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Successful Outsourced Offline Business

by MoneyMindset
10 replies
Here is a little info about my offline business. I have experience working with a company that had over 500 clients and was a "corporate machine." When I started my own offline business I knew I DID NOT want a business like that.

I won't go into how I did my client acquisition, but will instead pick the story up where I am now. I have multiple clients mainly focused in one niche. I have clients located across the US. I basically offer my clients a full suite of internet marketing services.
  • SEO
  • PPC
  • Website Design / Webmaster Services
  • Mobile Marketing
  • Social Media Marketing
  • Reputation Management
  • Email Marketing

My main goal is to get a client into a monthly SEO and/or PPC package, with the other services being done for a one-time fee. Here is where my business differs. I LIMIT THE NUMBER OF CLIENTS I WORK WITH.

Right now I have 9 clients that pay me a monthly retainer for SEO and/or PPC. I like to keep my monthly contracts between 7-15 clients. I could expand to more clients but I have found this to be my sweet spot. I have low client turnover (I work with 3 or 6 month contracts) the only reason I have such few clients is because I've recently "fired" clients.

The reason I limit the number of clients is because it is only me doing the work. I work with a company based in India that does all of the SEO and PPC services. I have bi-weekly meetings to check that status of campaigns and assure the work is being completed. I basically outsource all of the major work. Client management is where the bulk of my time is spent. It is important for me to continuously cultivate relationships with my clients via:
  • EDUCATION
  • Updates on Campaign Performance
  • Monthly Reporting
  • Monthly One on One Meetings (Telecommute)
  • Make sure the world doesn't end when a link is down

So why don't I expand? Well I don't have a team based in the US, and as of now I don't want one. I let my one off services generate me new monthly clients when I'm ready to take on new clients. I will "follow up" with a company that was satisfied with one of my other services to gage their interest in a monthly SEO and/or PPC campaign.

It doesn't seem like much but the system has worked well for me. My goal is not to make millions with my offline business. Instead build a reliable source of income based around doing something I enjoy. If you are in the offline niche then this system is very realistic. I spend an average of 5 hours / day working on my offline business.

There is no "4 Hour Work Week" but you can have a successful business with outsourcing.

Cameron.
#business #offline #outsourced #successful
  • Profile picture of the author Sys4
    Originally Posted by MoneyMindset View Post


    Right now I have 9 clients that pay me a monthly retainer for SEO and/or PPC. I like to keep my monthly contracts between 7-15 clients.

    Cameron.
    What does your monthly retainer average? Would you be willing to disclose your pricing model?
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    SYS4 - White Label Web Design
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    • Profile picture of the author MoneyMindset
      Originally Posted by Sys4 View Post

      What does your monthly retainer average? Would you be willing to disclose your pricing model?
      I charge a setup fee for set up (on site optimization). Plus I offer two packages standard and premium. The only difference between the packages is the amount of links and quality of links.

      Setup: $297 minimum
      Standard: $800-$1000
      Premium: $1,200 - $1,400


      For PPC I charge on hour plus commission on converted leads

      1-5 hrs: $60 Total
      5-10 hrs: $100 Total
      15 hrs: $140 Total

      $30 - $50 per lead

      This is just high level overview. Please note that each account is much more detailed and it is somewhat difficult to compile it into general terms.
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  • Profile picture of the author Barbara Gathany
    Hi! Thanks for the great information. Would you be willing to disclose the company from India that you are working with? Or if not, any ideas for finding an outsourcer? Thank you.
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    • Profile picture of the author MoneyMindset
      Originally Posted by Barbara Gathany View Post

      Hi! Thanks for the great information. Would you be willing to disclose the company from India that you are working with? Or if not, any ideas for finding an outsourcer? Thank you.
      The company I use to outsource is a larger company that has over 75 employees and 3 subsidiaries. They mostly work with larger companies (contracts that have 50 plus accounts) so this company isn't a good example for most. I have a relationship with the owner because I was an account manager for him in the past. (I pretty much handled client relations with his larger clients that needed access / assistances during normal business hours.)

      I unfortunately do not know much else about other outsourcing companies. I don't want to blow any smoke. I know that there plenty to choose from (some much more expensive than others) and even some Warriors that offer white label SEO and PPC solutions.

      I would caution you with outsourcing especially when dealing with companies in different countries. The time difference is a real burden, you have to thoroughly check all work completed and you must constantly demand work is completed to the highest level. MOST OF ALL YOU HAVE TO ENSURE WORK IS DONE ON TIME.

      Outsourcing is not as simple as some may lead you to believe. Sure small things like working with fiverr can be done relatively easily. But I have learned when your business depends on work being done by others it is a drastically different.
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      • Profile picture of the author John Jonas Phil VA
        Originally Posted by MoneyMindset View Post

        The company I use to outsource is a larger company that has over 75 employees and 3 subsidiaries. They mostly work with larger companies (contracts that have 50 plus accounts) so this company isn't a good example for most. I have a relationship with the owner because I was an account manager for him in the past. (I pretty much handled client relations with his larger clients that needed access / assistances during normal business hours.)
        I think one way a smaller business could get around that is to basically build their own outsourced team. It's a long process but once you have a team of VAs that are loyal and you can trust, it would be a lot like having your own company.
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        Hire a Filipino virtual assistant and make your business better through outsourcing.
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    • Profile picture of the author kellyyarnsbro
      Originally Posted by Barbara Gathany View Post

      Hi! Thanks for the great information. Would you be willing to disclose the company from India that you are working with? Or if not, any ideas for finding an outsourcer? Thank you.
      I would suggest you have it outsourced in the Philippines, specifically in Cebu. Have a great team there and this fellas have great work ethics.
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  • Profile picture of the author mike44nyc
    hi MoneyMindset! im still looking for good contract-service agreement for mobile website service, do dou know any good contracts, thanx
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    • Profile picture of the author sebski22
      Great post buddy. You are living my dream. I am definately of the opinion that quality clients are better than quantity.

      Your upsell into monthly SEO is exactly what I am aiming to perfect.

      Would you be kind enough to share any "customer getting" strategies that would work in the UK. I have sorted the outsourcing of the end product but would love to streamline acquisition process so I can simply manage my customer database.

      Appreciate any input, feel free to PM me if you have anything to share.

      Congrats on your success.
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  • Profile picture of the author vndnbrgj
    Hey good for you.
    Honestly, I feel the same way. I have a small number of clients and like it that way.
    More clients wouldn't be much more anyway, since I would have to take on more staff, larger office, and all the other expenses that go along with it.
    I also like to build my own businesses. I love start-ups.
    So, I would rather have a few clients, so I can focus on launching new start-ups.
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    Life Begins At The End Of Your Comfort Zone
    - Neale Donald Wilson -
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  • Profile picture of the author Kevinhoss
    There are several outsourcing companies in Asia. I prefer to hire Filipinos - lower labor costs and they do very well work-wise.
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