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I don't care about being number one on google.

by swilliams09
15 replies
This is what my buddy says to me today while sitting in his office. He was just opening his mail and reading a letter from Google offering free a $100 adwords coupon. The conversation had turned to the near daily phone calls he keeps getting from SEO companies. I explained to him a few months ago what SEO was.

"I don't care about being number one on google. I don't know you, I don't want to spend that kind of money, and I already have a website." Those were his words to the last guy who called.

So I asked him a few questions. "Did they tell you they could get you more customers in the door?" I asked. "No" he replied.

"Did they tell you WHY you should be number one on google?" Again, a no.

"Did they explain any of the terms they used such as SEO or PPC?" another no.

So we had a short conversation about what all of this stuff means and how it can help his business. We've been friends since college so he trusts me and knows that I wouldn't steer him wrong. He said if they would have explained it like that he might have entertained some of them.

Like I said, I explained SEO to him a few months back and you know what? He forgot. He's been busy getting clients and running his business.

The moral of the story is this. When you are cold calling and trying to sell, don't forget...people don't care about google, or SEO or ranking. They (small business owners) care about getting more customers and growing their business, and they want to hear it in terms they understand. The want the sausage, they don't want to know how it's made and they want it from someone they feel they can trust.
#care #google #number
  • Profile picture of the author Danny Turner
    Originally Posted by swilliams09 View Post

    He's been busy getting clients and running his business.

    (small business owners) don't care about google, or SEO or ranking. They (small business owners) care about getting more customers and growing their business, and they want to hear it in terms they understand. ....and they want it from someone they feel they can trust.
    Spot on ..... and they also have to have some idea of the potential for online marketing ... chuckle .. I see posts here like "how do i get customers without calling them on the phone etc" good luck ... can be done .... but not easily.... offline world is about relationships .... I spoke to a customer today ... finalising a plan for his online marketing .. (note .. I did not say building his website!) and gave an approxmate figure of around $2000 - $3000 ... he was happy with that because
    1) I have his trust
    2) He realises the value of online marketing --- he has spent that much on print ads and seen little result
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  • Profile picture of the author Warrior Ben
    Originally Posted by swilliams09 View Post

    The moral of the story is this. When you are cold calling and trying to sell, don't forget...people don't care about google, or SEO or ranking. They (small business owners) care about getting more customers and growing their business, and they want to hear it in terms they understand. The want the sausage, they don't want to know how it's made and they want it from someone they feel they can trust.
    This is great advice for folks to listen to... all too often we get in our zone and assume that everybody has as deep an understanding about what we are selling as we do. I always try to remember what it was like when I was first learning how to rank websites in Google. Everything seemed so foreign and I had no idea where to start. Once you figure out the secret to backlinking and other optimization techniques you realize how easy it is to rank a site. It's easy to forget that many other people have no clue and don't even really care to have a clue!

    -Ben
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  • Profile picture of the author Dexx
    #1 Rule of Marketing: People don't buy products and services--they buy solutions to THEIR immediate problems. (i.e. they don't care about your needs, wants, or financial problems unless it benefits them)

    That problem may be boredom, hunger, pain, loneliness, unwanted social status, obstacles keeping them from reaching their goals and desires, etc.

    If you don't connect your solution to their problem then they won't see a benefit in spending money on it (or you).

    ~Dexx
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    • Profile picture of the author Warrior Ben
      Originally Posted by Dexx View Post

      #1 Rule of Marketing: People don't buy products and services--they buy solutions to THEIR immediate problems. (i.e. they don't care about your needs, wants, or financial problems unless it benefits them)
      Dexx, this advice is GOLD!!
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      • Profile picture of the author Magnus Koenig
        And never forget that Google is only one out of many ways of getting traffic... although it is one of the biggest. But with pages like Facebook and Twitter today Google rankings aren't as important as they used to be.
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    • Profile picture of the author sprks79
      Originally Posted by Dexx View Post

      #1 Rule of Marketing: People don't buy products and services--they buy solutions to THEIR immediate problems. (i.e. they don't care about your needs, wants, or financial problems unless it benefits them)
      ~Dexx
      100000000000% true. I hardly tell my clients the specifics of what I do, I simply tell them how I'm going to help them get the extra oomph in business and customers. Great advice.
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    • Profile picture of the author Deidra Renee
      Originally Posted by Dexx View Post

      #1 Rule of Marketing: People don't buy products and services--they buy solutions to THEIR immediate problems. (i.e. they don't care about your needs, wants, or financial problems unless it benefits them)

      That problem may be boredom, hunger, pain, loneliness, unwanted social status, obstacles keeping them from reaching their goals and desires, etc.

      If you don't connect your solution to their problem then they won't see a benefit in spending money on it (or you).

      ~Dexx
      Exactly! One of my favorite lines *you don't need hype..you need results* They couldn't care less about a backlink lol Is it going to make them money is what they want to know and you need to explain it..QUICKLY and in a *non selling* tone..
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  • Profile picture of the author Rob Richards
    Excellent post and I hope your friend is YOUR client now as well


    Originally Posted by swilliams09 View Post

    This is what my buddy says to me today while sitting in his office. He was just opening his mail and reading a letter from Google offering free a $100 adwords coupon. The conversation had turned to the near daily phone calls he keeps getting from SEO companies. I explained to him a few months ago what SEO was.

    "I don't care about being number one on google. I don't know you, I don't want to spend that kind of money, and I already have a website." Those were his words to the last guy who called.

    So I asked him a few questions. "Did they tell you they could get you more customers in the door?" I asked. "No" he replied.

    "Did they tell you WHY you should be number one on google?" Again, a no.

    "Did they explain any of the terms they used such as SEO or PPC?" another no.

    So we had a short conversation about what all of this stuff means and how it can help his business. We've been friends since college so he trusts me and knows that I wouldn't steer him wrong. He said if they would have explained it like that he might have entertained some of them.

    Like I said, I explained SEO to him a few months back and you know what? He forgot. He's been busy getting clients and running his business.

    The moral of the story is this. When you are cold calling and trying to sell, don't forget...people don't care about google, or SEO or ranking. They (small business owners) care about getting more customers and growing their business, and they want to hear it in terms they understand. The want the sausage, they don't want to know how it's made and they want it from someone they feel they can trust.
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  • Profile picture of the author williamrose
    Well said!

    It's easy to get caught up selling your own expertise and skills.... but that's not what people are interested in, sell them the results said skills produce instead.
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  • Profile picture of the author RockstarBen
    damn right. No business owner cares about Google, they don't care about Facebook, Twitter, or how smart you are. Want to know what they care about? Getting more business. They are selfish that way, and rightfully so. Just like you, and unlike the rest of our peers, they took a risk and decided to stop working for the man and start a biz...

    Now, what do they want? Again - more business. As soon as we get in the "I am an expert in generating you revenue" business and out of the "I am going to get you on Google" business, the sooner we will find more doors opening :-)

    Keep Rockin!
    --Ben
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  • Profile picture of the author sakthiganesh
    When it comes to the point of sale,traffic only won't provide results.
    But for traffic, you have to be there within the first 20 pages.
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  • Profile picture of the author AdwordsMogul
    Here is something nobody wants to admit: most business owners don't need to be number one on Google.

    You have to first find out if the math makes sense. How many people are searching for related services? How many can the business effectively take care of?

    Do they have to write sales copy? How much will that cost?

    So many questions that deserve answers.

    Being number one on Google is useless if the math doesn't makes sense.
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  • Profile picture of the author sloanjim
    I completely agree and there are a number of "online services" many offline bizz do not need. I have a problem trying to sell something I do not believe in. Many do not. I mean does a sweet shop really need to ranked on Google and have a FB page? Really?

    Right now about the only thing I think i should be selling businesses are leads.....
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    • Profile picture of the author AdwordsMogul
      Originally Posted by sloanjim View Post

      I completely agree and there are a number of "online services" many offline bizz do not need. I have a problem trying to sell something I do not believe in. Many do not. I mean does a sweet shop really need to ranked on Google and have a FB page? Really?

      Right now about the only thing I think i should be selling businesses are leads.....
      Haha, you know, what would most people selling SEO say, if the biz owner asks "Are you number one for 'offline marketing' ?"
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      "Those who can - DO IT. Those who can't, say it's impossible."
      Jean Paul a.k.a AdwordsMogul
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  • Profile picture of the author angmoore
    Every now and then I get someone who wants to know all the details, and then some. Now that is painful. As long as they know they are going to get results, they typically don't care about the details.
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    Angie Moore

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