Do offline biz owners understand what a mobile website is?

I think either making an email so they can see the difference using a screen shot the differences from a full website and the mobile website will be better and a heading maybe showing stats of how many mobile sites are searching google these days. and then a call to action saying that you will be calling them the next day should help.
But going in with a mock website mobile vs full is the best way of doing it i believe.

The approach that I take when contacting business owners is to lead with QR Codes... I limit my leads to only people who are currently advertising because I know they have a marketing budget and it gives me a great lead in to the conversation.

I tell them something along the lines of, "I own a company that offers 2D Barcodes that can be scanned by any smartphone. Once scanned, the user is taken to a mobile web app that we create for your business and gives your potential customer more information than you could otherwise fit in your print ad."

I call the QR Code a 2D Barcode so that the business owner doesn't do a Google search and see that they could get a QR Code for free. I also call the mobile website a mobile web app because it makes it sound like something a little more technology forward and business owners actually understand the concept of an app on a mobile phone more than a mobile website. It also keeps them from using their existing webmaster.

I am not trying to mislead my customer in any way, just trying to spin it in the best way possible to get the appointment. Then when I met with the prospect I show them a live demo of scanning a code and going to the Mobile Web App, so they then understand and know what they are getting.

I'd try taking this approach and see if your results change. If you haven't read my post about cold calling yet, be sure to check it out here: http://www.warriorforum.com/offline-marketing-discussions/437510-reason-you-hate-cold-calling-because-youre-lousy-heres-how-change-today.html

I hope this helps!

-Ben

"Special" bar code also works, and if you do get into designing an actual Mobile APP for their Android and iPhone prospects, you could see some serious extra $$

Ask what phone they have, then mention their website needs to be optimised for other people with X phone. Most people I talk to have iPhones and some have flash websites, so it's like did you know it doesn't work (most people already know, so you just have to drive home how much lost opportunities that is for them).

Most people already know mobile web browsing is a growing trend as well.

I've never attempted to sell a mobile only website though, rather chase the 90%+ of web traffic that isn't mobile, more results to be had.

You can try asking if their website is mobile *friendly* they might say..huh? or I don't understand..then you have the chance to explain the difference between a regular website and a mobile one.

I like Deidra Renee's suggestion, ask if their current website is mobile friendly. Sounds simple and to the point.

Why are you talking to them about mobile sites?

What is having one going to do for their business specifically?

Why the hell should we have one, my immediate competitors dont and we didnt get a website until after they did?


come at it from their angle, you have the ability to deliver immediate new buying clients to their physical location and/or internet shop front while these prospects are already out in the locality , already actively looking for somewhere to go, something to do , you can give them a nudge or number of nudges in the right direction (QR,SMS,Bluetooth etc)

Or they could just carry on showing their wares to PC users sitting at home in their jim jams and just hope that some of them will bother getting dressed and going out at some point.

Or ask them how they currently use their mobiles, without being too intrusive, then adjust what you pitch to how they currently use them , if all they do is talk and text then focus on SMS , if they mainly check email then go that direction, if they use the whole kit bag then you should be laughing, but theres little point blindly pitching mobile sites to someone who only tops up $5 a month and thats just incase I breakdown

I offer free QR Codes and then upsell the mobile website because they need a mobile website if they are going to make full use of the QR Code.

Always gets me in the door.

Quentin