Writing For Local Businesses (Journey Thread)

[Aluminium]

I've never brought it upon myself to make a journey thread, but I'm trying to keep on track with this endeavour (so I figured what better way to do so other than a journey thread!).

GOAL: Make $3,000 in June from LOCAL BUSINESSES ONLY. I'm not going to count any money I recieve from my usual clients or any freelance writing I do, this is strictly for the writing I do locally.

HOW I'LL DO IT: I've already been collecting e-mails and phone numbers from my local business directory, so far I have about 10 e-mails and 5 phone numbers that I think will convert. Most of the sites that I stumbled upon during the search were similiar, meaning they all had the same type of layout with the same type of content. I made sure I mentioned that in the initial e-mail, which will (hopefully) persuade them to make the right choice.

Expenses: $0 (hopefully this stays that way)

Revenue: $0

Profit: $0

Let's make this a ride to remember. I'll try to keep you updated as I move along, and I'm not going to update it daily for no reason; I'll only do so whenever something "major" has occured (such as a sale, a long-term contract, etc).

- A

 

[lietuvis002]

Awesome! Best of luck with your journey! 100% worth subbing

 

[arganrecords]

Hope you can update this thread! Most of this motivation is lost on the way (as mine) lol! So, you can do it

 

[Aluminium]

Appreciate the support guys, hopefully I can be successful this month (as well as build some long-term sources of income with these companies). The motivation is definitely there!

For now...

- A

 

[sashablack]

Good luck, and will be following this thread Hope you make tons of moneys

 

[prab1996]

I am in same boat. (canada local seo market) let me know if you will need any help.
-=-

 

[Techxan]

Exactly what content are you going to try to sell to local businesses?

 

[M4XW3LL]

I'm doing something similar. Will follow the thread, good luck on your journey.

 

[Aluminium]

Exactly what content are you going to try to sell to local businesses?

I'm pretty much telling these local companies that their online presence is lacking. I say that their website could use an overhaul (most of them actual could) and offer two re-write their entire website for a specific price.

I like to focus on the fact that I'm local to make them trust me a lot more, so far I've gotten two nibble (but no bites and paying clients... yet!).

- A

 

[Techxan]

What you are selling they do not need nor will they buy, at least not many.

You need to be targeting SEO providers to sell them good content for their customers.

Good luck

 

[janinaherz3]

Nice planning.
Hope you make good money, will visit the thread.
All the best for your journey.

 

[Aluminium]

What you are selling they do not need nor will they buy, at least not many.

You need to be targeting SEO providers to sell them good content for their customers.

Good luck

Will look into this, because as of now I've got NO BITES.

Not even a single one, might have to scout out some SEO companies around town..

EDIT: Just compiled a list of local SEO services e-mails (have about 20 various contact e-mails, I honestly wasn't aware there were this many SEO serices available around here); I'm about to send them a pitch to see if that gets the ball rolling. I need to see some revenue, damnit!


- A

 

[f8maker]

Thanks for the reply on my journey. So I too had looked into doing more local. I've helped a few businesses mostly because I became friends with the owners but here is an approach that i THINK would work in my city and might work in yours...

....
trying to post my idea but keeps getting marked a spam not sure if its because I'm new or its too long. There's no links or spam in it. Weird. I'll keep trying.

 

[f8maker]

.....The rest of it....
My city works hard to improve, pretty good city council and dedicated community. Local business don't have much of a online presence and the ones that do leave much to be desired. Its hard to convince them on online services because many are not tech savvy and don't see the value it would bring to them in profit. So my planned approach was to make it a city wide movement. Contact city council and tell them Im launching a campaign called CITY NAME 2.0 and explain that I love the city, volunteer often and want to help the local economy grow. Explain that I'm building a directory of all local businesses online and if they could help get it in the local paper and possibly their site.

Whether or not city council or city organizations begin to support you, build a directory of all businesses. Every single one. Give a name that uses your city name and sounds official.
Now that this is done begin contacting local businesses and let them know about the CITY NAME 2.0 movement that's going on. Pitch them on bringing them online so that their directory listing isn't just a text name with no info.

Then cycle through these steps until you get business. Preferably charge little upfront but keep them on a monthly plan to get residual income. That will create value to everyone, get your name out and make you money.

Not sure if this would work in your city but a variation might. Hope this helps. Good luck.

 

[Aluminium]

UPDATE: 23 more local businesses have been contacted, I've even managed a paid sample out of one of them.

Total Revenue: $220 (for two pages of content!)

 

[arganrecords]

Well done! Total revenue 220$ in 6 days? Not bad mate

 

[TheVigilante]

Interesting journey thread with a different approach...

 

[littlehead]

This is a good strategy, especially targeting businesses in the health niche. Selling domains to local businesses also does the trick

 

[ChadWesty]

Very nice idea!

I am doing something very similar. A friend of mine is a great web developer & I said if I get him some clients, I get some of the $$$ you make from designing that business's website..!

I don't necessarily understand completely what you are doing.. telling businesses that that their online presence is not very good, and that you can offer better content to improve their rank in Google? So what, do you just get SEO-rich content from either yourself or some sources and integrate that into their business?

I am very interested in hearing more of this idea because like you, I have gotten a list of plenty of emails from local businesses, but no leads yet!

PM me if you'd like or discuss in here so everyone can see!

 

[Aluminium]

Very nice idea!

I am doing something very similar. A friend of mine is a great web developer & I said if I get him some clients, I get some of the $$$ you make from designing that business's website..!

I don't necessarily understand completely what you are doing.. telling businesses that that their online presence is not very good, and that you can offer better content to improve their rank in Google? So what, do you just get SEO-rich content from either yourself or some sources and integrate that into their business?

I am very interested in hearing more of this idea because like you, I have gotten a list of plenty of emails from local businesses, but no leads yet!

PM me if you'd like or discuss in here so everyone can see!

I simply upsell my service, nothing more nothing less. I tell them that the content they have is no good for business (as well as rankings) in the hopes that they purchase some content accordingly.

The rate of success has been pretty slim so far, but it only takes one big local client to get me to $3,000 (I can feel it!).

- A