7 {{ upvoteCount | shortNum }}
7 {{ upvoteCount | shortNum }}

Things I have learned from Mapping out local businesses and follow up advice needed please!

by boatree
5 replies
Hi Guys,

I spent a few hours last night building my spreadsheet and mapping out the accountants in my local area.

I came across quite a few poorly designed and old looking websites which lacked many common features of businesses with the modern websites.

I took notes on the good features of the better looking websites, to compile a list of things to talk about (to the owners of the crappier looking websites) so I can start immediately adding value and building credibility when communicating with them.

I will be cold calling and running a very tailored email marketing campaign initially.

Some of the things I will be speaking to the owners of the crappy websites will be points like:

1. Having No form of email capture
2. No Video introduction of the business
3. No form of social marketing
4. Old and outdated graphics
5. No "make an appointment" now link
6. No testimonials page
7. No Basic on page SEO (no keywords)
8. No mobile site

I will of course be explaining why it is beneficial to have all of the above.

PS. All of these guys have a basic Google +/places account setup.


What I have gathered so far is that a lot of these people have spent somewhere in the vicinity of $500-800 for their websites...

I have found this out by using the footer and following the "website designed by company X website and design" and looking at their prices.


Can you guys offer your advice on the following please:


1. When focusing on local businesses, is this model generally volume based where you are trying to close as many $800 websites as possible? I am really wanting to aim for the $2,000 - $3,000 per website market and a client per week minimum once I am up and running. Any advice on industries to target in this case?


2. Can you advise on what "packages" you guys have most consistently sold to these types of local businesses for MAXIMUM profit?

Some of the potential packages I have thought of are:

- Building a squeeze page to capture all emails

- A complete website redesign with ALL of the above changes incorporated at a set price (including the basic on page SEO)

- Up selling the client on a monthly fee that will incorporate all of the hosting and email marketing services with an industry/trend related press release & article per month.

- Monthly Off page SEO services


3. Is there a way I can track the ROI for them? I really want to try and focus on being able to help my clients make more money and am struggling to figure out ways to "prove" this to them with their bottom lines.


I appreciate I am asking for a lot of information, thanks in advanced and I hope many others can benefit from this thread.
#advice #businesses #follow #learned #local #mapping #needed #things
  • Profile picture of the author stone2010
    When it comes down to it pretty much is what the business needs and can use. If you are selling a website you might want to offer them a Mobile Site. Businesses such as Restaurants can definitely use a Mobile Site so you can bundle a regular website and a mobile site. If they need G+ work of course offer it, If they aren't ranking well in the Serps offer them SEO. You need to analyze every business on what they need and what can help them bring more clients. Remember at the end of the day we are marketing consultants more than just sales people.
    Signature

    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[7618958].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author boatree
    bump - any thoughts on the above?
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[7623897].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author internetmarketer1
    I highly recommend mobile sites as well. I have sold tons of them over the past year. It is all about how you promote the benefits of them.

    Yes, we are all just consultants trying to help business owners. The last thing you want to do is always be too salesy to business owners. Good luck!
    Signature
    Tired of Google?! Exhausted from all the rehashed trash?!
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[7625034].message }}
    • Profile picture of the author DABK
      A lot of them don't have the fine features you mention because they don't understand their usefulness. A lot of them don't want to understand.

      Spoke yesterday with a business owner who swears advertising doesn't work. Not, my way of doing it doesn't work, mind you, but 'advertising doesn't work.'

      He says he's spent tons of money on advertising and he only broke even... Which is not true, by the way... According to him, 6 out of every 10 new clients refer someone to him who buys and 2 out every 10 comes back. This is a mortgage business, makes $5k on average per mortgage.

      The point, don't decide what to offer them, ask them. I know quite a few of accountants who have lousy websites... I've known some of them for over 2 years. They don't want a better website... Their set up is so bad, a website that sent them leads would just overwhelm them.

      Make a little survey, send it to a handful, till you have a dozen or so responses, and you'll have a better idea.

      If that's too much for you at this point, I have the easiest time selling mobile sites and the hardest time selling SEO.
      {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[7625120].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author bizgrower
    Originally Posted by boatree View Post

    Hi Guys,

    I spent a few hours last night building my spreadsheet and mapping out the accountants in my local area.

    I came across quite a few poorly designed and old looking websites which lacked many common features of businesses with the modern websites.

    I took notes on the good features of the better looking websites, to compile a list of things to talk about (to the owners of the crappier looking websites) so I can start immediately adding value and building credibility when communicating with them.

    I will be cold calling and running a very tailored email marketing campaign initially.

    Some of the things I will be speaking to the owners of the crappy websites will be points like:

    1. Having No form of email capture
    2. No Video introduction of the business
    3. No form of social marketing
    4. Old and outdated graphics
    5. No "make an appointment" now link
    6. No testimonials page
    7. No Basic on page SEO (no keywords)
    8. No mobile site

    I will of course be explaining why it is beneficial to have all of the above.

    PS. All of these guys have a basic Google +/places account setup.


    What I have gathered so far is that a lot of these people have spent somewhere in the vicinity of $500-800 for their websites...

    I have found this out by using the footer and following the "website designed by company X website and design" and looking at their prices.


    Can you guys offer your advice on the following please:


    1. When focusing on local businesses, is this model generally volume based where you are trying to close as many $800 websites as possible? I am really wanting to aim for the $2,000 - $3,000 per website market and a client per week minimum once I am up and running. Any advice on industries to target in this case?


    2. Can you advise on what "packages" you guys have most consistently sold to these types of local businesses for MAXIMUM profit?

    Some of the potential packages I have thought of are:

    - Building a squeeze page to capture all emails

    - A complete website redesign with ALL of the above changes incorporated at a set price (including the basic on page SEO)

    - Up selling the client on a monthly fee that will incorporate all of the hosting and email marketing services with an industry/trend related press release & article per month.

    - Monthly Off page SEO services


    3. Is there a way I can track the ROI for them? I really want to try and focus on being able to help my clients make more money and am struggling to figure out ways to "prove" this to them with their bottom lines.


    I appreciate I am asking for a lot of information, thanks in advanced and I hope many others can benefit from this thread.

    Sell solutions, and sometimes packages. What can I do for you? What marketing areas /goals need improvement? Get their take on things. Sometimes you get the whole enchilada, sometimes you get in with one service and more - or referral business - after you prove yourself and do what that client needed.

    If they let you have financial data or work with your reporting from say Google Analytics, then you can help them track ROI.

    You seem systematic and I'mm sure will do well.

    Dan
    Signature

    "If you think you're the smartest person in the room, then you're probably in the wrong room."

    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[7625133].message }}

Trending Topics