The Helping Warrior

by 17 replies
20
Helping hand.

I've noticed something with 31 of my followers... They ask me this similar question.

They say, I know I have the skills to do what I say I can do and the businesses seem willing but I've lost more than a handful of clients because I didn't have a reference. It's hard to get clients when I don't already have them. How do we get clients to purchase our services if they want a reference? It's like having a Facebook fan page and no one wants to join your fan page without you already having members.

It's kind of a paradox, it's like you have to be successful already to become more successful. But that's what life is all about expanding and perpetuation. So, I have a question. I already have over 64 clients but the problem is people who have the skill and are ready to begin their online/offline venture run into a road block of approaching a client without already having clients.

It's like having all the skills or maybe even more skills then those who are certified and walking in a place of employment for a professional job. You're not going to get it without that certificate or degree. So I was thinking...

What are your thoughts on putting something together that will help those who are just getting started? Here's what I mean, a guideline test that a person goes through to pre qualify them for being as good or as knowledgeable as they say they are, we as a group qualify them (I'm a bit strict) and then they give their services away to one person in the group. No one is the best at everything, I'm good at marketing techniques and helping people figure out a creative way to handle their problems, rather it's life or marketing... We all have those specific skills, so we focus on what we are good at.

So if we as a group evaluate and then that person gives away his service for free (to one member) then we collectively can say that he's certified. This way we can vouch for them and they can put us down as a reference and this will be something that will help them tremendously when trying to get clients. Of course I've thought about this service as just a service to sell but I don't need the money. What I need or should I say, would like to see is more success everywhere, especially in my own neighborhood THE WARRIOR FORUM.

We all know the power of a relationship. We know that if we went to a client and they seen all the companies that we do business with then they will of course feel like you are already trusted (so that barrier is broken down). You can also do like I do and say I work with all these companies and if you'd like you can call them all.

As times goes on, one by one the Warriors will be replaces with actual customers as they get actual customers to who have their services.

What's everyone's take on this?

Thank you all for reading - Daniel Brown
#offline marketing #dannygnenerate #helping #warrior
  • Who certifies the people who are going to do the certifying?
    • [2] replies
    • I think it's a great idea, fair to both the public and the service provider. Buyers depend on testimonials before parting with their money online.

      I also don't know how you would determine qualifications and who would be doing it. Just adding my voice to a sound and practical approach to helping the newbie get established.

      I'd like to participate. I'll follow the thread and see where I can fit in.

      Mary
      • [1] reply
    • Great question, this will be something that the group will agree on. Every group like a building needs good foundation. So, it's like saying who qualifies the teachers who are qualified and are they qualified to qualify? It can go on forever but I think if we all worked together it'll be very clear to see who knows what when a certain topic shows up. I'd like to be a part of that cast that qualifies. We could set parameters and keep moving forward.
  • I wish in the real world things were as simple as you make it sound but in a competitive market it's always nice to have an edge. Can you imagine walking up to your followers and say... You have to get results and let that be that. It wouldn't go well. See, some people need that little extra nudge of help.

    The last part that you said is a great ideal, like I said above in comment I'm all about the inclusion of ideas. "Find 3-5 businesses they can help out, get their permission, and as payment, they can give a reference to vouch for them". Superb thought you have there...

    I'll say this, the best part about all these ideas is that some things work better for some than others, so options are great.

    Thank you for the response.
    • [1] reply
  • I read the OP and skimmed the thread so please forgive me if you have already mentioned something similar to what I am about to say.

    I would like to tell a short personal story that I believe will get my point across better than just words.
    I got my first job at 19. I never worked before that, no paper route or etc even. Let me tell you a few things about my first job.
    1. $1.50 over minimum wage.
    2. Set schedule with Fri and Sat off in retail.
    3. 40hrs per week (32 some weeks in Jan or Feb and a bit over around Christmas but the rest of the year I was scheduled for 40)

    I know people who have worked in retail for years that don't have that. Yet I got it with my first job. Why? Because I believed in myself.

    Now about 2 years later I decided it was time to move on. I needed a better job. You know what my second job was? It was an Assistant Manager for a small retail store. So I got my first management job as my second job.

    1. I had no management experience. I wasn't a manager at my first job.
    2. I was raised to Store Manager in 3 months
    3. I was put over 3 store a month later acting as an Area Manager. That's right low level multi-unit retail management for a guy who didn't have management experience.

    What did I have? Skills, knowledge, and the ability to back them up. I took my experience at my first job and made a killer retail resume. I took my retail knowledge, skills, and belief in myself and sold myself in the interviews.

    So what was the point of telling you about my first two jobs? To illustrate a secret that so few know. If you sell yourself your past and therefore references don't matter.

    If you become "their expert" why would they stop and ask for references? The reason they are asking for references is because they don't believe you are an expert. You haven't shown them the value of what you can do for them.

    Getting a client is many ways is like getting a job. If you can sell yourself in an interview you can sell yourself in a sales pitch.

    No one cares about certifications. People always tell me how you need a college degree to get a good job. That's BS and I make more than most people with college degrees. What people need is drive combined with skills and knowledge. And then they must learn how to sell. Not only their product or service but themselves and their company.

    So if to help those 31 followers you need to help them learn how to sell. Because right now their failure is not one of skill in production (making websites) it is a failure in the skill of selling. Some of them may learn they don't have the sales skills to do this. In which case they would be best serviced by doing one of the following.

    1. Get a job. Trust me these can pay well and you get training that can help you become so much more.
    2. Start outsourcing to people who can sell. Someone who can sell is better off selling vs. producing that which he sold and vice versa.
    3. Hire someone to sell. If you are building a business and not a job sooner or later you will need to hire people so why not do it right away but with independent contractors for selling?

    Sometimes people need tough love. Sadly they pay for the opposite and get mentors that coddle them vs. give them the true keys to success. Anyone who continues to do the same thing over and over again and expects the results to change is a fool. They are not a failure. No they are quite successful. They have learned to be very successful at talking to prospects and not closing them in this case. The problem is a smart person doesn't want to be successful at talking to prospects but not closing them.

    A successful fool is not a failure. Failure is an event and not a person (Ziglar). And those who fail the most are often those who we as a society see as successful. The key is they learn from their failures. And they never let themselves become a success at being mediocre.
    • [2] replies
    • First thing, thank you for sharing your story it's very inspiring.

      Ok, I'm going to respond to this the same way that I do in my membership area. It's a neutral response from experience.

      Sometimes in order to sell yourself you need an opportunity to present that value that embodies who you are and your skill set. I noticed that you had that opportunity so it was easy to move with that momentum. I'm about the inclusion of ideas but from the perspective of the world it seems that some type of verification is required. I use my imagination and put myself in that business owners shoes and yes I'd need verification, just the same way if you were to ask a professional to do something for you they'd need to be known or verified in your mind that they are who they say they are with those skill sets.

      To become someone's expert you need to have the opportunity to present. If it's your 98th client and you're successful you wouldn't need to say as much. Which one would you buy from "burger place" or "Mc Donalds"?

      To say no one cares about certifications is to say we can get rid of schools and label people certified just because the presumably have the skills. Pre qualification is a good thing.

      Not everyone needs a college degree you're right but it just depends on their life and their personal circumstances. There are so many contrasting ideas and situations that every point is valid but from different perspectives.

      What you're presenting has no relevance to what I'm presenting although they are in the same spectrum. Drive alone doesn't get you anywhere nor does knowledge. I know people who have insane amounts of drive and immense knowledge but they aren't successful by their own standards.

      I understand what angle you're approaching this though and if you look at my earlier posts you'll see I have full understanding of what you're talking about and yes you're right I agree with you.

      1. Getting a job isn't an option for some people, definitely not for me a person who has so much success. Also not for those who have tasted success that has not yet made it by their own standards. To me a job is as good as any other way to make money, it all depends on how a person personally feels about it. Not really relevant to the topic though

      2. Outsourcing... Not relevant to the topic

      3. Hire someone to sell falls under outsourcing... Not relevant to the topic.

      Who's the person that decides what tough love is? Is that not defined by the person receiving the tough love?

      I would like to point out that your work ethic and how many hours you work isn't really relevant to how the world looks at you. Everyone has different perspectives and parameters for what a good worker is or... what a skilled worker is. This topic is about helping... Trust me I know all about Mr Zig, Tony Robbins, Les Brown and many others and I know we create our own realities by what we believe in. I'm living proof but this thread was created for the purpose of an idea but I do value and that you for your positive response.

      Daniel
    • In my last few years selling online services offline, I have been asked for examples of my work a few times. They never became clients. I've never had a client ask me to prove myself. I've never been asked about my education. But if I looked like I was 18, I can understand the concern.

      If I was applying for a job with a large company, maybe (I've never done that).

      But asking to see references is a "I can't think of another reason to not buy" kind of thing. This is just my personal experience. All of us are different, I suppose.

      When I started, I had one client I worked for for free as an example of my work. And I would show what I did for his business. One success story is enough to show you can achieve what the client wants. Again, this is just my experience.
  • Become a certified Google Adwords Expert or a Google Trusted Photographer for instant credibility.

    Cheers,
    Steve
    • [ 2 ] Thanks
  • I can only offer you my experience here- Tell them you are just starting out...be honest, and you will come across with more conviction. Tell them you can offer them a good deal only because you ARE just starting your business, need a handful of initial clients in order to showcase your ability to the rest of the community. Tell them that you are hoping that a reference is what they will BECOME once you do a great job for them. In exchange you will grandfather them in at a special price. Tell them that you would appreciate the opportunity to do business with them, and that you would be obliged for them to take a leap of faith with you. Say that to enough people and someone will say yes, and you will have a reference. This is not what I would do, but rather what I have DONE, and it worked well.

    Also you can create associations with google and other known companies through various affiliations and partnerships that will increase your credibility to help boost that image a bit initially, as stated by Steveski.
    • [1] reply
    • I agree with John. I am a former offline business owner, (a bakery) and I appreciated when someone would tell me the truth. And honestly, if they delivered on their promise, I got a great deal because they charged less because they had less experience, but I usually got the same or better results because they were hungry and wanted to overdeliver.

      As long as you can deliver, don't be afraid of lack of experience. Keep trying, and you'll find business owners like me who will give you a chance.

      Lee Ann
      • [ 1 ] Thanks
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