Business doesn't have a website and STILL not interested! ARGH!

When you show em (or tell 'em) they're losing out to their COMPETITORS (like when people type in their kind of business online in their location) then they're more apt to listen.

But yeah, doing THAT over the phone is tough. There's better ways...

Well, I would say they're the ones who are doing something wrong, but I get your point.

I think you just have to look for a glimmer of interest on their part. If it seems they might be open to listening, then you can develop a "next line" to say to them. See if the interest increases a little more.

If they aren't interested, then drop them and move on without another thought. We all do things that are against our better interests all the time. People change when they're ready to change. You're not going to make them change.

How many numbers have you dialed...?

Much like PPC, if it isnt 3 or 400 yet, then you cant really judge whether you are doing good or bad.

See, I am the kind of person what would turn around and get a domain name, install wordpress quickly, slap up some relevant content and then put that businesses information with a different phone number so I can track the calls. Have a HUGE call to action to mention the company name and web site for a discount or something when calling!

I'd wait until they got their first two or three calls and then call them back. Nuf said.

I know right? Some of you would not like this tactic but hey this is me.

Also keep in mind it's not for lack of opportunity to get a website either.

They're certainly aware they could "have a website" and you can bet you're not the first to pitch them on it. At that point, assuming they "do" need a website it doesn't matter a bit if they're convinced they don't.

It's an uphill battle you don't have to fight.

You don't want to waste valuable time trying to convince someone who doesn't want to be convinced. Go looking for people who "get" the need for an online presence and get the need for marketing in general. Those people are looking (many times without knowing it) for someone to help them take it to the next level.

They want an authority that can guide them and prove themselves to help them with their business via whatever channels you can provide results for. Those folks may want an update to their sites done by you.

I don't have a big web presence for my consulting. I've got channel relationships with partners that feed me more business than I can ever handle, and I've operated that way for years. There's a waiting list of those who want my consulting.

I realize this is a difficult concept for marketing types that are web exclusive folks, and don't necessarily understand the food chain of marketing function and tactics (or specifically where a website fits into that food chain), but there really are businesses that have no need for a web presence.

A client of mine is a software company, $10 million a year in sales. Up until 2005 they had a website that looked like it was generated by a Frontpage template. Today, their website is pretty sparse, and really says nothing at all.

Why? They are exclusively a government contractor and derive 100% of their business responding to RFPs. A web presence has zero bearing on their contract acquisition, and never will. The only purpose that it might serve is giving potential competitors ideas about what they do. They have maybe 20 clients total that generate $10-12 million per year in sales through long term support contracts of 5 years or even longer. The CEO is worth $50 million cash liquid, so you going to waltz in and tell him how he really needs your services and if he doesn't bow to your marketing greatness, he's going to go bankrupt?

It's pretty narrow of a focus that imposes one's own, very limited worldview onto a business that really may not need your services.

Some businesses are really happy with the amount of customers they have and what there referrals are bringing in for new customers.

See depending what type of business it is more business (customers) costs money to maintain. Maybe the business owner is happy with their income and other factors.

It really depends what the business is and the cost.

How are you selling the website? Not everyone needs to be on the internet.

The best thing for you to do is move on to clients who actually want your services.

I think you're selling the wrong thing. No one needs a website. People need revenue. People who have revenue need automation and quality of life.

The goal in offline marketing isn't to sell websites, it's to create wealth for small businesses. He's right - they're doing just fine without a website.

Consider a bowling alley that is doing just fine without a website. Friday nights and weekends are their big nights. Weekdays suck. And in winter . . . .argh. What if on snowdays they could e-mail everyone the night before and invite the kids in to bowl - Free Shoes!

They may even have a list -but what if they could grow that list without doing any work? What if the only people who signed up were people searching for bowling on-line?

They could potentially sell out the bowling alley every snowday when kids are out of school.

Nobody needs a website. People need revenue. Learn their business before you call - and then call with some revenue generating ideas that you could help implement.