Using web hosts to gain web new clients. I took a gamble

[ThatSEO]

So I had an issue with my hosting, slow website etc.

I decided to look into which sites are also hosted on my box. I'm using a shared, typical host etc.

I noticed that some pretty decent websites shared my box so I went and did my homework. I used http://www.yougetsignal.com/tools/web-sites-on-web-server/ to see which sites were on my box, checked the sites out and worked out which sites I could potentially improve with SEO, Social, whatever I could really.

I decided against cold calling and I'm rubbish at it.

I called them looking for advice...Most site owners don't know how to see who they share a box with.... I phoned to ask them if they're having issues with their host, 90% of the time they wasn't but they did ask how I knew who their host was etc..I went down the avenue of that I have tools and its my job, brief but wishy washy intro into SEO and the other stuff.

Out of 30 calls (not emails), I've gained 3 clients at $500 a month for 6 months! I've got two other meetings with potential clients!

I took a gamble and won. I think this won for me because I didn't cold call, I phoned to seek help about my slow website and the host wasn't helping that much etc....whatever line you want to pull

 

[Malcolm Max]

Nicely done OP

That's what I call thinking out of the box !

 

[Deleted member 969102]

Possibly the best idea ever! Nice work with you sales, have you thought about purchasing a ton of shared hosting plans just to find clients?

 

[roadhamster]

Possibly the best idea ever! Nice work with you sales, have you thought about purchasing a ton of shared hosting plans just to find clients?

Hey man, your banner in your sig isn't clickable.

 

[ThatSEO]

Nicely done OP

That's what I call thinking out of the box !

I just thought sod it. I'd play dumb and generally did want to see if anyone else was having issues and just chat, then thought a bit more lol

 

[ThatSEO]

Possibly the best idea ever! Nice work with you sales, have you thought about purchasing a ton of shared hosting plans just to find clients?

I might look into that going forwards, I have a good voip phone number so its really cheap to make calls etc.

At the moment I'm thinking about making the clients that I've just got work and build up to be honest

 

[ThatSEO]

Possibly the best idea ever! Nice work with you sales, have you thought about purchasing a ton of shared hosting plans just to find clients?

Actually something that I have thought about was pulling a list of local designers who host websites, speak on behalf of a client lol - However, that type of business I'm not 100% feeling is worth it

 

[Mon3user0]

Wait, you're offering to speed up their website for 3k?

 

[ThatSEO]

Wait, you're offering to speed up their website for 3k?

Read again

 

[ThatSEO]

Small update -

I've just had a couple of emails asking if I could suggest a new host....I knew I couldn't get them as a marketing client so simply said I'm using my host, chucked in the affiliate link and done.

 

[posmo]

good stuff, clever way of prospecting.. could you elaborate on how you transitioned from asking advice to selling them a contract?

 

[ThatSEO]

good stuff, clever way of prospecting.. could you elaborate on how you transitioned from asking advice to selling them a contract?

Simply put, people are nosey..They want to know how you've found them. I guess a mix of having a slight gift of the gab and having a relationship already aka we share the same server breaks the ice straight away.

Once they ask how you know their server details, you're in with saying 'Oh, I run a marketing'/seo/social and I guess I'm just nosey etc' - Some will ask a quick 'Oh ,do you know about the latest Google update' kind of thing which you can say your thoughts and boom, you start chatting

You've already kinda shown that you know how to stalk/track people etc, You're already more teccy than them, you've proven it.

 

[FlyinTurdNugget]

Good stuff! Do you ask to speak to a manager or do you jump right into it with the first person that answers the phone?

 

[ThatSEO]

Good stuff! Do you ask to speak to a manager or do you jump right into it with the first person that answers the phone?

Straight in. If the gate keeper ask what it's about then I'll be honest and most just couldn't be arsed to deal with it as the call isn't a 'threat' or sales etc so bang you straight through to marketing or owner of the business then it's just chit chat

 

[ThatSEO]

Update -

I had an older client moan about site speed. After digging it's down to sloppy code on the site blah blah

So.... I used the same process of seeing who's on the server, I can test site speeds etc and pulled a list of 8 of their clients who appear to be struggling etc

I'm not 100% sure it's an avenue I'm gonna take as clients speak to their designers etc and they're local so don't wanna start annoying local people as the core of my business is working with agencies who white label my services

Let's see but it's another avenue maybe

 

[MisterF]

Update -

I had an older client moan about site speed. After digging it's down to sloppy code on the site blah blah

So.... I used the same process of seeing who's on the server, I can test site speeds etc and pulled a list of 8 of their clients who appear to be struggling etc

I'm not 100% sure it's an avenue I'm gonna take as clients speak to their designers etc and they're local so don't wanna start annoying local people as the core of my business is working with agencies who white label my services

Let's see but it's another avenue maybe

Nice thinking, just deliver the seo results and you'll possibly also pick up new business from word of mouth too.

 

[TheVigilante]

I love your approach my man...very brilliant I must say!

Inch perfect example, of how one needs to think outside the box.

 

[ThatSEO]

Nice thinking, just deliver the seo results and you'll possibly also pick up new business from word of mouth too.

Well I've run my marketing business for three years without doing anything other than getting results. I've done a couple of talks and am well known in business groups on Facebook for straight talking but no actual marketing. My site ranks really well but to be honest, people searching for Seo tend to want cheap deals so I pass them off so don't focus on Seo myself lol

I've never actually marketed myself as they come to me... I'm lucky

However I've pondered about a big push, without wanting to cold call etc... This just worked for me

 

[drew32091]

Wow, great idea! Just curious... my sites have been getting slow on my shared hosting. Did you find out what the problem was? Lol

 

[ThatSEO]

Wow, great idea! Just curious... my sites have been getting slow on my shared hosting. Did you find out what the problem was? Lol

Yep. The host had issues with a cache plugin with Wordpress it took a few days to get to the bottom of it - however, I didn't tell my call list that of course