Just sold my first website!

26 replies
After putting in months and months into my offline business, I just recently got asked to build a website for a insurance company out of Texas. The thing is, I have only built a couple of websites and I do not claim to be an expert. Regardless, looking forward to the challenge!

#sold #website
  • Profile picture of the author Aaron Doud
    What were you doing for "months and months"?
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    • Profile picture of the author BIG DEALS
      I have a 9-5, but run a direct mail business.
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      www.504best.com
      New Orleans' Best: Restaurants, Bars, Shopping, Coupons & More!
      Custom Made Mobile Directories - Make Money while helping local businesses succeed!
      Visit www.504best.com on your phone for an example. PM for questions and pricing.
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  • Profile picture of the author PerformanceMan
    Congratulations! You should be very proud
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  • Profile picture of the author Aaron Doud
    Have the direct mail clients been open to internet marketing services?
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  • Profile picture of the author Brian Crass
    Congrats on your sale!
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    • Profile picture of the author Charles Huber
      Great job my friend. Happy to see your success.

      CH
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  • Profile picture of the author kasei
    Congratulations on selling your first site.
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  • Profile picture of the author e30drifter
    congrats hard work paid off...insurance company...i hope you are charging enough
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    • Profile picture of the author justmerob
      Congrats to you! You never forget your first
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      "There are no magic wands, no hidden tricks, and no secret handshakes that can bring you immediate success, but with time, energy, and determination you can get there."
      -- Darren Rowse, Founder - Problogger
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  • Profile picture of the author ichthyander
    congrats dude
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    Need some fun? visit http://smilegag.com

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  • Profile picture of the author RedShifted
    Nice going! Here is a tip. Bust your ass on that website. Go above and beyond the call of duty. Even if it means doing a bit more work than you should.

    I don't recommend that as a long term business model. But in the begining it WILL help you get referals. The first 3 websites I made I went crazy making them look great. Then naturally when those business owners showed off their new sites to business friends, those business friends wanted to know who designed the site.

    It makes for great "financial kharma". Not to mention when you push yourself, you tend to learn faster, and finish sites faster too.
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    • Profile picture of the author DWolfe
      Nice Job RedShifted also gave you a great key to get started. If you can not handle some of the finer details on the web site you can out source some of it. Did you get this sale from Direct Marketing or calling ? Good luck this can the ball rolling and you can than say good by 9-5 job.
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    • Profile picture of the author Baadier Sydow
      Originally Posted by RedShifted View Post

      Nice going! Here is a tip. Bust your ass on that website. Go above and beyond the call of duty. Even if it means doing a bit more work than you should.

      I don't recommend that as a long term business model. But in the begining it WILL help you get referals. The first 3 websites I made I went crazy making them look great. Then naturally when those business owners showed off their new sites to business friends, those business friends wanted to know who designed the site.

      It makes for great "financial kharma". Not to mention when you push yourself, you tend to learn faster, and finish sites faster too.
      I've been doing the exact same thing even when quoting for starter packages. Building up a solid base is important early on even if you do some work pro bono. Just make sure you target the right types of guys to work with for free.

      As a bonus tip, check out Linkedin profiles for guys with a decent amount of connections that are the type of people that you want to work with. Then do some pro bono and get a Linkedin recommendation done.

      Their is no automatic way to do this so you'll have to spend some time checking things out manually.
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  • Profile picture of the author blazonbazaar
    Congrats for first sale! :-)
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  • Profile picture of the author George Pitts
    Good job on congrats on your first sale. It really gets your blood flowing for another really quick and it makes the next sales call easier.
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    Don't just follow the Pack...Lead the Pack

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  • Profile picture of the author adouza
    Congratz!! You also mentioned you run direct mail business, what kinda mail business you run? Is it email marketing?
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  • Profile picture of the author cnwoods303
    Congrats, Did you do some free/very cheap websites first for your portfolio before you first sale? keep up the good work.
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    • Profile picture of the author BIG DEALS
      Thank you for all of the encouragement! It feels really nice to read all of the kind words. As for how I got the deal, I did a few freebies and the insurance company got down to myself and one other company.

      For my direct mail project, I am in the process of locking down approximately 12 clients each for a 3-month run. The direct mail is B2C and is themed around one common theme that the homeowners need.
      Signature
      www.504best.com
      New Orleans' Best: Restaurants, Bars, Shopping, Coupons & More!
      Custom Made Mobile Directories - Make Money while helping local businesses succeed!
      Visit www.504best.com on your phone for an example. PM for questions and pricing.
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  • Profile picture of the author danilion55
    Congrats for your first step to online mm world
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    • Profile picture of the author bhmseoservices
      Congratulations! I hope your not getting in over your head.
      Companies like that often want custom fields that eventually become complex to code.

      I hope your building it from a template structure so it'll save you half the time.
      And if you need help you can always turn here
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  • Profile picture of the author cnwoods303
    Are you printing your direct mailers or are you outsourcing the whole thing.
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    • Profile picture of the author BIG DEALS
      Originally Posted by cnwoods303 View Post

      Are you printing your direct mailers or are you outsourcing the whole thing.
      Well if you consider hiring a printer to actually print the mailers, then yes I am outsourcing. Direct Mail can bring in great money if done right.
      Signature
      www.504best.com
      New Orleans' Best: Restaurants, Bars, Shopping, Coupons & More!
      Custom Made Mobile Directories - Make Money while helping local businesses succeed!
      Visit www.504best.com on your phone for an example. PM for questions and pricing.
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      • Profile picture of the author cnwoods303
        Thats interesting, wouldnt think there would be enough profit in the deal by the time you had them printed and mailed. I wouldnt think there would be enough profit built into the price to keep you competitve and still make enough money for it to be worth your time and to keep them from going directly to the source and cutting out the middle man. Oh, well shows what I know about the DM world. I suppose you create the copywrite and design. I would like to learm more about DM. Keep up the good work.

        Originally Posted by BIG DEALS View Post

        Well if you consider hiring a printer to actually print the mailers, then yes I am outsourcing. Direct Mail can bring in great money if done right.
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  • Profile picture of the author IonaRussak2512
    Congrats, nice going
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    • Profile picture of the author bookworm techie
      Good one..congrats! hope you will be making more sales
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