So... I posted a thread a couple months ago about how I was starting an offline SEO business, and I was going to do this and that, etc. Long story short, due to personal things and laziness, I failed, only of my own accord.

So now, things are different. I'm way, way better at SEO. I have full keyword research done for every city in a 50 mile radius, and for some niches every major(and even many, many smaller) city in the whole state. My living situation is also worse then it was, I live from couch to couch, with no money at all. I have the potential to make ridiculous amounts, but I just don't, due to my sometimes having anxiety in calling people.

My plan is to offer affordably priced SEO, and use it to reinvest into niche sites, while still going hard on signing clients as I make the niche sites. My company is going to specialize in helping small businesses get online, putting small businesses over big ones on Google, etc. Many of the niches I'm getting into, especially the state wide ones, are absolutely monolithic for profit.

When I get my money, I plan on reinvesting it only into philanthropic efforts(of course, when I have enough to be stable, pay off my debts, etc), and creating jobs for people. It's nigh guaranteed that I can do this, if I put myself out there in as many ways as possible, but I just don't do it, for the most part. But I am, now.

Right now, I'm calling a computer repair place in the city I live in, offering them SEO(keywords relating to them get around 60 a month, so about 2 people a day), and a website redesign for around 600-800. Also calling a realtor back, this guy seems to want to be able to market himself effectively, but his sites have no backlinks, and he sells property in a high value city. I'll be scheduling a meeting with him, but I'm not counting on it. I want to have 50x the "nets" out there as I do now, by the end of the week.

I WILL be updating daily, because I'll be doing work daily. This is the only thing I'm doing, from here on out.

I'll be trying to make this post a vestige of information and motivation, so check back frequently as you see my business evolve.

Look forward to seeing what happens and I wish you good luck. I'm just starting out myself and would like to see someone who's about the same distance down the path as I am.

One quick tip though, and Im sure many will disagree here. But when it comes to dealing with smaller businesses in small cities, avoid cold calling. I tell you this from experience running my business. We simply dont have the time or patience to deal with another person offering a miracle product that we dont have. Its best to stay face to face with small business owners. Its not only a symbol of honesty but its also a sign of dedication.

No.................... third time's the charm.

GL either way. Check out the Craigslist barter section. Lots of traffic and leads in there, just tell them, "sorry, not interested in your garbage. But here are my prices."

Originally Posted by Jamesgtaiv

Look forward to seeing what happens and I wish you good luck. I'm just starting out myself and would like to see someone who's about the same distance down the path as I am.

One quick tip though, and Im sure many will disagree here. But when it comes to dealing with smaller businesses in small cities, avoid cold calling. I tell you this from experience running my business. We simply dont have the time or patience to deal with another person offering a miracle product that we dont have. Its best to stay face to face with small business owners. Its not only a symbol of honesty but its also a sign of dedication.

Yeah, absolutely, that's primarily what I plan on doing, approaching them with materials that are made specifically for them, etc. If I cold call it'll be for people further away, and it'll be really specific, no salespitch, much more of a conversation specific to their needs.

^Smart play. Further away clients is sort of a dilemma for me. I have an employee who is going to be moving back to her city across the state and she's proven herself to be great at sales but I'm not sure if I should employ her for my SEO company. Although shes great at sales, Im not sure how well she'll be able to pick up the specifics of this line of work and sell it to small businesses. My point is, it'll be interesting to see how long distance clients work for you.

When I get my money, I plan on reinvesting it only into philanthropic efforts(of course, when I have enough to be stable, pay off my debts, etc), and creating jobs for people. It's nigh guaranteed that I can do this, if I put myself out there in as many ways as possible, but I just don't do it, for the most part. But I am, now.

This is something you don't see (or read) everyday! I have this goal too. To be rich enough to give a sizable portion away.

I want to have 50x the "nets" out there as I do now, by the end of the week.

With this attitude, I don't see how you could NOT be successful.

GL either way. Check out the Craigslist barter section. Lots of traffic and leads in there, just tell them, "sorry, not interested in your garbage. But here are my prices."

I posted an ad in the barter section of CL. I was looking to beef up my testimonials. I ended up getting a bunch of paying gigs and a couple of them are still clients. CL is now one of my lead generation methods. Be creative with your headline.

Good luck

Originally Posted by Jamesgtaiv

^Smart play. Further away clients is sort of a dilemma for me. I have an employee who is going to be moving back to her city across the state and she's proven herself to be great at sales but I'm not sure if I should employ her for my SEO company. Although shes great at sales, Im not sure how well she'll be able to pick up the specifics of this line of work and sell it to small businesses. My point is, it'll be interesting to see how long distance clients work for you.

I personally have a girl who I am training to sell my services, so I think you have a good thing there.
Even if you don't have her out on her own, it might be a good idea to bring her along.
I've been in the service industry my whole life, and women are terrific assets in B2B sales.

OP

I applaud your confidence and determination.
You sound intelligent, and I think the most important thing for you is to stay dedicated.

Good luck boss.

hows everything going?

OK, so I didn't update every day, I've had to do community service, go to court, ETC, a lot of bullshit from my past being alleviated.

But, I'm definitely succeeding. I have a meeting Thursday with a real estate guy who seems fairly high end, but has no web presence, I have Market research done for every city he has property in, analysis down pat, ETC.

How did I get him?

A few weeks ago I looked him up randomly, called him, and that's it. I called one person that day, and it's likely I'm going to get a sale, and a rather large one at that, from it.

Oh and BTW, the computer repair place I called? The guy told me he is an "SEO Expert" and went to school for 4 years "for that", and he's like #8 on the SERPs for a term with 0 competition, and his description is pure keyword stuffing... hahahah. Gotta love it.

But anyway, as for today, here's what I'm doing.

Creating a list of applicable people to call in my general vicinity. Goals for that are fairly affluent, in high profit margin businesses, with no web presence. I'm gonna send all these people an email, directly related to them. Send them some personalized info about their market, their rankings, their competition, generic stuff about web marketing, and then telling them I'll be calling them in a few days. So I send about 10-20 of these emails, then call them all back Thursday to schedule a meeting. I can't see me not getting atleast a couple sales from this. Once I get a few sales, my business partner and I will be moving to a much more prosperous area, and be doing the same type of campaigning there.

Thanks for the well wishes guys!

Following this thread.

Question: Are you doing local SEO or orgainc SEO?

Updating daily, eh?

what kind of backlink strategy's do you use?