Big Fish in a Local Pond…
Posted on by Ryan Deiss in Editor's Column, Startup Business
Local Businesses Need YOU...
Do you have ANY idea how much smarter you are, at least marketing wise,
than any other business owner in your town?
No? Try talking about what we do as marketers to the local yokels and
watch their eyes glaze over and their greed glands start to water, even if
your explaining basic opt-in strategies and simple autoresponders, they will
think your a genius, I guarantee it.
A few of my students have really caught on to this and are making a FORTUNE
right in their own back yards.
One guy in Florida is selling the “brain dead” simple service of setting up local
mom and pops in Google local, Google’s simple local listing tool.
He does a really great job and ads photos and some interesting copy for each listing.
His fee: $200 for about 20 minutes work so he can do 10-20 a week. Plus, he
uses an outside sales person on commission and never even sees the customer.
Another sharp student in Atlanta sets up and maintains local businesses Twitter,
Facebook and YouTube accounts then updates them from time to time.
Her fee: $175 a MONTH minimum and she has built up to over 100 clients in just a few months.
Do that math!
Lastly, this one really killed me. One of the more clever guys I’ve seen offers a
“Who’s talking about you” service for local businesses that send alerts to the
business any time they are mentioned online in a search engine, social media etc…
He charges $79 a month for his service and relies largely on the free Google
Alerts and Twitter Search service for most his information. I don’t know his
numbers, but he has 6 full time salespeople on staff and has had for a while.
The big point is, you ARE smart. Smarter than most of the businesses owners
in your area and NOW is the time to share your skills and collect some great
fees in the process.
Best Wishes,
Ryan
P.S. Comment below and tell me if you offer a local service, have a question or
just want to be heard. Go ahead, brag a little…
Free Training Event
Mark
31. Mar, 2010
Hi there, I’m interested in doing this with local businesses in my area, how is the best way to find a salesperson who will get all the clients in for you? And what have you found would be a good hourly rate or percentage to pay for this salesperson?
Just looking for ideas!
Thanks!
Sam
15. Mar, 2010
Great deal of work goes into posting this, I’m sure. Thanks for taking the time!
Caroline J
08. Mar, 2010
I have a question….I’m based in the UK. How transferrable do you think the teachings are on this programme. I also live in the sticks in the UK (pop 5,000 in my village).
Felipe Huicochea
17. Apr, 2010
@Caroline J, You can do some research using the Google keyword tool.
If the search volume is significant for your area of influence, there’s money to be made.
Check this example for Dallas local searches: http://theleadersfactory.com/local-business-search/the-importance-of-local-search/
Gabriella
08. Mar, 2010
Ryan,
Can you ask Kevin if he can make a payment program for his product?
Thanks
David Enders, D.C.
07. Mar, 2010
As many have mentioned above, most businesses do not know or understand internet marketing. Just having a website is all they know, probably only a few have heard of seo, capture pages, so on… If you know how to create a lead capture page, set-up an autoresponder and a little seo, then you are an expert to most business owners. These are skills you can market, especially in today’s economy.
Tony
06. Mar, 2010
I was on the webinar and it was good. On the webinar you were talking about charging $1,500 a month, not bad at all. My question is if that includes the ad budget for PPC. If so what do you think is the average amount of PPC that a local small business would need.
Shenita
05. Mar, 2010
This is a great post. Is it possible to outsource this type of work once I get started?
Kathy Ball
05. Mar, 2010
Great post for the technically savvy. It might be hard to believe for some of you but there are those who are still slow when it come to computer skills. If you can make it work, go for it!
Robert Bucci
03. Mar, 2010
It all started with helping my daughter’s daycare owner with an auto-responder. Next thing I know I’m helping a pizzeria, a gelato cafe, and a music studio with ‘direct response marketing’.
Now I walk into any local business and begin chatting up the owner to help them explore new ways of driving customers to their door.
The key is NOT TO SELL! You are there to lend your expertise in helping them solve THEIR problem.
After speaking with 20-some local business owners, it’s clear how dire our skills are. Sure, 80% of them have a website, but less than 10% of those have any lead capture or direct response functionality (coupons, online ordering, subscriber incentives, etc.) Without it, a website is nothing more than a pretty sign along a very busy highway.
The next stage is to approach local business organizations with a presentation on these findings and how brick and mortar businesses can benefit from online marketing. Watch how quickly you build a client base!!!
Ryan Thompson
03. Mar, 2010
This is a very good way to make some quick cash. The only thing that sucks is that you actually have to spend some good time doing the work … unless you OUTSOURCE IT!
~ Ryan Thompson ~
Jack
03. Mar, 2010
Ahhh … seems this was just a pre-sell of your webinar where you will pitch Nitro’s $1k program. Silly of us to think you would be doing something yourself, rather than just collect referral fees like all the other “gurus.”
nasser
03. Mar, 2010
im 47 old have 100 idea for who look making mony for 10 persent i live in cairo egypt who look for make mony amail me at nasser_sayed53@yahoo.com to help him
blake
03. Mar, 2010
Ryan, I am DIEING to know what font you used in your facebook ad power sales video..
I’ve tried all the fon’t I can think of but none of them match yours…
That font looks good on screen and I want to use it for my video sales letters.
Thanks
Ulf Anders Hed
02. Mar, 2010
Hi Ryan ! HA !
You know I am having so, so fun ! Do you remember when you sent me a trainingprogram a few months ago, and when I decided to buy it and clicked on the place where you can choose which month nr your card is valid to, and it came up months all the way to month nr 18 !, and when I was going to chose the year, it stopped- I think it was- in the year 2000 ! HA HA ! HA ! And now this ! I click on the video, and it comes up a screen, but it says “closed” in big red letters, and below a text saying that I wil be the first to know if , if you ever decide to show that video again ! HA ! HA ! HA ! You are joking all of you, I understand that. You have, since I started to write on Twitter, sent me hundreds of e-mails, with different business opportunities that all are promising to make me rich. And they will probably work., but to drench me with opportunities like that, is, of course, just a part of your psychological test of me. All of it is ! And I really enjoy it ! I have laughed so much the last few days ( I especially think of “Crying Screams” message to me HA ! HA ! HA ! “you must be mentally ill”;; ; ¤ ) = , but I think the time has come now, when you can contact me in a more direct manner, so to speak. Now I am tired , and shall sleep a couple of hours before I continue and finish with this story on Twitter. It will be finished very soon. Then you can contact me in that more direct manner.
? ; ¤ ) =
Felipe Huicochea
02. Mar, 2010
I’ve been doing that successfully for a couple of months now and perhaps the most useful resource are local marketing companies who already have the customers’ trust -and budget- but lack in staff or resources to jump in the online world.
santa clara seo
02. Mar, 2010
Its not as easy as you make it sound. I’ve been doing this for a little while and I know it can be tough as nails to get customers to see the potential in getting found on Google, etc. Some of them are really stuck in a paradigm.
Jessica
02. Mar, 2010
This is such a great idea! I can’t wait for the webinar! I know I could do this! Thank you for sharing!
lex
02. Mar, 2010
I know that all of those strategies rocks pretty well in many locations, but, there is something important and that makes me real mad (actually I don’t know if it makes mad or just jealous, but I know that it is not fair).
There are companies in Mexico (believe me, a lot of them) that offers the marketing services for only 25 USD…nothing like the $175 USD per month example…. could you believe that????? and they offer everything that a seo automatic application does and tell the client that THEY DO everything….
It is unbelievable and unfair. Especially if you have being researching for many years and learning how to do it with the quality results.
Of course, they do a poor job and the results are not the ones offered. The clients get mad and disappointed of the services and never hire again any of those kinds of solutions.
Any suggest on how to make the clients to BELIEVE AGAIN and to stop this kind of “abuse”??
Nicholas Klein
02. Mar, 2010
Ryan-
LOCAL is where it’s at. I run an outsourced SEO firm and the local listing are so EASY to gobble up for competitive businesses when you combine articles, blogs and video…
Good luck to all of you who are inspired by this post, you ARE smarter than these business owners, and you can make great money by simply getting them online!
Nicholas Klein
Kelley
02. Mar, 2010
Thanks for the really great post. I know that I am able to do this and help a site rank and show up in the traffic. I am however, weak on the personal sales side which you need to do local business.
Perhaps you have an answer for that, too.
Best Regards,
Kelley
Lee Little
02. Mar, 2010
I assume time management will be part of the local biz product?
Set-up is one thing but doing the maintenance seems like it would get boring, repetitive and be a possible time suck.
I’ve been focusing on DIY products.
Alberon
02. Mar, 2010
Thank for the tip!! awesome!
peter myers
02. Mar, 2010
I wonder if this woman in Atlanta would be willing to let me pay her for some training to set this up in my own local market? What a simple yet awesome business. I want to do it!
Do you have her URL or contact?
thanks
peter.myers@yahoo.com
916 955-1148
CB
02. Mar, 2010
It’s a great idea. Too often people concentrate on the potential ‘out there’ (especially online) and ignore their own backyard!
Tarus
02. Mar, 2010
Hello. I do have two local services. One I have a landscaping company also have a websit company. And my monthly service is only $140 a month for company but for people w/o company’s just $18 a month.
Janice
02. Mar, 2010
I’ve been considering this path for a while but did not know where to start! Thanks for your post and to all commenters sharing their experience.I’m starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel. All the best!
Colin B
02. Mar, 2010
Ryan, this is exactly what we are trying to do here in our local town in BC. We are just about to launch and have been sweating some details lately for a smooth and seemless operation. At the end of the day, I think you have said it perfectly. We are much smarter than most around here with regards to this marketing/technology marriage that is so beautiful. It is also sooooo needed out here. It is the wild west and we intend to wrangle it into our own ranch.
Bill
02. Mar, 2010
Hi Just found this site and I’m glad I did.
I agree with Anita. Anyone who says you can do this kind of business in only a few minutes a day has never tried it or dealt with REAL clients. It’s one thing to sell affiliate products another thing to deal with a local business owner who knows nothing about marketing and does not understand the internet. Just make sure you do your home work before you take your first client.
For those of you who want to discover how to get into this business I would recommend first setting up your own website and get it listed in the local search engines. You’ll need to show some results of what you can do.
Next I would join a local “meet up” get to know the business owners and then start working with a few.
Start small and work your way up or you will be saddled with too many clients and not enough hours in the day to service them.
Bill
Rebecca Geiger
02. Mar, 2010
Twittely DANG!
LOVE it.. this is EXACTLY the moment I needed to give me confidence to do what we had already planed! OMG..
Ryan. Thank You seriously.
I have purchased a number of your products, and I am just learning them now and will be implementing your strategies in the comming year.
I am very fortunate to have found people like you who share the most amazing information.. and sometimes (cough) for an amazing price too.. Education is worth so much more than the money you spend.
The money I have spent with you has been worth every penny.
Thanks Again for shedding light on my own value of what I can do for others.
Wishes for you to have a happy day!
(kinda know you do anyways:)
Henry
02. Mar, 2010
Thanks,…..This is Gold…
jason
02. Mar, 2010
This is true. Been marketing to small businesses few know
even a moderate level of online marketing but mainly they
just don’t have the time to do it!
R J Okuszka
02. Mar, 2010
This is a great idea.. One thing with the internet is that it does offer so much and a lot of us including me tend to just market online with our websites when it really does make sense to market to the offline folks with online exposure. I offer professional radio interviews as well as Press Release and article writing for any company whether they have a product or service, whether offline or online.. Here is my link Yourradiopromo.net Thanks for such a great article, RJ
Rudy
02. Mar, 2010
Been studying with your products to produce my own fitness info products. These suggestions should also help my local gym business. Thanks for posting.
J. Lamar Ferren
02. Mar, 2010
Great post Ryan! It would be a shame for not to tap into all these mom and pop shops knowing what we are capable of and how we can help them grow their business. We owe it to them and we owe it to ourselves. This is genius!
Juames
02. Mar, 2010
Always ways to make money.. Just be creative.
Sam
02. Mar, 2010
Great Advice.. def worth a try!
Barry Nicholson
02. Mar, 2010
The time on the webinar is listed as 9pm EST here: http://go.webinarmeetings.com/local/join/
But it’s listed as 8pm EST here:
http://www.nitrowebcasts.com/event1.html
You might want to send out an email to clarify…
RichardLindner
03. Mar, 2010
Thanks Barry! We got that fixed yesterday as soon as we could get a hold of Kevin’s office. I’ll be sending out a mail to the registrants today that should clarify the time.
Starlette
02. Mar, 2010
that is a such great article you have here.
i was thinking of this since last year, but was nt sure if they (hairdressers) would really want to pay me…
and how shall I fix the price, shall i tyake 20,30,50EUR??? does it depend on the income of the shop??
Thanks again, this is a crazy information you are sharing here!
Tenerife Jobs
02. Mar, 2010
Great idea. There are plenty of restaurants on the nearby beach, I shall get in touch with them
kay hebbourn
02. Mar, 2010
Yep, I’m doing that stuff here in my community to. It would be good to hear about how other people are marketing these skills, Kay
rahul
02. Mar, 2010
hey Ryan..yes local seo is currently hot. however looks likethere is a trick to do it. I am trying to find out.
By the way, you mentioned about your “students” in the post. Do you offer any coaching program (except for your 1st 1000)?
Thanks.
Jonathan Lake
02. Mar, 2010
Hi there,
I have been offering services to local businesses for about 6 months now – its awesome!
One of my best services is to offer a FREE 2 page website for a local business. Set it up on WordPress (takes about an hour) then charge them a monthly fee to host and maintain it. Because of the small size of the site you have to do next to nothing to maintain them so its money for doing very little.
Works like gangbusters.
Jonathan Lake
Torquay – UK
Nelson
02. Mar, 2010
Thank you Ryan. You really got me excited with this. Never heard of Google Local Ads until you and everyone else mentioned it here. Thanks to you Ryan and everyone else who posted a comment.
Email Marketing Tips
02. Mar, 2010
hi ryan,
i completely agree w/ you. this is an excellent ideal to share your knowledge and earn great income. working on my own projects, i eventually gained the reputation in my own local circle as the “go to” person for online marketing help and email marketing tips, to follow up with traffic they work so hard to generate.
this is where the online world is going & local businesses are currectly seeking effective ways to consistently gain new customers in today’s market.
thank you for sharing (long-term follower).
Jesse Doubek
02. Mar, 2010
WOW, Ryan that is a tremendous idea and I am going to start doing that immediately. I am even going to get them set up for hosting and their own blog site for a decent fee. Its true that they all need this service and they have no clue how to do it and make it look professional at the same time. You are the man.
Sincerely,
Jesse Doubek
Anita
02. Mar, 2010
Where you been man?
Prolly on 2 many IM pimp lists, but “local search” course pushers have been at it for well over a year now.
Pisses me off though when I hear all the nonsense about “boat loads of money for about 20 min work”
A bit of effort can nail multiple page 1 local listings though!
A.
Jorge Diaz
02. Mar, 2010
Yeah there’s opportunity everywhere!
Many web 2.0 companies here in Mexico are doing this kind of services, but much like building a website and payperclick management.
I think that if you are good with google adwords and get 10 clients that pay you 500 USD a month and some basic stuff like list building it would be a great business.
Imagine if you add, social media to that.
The key is to present one great idea like list building and autoresponders to offline business and they will go crazy. Then expand on the possibilities.
Thanks for the post.
Woodworking
02. Mar, 2010
Thanks for sharing this information with us. It is a simple idea, but might be profitable.
Lori
02. Mar, 2010
Finally I am getting a grasp on these things. Thanks for making it simple to understand. The first good news I heard all day.
I just heard that DJ Paulie will not be performing in Las Vegas this Summer. Also someone told me that he will not be on TV or making guest appearances in New Jersey either. When it rains it pours huh?
Benson
02. Mar, 2010
I can personally say this is the truth. I’ve looked to do joint ventures with others in my community and the truth is they don’t even have a clue on some of thing I’ve talked about. WOW. Thanks for the post.