16 {{ upvoteCount | shortNum }}
16 {{ upvoteCount | shortNum }}

Online Prescence Management for local businesses - need help!

by UK Wealth Wr
13 replies
Hi Warriors, I hope I'm finding you all well. I'm new here and need some advice.

I want to start doing online prescence management for local businesses.

I will go to local businesses and offer my services in the form of an "online and social media package", i.e. Facebook page, listing on Google maps, register on Foursquare add to Hostel World/Trip Advisor...for round £50.

Now for the questions:-

1) I want to contact local businesses, shops etc, in person not over the phone or via email. Can anyone suggest a simple script I can say in every shop/business to see if they're interested in the service? I was thinking of something along these lines, how does this sound?....

"Hi, very quickly, does your business have any online prescence? Do you have a Facebook page? Are you listed on Google maps, local, yepl etc? (Hopefully they say they aren't). I'm offering a service to local businesses where I will give you an online prescence. I will list you on Facebook, Google, Yelp, etc. Doing this will give you an online presence so people can find you online, so you can get more customers. I'm offerering this for just £50, and I can have you set up within 3 to 5 days. Are you interested?"

2) I said I would make a Facebook page, listing on Google maps, register on Foursquare add to Hostel World/Trip Advisor. Is there anywhere else I should list them? Perhaps I should add them on Google Local, Yelp.com, yellow pages, EZLocal, etc? Can you tell me the best places to list them to get them a decent online prescence? Please bear in mind I'm in the UK, so where I list them has to be relevant to the UK.

3) Is my pricing ok, or should I charge more or less?

4) Do I get payment upfront, and if so by which method is best and would I need to provide them a receipt there and then? What if a client is not willing to pay upfront?

5) Should I try upselling them a website in addition to this? What other services could I potentially upsell them?

6) Do I need to take pictures/record a video of their business before I list them online?

7) Although I say I can get them listed within 3 to 5 days, how long would it take for Google to list them so people can find them by searching? I assume this would take weeks or months as it takes a while for search engines to list links I guess?

Thanks in advance for your help, and if there's any other advice you think would be useful just let me know.
#businesses #local #management #online #prescence
  • Profile picture of the author RKCastillo
    Your price is fine but your script won't convert really well.

    If you think about it, a business owner doesn't start his day thinking "I need more online presence"

    We know they need it because we live in this world.

    A business owner wonders..."how am I going to make payroll. How can I get a couple more customers this week?"

    Knowing that, you'd convert much higher if you answered that question with your script.

    If you click the link in my signature I offer a training where I talk about the script I tested a tweaked for months to get started getting leads.

    So...your cold calling script, or your direct mail, or whatever you're using the get leads has only 1 job, to get people to raise their hand and say they're interested in what you say.

    Then you have to work on qualifying them to make sure they'd be a worthy client to work with.

    Then you have to offer them a "Mafia Offer" an offer that's hard to refuse.

    Your 50 offer is a great mafia offer but you have to do the work before that offer to build the value of what you are offering and showing the business owner how this is going to help them "get a couple more customers this week"
    Signature
    “Free Video Reveals: The 7 Step System I Used to Create An Email That Closed An Offline Business Owner Without Ever Talking on the Phone”
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[8910879].message }}
    • Profile picture of the author IMBlest
      Originally Posted by RKCastillo View Post

      Your price is fine but your script won't convert really well.

      If you think about it, a business owner doesn't start his day thinking "I need more online presence"

      We know they need it because we live in this world.

      A business owner wonders..."how am I going to make payroll. How can I get a couple more customers this week?"

      Knowing that, you'd convert much higher if you answered that question with your script.

      If you click the link in my signature I offer a training where I talk about the script I tested a tweaked for months to get started getting leads.

      So...your cold calling script, or your direct mail, or whatever you're using the get leads has only 1 job, to get people to raise their hand and say they're interested in what you say.

      Then you have to work on qualifying them to make sure they'd be a worthy client to work with.

      Then you have to offer them a "Mafia Offer" an offer that's hard to refuse.

      Your 50 offer is a great mafia offer but you have to do the work before that offer to build the value of what you are offering and showing the business owner how this is going to help them "get a couple more customers this week"
      Great post!

      But where is the link to your signature that you were talking about?

      I looked on your profile page but I didn't see a link to your signature.
      {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[8911721].message }}
    • Profile picture of the author UK Wealth Wr
      Originally Posted by RKCastillo View Post

      Your price is fine but your script won't convert really well.

      If you think about it, a business owner doesn't start his day thinking "I need more online presence"

      We know they need it because we live in this world.

      A business owner wonders..."how am I going to make payroll. How can I get a couple more customers this week?"

      Knowing that, you'd convert much higher if you answered that question with your script.

      If you click the link in my signature I offer a training where I talk about the script I tested a tweaked for months to get started getting leads.

      So...your cold calling script, or your direct mail, or whatever you're using the get leads has only 1 job, to get people to raise their hand and say they're interested in what you say.

      Then you have to work on qualifying them to make sure they'd be a worthy client to work with.

      Then you have to offer them a "Mafia Offer" an offer that's hard to refuse.

      Your 50 offer is a great mafia offer but you have to do the work before that offer to build the value of what you are offering and showing the business owner how this is going to help them "get a couple more customers this week"
      Thanks for the reply, I'll have a look at your link shortly.

      So in other words I need to explain to the customer that online prescence = more customer for them = more profit for them?

      I am going to walk around local shops and businesses today to try and get some sales, or at least conquer my fears of face to face selling.

      I'll keep you updated.
      {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[8912662].message }}
    • Profile picture of the author UK Wealth Wr
      Originally Posted by RKCastillo View Post

      If you click the link in my signature I offer a training where I talk about the script I tested a tweaked for months to get started getting leads.
      Thanks for the link, but in my opinion you ramble on too much at the beginning. I think it would be better if you got straight to the point in your video. Also, you could make a text/pdf version that people can download to quickly scan.

      I'll try and listen to the whole video now, though, as it sounds like it could have some useful information for me.

      Edit: Ok I watched the video, I should've guessed there would be an upsell and just a ploy to sell me something. To be blunt, I don't want to buy any 'magic software' or market by email; I just wanted honest replies to my post about how to sell my service in person to local businesses. Does the Lead Maximiser Pro software work for UK businesses, or is it just for USA based businesses?
      {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[8912691].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author bizgrower
    Keep reading related threads in this forum.
    Keep going after clients, you can never have enough qualified prospects-especially
    at first.

    Does not really matter what service you offer, you are selling the business transformation, ie. more sales. What's in it for them.

    Pricing - figure reasonable earnings for you plus taxes and expenses and
    time to next paying client.

    Dan
    Signature

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

    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[8912875].message }}
    • Profile picture of the author UK Wealth Wr
      Originally Posted by bizgrower View Post

      Keep reading related threads in this forum.
      Keep going after clients, you can never have enough qualified prospects-especially
      at first.

      Does not really matter what service you offer, you are selling the business transformation, ie. more sales. What's in it for them.

      Pricing - figure reasonable earnings for you plus taxes and expenses and
      time to next paying client.

      Dan
      Ok thanks, good advice.

      I need some advice, I still can't seem to get over the thought that I'm 'pestering' the local businesses or 'trying to sell them something they don't want' or that I'm somhow 'being a nuiscence to them' or 'taking up their time during their busy day'. I need to kill this fear and be able walk in and not worry about 'no's'. I can't help thinking I'm just some guy who walked in from the street and is trying to sell them something, and that they're wanting to get rid of me as quickly as possible.

      I will only ever become wealthy if I abandon the fear of failure and increase my confidence in talking to business owners face to face. Any motivational thoughts for me?
      {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[8913203].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author bizgrower
    Keep talking to people and believe that you are offering something of value to them.
    You are offering them more time, perhaps, and whatever they want to do with more revenue - find out what those things mean to them.
    Signature

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

    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[8913303].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author digichik
    Originally Posted by UK Wealth Wr View Post

    Hi Warriors, I hope I'm finding you all well. I'm new here and need some advice.

    I want to start doing online prescence management for local businesses.

    I will go to local businesses and offer my services in the form of an "online and social media package", i.e. Facebook page, listing on Google maps, register on Foursquare add to Hostel World/Trip Advisor...for round £50.

    Now for the questions:-

    1) I want to contact local businesses, shops etc, in person not over the phone or via email. Can anyone suggest a simple script I can say in every shop/business to see if they're interested in the service? I was thinking of something along these lines, how does this sound?....

    "Hi, very quickly, does your business have any online prescence? Do you have a Facebook page? Are you listed on Google maps, local, yepl etc? (Hopefully they say they aren't). I'm offering a service to local businesses where I will give you an online prescence. I will list you on Facebook, Google, Yelp, etc. Doing this will give you an online presence so people can find you online, so you can get more customers. I'm offerering this for just £50, and I can have you set up within 3 to 5 days. Are you interested?"

    2) I said I would make a Facebook page, listing on Google maps, register on Foursquare add to Hostel World/Trip Advisor. Is there anywhere else I should list them? Perhaps I should add them on Google Local, Yelp.com, yellow pages, EZLocal, etc? Can you tell me the best places to list them to get them a decent online prescence? Please bear in mind I'm in the UK, so where I list them has to be relevant to the UK.

    3) Is my pricing ok, or should I charge more or less?

    4) Do I get payment upfront, and if so by which method is best and would I need to provide them a receipt there and then? What if a client is not willing to pay upfront?

    5) Should I try upselling them a website in addition to this? What other services could I potentially upsell them?

    6) Do I need to take pictures/record a video of their business before I list them online?

    7) Although I say I can get them listed within 3 to 5 days, how long would it take for Google to list them so people can find them by searching? I assume this would take weeks or months as it takes a while for search engines to list links I guess?

    Thanks in advance for your help, and if there's any other advice you think would be useful just let me know.
    Your price is way too low, for the value you are offering and the work you will be doing for them, even if you are outsourcing it. Sit down and really figure out how much time it will take you to actually put together the whole package for just one client. You will see that you will end up doing the work for about $1-$2 dollars per hour(just convert to pounds, it the same pitiful pay). Don't under value your services or yourself.

    For me, the lower the price, the more difficult the sale. When I keep my price high and show value, the easier the sale. Most business owners have no problem buying Value(new customers, revenue).

    Also, always get payment upfront. In some cases, you may have to get 50% upfront and 50% on completion, until you have some client references. Once you have references, always ask for the whole payment upfront. You'll get it most of the time. Some clients will want to make split payments, that's up to you whether you want to take them.
    Signature



    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[8915695].message }}
    • Profile picture of the author UK Wealth Wr
      Originally Posted by digichik View Post

      Your price is way too low, for the value you are offering and the work you will be doing for them, even if you are outsourcing it. Sit down and really figure out how much time it will take you to actually put together the whole package for just one client. You will see that you will end up doing the work for about $1-$2 dollars per hour(just convert to pounds, it the same pitiful pay). Don't under value your services or yourself.

      For me, the lower the price, the more difficult the sale. When I keep my price high and show value, the easier the sale. Most business owners have no problem buying Value(new customers, revenue).

      Also, always get payment upfront. In some cases, you may have to get 50% upfront and 50% on completion, until you have some client references. Once you have references, always ask for the whole payment upfront. You'll get it most of the time. Some clients will want to make split payments, that's up to you whether you want to take them.
      Do you really think it'd take me much time to do the work? All I'm doing is listing the business on about different online business directories; these would only take a couple of minutes each, so I'd say there's about 30 minutes 'work' max....not bad for £50 really.

      The rest of your reply was useful, thanks. You're right, if you undercharge then people tend to associate 'low price' with 'low value', but anything that costs a decent price tends to be taken more seriously. With that in mind, I might charge around £99 for the basic package, we'll see.
      {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[8915958].message }}
      • Profile picture of the author digichik
        There is a bit more work to what you are offering than you think. Let's just take setting up Facebook and Google+ local. These will need photos, graphics and some posts to get started. You are going to need to get photos from the business owner or purchase them, perhaps have graphics(page graphics, backgrounds) designed on fiverr, take time to write the posts or take time to try to get the business owner to write the posts. You have to optimize the Google Plus Local listing. Can you now see some of the time and money you will actually need to spend putting together a package for one client. There will be client delays, extra time spent on the phone with clients, etc.. Doing this is more that a notion and will take more time than you think. Don't sell your self short.

        Originally Posted by UK Wealth Wr View Post

        Do you really think it'd take me much time to do the work? All I'm doing is listing the business on about different online business directories; these would only take a couple of minutes each, so I'd say there's about 30 minutes 'work' max....not bad for £50 really.

        The rest of your reply was useful, thanks. You're right, if you undercharge then people tend to associate 'low price' with 'low value', but anything that costs a decent price tends to be taken more seriously. With that in mind, I might charge around £99 for the basic package, we'll see.
        Signature



        {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[8917757].message }}
      • Profile picture of the author DABK
        Digichick is right. It will take more than 30 minutes. As a matter of fact, you'll be in 30 minutes before you convince anyone to hire you.

        You're going to walk into businesses and talk to whoever's there, trying to get a client. If you're like most people, you'll walk into a few businesses where the decision maker is not there, a few where they don't believe in internet marketing, a few where they're so busy at the moment that, even if they're interested, they won't talk to you. So you have to come back... or call them.

        In any case, just walking/driving to the first business from your home and from the last business you visit to your home is time spent in your business and should be included in calculation as should all your marketing efforts and all the self-educating you do.

        Charge more. You might end up spending 10 hours or more per client between marketing/selling, doing the job and following up with them afterwards.

        Of course, maybe you're a spectacular marketer/sales person and you convert 100% of the businesses you contact within 10 minutes and you do the job to their liking in 30 minutes. You should still get compensated for those 10 minutes and the time to go to and come back from your client-getting trips.

        Originally Posted by UK Wealth Wr View Post

        Do you really think it'd take me much time to do the work? All I'm doing is listing the business on about different online business directories; these would only take a couple of minutes each, so I'd say there's about 30 minutes 'work' max....not bad for £50 really.

        The rest of your reply was useful, thanks. You're right, if you undercharge then people tend to associate 'low price' with 'low value', but anything that costs a decent price tends to be taken more seriously. With that in mind, I might charge around £99 for the basic package, we'll see.
        {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[8957534].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author massiveray
    Just FYI, I charge £450 for designing an online presence and I live in Leeds.

    We design a Facebook page, add a core story and some conversion points, custom tabs etc etc g+, twitter and add to up to 5 relevant traffic driving social account such as four square etc

    All of the images are either supplied by the or designed (for a fee) by us. Core story is supplied by them with our guidance (a PDF with advice on how to develop one into 10 Facebook updates so we can get it online efficiently).

    We also throw in a guide to posting on social media and developing social personas for good measure.

    We then offer them a PPC and engagement package which around 30% take on, for a substantial monthly fee.

    My point, raise your prices and do less!

    Originally Posted by UK Wealth Wr View Post

    Hi Warriors, I hope I'm finding you all well. I'm new here and need some advice.

    I want to start doing online prescence management for local businesses.

    I will go to local businesses and offer my services in the form of an "online and social media package", i.e. Facebook page, listing on Google maps, register on Foursquare add to Hostel World/Trip Advisor...for round £50.

    Now for the questions:-

    1) I want to contact local businesses, shops etc, in person not over the phone or via email. Can anyone suggest a simple script I can say in every shop/business to see if they're interested in the service? I was thinking of something along these lines, how does this sound?....

    "Hi, very quickly, does your business have any online prescence? Do you have a Facebook page? Are you listed on Google maps, local, yepl etc? (Hopefully they say they aren't). I'm offering a service to local businesses where I will give you an online prescence. I will list you on Facebook, Google, Yelp, etc. Doing this will give you an online presence so people can find you online, so you can get more customers. I'm offerering this for just £50, and I can have you set up within 3 to 5 days. Are you interested?"

    2) I said I would make a Facebook page, listing on Google maps, register on Foursquare add to Hostel World/Trip Advisor. Is there anywhere else I should list them? Perhaps I should add them on Google Local, Yelp.com, yellow pages, EZLocal, etc? Can you tell me the best places to list them to get them a decent online prescence? Please bear in mind I'm in the UK, so where I list them has to be relevant to the UK.

    3) Is my pricing ok, or should I charge more or less?

    4) Do I get payment upfront, and if so by which method is best and would I need to provide them a receipt there and then? What if a client is not willing to pay upfront?

    5) Should I try upselling them a website in addition to this? What other services could I potentially upsell them?

    6) Do I need to take pictures/record a video of their business before I list them online?

    7) Although I say I can get them listed within 3 to 5 days, how long would it take for Google to list them so people can find them by searching? I assume this would take weeks or months as it takes a while for search engines to list links I guess?

    Thanks in advance for your help, and if there's any other advice you think would be useful just let me know.
    Signature

    Join my private strategy group on Facebook or find out how I made £2000 recurring in 2 weeks.

    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[8920315].message }}

Trending Topics