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The hardest thing about offline marketing?

by Old Dog New Tricks
14 replies
The hardest thing is that it is too easy. Think about it!

If you have enough skills to get to a computer and find this forum and read it, you have enough skill to profit from providing a service to an individual or business. No real investment needed.

Can you fill out a form?

That is all that is needed to provide a Google places listing service to any business.

That is all that is needed to do any number of directory listings.

Post on Merchant Circle, YP, Manta etc.

Of course there are numerous other things you can offer to do for a small business or large.

They may get slightly more complex but you got to admit that learning and playing video games is harder.

So what is so hard about offline marketing? (Good sales training! Sales and marketing are like reading you need to learn how!)

The fact that most won't take the time to comment or ask for instructions is the same reason they just can't seem to get an offline consulting business started.

Why not break the ice and just ask?

I haven't done you a favor by just getting you to read this. I have only done you a favor if you let me and others on this forum help you.

Just ask!

P.S. If I can be of any assistance in your "Off" or "On"- line sales and marketing please PM me or email at WinnersChoice-Warrior@yahoo.com . Old Dog
#hardest #ideas #marketing #offline #problem #thing
  • Profile picture of the author Old Dog New Tricks
    The Warrior Forum is like the "Goose That lays Golden Eggs". There are golden eggs lying all around these threads. Just reach down and pick one up. How easy is that!

    Tell us about the one you may have picked up!

    Don't be bashful and shy. You have to get past that. Practice reaching out. Break the ice. This forum has tons of bandwidth.

    Just remember if you eat the Goose, no more eggs!

    OLd Dog
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    • Profile picture of the author rickmor
      Most will say "I will believe it when I see it"

      I say "You will see it when you believe it"
      Signature

      no agenda

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      • Profile picture of the author Old Dog New Tricks
        Originally Posted by rickmor View Post

        Most will say "I will believe it when I see it"

        I say "You will see it when you believe it"
        Rick that is so true. Believing is very simple in and of itself but doing it, believing that is, may well be one of the hardest things to do.

        I appreciate your perspective, very wise!

        Old Dog
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  • Profile picture of the author ImDanHoward
    I agree with Old Dog New Tricks! The thing is, there is so much information out that people get analysis paralysis. I know because I had it.

    I wanted to analyze everything, try to learn everything, question everything. If you take an idea or a proven method of doing something, model someone successful doing it and put it into ACTION,, You WILL see results.

    My problem in the past was, I would jump from one idea to the next even though I knew I should stick to one thing, make it work and then duplicate, but I didn't. They call it the "shiny object syndrome". I would fall for it all the time, but now I try to focus on one idea/proven process and build it out and then move on to the next. By doing this you will be setting up multiple streams of income coming in, instead of putting 25% of effort in on 4 projects barely seeing any profit.

    Take ACTION, stick to one idea/proven process and get it creating results for you, then rinse and repeat!

    Just a few thoughts!
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    • Profile picture of the author Old Dog New Tricks
      Dan that is so true and a story that virtually all of us can tell. Yes getting focused with so much info is a hard thing to do in the information age.

      Just keep telling your story and it will help a lot of us.

      Thanks!

      Old Dog
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  • Profile picture of the author jayspann
    I agree with Dan, When I first found the forum I suffered from "shiny object shock."

    The main thing that really turned the tides form me was setting goals.

    Set modest goals for yourself each month, week and day.

    Assess your progress and adjust as necessary.

    It's much easier to buckle down and work when you know what your working for.

    Jay
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    • Profile picture of the author Old Dog New Tricks
      Originally Posted by jayspann View Post

      I agree with Dan, When I first found the forum I suffered from "shiny object shock."

      The main thing that really turned the tides form me was setting goals.

      Set modest goals for yourself each month, week and day.

      Assess your progress and adjust as necessary.

      It's much easier to buckle down and work when you know what your working for.

      Jay
      I appreciate your response Jay. I was hoping for a little more action on the thread. I'm trying to do a little research that will help us all in categorizing some problem areas that we may have in various aspects of offline marketing.

      By it's nature Offline not only has the issues we all have in starting and running a business but it also involves some direct contact eye to eye and as some "outside" sales folks say belly to belly.

      I think offline/online it is one of the better ways to set up an Internet business because you can control so much more and you can make things happen at will.

      Pure in front of the monitor IM is far less controllable and predictable.

      Any thoughts about this anyone?

      Jay setting goals is a very important principle in finding success of any type and is many times a very hard thing to get a grip on.

      "Setting" is usually fairly easy. Keeping them in focus and working towards them is very difficult for many of us. Certainly learning how to set and achieve goals will move any business attempt towards success.

      Thanks,
      Old Dog
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  • Profile picture of the author sdentrepreneur
    After all the data entry is done....this is a Sales Business. You MUST sell, your products or service to a business owner. Then you must perform the work promised.
    I do still call this Internet Marketing but to be successful, you or your outsourced sales team must learn how to close deals. :-P
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    • Profile picture of the author Old Dog New Tricks
      Originally Posted by sdentrepreneur View Post

      After all the data entry is done....this is a Sales Business. You MUST sell, your products or service to a business owner. Then you must perform the work promised.
      I do still call this Internet Marketing but to be successful, you or your outsourced sales team must learn how to close deals. :-P

      James you like myself have a little "vintage" about us.

      Say what you want about IM and particularly applying it to offline it is a "Sales Business". It makes no difference what system, style, tools, demographics, digital, physical, direct, open or closed processes you use, you have to close or consummate with another person or entity to be successful.

      Unfortunately there are so many that want to be in business for them selves on this forum that don't want to mess with any type or at most minimal sales training.

      It's kind of like wanting to be a champion race car driver but without a race car. Many want to hit the home run without the baseball bat. Not really going to happen.

      This is a point I want to make here, that understanding and acquiring sales skills can be learned. Most have some already but don't know it. They just need some coaching and guidance.

      There are many here on the WF that can provide this like yourself James, and I appreciate that! So those that realize that a business in a box, or as you say James, filling in data entry alone, will not be the only step to a successful business especially in the offline niche. Warriors, just ask some us old timers we will help you find the success you seek.

      Old Dog
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      • Profile picture of the author karensworld
        Ok old dog,
        teach this puppy something new!!
        I appreciate and envy anyone on this forum that picks a phone and calls a business to "sell" them their product or service.

        I read above that 'we are ultimately ' selling. !
        I belive that is a 'mind set' opinion.!

        As a former (top producer) realtor I never SOLD one home , but I sat at the closing table more than 400 times!!

        I can stand infront of 100 people and give a presentation, but I can't pick up the phone and call ABC plumber and pitch my services??
        Why is that?

        I am still at a loss to find the best way for me to attract clients.
        So if you have any ideas as the 'old dog' that you are I would appreciate them.

        Please do not let it be, 'bite the bullet' and cold call......
        Thanks.
        Karen.
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        • Profile picture of the author Old Dog New Tricks
          Karen I'll try to address your comments and questions within the Quote box I hope it works.

          Originally Posted by karensworld View Post

          Ok old dog,
          teach this puppy something new!!
          I appreciate and envy anyone on this forum that picks a phone and calls a business to "sell" them their product or service.

          All of us are different. People have a wide variety of natural skills and talents different from each other. I don't think that is a profound statement. We all know this.

          However we also have a great ability to to learn and develop skills that are not necessarily natural or in-born.

          I believe that most all successful people will tell you that their success usually didn't come from natural or raw talent alone.

          Now many folks believe that the only way to get leads or find prospects is by picking up a phone. And that for what ever reason seems to make them uncomfortable. This is not an unnatural feeling. Just read about it here on WF for example. Just like you Karen there are people trying to figure it all out. How can they feel good about using the phone, and how do they sell over it? Obviously any comprehensive answers to those questions would take much more time and space than we have here. But I will try to give you a couple of nuggets if I can and a seed or two for you to think about, plant and grow.
          I read above that 'we are ultimately ' selling. !
          I belive that is a 'mind set' opinion.!

          Well I suppose the definition of "selling" could be different for for each of us. What we are trying to say I believe, is that each of us through the course of living in a community rather than doing every thing related to life and living each independently we as social creatures have decided to focus on doing one thing in quantity which is more efficient and easier and then trade with another who did the same in an other area. This is trading or commerce. As things get more complicated and complex in the things we want, need or desire there needs to be a broker to make this complexity work. This broker is called trading person, commerce person or sales person. The people that produce the items of wants, needs and desires are call businesses. We all are businesses and consumers in this system.

          I'm not trying to be stupidly simple here to bore you but rather to get you to think. So selling is not necessarily a mindset but as I see it, it is a fact of life in a trading communal society. I'm trying not to get too involved here but trying to lay a foundation so my comments may be understood here.

          As a former (top producer) realtor I never SOLD one home , but I sat at the closing table more than 400 times!!

          Karen I'm not sure what you did here but by definition, as I define it, you were involved in over 400 sales transactions. The process was a series of events resulting in an item that a person wanted, needed or desired but not produced by them, was acquired though a broker that brought the desired item to to that person. An accepted script of exchange was received and passed on to the producer with a little given back to the broker for the service they provided.

          Around and around it all goes. The primary object of this activity by definition again as I define it was for the product or service to be SOLD.

          Karen I 'm giving myself a headache so I will try and wrap this.

          I can stand infront of 100 people and give a presentation, but I can't pick up the phone and call ABC plumber and pitch my services??
          Why is that?

          Just an opinion but now is a place to apply the term "Mind Set"

          Really what, in principle, is the difference in talking to 100 or 1?

          If this is an insurmountable problem, then maybe you need to take your business out of the 1 on 1 and seek a way to reach groups. Now I assume since you are in this section of the forum dealing with offline sales of online products to businesses the question would be how can I do that?

          Well you can force it to happen? I have. Ok some ideas, and you already know these and you just need set a plan might be as follows.

          Think, where do several or more small businesses congregate? Business organizations, chambers of commerce, christian businessmen, non-christian businessmen, trade groups, manufacturing groups, associations, trade shows, car shows, truck shows, Glazer Kennedy, Toastmasters, and on and on. You don't have to one on one "cold call" if you don't want to. However if you pick up the phone tomorrow chances are you can make money sooner and quicker probably.

          I am still at a loss to find the best way for me to attract clients.
          So if you have any ideas as the 'old dog' that you are I would appreciate them.

          I hope this may have helped a little. Karen you need to identify your strengths as you have and think about them. And then you need to step outside the box and answer the question as if someone asked you. What would you tell me if the rolls were reversed now and I was asking you the same questions.

          Of course I have to say, "Bite the Bullet and Get-R-Done!          :rolleyes:

          Please do not let it be, 'bite the bullet' and cold call......
          Thanks.
          Karen.
          Good Selling Karen. That is what you do!

          Old Dog
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      • Profile picture of the author Michael Bucker
        Originally Posted by Old Dog New Tricks View Post

        James you like myself have a little "vintage" about us.

        Say what you want about IM and particularly applying it to offline it is a "Sales Business". It makes no difference what system, style, tools, demographics, digital, physical, direct, open or closed processes you use, you have to close or consummate with another person or entity to be successful.

        Unfortunately there are so many that want to be in business for them selves on this forum that don't want to mess with any type or at most minimal sales training.

        It's kind of like wanting to be a champion race car driver but without a race car. Many want to hit the home run without the baseball bat. Not really going to happen.

        This is a point I want to make here, that understanding and acquiring sales skills can be learned. Most have some already but don't know it. They just need some coaching and guidance.

        There are many here on the WF that can provide this like yourself James, and I appreciate that! So those that realize that a business in a box, or as you say James, filling in data entry alone, will not be the only step to a successful business especially in the offline niche. Warriors, just ask some us old timers we will help you find the success you seek.

        Old Dog

        Being a sales trainer and business consultant in the offline world, I have to agree of course. I will say you can have your own business without sales training of any sort. However you will not see the freedom you are truly seeking without it. It boggles me how many people think web designers also know marketing or sales. They are three different areas and I would take the time to be under a mentor or trainer in all three areas separately.
        The true shame of it all to me is the sales end and the marketing in does not really take that much effort once you learn the skills from one you has mastered them.
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        • Profile picture of the author Old Dog New Tricks
          Originally Posted by Michael Bucker View Post

          Being a sales trainer and business consultant in the offline world, I have to agree of course. I will say you can have your own business without sales training of any sort. However you will not see the freedom you are truly seeking without it. It boggles me how many people think web designers also know marketing or sales. They are three different areas and I would take the time to be under a mentor or trainer in all three areas separately.
          The true shame of it all to me is the sales end and the marketing in does not really take that much effort once you learn the skills from one you has mastered them.
          Michael I read a lot of your posts and I always find a nugget or two. I thank you for your instruction and opinions.

          I started as self trained so to speak many years ago. Actually it was no-trained as I did not know anything about sales and marketing. I thought I did. I went into retail and it only took me 12 years to pay off that tragedy.

          However I was captured in the talons of this thing called sales and marketing. I was fortunate to be recruited into a sales organization by another Old Dog. Like me, he had come from rural blue collar stock. He was a natural trainer and never gave up on me. It took him about 5 years to reach into my head and it finally came together. (I should say started!)

          I went from 4 digits a year to 6 in about 3 years and retired from that organization in 8 years. I never stopped looking for training and still do to this day I spend literally thousands a year on continuing education.

          I just wish I could be blessed like so many I have run across on this forum who are extremely bright and be a quick learner. I'm not the sharpest pencil in the can, however I learned how to use a pencil sharpener.

          I know many are always looking for that easy way, short cut and so on. I don't blame them, so am I. But as you say many don't see the need to learn and keep learning. They may be very skilled on the back end or mechanics of the digital world and the Internet but that does not mean that they are good or understand how to take their skills to the market place. Those that do are the so call "Gurus". However every last one of them talk about trainers, mentors and coaches. There are many on this forum that could duplicate this if they would just it together. Michael you know as I do how many of these superstars were running around this forum 6 or 7 years ago bugging every one they could asking how to?

          Let me say this to those that are looking for the easy way and short cuts, you are in luck! They are all over the place. They really are...

          However these easy ways and short cuts are hard to find and hard to see without first putting on the glasses of learning then using the map of training and finally starting the engine of action.

          Old Dog...
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  • Profile picture of the author Deidra Renee
    I had a problem with going off of other people's results. If I would see someone saying *email marketing doesn't work* or *it takes 6 months to start seeing a real income*, etc..it would make me stop what I was about to start and look for something else to do.

    I just finally learned to just do what I was planning on doing regardless of other people's outcomes. You have to find what works for YOU. People can tell you their experiences, but that shouldn't stop you from trying a method that you want to try and see how it works for you.
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