Best way to get clients for online services?

What makes you say "that kind of thing doesn't get you very good results"? What is that based on?

The problem with transcription, it is so cheap these days, even local people have trouble competing with places like rev and temi. To add another layer, someone to bring you clients would more than likely place you at the top of pile as regards price.

Unless you can justify the premium price with service, this type of a commodity could be best promoted through those traditional ways, which you find to be "not very good". My local transcrptionist is super busy, yet far above what the web providers charge.

But, since you are dealing in hypotheticals, just one opinion.

GordonJ

You need a way to Stand Out.

Basic problem with this business model is the one-time service price is so low it does not justify the cost of customer acquisition. It costs you too much to get a customer to make a bunch of one-off sales.

So you need to concentrate on finding repeat customers.

Who needs this kind of service over and over again? Who can perhaps pay up front for a block of services that they draw from?

That way you can justify a higher cost of customer acquisition...and get paid again and again for the work you put in to get that customer.

As far as differentiation goes, I would concentrate my marketing on "Who has used this similar service, and been disappointed with it?" Then you can Stand Out by offering something they don't. In the Temi example, robot-like automation isn't for everyone. If you can fit in the middle ground between Temi and the parent company Rev, giving personalized customer service & human problem solving at almost-automated pricing levels, there may be a niche there. That's an example, not the only way to do it.

Do you have a LinkedIn in profile? A lot of business people hang out there who need help with transcription.

Join Facebook groups for internet marketers. Offer your services -- but only as allowed by the TOS of the group. Some never allow you to advertise others have a specific thread to offer services or a certain day of the week when it's allowed.

Have you thought of branching out and offering other services such as editing?

I rewrite a lot of transcripts for clients. Some clients might want a one stop shop where you do the transcripts and then edit.

Rose

Advertising doesn't get good results...means you are doing it wrong.

You may try Facebook Ads for very targeting audiences and Google Adwords, and them make retargeting to the most engaged people.

Also you should start buliding your email list, so you can follow your subscribers given them reasons on why they should get a product or service for you.

A good tool you can use for lead generation es ClickFunnels, so you may give it a try.

I would promote on social media and on sites like Fiverr and Upwork. Maybe make an ad in Indeed.com or even utilize PPC to drive traffic to your website.

Most people who need this on a regular basis or for large projects are probably going to invest in a copy of Dragon Professional.

Not cheap, but it does many other things besides transcription and you have complete control over your projects, start to finish. One of the best investments I have ever made.

Help people with transcription service content through blog posts and videos, and build your friend network in the niche by helping successful folks out and asking for nothing. More helpful content plus more friends promoting you = more clients.

Ryan

Yes, marketing your business through advertising and promotion is the best way to go about getting clients to your transcription service. All the same rules apply to this type of service ... just as with any other.


Understand exactly what your perfect customer wants (create a customer avatar), where your audience can be found, and what it will take to stand out and get your message to the audience. IMO, it's best if you find a way to serve that audience from a unique angle - something the competition isn't doing.


There are no magic approaches or secret strategies that will make your business successful. Just apply proven, everyday marketing principles, test and track your results, optimize, and try again. Start on a small scale and ramp up when you are getting the results you want. Then stick to it until you have a thriving business.


I' sure this isn't the advice you wanted to hear - but most successful Internet marketing comes by applying these same, sometimes boring, principles over the long haul. Work and persistent are inevitable for success.


The very best to you,


Steve

Drummin' up new business can be hard. I'm personally a fan of Google Search Ads and Content Marketing/Blogging. One is quick but costly and the other is cheap but takes a while to get results.

Also, checkout SearchTempest.com. You can search across all Craigslists for people looking for transcription services possibly.

Hi people,
have happy monday today.

@karmadog; problem is you think wrong around your problem.

Example: someone tell me he is a top notch copywriter who can bring me results, cost me $200 for 2000 word article- and you not know how to find clients btw. you not know where your high paying clients hang out?

So I not want trust you, (not trust you 100% way lees) it is the same go to your bank to have a credit for your business, but not have any skills, so the banker will not trust your business plan- end point.

What to do first? Yes learn such skills to find out where your high paying clients hang out,what they need, listen to them, then you will get clients. But ride a horse backwards with: I deliver top notch services, but I not know where my clients hang out- this is not a business concept. (it is half of an concept).

When you think right,do the right questions, you will get answers, same with all the people on the world who think: "How I get rich" with this you will not get answers.

have happy monday
marco005

Try bing ads and google ads, where you target with specific keywords.