Try This Method for Getting Offline Clients

This method is for those who don't like cold calling, and have the "heart of a teacher" (as Dave Ramsey would say)

Sit down and write out all the things you know (i.e. do a brain dump) that would help a business owner in your area get more leads, make more sales, etc using online methods.

Could be anything really, even just one thing (like how to use Google places, basics of local search, its importance today because of mobile phones, how to "verify" their listing, why they need to be on that first page, etc.)

Then write it up into a nice little report called "XX Online Strategies Any [city name here] Business Owner Can Get More Leads and Sales - While Cutting Ad Costs in Half"

(Ok, that title was off the top of my head, but you get the idea. You'll have to really work on the title, its like your headline)

Then rather than pitch someone cold on X IM service, contact and tell them that you are a local business owner just like them and that you have a variety of ideas you would like to share with them on how they can get more customers, leads, sales, etc.

Explain to them that the strategies are proven to work for almost any business and offer them a free copy of the report, no obligation of course. Make sure it looks nice and be sure your contact information is on every page (header or footer) of the document. Include a resource box at the end.

If they don't contact you after a few days, then maybe follow up by phone or email to see if they had any questions. To really go the extra mile, let them know that you will get them set up with Google Places as a thank you for taking the time to read your report.

You could even start with business owners in your city that you know personally, and ask them if they would do you a favor and read through a report that you compiled for businesses in your area. (Make like you want their opinion on it before you give it away to others that you don't know.)

Remember that you know more about IM than 99% of them, so you WILL be helping them if they read it, whether they ever use your advice or not.

Also remember, don't get too technical. Make like you are writing "IM for Dummies" book. And don't get too long winded either. Keep each strategy short and sweet, but make it great information (include links, etc.). Keep the writing good but make it conversational, and throw in your city name here and there too for good measure. Screen shots where helpful are nice too.

You could also take these same exact strategies you wrote down and set up a squeeze page and offer a X week "course" on how to [title of report goes here] if they opt-in. Then you can educate them little by little.

When you keep it simple, they will see the possibilities, and if you have proof you can show them that you've good things for others, I would think it would be a slam dunk.

Today I sat down for about 15 minutes and wrote out 27 ways I know a business owner in my area would be happy to know about - because it will help their business.

I then categorized the list down into small sections (things like.... how to make their website more effective, simple ways to get more traffic, all about local search, mobile marketing, etc) with 5-7 strategies in each category. These are things I take for granted because I've been doing them for 8 years.

Now I'll just "talk" into Dragon Naturally Speaking, then edit, and voila...I'm ready to go.

This is the kind of system I would much rather use than cold calling. I know that works for some but I've done that before and I hated it. The positioning is skewed.

I guess the whole point is this...decide on a "system" that you are comfortable with and that you can use over and over again so that you'll never run out of leads - people that are genuinely interested in learning more about what you have to offer.

I hope that sparks some ideas for you!