe advertising?), I would start to look into that, to help them cut down the advertising cost, and still make the same kind of exposure like they did, and thus increasing the bottom line profit..

      Custom made a marketing strategy for them.

      If they aren't able to get repeating customer (in my area, maybe this can be referred to an undertaker-business or funeral service kind of business?), I might look into setup a referral system for them. Their service isn't cheap (at least in our area), and there are "agents" helping them to search for customer! LOL.. Imagine people who is alive, buying for a "home" or graveyard for themselves for their after-lives?

      The ideas just keep coming in, can't even stop them!

      Thanks for your words, warriors!
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  • Profile picture of the author TK1
    You have used the word POWER in your first post, that's the perfect word to go with.

    Have power in your guts and when meeting business owner have the STRONG patience to take time for them.

    Only the patience people make it to the top, no matter where and with what kind of moneymaking way you have in your life.

    WHEN A BUSINESS OWNER GETS THE FEELING YOU CARE HE STARTS ASKING YOU QUESTIONS SUDDENLY. AND IF THAT HAPPENS THAT MEANS CHING CHING.

    TK
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    • Profile picture of the author AidenChong
      Originally Posted by TK1 View Post

      You have used the word POWER in your first post, that's the perfect word to go with.

      WHEN A BUSINESS OWNER GETS THE FEELING YOU CARE HE STARTS ASKING YOU QUESTIONS SUDDENLY. AND IF THAT HAPPENS THAT MEANS CHING CHING.

      TK
      I second what you've mentioned, TK!

      I have a few more personal testimony since then... It's really inspiring, Marketing (whether it's online or offline) is really a fun thing to be dealt with!

      I'm gonna share more bout my personal experience soon.

      Thanks for checking out, TK
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  • Profile picture of the author AidenChong
    Originally Posted by Moris View Post

    It is fact that when some business owners contact their clients, listen their objections and give them a proper feed back then it is highly appriciated by the clients.
    This is so true and I don't have any better words to describe the "goodness" of what you've worded out.

    You see, as an offline service provider, or offline business consultant, shouldn't we just LISTEN to what our clients (the brick and mortar business owners) have to say?

    Even if we're a SEO guy, a graphic design guy or whatever our profession happened to be, couldn't we just spend a little time and LISTEN to what our offline clients have to say, and help them out? (Just like what you've suggested, Moris)

    Doing things like that, even a SEO guy can be a GREAT business consultant, just by LISTENING to what their B&M clients have to say...

    Just a thought for all of you....
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