How are you getting offline clients? - Methods

[bavahz]

The math makes sense to me, for ballerz4life wrote booking "1 person per day", so I think the 3 day stay caused some confusion.

1 booking EACH day x 30 days.
With each booking valued as worth a 3 day visit.

I hope it isn't me that was confused LOL

 

[alba56]

was not really thinking about this until now, so many good ways to get customers and so much info will do some more reading as need to know all about google local.

 

[angelas111]

pick up an accountant for free. you will get loads of referrals from an accountant since they consult with so many businesses on their finances.

 

[goingreen]

pick up an accountant for free. you will get loads of referrals from an accountant since they consult with so many businesses on their finances.

this is an excellent idea and could really bring in a ton of business. great input

 

[buck90]

Marketing and sales is all about trust. There are hundreds of SEO companies that call my shop every week saying that they can put me on the first page of Google. I spent a bunch of money to some really bad companies to start out with then i found a great guy that actually taught me how to do seo for myself (basics of course).

Most business owners have a bad tast in there mouth for tech stuff because they don't know what is going on.

A great idea is find a business in your area that you can work your wears on offer them to do it for free or seriously discounted. Make sure this is a business that is a leader in the community a member of the chamber of commerce or some kind of business owners network. Make sure they understand that they understand why you are doing it for them.

After you have spent some time making your promo project work out use there name to promote yourself to other businesses in the community.

Once business owners know your not some BS tech guy and you could be a real asset to there marketing strategy they will be knocking down the door.

 

[goingreen]

Marketing and sales is all about trust. There are hundreds of SEO companies that call my shop every week saying that they can put me on the first page of Google. I spent a bunch of money to some really bad companies to start out with then i found a great guy that actually taught me how to do seo for myself (basics of course).

Most business owners have a bad tast in there mouth for tech stuff because they don't know what is going on.

A great idea is find a business in your area that you can work your wears on offer them to do it for free or seriously discounted. Make sure this is a business that is a leader in the community a member of the chamber of commerce or some kind of business owners network. Make sure they understand that they understand why you are doing it for them.

After you have spent some time making your promo project work out use there name to promote yourself to other businesses in the community.

Once business owners know your not some BS tech guy and you could be a real asset to there marketing strategy they will be knocking down the door.

I find your angle extremely interesting coming from an owners perspective and a member of BHW. If you were approaching you, what kind of project would someone do for you coming off the street in order to earn your trust?

Would it be getting a website to the first page of Google for free / consulting on new methods on getting customers ?

 

[buck90]

As a business owner you get bombarded with people that are frankly full of shit. You need to be able to show them that you have already done it for someone they know and respect.

Most businesses have money to spend for marketing but don't know anything about internet marketing.

One of my competitors is spending 10k per month on there internet marketing. i use to be there master plumber but they cut my position when i came back from Iraq so i opened my own business.

i pushed them off the page for all our long tailed key words and they were mad.

If a business owner knows you are for real and you are good at what you do you will get paid

 

[buck90]

its all about search engine results. they want new clients.

 

[bestmedia]

Question: How do you contact a prospect once you've already had a meeting and they don't get back to you.

What would you say? Would you call them and ask for their business or would you email them ?

Just wondering what the best practice would be in this case

Thanks

 

[buck90]

Question: How do you contact a prospect once you've already had a meeting and they don't get back to you.

What would you say? Would you call them and ask for their business or would you email them ?

Just wondering what the best practice would be in this case

Thanks

Call them the email is too impersonal and you will be able to tell if they are trying to blow you off.

 

[goingreen]

Call them the email is too impersonal and you will be able to tell if they are trying to blow you off.

100% agree. Ive been emailing for the past month now using heavy scraping and even very personal emails directed at owners. From all my research - if they dont already know who you are sending an email is worthless.

Ive fed into alot of bs WSOs. In theory it makes sense - but business owners and office managers are a different breed

Great input

ps. Thanks for your service buck90. I personally appreciate it and I know many others in our country do as well

 

[buck90]

Thanks it was actually kind of fun over there.

 

[goingreen]

Really solid feedback all around from everyone on this topic. Keep the ideas flowing - yall are killing it so far

 

[goingreen]

There is a big thread here that discusses how dude built his whole business around getting referrals. He pays them 10% of the contract...works great for everyone.

I have just starting doing this as well, I have received 2 referrals so far.

Just tell everyone you know that you will give them $900 - $1500 for getting you a meeting with a business owner that buys your service.

Here is a snippet of an email I sent to all my contacts, it comes directly from Taktical from bhw and his epic post found here!

The commission will be 10% of the first year's ENTIRE contract. So for example, if your referral signs a 6-month contract for $1500 a month, that's a $900 check made out to you! In another example, a client could sign a $2,500 per month contract for one year, that's $1,500 in commission! All you have to do is get me a meeting.

If you are an employee of a firm and you refer your boss, we will STILL pay you a commission (and your commission agreement is kept CONFIDENTIAL!)

Another great method I used to get started was trading my services for their goods or services. This helps for a few reasons:

*Helps you get your feet wet and build confidence
*Gets you examples of work you have done
*Once they see your results, you can start charging them to do more
*Make them give you referrals, using their site as example (These referrals are GOLD)

A recent deal I just did was this:

I traded a 3 month marketing package (value $499) to a local wireless store for the new HTC Sensation (value $500) and another cool phone when it is released in next couple of months (value $600).

The store had setup a google places page but was not ranking for any keywords. I helped them get the first listing for a few of their keywords and they love me know. Once the 3 months is up I will hopefully upgrade them a 6 month marketing package.

I can tell you what was included in the $499 marketing package if you like.

Another great tool for getting local business is putting a skin on your vehicle. A colorful, eye grabbing design will help you get noticed more and make you look legit.

The last advice I have is this:

Answer your phone when it rings...this might sound silly but it is true. Even if it is a marketer, listen to his offer and then flip the script, tell him if he gets you any meetings with a business owner you will give him $900-$1500. He should have an existing client base and might be a great source of referrals for your business!

Good Luck

ive seen some material to say let the client goto voicemail to get better positioning. by not being available you dont look desperate or too available as if youve got nothing better to do. just call them back within 24 hours. i take it you dont buy into that ?

 

[stgermain]

Answer your phone when it rings...this might sound silly but it is true. Even if it is a marketer, listen to his offer and then flip the script, tell him if he gets you any meetings with a business owner you will give him $900-$1500. He should have an existing client base and might be a great source of referrals for your business!

Good Luck

Never thought about that. What a great idea

 

[chakathezulu]

Direct mail is quite good but the cost means you have to be careful to implement this....

 

[goingreen]

Direct mail is quite good but the cost means you have to be careful to implement this....

Postcards or letters?

 

[flaw3d]

Just wanted to say thanks to everyone here for sharing.

Personally I get refferals from exisiting clients who have/know friends in other businesses that need marketing.

I am always looking to grow though...

 

[zoaster]

1) Do the opposite of what every other hack is doing. EVERYONE is pitching "first page of Google" and using SEO lingo (even SEO is lingo). This begins with not pitching to the same people everyone else is (plumbers, dentists?the usual suspects). Pitch trailer hitch shops (you'd be surprised how much they make), storage units (independent ones), and A/V places that rent equipment. Nobody is pitching them.

2) No bartering. No discounts. No getting feet wet. You are trying to run a business, not a charity. Know your stuff and get paid what you deserve. Find businesses with stable income and in business longer than five years. Use Manta if you have to.

3) Don't just sell SEO?be full service. Sell ranking AND conversions. If the client is getting a 95% bounce rate on that great #1 keyword, it isn't doing him any good.

4) Almost all methods of getting clients work, you just have to test, test, test, and tweak. Be patient.

5) Forget testimonials?offer a teaser free service. Everyone can afford free and it's easy to do. If you sell SEO, rank a video on page one in a week or secure their Google Places page and set-up basics for free. Put their business logo from their site on an eBook cover with 5-10 pages of "plumbing tips" if it is a plumber and give it to them to give clients. Little eBook covers look exciting to the non-technical. You get the point?free is the best gateway drug.

 

[63lincoln]

Monday I gave an SEO presentation to a Chamber luncheon of about 30 business owners. In the presentation I gave them actionable items and finished with a free service offering. Since then I have made one appointment, received interest calls and gotten props on their Facebook page.

Think it would benefit my bottom line to do this presentation again? Many, many more times?