If you've been on the internet for a at least a year or two, and you want to make a living selling products or services, you've certainly learned a lot about how to set up websites, blogs, create an adwords account, and maybe even get some web pages listed successfully in the Search Engines.
Well, I have news for you…
You have skills which are very handy to local business owners. Most small business owners work 10 to 12 hours a day, and don't have the time to fiddle with websites get more business via the internet. In fact, the entrepreneurs I've worked with have so little knowledge of the internet, I've had to set up their email accounts on their computer too, as they had no idea how to do it.
I also realize you're now earning per hour as a consultant and the internet dream of sitting on the Bahamas earning $500 a day has now changed. Well, why not do consulting and earn a good additional income whilst building other products and services? Makes a lot of sense to me… does it make sense to you?
What to Packages to Sell to Local Businesess…
Decide what kind of service packages you want to sell to your clients. For example, you can offer either of these two consulting businesses. Either you assist small businesses and private customers by repairing computers and helping them with software problems…
Or if you're good at marketing you can specialize in helping them get traffic via:
- Adwords
- Search Engine Optimization
- Setup Autoresponders
- Write salesletters
- Set up a Lead Generation Blog
- Get Links to their Sites
- Write Email Follow-ups.
If you lack some of the above skills, you can start out and simply work on them and introduce your new skills to your clients later on.
How To Market Yourself to Local Businesses
Start marketing to your local consulting business by opening up 4 or 5 streams of leads simultaneously. This is probably the biggest mistakes I see in small businesses' marketing. The simply rely on only one or two sources of advertising to generate customers. Don't make the same mistake.
Consider these methods simultaneously to get all the customers you need:
1. Make a list of everybody you know who owns a small business or knows small business owners. Really brainstorm and keep expanding this list. And have no fear. Give them your offer with confidence. Also work on finding well-respected people in your community… their influence may work wonders for you.
2. Advertise in Google adwords where you want to gain clients. Adwords allows you to advertise locally. Set up an autoresponder and build a list of local businesses which need your service. A good idea would be to give them a free report or free consulting for signing up.
3. Do a joint venture with computer repair companies or similar businesses who have clients in your target market. You send your clients to them… and they send their clients to you. This could speed up your success tremendously.
4. Join local networking groups which support each others businesses in the local community. Make sure you give free talks about your speciality to help them. This will also get you new customers.
Remember you can also offer your services nationally if you're confident of your capabilities. It's just a matter of taking action. If you're friendly, helpful and competent, you will find customers who love you and will invest money in your consulting and services.
Let me know your thoughts…
