Did some Networking... and its gonna pay off!

So what I do for a living is videographer for local stock car race tracks in my area. One dirt track, one paved. I have a really good reputation as a person that does great work and delivers on what is promised. Today they had their annual rules meetings at one track and I decided I should go and see if I could get some business for my new web host reseller biz I just started.

I talked with about 20 drivers about websites. I started with "do you have a website?" and all 20 said No ( I knew the answer before I asked... research!!) and then I followed up with "Why not?" and I then steered them to some answers.
A. Don't know how to make one/get one
B. Can't afford a big dollar web design fee
C. Don't have time to put it together/work on it/ learn to do one

Those were reasons I gave and most picked one of those as a reason. So we talked about how I could put together a package to fit any drivers budget from a basic template based site that will look like other drivers with some color changes to match their team, to full on web page with all the bells and whistles and facebook fan page, twitter, etc.

Told em I can handle the domain, the setup, the hosting, the submit to search engines. Told em how their sponsors and potential sponsors would love to be on a website to push attention their way and that it was even better then being on just a race car.

Out of 20 drivers I talked to. 18 want to talk more. 5 were getting out their checkbooks.

I spent 1.5 hrs to drive to the meeting. Talked with people in between the meetings ( they are broke up by division) and spent 4 hrs there and then 1.5 hrs home. So a full work day but one that will certainly generate me some money.

Oh and the girl that takes care of paperwork and other crap at the track... she started a wedding planning biz a month ago and want.... make that NEEDS a full package, domain, site, hosting, etc. Her dad owns the trophy shop, her husband is a driver. I see this being a cash cow.

There is over 100 regular drivers at this track. If I can get half of them as clients this year I will be loving life.

Oh and I still have the other track I do which has like 75 drivers.

And there is several other tracks I don't film at cuz I can't be in two places at once, but all the drivers have heard of me. Potential for another 250 drivers in a 4hr radius.

I had a good day and shall start on the first five clients tommorow. Thinking I might have to outsource most of the web site work, but the recurring money will make that worth while.

Just wanted to share. Hope you all had great days or will have them soon!

perfect example on how there are still so many untapped niches and ways to profit, nice job.

Thats awesome. Great work man.

Best of luck.

Quick update.

I ran a contest on a web forum that the racers frequent ( my own.. hehe) and offered a free web design ( winner had to buy domain/hosting, which will be from me of course) and I got a lot of entries aka leads. So much so that even though the contest is closed, I have drivers that have sent me messages via text, facebook, emails and all want me to do them up a site and soon. Seems everyone is gearing up for the big sponsor hunt come January and I have convinced them all they need a website ( which is true ).

My only fear is I might get too much work soon and will have to outsource.

Great work on drumming up that much business. If you do end up outsourcing. Let me know how it goes. Im looking to outsource design but I am a little worried to do so. I guess call me a control freak.

I hear ya on the control freak part. It kills me to let anyone do anything I put my name on, especially these drivers who I see each week all summer long. I don't want something screwed up and them smearing my name.

Not to mention I don't know how I would explain to someone in India or wherever what a Dirt Modified Race car is and how a site should look for a team.

hah very true

very good method man. What are u gonna use to the the website? Wordpress? Flash? And how much are u charging them?

I am gonna use Wordpress and depending on the type of site they want will determine the price.

A young driver with little money might be happy with a simple fill in the blank template style site and I will do that for him as long as he signs up for a year of hosting at $14.95 a month plus domain costs, but a champion driver with more money to play with I will promote him a better much costlier site, giving him some sexy graphics and what not, probably get him for 300-800 for site design and $20-$50 for hosting, depending on if they want Social Media Service, etc.

This is why I preach about networking. Because it pays off. Soon you'll be considered a guru in your niche and you'll be the go-to web guy.

Grats to you.