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What do small business need and will readily pay for? I need your suggestions.

by amanchadda123
25 replies
Hi warriors.
First of all i want to say that i feel fortunate to be a part of this warrior community. I have learned so much.
I wanted to ask about what services small businesses will redily agree to pay for. I was planning to give away a service or a package for free along with a website i design for them. So, what do you think will be beneficial for them. Facebook fanpage? Locally ranked video? Or anything else?
Please reply warriors.
#business #pay #readily #small #suggestions
  • Profile picture of the author iAmNameLess
    Be careful because how you're approaching it, they will fail to see the value in what you're offering. You could get paid for the same thing that they will take for free!

    To answer your question though... small businesses need time, money, a break.. REALLY that's what they need. lol. Can you save them time? Can you save them money? Can you make them money? Can you make their lives easier?

    A lot of things will be beneficial, but for truly successful campaigns, video, websites, listings, social media, etc... you need them to cooperate, which is sometimes very difficult.
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    • Profile picture of the author virtu
      Originally Posted by iAmNameLess View Post

      Be careful because how you're approaching it, they will fail to see the value in what you're offering. You could get paid for the same thing that they will take for free!

      To answer your question though... small businesses need time, money, a break.. REALLY that's what they need. lol. Can you save them time? Can you save them money? Can you make them money? Can you make their lives easier?

      A lot of things will be beneficial, but for truly successful campaigns, video, websites, listings, social media, etc... you need them to cooperate, which is sometimes very difficult.
      i should agree with this in simple meaning. If we could give them, it's really easy enough to make money with them!
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  • Profile picture of the author Taniwha
    Anything that gets them seen by their target market.
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    • Profile picture of the author Pauli7143
      They want the phone to ring or the front door to open with people with fist full of money....

      That's what they really want and they don't understand how the internet is going to make that happen.

      So send them a few free leads and say, "you want some more," this is how much it's going to cost.

      my 2 cents

      Paul
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  • Profile picture of the author amanchadda123
    Thanks everyone.
    Yes you all are right. They will pay if they benefit out of it and won't even like a free package if it is of no use of them. So, i will try it out and will tell all of you how it goes.
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  • Profile picture of the author Jason Kanigan
    People want a steady stream of qualified inbound leads.

    That's what you bring them. How you do it--your solution--doesn't matter to them...just the results.
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    • Profile picture of the author Rus Sells
      Within the LAW Jason! HAHA

      Originally Posted by Jason Kanigan View Post

      People want a steady stream of qualified inbound leads.

      That's what you bring them. How you do it--your solution--doesn't matter to them...just the results.
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  • Profile picture of the author Stranger Danger
    Some business owners will tell you that they don't need any more customers at the moment - and that might actually be true (sometimes). Sure, they could scale their operations and hire more employees to cover the additional workload - but that isn't always ideal...especially when considering market research and future projections etc..

    The needs of each business owner/business may be different. Generally speaking, however, I think iAmNameLess summed that up well enough.
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  • Profile picture of the author sethczerepak
    The same thing everyone needs, more results in less time and with less effort
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    • Profile picture of the author Lena
      1. Website ( if they don't have one yet)
      2. Leads, Leads, Leads
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      • Profile picture of the author TimD
        I agree with the people that have said the benefits they want are more time, more ease, more money, or at least a bigger stream of leads that makes them think they will get those.

        As far as products go, we kid ourselves (and lie to each other) on this board when we talk about how HOT things are - video, SMS, QR codes, mobile sites. They are hot, hot, hot. Then you get a new WSO saying, hey, we know how hot these things are but they sure are tough to sell. Well, no more.. .and the cycle of hype starts again.

        According to Hubspot's latest survey, small businesses want to buy websites, email marketing, and seo (as much as it's maligned). That's your bread and butter. It's competitive because that's what they all want to buy.

        The Hubspot survey also shows that they want websites for three things:
        1. Establish market leadership
        2. Get more leads
        3. Get an updated look

        You can use those deisres to easily sell copywriting. I've sold custom copy with 90%+ of the websites I've ever sold.
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  • Profile picture of the author amanchadda123
    Thanks everyone for your opinions. I am still confused because as TIM said, there is not much that businesses want.
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    • Profile picture of the author vndnbrgj
      Originally Posted by amanchadda123 View Post

      Thanks everyone for your opinions. I am still confused because as TIM said, there is not much that businesses want.
      Kinda ironic when you think about the simplicity of it.... Isn't it?
      As Nathan has said, they want three things:
      1. Save time
      2. Increase profits
      3. Generate more customers
      Whatever solution(s) you propose, it has to help them with these three things.

      In order to do that, I propose you do two things to start.
      1. Focus on businesses already spending money on advertising. They get it. They are actively trying to generate more customers.
      2. Help them with what they are currently doing.
      If they have a website, do a video on how their website can bring in more customers. If they are doing print ads, show them how their ad can be more effective. Direct mail? Who are they targeting? Don't sell, consult. Help. Let them sell themselves.

      Start with one niche... Dentists, plumbers, lawyers, accoutants, etc. Whichever one you are most familiar with.

      That is my two cents.. Take it for what it's worth. Hope it helps.
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  • Profile picture of the author HAdrian1239
    Well, the way I see it, the things that businesses DO want, i.e. increased revenue, more customers, less headaches... are the most important things to ANY business... so provide systems to achieve those means, and you're golden. The point of this thread is that MOST business owners do not care about the technical terms or the dodads used to achieve those means.

    Those that DO care, are either control freaks not worth the time, OR, they really want to be educated, and are willing to pay a premium for your time.
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  • Profile picture of the author econnors
    Originally Posted by amanchadda123 View Post

    Hi warriors.
    First of all i want to say that i feel fortunate to be a part of this warrior community. I have learned so much.
    I wanted to ask about what services small businesses will redily agree to pay for. I was planning to give away a service or a package for free along with a website i design for them. So, what do you think will be beneficial for them. Facebook fanpage? Locally ranked video? Or anything else?
    Please reply warriors.
    There are three things that 100% of business owners will pay for:

    1. More time
    2. More money
    3. More freedom

    In developing your offering, you should consider things that fulfill that need.

    If more time is what they want, help them out with that. Usually VA-type services can fill this need, but other services can help them with time as well.

    If more money is what they need, a lead generation tool is important. They need to somehow get more clients. Center your services around solutions that will help them make more money.

    If more freedom is what they want, they need a solution to "untie" them from their business a bit. Most business owners are fully immersed in the day to day operations of their business. Because of this, they lose sight of the benefits of being in business for yourself - and one of the most important benefits is being able to call your own shots, travel when you want, take time off when you want, etc. If you're tied to your business, you will have a hard time making time for personal things - esp. during business hours.

    If you can tap into these needs, you will no doubt find business owners ready to buy from you - provided you make the necessary contacts and position your service accordingly.
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    • Profile picture of the author qu4rk
      Originally Posted by econnors View Post

      There are three things that 100% of business owners will pay for:

      1. More time
      2. More money
      3. More freedom
      To the OP. Study this closely. All the other answers elude to this. You provide all 3 of these, you have a customer for life. You provide 1 these, your in the top percentile.
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  • Profile picture of the author KingSolutions
    Q: What do small business need and will readily pay for?

    A: Bottom line, money, profits. Every business has the same goal, to make a profit. Show them how your service or product can help them increase their profits and you have a sale.
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  • Profile picture of the author mayankgangwal
    It depends on you. What you better can do for them, that will not cost you and will work for them as well
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  • Profile picture of the author sdentrepreneur
    Here is what I have seen that works the best for me the past 5 years.
    1. Lead Generation System
    2. Social Media Branding and building Following
    3. Reputation Management
    4. Local Geo Marketing - Google Maps and other directories
    5. First page ranking with through PPC or Organic
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    • Profile picture of the author sandalwood
      I fall into the qualified leads camp because I actually own a small business. The rent check went out on the 1st so I need to repalce those dollars.

      If you can put people willing and able to buy through the door, the business people believe they can sell them. That would be my first presentation. Show them how you can put more boots through the door.

      You should do well if you can accomplish that little chore.
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  • Profile picture of the author tycoonms
    there are somethings you can attach numbers to like restaurants missing out on 300 visitors searching for an italian restaurant every month in their city.

    whats easy to do is review management and reptation fixing, its easy to see the need with that because they get defensive about their rep
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    • Profile picture of the author The Offline Advisor
      There are two issues here:
      1. What do businesses want? ...and
      2. What should you give them for free?

      1. What do businesses want?
      There has been some great advice offered to you, here. In summary there are only TWO things: more customers and more sales. Whatever your expertise, it must be offered as a solution to one (preferably both) of these needs.

      2. What should you give them for free?
      ONLY enough to demonstrate your skill and show them how you can deliver the above. Ideally, you would sell them on your service by offering the first month free.

      When you set up a PayPal button for a subscription (you want them to pay every month, yes?) you can offer a trial period. So charge them $1 with the promise of a refund if they cancel after 30 days, or else $1 off their first month if they continue.

      There you have your free offer! But you also have a confirmed customer if you can deliver a quality service which gives them what they want (see no.1).

      Good Luck!
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  • Profile picture of the author Nick Lawless
    Hi,

    I totally agree with iAmNameLess!

    Take a look at how these small businesses are doing online. Then from there determine what they need.

    You have to show them which part of their campaign they lack the most and work your way from there. Make them feel the need to hire you for your services. Show them what you can do by creating a specific strategy for their business.

    The problem with small businesses is that sometimes they think they know what they're doing. For example, many small businesses engage with Social Media without having a good strategy for finding their target audience and engaging with them.

    Just my thoughts
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  • Profile picture of the author Rus Sells
    I think the first thing a small business needs and will willingly pay for is tracking their marketing. All their marketing!

    Many are paying huge sums for marketing and don't really have a way to track and analyze so they can find out how good or bad it really is.

    So right off the bat you can offer a way to "save money" and then "make money" with the same service.
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    • Profile picture of the author NewParadigm
      exactly. You can't improve what you don't measure first.

      Big mistakes in approaching businesses is trying to sell them something new, BEFORE, you get them to divorce themselves from their current situation. That is where measurement comes in. People naturally defend their own decisions(right or wrong), without some measurement, you will be arguing over subjective stuff.

      Measurement is hugely lacking in the sales process, but represents a huge opportunity in driving up closing %.

      Lead the customer to divorce their old ways before they marry your new ways.(and pay you a nice fee)




      Originally Posted by Rus Sells View Post

      I think the first thing a small business needs and will willingly pay for is tracking their marketing. All their marketing!

      Many are paying huge sums for marketing and don't really have a way to track and analyze so they can find out how good or bad it really is.

      So right off the bat you can offer a way to "save money" and then "make money" with the same service.
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      In a moment of decision the best thing you can do is the right thing. The worst thing you can do is nothing. ~ Theodore Roosevelt

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