Stumped..Not sure what to do next

Hey everyone,

So I'll give a quick recap of what I've done lately:

- Started up my own seo/web marketing "firm" (though it's just me working, haha).
- Got a whole bunch of business cards
- Started offsite SEO, gradually building links

I know a lot of people have been burnt by SEO companies, so I'm trying to make my business a very personal experience. No "[email protected]" or any of that. I am clear throughout my site that I'm the man in charge, and I'm who they will be dealing with up front.

Anyways, everything is basically set up, but now I'm stumped. I'm not the best at initial calls (cold calls). I know once I get a meeting with a client, I won't blow it or anything; I'd seal the deal pretty easily (most of us here would). So yeah, cold calling isn't my strength.

1) Do you recommend I hire someone off of Craigslist to make the calls to businesses? If so, how much would be a reasonable pay?

2) Where do you recommend I look for freelancers? Though I am competent in SEO, my plan is to outsource 99% of the work. I have enough knowledge about SEO to know if I am being burnt by someone.

3) Another problem I think I will face is the fact I have no previous clients to show. I have a local dentist site that is ranking on the 1st and 2nd page of Google for 5 keywords. At first, I considered using this to give them insight as to my experience, but then realized they might ask why it is not higher on the 1st page. Any advice here?

4) I've considered posting on Craigslist offering to work on a pay after results basis, meaning they would only pay once I deliver results. Obviously, I would have the proper contracts and such filled prior to starting with them, so they don't end up not paying. Do you think this would be a good idea to get going?

5) I'd appreciate any other advice.

1) Don't hire anyone to make cold calls for you until you have got at least 1 client from cold calling. This will at the very least give you reasonable expectations of your new employee. At best, it might give you the hope you need to keep cold calling yourself.

2) No chance you should be outsourcing SEO if you said that you yourself do not know much about it. You cannot guide an outsourcer well if you don't know HOW to guide them or don't know any proven methods. At the very least, buy a few well regarded services here on BHW and track their results. If they work, then copy their plan/work and give the oursourcer that plan to follow.

3) You have no previous SEO work to show. No problem. Make a new domain and website. Rank it for a few easy, local, long tail keywords. Put this on your site as a testimonial.

4) I don't see anything bad with this idea.

5) That's all for now !

krzysiekz said:

1) Don't hire anyone to make cold calls for you until you have got at least 1 client from cold calling. This will at the very least give you reasonable expectations of your new employee. At best, it might give you the hope you need to keep cold calling yourself.

2) No chance you should be outsourcing SEO if you said that you yourself do not know much about it. You cannot guide an outsourcer well if you don't know HOW to guide them or don't know any proven methods. At the very least, buy a few well regarded services here on BHW and track their results. If they work, then copy their plan/work and give the oursourcer that plan to follow.

3) You have no previous SEO work to show. No problem. Make a new domain and website. Rank it for a few easy, local, long tail keywords. Put this on your site as a testimonial.

4) I don't see anything bad with this idea.

5) That's all for now !

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Yeah, spoke to a friend of mine who is pretty big in internet marketing and he told me the same thing that you did for 1).

I think I was unclear in 2); I do not know a good amount about SEO, so outsourcing wouldn't be an issue. I outsource most of the work for my own sites. But I like your idea of trying some services here first.

As for 3), I'm working on that with a dentist site now. On the first and second page for 5 keywords. Only problem I'm having is passing the Google Local Listings. Any suggestions as far as that?

Appreciate your help buddy. Hit me up on MSN/AIM and we can chat sometime.