The All Necessary Checklist When Starting - Please Add Your Ideas!

by Jill Carpenter

Posted: 13 years ago 11 replies

OFFLINE MARKETING

Hi All!

Ok, up until now I've been very loose with how I deal with clients, but I'm gearing up some info to push myself a bit harder and be prepared to offer offline services to people who I don't know. I've been very lucky in that I am usually sought out or referred by friends, but I'm moving to new territory and things will change.

I was hoping to create a checklist and maybe this will help others realize what things they should have in place for starting a more formal looking offline business.

Here is a start to the list off the top of my head:

1. Website - you need your own website to use as a portfolio and/or a place to display your offerings

main greeting page
autoresponder
TOS pages
packages offered
contact information
what am I missing here?

2. Legal Forms to cover

agreement of services to be covered
time for work to be done
payment arrangement
content ownership
What else goes here?

I used to have video contracts in the past when I was just doing video work, but no clue where I put those, lol

3. Potential Client list

I would think people would be targeting who their best prospects might be? I'm thinking it may be good to keep some kind of roladex with business names, addresses, web address (if they have it) and any notes

4. Outsourcing list

A list of service providers who can help you take care of elements you won't be doing. I personally hate writing articles - so I'd hire that out. Specialized templates as well - I won't do those, although I am toying with taking a few samples from theme forest that can be customized by myself and presenting those in a package that might be slightly less charge for the client.

Miscellaneous:

invoice forms, business cards, stationary (all with your company logo)

And of course: business banking account, trade name (I just still use a dba)

I'm confident there is tons more here but I can't think right now. :confused:

lol

Perhaps individual notebooks prepared for each client to contain copies of emails, copy of their website, passwords, etc

Please add below.

#add #checklist #ideas #starting

Dexx 13 years ago

That's all fine and dandy to have...

But the real thing you need to start off with is identifying why a business owner should do business with you, instead of your competition (or doing nothing at all).

Until you can answer that, then anything else you do/create will not matter in their eyes...

A close second would also be determining YOUR end goal / desired lifestyle, and structuring your business structure to provide that result, etc.

Then other important tasks along those lines...

Finally you can get into the "filler" stuff such as services to provide.

Hope that helps! =)

Cheers,

~Dexx
- Thanks
- 1 reply
{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[2937694].message }}
- Jill Carpenter 13 years ago
  
  Ok, so you'd add:
  
  Mission Statement and USP
  
  List of services was in the above as I think that needs to go on the site you put up - but this can be determined during the process before you put the site up.
  
  And I'm guessing that in with that USP you also want to determine your approach style.
  
  I'm a face to face, go in and just start chatting type (but probably already looked you up before I got there ) type of girl.
  
  Good points to add to this list.
  
  Thanks
  
  1 reply
  
  Signature
  
  "May I have ten thousand marbles, please?"
  
  {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[2937776].message }}
  
  Jill Carpenter 13 years ago
  
  Ah, and a "client" questionaire. Good old chocolate icecream jolted the noggen.
  
  Thanks
  
  Signature
  
  "May I have ten thousand marbles, please?"
  
  {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[2938071].message }}
Lisa Gergets 13 years ago

I've found that if I'm trying to make lists, I'm probably trying my hardest not to do what I need to do...which in this case is contacting clients.
- [ 2 ] Thanks
Signature
Sign up to be notified when Success on Demand goes live, and receive a FREE mindmap that you can follow to create and launch your OWN IM PRODUCTS!
{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[2938170].message }}
deus ex 13 years ago

Contacting clients is key - use cold calling and call on the ppc advertisers, etc -- offer google places opt as well as seo
- Thanks
{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[2938232].message }}
John Durham 13 years ago

Learning how to assume a close and ABC (always be closing) is key...

For instance (after telling him about your service and he asks "What do I need to do"?):

Okay bob, its pretty simple let me just ask a few questions...

What kind of colors are you wanting on your site?

Great

And What services do you want listed on your site?

Okay great

and do you want us to put a form on your site so your visitors can contact you for a free consultation, or just a phone number?

Okay great

And what email box to you want to form to submit?

Okay great,

And by the way did you want to list any information on your site about your staff?

Alright, also,

Are you going to want to offer corporate email addresses for all of your staff members, so they can have proper representation when dealing with your web customers...?

Awesome, we can do that...

Now we offer two payment options... which one of those is gonna work best for you?

(assume the close, asking a closed ended question that can only be answered one of two ways...each ending with you getting a check of some kind, instead of "yes or no" questions).

So this above is real basic ... but the idea is that throughout your pitch you are getting Bob more personally involved in the creation process, and more committed each time he contributes... by the time you get through the questions he is already 80% commited to follow through...

So, just learning to pitch is a big thing. Hope this helps a little, as well as the other great contributions here.

Contracts where I come from are called "reciepts"... all that stuff doesnt matter unless you can "pitch", when it comes to a cold lead.

If you craft your questions right you make make each question sound like a benefit and really get him excited in the process too... like "when all the customers start coming in, did you want to them to call or use a contact form"?... the questionaire itself is your best seed planter.

As far as what Dexx is saying, the best way to find out how you can beat the competition is to ask Bob about his experience so far, and find out why he didnt buy from the last salesmen and let him tell you his horror story... they all have one...you arent the first person he has spoken with.

Listen to him tell you about the last guy that came in...then just empathize and understand him... there's a reason he didnt buy from the last guy... find out what traumatized him so bad that in 2010 he doesnt have a website... listen to his horror story of the last salesmen and you will see why you can sell him when others couldnt.

Hope this helps Avenue Girl. I have always enjoyed your posts!

Ps. you need to identify your target customers profile. ie; I want to talk to independent biz owners who are in the 2 million per year revenue brackett, and have five employees or less (to avoid excess secretaries)... then get a custom call list, so you can laser target your perfect prospects. Haviong a targeted call list puts you way ahead of the game. You can get them from several sources. When you get to that point I will be glad to help!

PPS> Most people use the questionaire "after" the "close". Im suggesting that you use it as a "way" to "close". It helps you "transition" into a close... get him real commited through the process of the going through the questionaire.
- [ 1 ] Thanks
- 1 reply
{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[2938265].message }}
- Jill Carpenter 13 years ago
  
  Originally Posted by Lisa Gergets
  
  I've found that if I'm trying to make lists, I'm probably trying my hardest not to do what I need to do...which in this case is contacting clients.
  
  Ha ha.
  
  Ok Missy :p if you must know I am in LIMBO right now. Yes, I am still stuck on an Island here in the middle of the Atlantic for another 2 weeks. I was supposed to leave this last weekend but things got delayed.
  
  I have shipped out all my clothes and video equipment - that is how confident I was that I was leaving. lol, wearing pajamas for the next 2 weeks.
  
  I'm finishing up with some clients I have here (doing some minor refining), but not actively seeking anyone here right now as I will be leaving them very soon.
  
  I'm hesitant to contact anyone new until I'm in their immediate area.
  
  I'm collecting my thoughts and setting up some fresh stuff in the new state and new location before I get there.
  
  My usual tactic of go out and drink at the bar and they just come to me still works (rofl), but I am going to try a different approach in this new city because I will have a defined time to live there. One year to get in and get out and I want to make the most of it so I need to organize myself a bit better and go attack them instead of waiting for them to find me.
  
  I'm not into cold calling. I like to meet in person with people. For me this is most effective. For some strange reason people trust me and believe what I tell them. lol
  
  I don't need to talk to the head guy to get in the door either. I have methods to worm into where ever I want to go.
  
  I can sense pretty quickly if someone is interested in what I'm doing - and when they are not I don't waste time to move on to the next person.
  
  I feel the need to see the business and person before I even file them into a candidates list in the gray matter. I like to pretend like I'm some random person walking in the door without an agenda, and summarize what I see.
  
  I like them to be the inquisitive ones and lead into conversations of them wondering what I can possibly do for them.
  
  In a quick summary looking at the current business there, no one has video. So I already know my advantage.
  
  It's going to take me a week after I get there to get my new digs set up. The house has been rented but someone is afraid to do anything until I get there. He doesn't know where the bed sheets and silverware is - lol.
  
  Personally my head is really on finding the first Mc Donalds I can and getting a 2 cheese burgers meal. And I'm anticipating spending a day at the Staples and CVS and going to a Mall.
  
  And I can't even tell you how much I miss my rubber chicken and other amusing props which have been in storage over 2 years now.
  
  Thanks
  
  Signature
  
  "May I have ten thousand marbles, please?"
  
  {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[2940273].message }}
Lisa Gergets 13 years ago

Jill, that is hysterical. Have fun wearin' your jammies. I usually work in those anyways. LOL
- Thanks
Signature
Sign up to be notified when Success on Demand goes live, and receive a FREE mindmap that you can follow to create and launch your OWN IM PRODUCTS!
{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[2940970].message }}

Voasi

13 years ago

Originally Posted by John Durham

PPS> Most people use the questionaire "after" the "close". Im suggesting that you use it as a "way" to "close". It helps you "transition" into a close... get him real commited through the process of the going through the questionaire.

That's exactly it - we use our questionnaire as a closing tool to get them more "in bed" with us. Not a lot of churn and burn SEO companies sending that type of document out, so it sets you apart from everyone else, which is something you need to do.

Also, using the questionnaire is a qualifier for us... and we TELL the prospect that. Just like in dating, women are always trying to qualify there prospects: "What do you do?" - "What kind of car do you drive?" - "What do you do for fun?" - these questions give women the upper-hand.

We use those same principles: "Please fill out our client questionnaire so we can get better acquainted with your company and see if we're a fit/match to do business - we only work with a select few companies and take the time to get to know how we can optimize your processes".

[ 1 ] Thanks
1 reply

Signature

Want $6,000/mo. SEO Clients? Watch My Free Video!

Page 1 Link Building: Finally, Linking That Works, because I do it! Pagerank 5 Homepage Links!!

We do WSO Designs TOO!!! Best on WF! - Click Here

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[2941590].message }}

nofearman

13 years ago

Like what John said begining of this old thread...would sure like to gett my hands on some questionaires, as I seem to talk too much in an initial interview.....need to stop talkign and ask questions and listen, lead the client and let him conclude what his needs are and that I cna help him