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I am working on a reception desk of block of offices: Can I pitch them my SEO services?

by madison_avenue
15 replies
Hi,

I am working part time on the reception desk of a block of offices(seven offices). I have checked out the web presence of the companies: websites seo, google places etc and a lot of them could do with some marketing advice. A lot of the sites look awful, have no contact forms, and five of them are not on Google Places.

Do you think it's OK for me to pitch them on my services while working there! Or will that annoy them as acceptable, will they report me to the employment agency I work for?

A problem is I am not exactly postioned as an expert by being sort of receptionist /doorman, I won't have much crediblity! Will they take my pitch seriously? What would you do?
#block #desk #offices #pitch #reception #seo #services #working
  • Profile picture of the author Aaron Doud
    Well you can but you better have yourself set up with business cards and a website.

    You can tell them you are starting your business and still working part time on the side till you get more clients.

    Your prices will have to reflect this getting started mentality but you could pitch them. But honestly I would do a soft pitch, like networking. Simply start talking about the business you are starting. And let the conversation flow from there. Hopefully they will come to you this way.
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    • Profile picture of the author madison_avenue
      Originally Posted by Aaron Doud View Post

      Well you can but you better have yourself set up with business cards and a website.

      You can tell them you are starting your business and still working part time on the side till you get more clients.

      Your prices will have to reflect this getting started mentality but you could pitch them. But honestly I would do a soft pitch, like networking. Simply start talking about the business you are starting. And let the conversation flow from there. Hopefully they will come to you this way.
      Thanks for the response! I have a web site with a lots of content on SEO, Internet Marketing and Google places which they I can show. And have done work for other people. The problem is I lack credibility by being on the reception desk! On the positive side I greet them every day.

      I know they lack Google places pages, and I see plenty of weaknesses in their sites, and web strategies, their sites are basically rough looking html sites with no contact forms or an autoresponder system set up. It's not a permanent job, only temp, and I finish on Friday I was thinking giving them a letter or PDF guide branded with my name, giving advice on SEO, before I leave.
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  • Profile picture of the author globalpro
    I agree with Aaron.

    Also consider what kind of relationship you have with them now. If you are doing an awesome job and considered a valued employee, that will go a long way to getting them to be receptive of your proposal. Plays to your credibility as a professional.

    Thanks,

    John
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    • Profile picture of the author madison_avenue
      Originally Posted by globalpro View Post

      I agree with Aaron.

      Also consider what kind of relationship you have with them now. If you are doing an awesome job and considered a valued employee, that will go a long way to getting them to be receptive of your proposal. Plays to your credibility as a professional.

      Thanks,

      John
      Thanks. I have good friendly relationship with them. One issue is these are companies based in Mayfair and are in the Investment business i.e they have money. Even so their sites are not optimizated which I know I can easily fix. I thinking would they have confidence in me, the guy on reception to help them. If they were small 'mom and pop' type businesses I would not hesitate to speak to them, but I am a bit wary of these ones!
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  • Profile picture of the author Jason Kanigan
    "Hi, could we talk about your business for a second?"

    "You probably don't know this, but I'm in this role just for now while I'm starting out. What I really do is help businesses get found online more easily by potential customers. You probably know this by the name 'SEO'. Do you have a few minutes we could talk about this, and find out if I could do anything that would help your business, either now or later on?"
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    • Profile picture of the author madison_avenue
      Originally Posted by kaniganj View Post

      "Hi, could we talk about your business for a second?"

      "You probably don't know this, but I'm in this role just for now while I'm starting out. What I really do is help businesses get found online more easily by potential customers. You probably know this by the name 'SEO'. Do you have a few minutes we could talk about this, and find out if I could do anything that would help your business, either now or later on?"
      Thanks for the reply!. I don't know if I've got the guts to say to a Hedge Fund: "Hi, could we talk about your business for a second?"! I'm willing to give a shot if it works but I think I need a softer pitch here, because I'm not seen as the expert yet.
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      • Profile picture of the author Jason Kanigan
        Originally Posted by madison_avenue View Post

        Thanks for the reply!. I don't know if I've got the guts to say to a Hedge Fund: "Hi, could we talk about your business for a second?"! I'm willing to give a shot if it works but I think I need a softer pitch here, because I'm not seen as the expert yet.
        Qualify your buyer. Should you be talking to a hedge fund manager?

        No guts, no glory. No asking the tough questions, no sale. Be a '10'; be tough.

        And you ARE the expert. Or you're Not. Which do you want to be? If you're not, you're not in the business.
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        • Profile picture of the author madison_avenue
          Originally Posted by kaniganj View Post

          Qualify your buyer. Should you be talking to a hedge fund manager?

          No guts, no glory. No asking the tough questions, no sale. Be a '10'; be tough.

          And you ARE the expert. Or you're Not. Which do you want to be? If you're not, you're not in the business.
          Message received and understood!
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  • Profile picture of the author Jason Kanigan
    Remember, these people don't know anything about what you do. They probably don't even understand what SEO really is. You know much more than they will or want to know, even if you are just starting out.

    Even if they DO know about what you do, they are owners or managers. Their function is to delegate, not to do...so should they know what to do technically, they don't want to do it.

    DO NOT tell them that you are looking for your first client or anything of that nature.
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  • Profile picture of the author free2bme
    How about something like...

    "Hi, Mr. (Name) - If you're ever interested in learning how to
    leverage your website to gain more targeted clients on the internet, I
    can help you with that."

    And then hand them over your business card with your name,
    number and website.

    Another thing you can see about doing is seeing how you can
    do something for free or low costing that can get immediate
    results that they can see to establish some credibility in advance...

    Rather than just handing over a flyer on SEO... offer a 10-15 minute free
    website (or business) audit to help them with their online marketing
    efforts. -- And this is a call-to-action you can also have on your
    business card.

    Just as Jason stated above... simply position yourself as the expert. This
    business has a lot to do with our mindset. Don't talk yourself out of a
    potential great business relationship. I believe in life we can be strategically
    placed in a situation/environment but not be able to "see" what we have sitting right in
    front of us out of fear or our stubbornness to move forward.

    ~Jean~
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  • Profile picture of the author rugman
    Pick one - do a mock up freebie and take it from there. Give it to them or sell it cheap anf use them as a referral source for the rest of the bld.
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  • Profile picture of the author Jason Kanigan
    While I see the value of getting one of them as a client (the rest would see that as giving you more credibility), I'm against giving away expertise for free. Mockups are fine as the puppy dog approach (see here), but the intention is that you are going to make money for your effort.

    Also, these owners get around the water cooler and talk. Ms. IGotItFree is going to tell the others and you'll be back where you started. Concentrate on what problems you solve for your clients. Get paid.
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    • Profile picture of the author mrcouchpotato
      The one question I have that nobody asked is who actually hired you to work as the receptionist? Was it an employment agency or someone within these offices?

      If it was an outsider like an employment agency, then I say go ahead and try to sell your services to them. If it was someone within these offices, be aware that they might not want you selling your services on "company time".

      Mike
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      • Profile picture of the author madison_avenue
        Originally Posted by mrcouchpotato View Post

        The one question I have that nobody asked is who actually hired you to work as the receptionist? Was it an employment agency or someone within these offices?

        If it was an outsider like an employment agency, then I say go ahead and try to sell your services to them. If it was someone within these offices, be aware that they might not want you selling your services on "company time".

        Mike
        It's an employment agency! The thing is I go from job to job doing a couple of days here and there. So if I can pitch here, then I may try to pitch to other bookings I go too. I could use this same unusual method everywhere, until I get the sack! But by then I should have enough clients! The funny thing I am the 'gatekeeper', but the gatekeeper is pitching! Might be good method for others to try.
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  • Profile picture of the author Marvin Johnston
    Most small businesses I see are clueless about SEO, Social Media, etc. And some don't even understand the concept of ROI.

    The problem there as I see it is the discussion is not about talking in terms that they can relate to. But if you have done your research and can show them your efforts will improve what THEY perceive as important, you will stand a much better chance.

    For example (and it was stupid doing it this way on my part), I was talking to a business owner friend a couple of days ago about Google places. They had not claimed their listing in spite of my saying how easy it was to do. I was just assuming they would understand the ramifications ... and that was just not true.

    Take the example for what it is worth. Lay the groundwork in terms they will understand, and it will make the rest of the process a lot easier.

    Marvin
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