[Vagabond 007]

Originally Posted by Kristen

DogScout,

Are you suggesting we move to offline or to a new forum? I'm confused.

No. He is suggesting either make a new thread on this forum for the USP or another site altogether. And I agree. No disrespect, but this thread seems to be getting cluttered with trying to figure out that USP debacle. His best bet is to grill the biz owner with questions. Cause as of right now, I haven't seen anything posted that really stands out. And the biz owner would know more about his biz than anyone here would.

I was actually thinking about starting my own offline marketing forum. Perhaps maybe I'll move that up on my list of things to do if there is enough interest.

[Cynthia A.]

Originally Posted by AP

Honestly couldn't have said it better myself.

I preach to my clients constantly about "systems." I tell my clients I literally want him to put the business up for sale one day, hand the new owner a Manual with everything and get a big fat payoff. Not only will it be 10x easier to sell, but the business is turn-key.

I use NLP when I converse with a prospect. If I know that I can REALLY grow a prospects business, then why Not plant that seed in his head?

I know I can grow just about any business except maybe building Horse carriages and the Funeral parlor business, lol.

You need to have business owners believing in YOU and maybe the 2 of you working together can grow his business. Give them HOPE, these owners are on their own, alone. They don't have time to surf forums and talk to others in the same situation.

Getting the prospect to believe that maybe, just maybe what you are saying has some Merit is all it takes. Give them HOPE, not fake hope, but real hope. Don't over-promise, trust me, they are not looking for Miracles, they just want a little extra. Point them in the right direction. Let them know by working with you that it will yield a return far higher than your fees.

Many of my clients tell me they just like talking to me about new ideas, business, what's going on with other businesses etc... they need someone to bounce ideas off. I had a client call me today BEGGING to take me out to a very nice steakhouse. He said "AP, it's been 6 weeks since we've talked, let me take you out for a nice meal and talk. I'm thinking about starting a new business and want to bounce some ideas off you."

Now this client pays me 2k a month so I will definitely let him entertain me. He also gave me a very nice Christmas gift. He's a nice guy and trust me implicitly, said he will never do anything without running it past me. Now, that's a good client!

Trust me when I make this statement:

Business owners only hear from Yellow Page reps BSing them about the phone book, radio stations perpetuating their lies, newspaper ads that don't work, etc...

NO one sits down with them 1 on 1 to talk about their Macro picture. Today, tomorrow, is the marketing integrated with other media, is the message the same with all advertising, are they tracking results, how are we planning for the future, etc... GIVE me a freakin break. No NY advertising executive is going to sit down with a Mom and Pop business (under 5M) and actually talk to them.

Only YOU will. You need to have Brass Balls (DK cd) and tell owners what to do. If they say "I can give you 15 to 30 minutes for an interview" say NO. Mr business owner if order for me to truly help your business, I need 90 minutes of Uninterrupted time. No phones, No employess, NO nothing. Just you and me. I'm going to show you how to grow your business, everyone else is trying to SELL you something. Let me know when you have 90 minutes alone and I will schedule the time.

If you can get an owner to Honestly do that, you will get a big check. You now have their attention, the Leverage just shifted to YOU. This is Key!

Now read the questions that apply to his business and let him talk. Most importantly look at how his body language starts to open up. When he starts spilling his guts, the Truth will come out.

Do NOT take a check at the 1st appointment. Kiss of death. I never take a check until at least the 2nd or 3rd meeting. You are there for Consulting only, no selling.

Sometimes you have to swallow hard when YOU command the Power, it's not always easy, especially when your broke, but it works. If you can't get the client alone for 90 minutes for Free to talk about growing his business, then run, not walk, as fast as you can.

~AP

I completely agree with this. I recently talked with a business owner who was having thousands of door hangers delivered 5 days a week & not seeing any return to speak of. When I told him it was a waste of money, he looked at me with such relief. I think he was waiting for someone to confirm what he already knew yet he was too afraid to stop it on his own. (His printer is sure going to be pissed at me though! ) No one was there to tell him before me so he continued - even though he knew he wasn't seeing a return. He listened to the advertising sales reps & took their advice. He didn't know any other way. So now I'm there trying to help. And just a few things that have been mentioned many times on this thread can turns things around for him.

As has been said many times on this thread, business owners are desperately in need of our help. You're doing a disservice if you allow ad reps to take these peoples money & producing no results or ROI. Go out there & help them.

Cynthia

[SpyGuy]

Is it Tuesday Yet?


Im not sure where I found this (maybe somewhere in here?) but I wanted to say thanks and bump it up.

There is some great info in these marketing recordings.

---> Marketing Coaching and Consulting Audio Interview Series From The (HMA) Hidden Marketing Assets System


*

[DogScout]

That's OK so am I (confused). Having a hard time keeping up with 4-7 conversations in the same thread.

there is no 'Off-line business consultant board here. (that I could find)

Anything on this forum is buried in a day or two, usually

There are other 'off-line' forums, but all the ones I have been to are run by megalomaniacs and full of crappy info.

My passion is helping hapless business owners. Seems that competent info implemented in that area alone would do more than the 700 billion stimulus package passed last year. Not sure what I am suggesting, just throwing the idea out there.

What ever we do, I would want the majority of those really interested it this to be with us. I would also want those that have been most helpful in this thread to stick around. AP (to me) has been the most helpful, but has sort of put himself in a trick box. He has his own life and clients, how much longer he can hang out giving out great info for free, I do not now.

If I were him. I'd probably be charging for his brain at this point, or have some sort of monetizing going on that allowed him to continue to provide us with his input. (that is not to say others like Vagabond007, Dexx, Andrew, and more haven't been right on the money many times, but he has sort of become a leader here, even though I know that was not his intent.) What I'd truly like see is him open and run or hire to run a plain Master Mind Club for off-liners that 'get it'. Much as Dan Kennedy has for direct advertising or Perry Marshall has for PPC (though lately he has been going back to is roots more.. and for the better) or like Allen has at a much cheaper price this forum for IM. Actually Glen Livingston has a great club that is just him on video, though I think we would want more interaction than he has in his.

Pesonally I pay $239 to be in Kennedy's Diamond group and would pay 3 times as much as I do to be in Glen's (I got in cheap when he 1st opened and he is at $77/ a month now which I sill find inexpensive to pick his brain. I am on a short hiatus from Perry's MMC club (which is $99/mo and he has a lower priced option at only $39/mo I think). The value of an AP MMC club, even if he rarely posted, just to have a place to interact with like minded, ever learning people that followed his methodology to run things by and maybe like Perry had a group phonecall once or twice a month to be kept on the pulse of the net would be worth more than what I see happening.

A year from now, AP has his life and his clients. He probably cannot afford to spend as much time as he is currently, here. How many charged up and motivated people stay that way? someday this thread will be posted to less and less and slowly sink out off sight. People lose their way, happens everyday. Sure vagabond, Dexx, Andrew, Maria, myself (I was working on this before I met AP) and a few others will be fine, but how many will sustain this level of excitement and motavation? How many will be posting 'I am leaving IM cuz I can't get it to work for me", a year or two from now? Where's the guy from the last thread I heard was posted here? Where are the folks ready then? They all OK? Things all hunky dory for them? They all making $200,000.0 a year? Probably some, probably not others. I am not trying to be negative, but nothing lasts forever, and in this internet that goes double. Lots of people need a leader, or they will sleep to noon. Human nature.

Maybe I am thinking too much, I do know one thing, it is hard for me (and I am a reasonably bright guy) to follow this thread lately, (I can follow 10 conversations in chat at once). Just think maybe we out grew this thread. I sort of figured 20 or so people were in to this, not 700+ not to mention non member views! (PDFs I posted, Ist one was downloaded over 2,000 times-nonmembers could download them.)

So at this point just throwing it out there. Some thing to think on. By no means do I have any agenda other than to find away to make as many people as possible competent enough to help local business men and woman AND motivated enough to stay that way.

[bwh1]

Originally Posted by AP

I include a 2 page mini-questionnaire that I will sent to a prospect for them to complete BEFORE we say one word to each other. Yep.
~AP

Man I hate this thread, is stealing me at least 2hrs of my well deserved sleep each night.

AP

after all you gave to us I'm almost afraid to ask you for more help.

Could you expand on above a little for that I can get the sales funnel better. I LOVE that idea to filter them over a questionnaire BEFORE we get in touch with the prospect.

Until now I went personally to the biz, dead end.

Is it a "light" version of the download you gave us or are those just basic questions about the biz with the goal to make them chase YOU for that you can set the rules?

thks

G.

[Kristen]

DogScout,

Yes. Part of my mission statement is to build local businesses. That will absolutely grow our economy. When I'm making more via consulting I plan on doing my part to spend, spend, spend.

Whatever you do, wherever you and the other thought leaders go, count me in (if I can at all afford it.) I actually followed AP to this thread from another thread where he critiqued someone's website. I knew he had the goods, so I have stuck w/him.

[Dexx]

Sheeesh, leave for a couple days to work on projects and it takes forever to catch up! haha

Quick question for AP:

Seeing all the work and energy you put into the mindmap for the 2nd meeting (yellow page ads, Google results,etc)

Is this a pre-made mindmap that you basically 'tweak' for each customer (replace logo etc) as per your profit-checklist of things you look at in each business and go from there?

Or do you do each mindmap from scratch?

Have you not had any clients decline your services after such a presentation?

Personally myself I charge $497 - $997 for the mindmap presentation (which I am sure if very much less detailed than yours)

Why is it that you don't charge anything at all, considering the time and energy you put into it, and the value the client gets from even just seeing whats out there?

Mind you, at the end of my presentation I *do* give them the mindmap etc since they technically did pay for it, so I guess by not charging, you basically force them to either use you or have nothing at all?

Maybe you can touch on this a bit more?

~Dexx

[Vagabond 007]

Originally Posted by DogScout

How many charged up and motivated people stay that way? someday this thread will be posted to less and less and slowly sink out off sight. People lose their way, happens everyday. Sure vagabond, Dexx, Andrew, Maria, myself (I was working on this before I met AP) and a few others will be fine, but how many will sustain this level of excitement and motavation? How many will be posting 'I am leaving IM cuz I can't get it to work for me", a year or two from now? Where's the guy from the last thread I heard was posted here? Where are the folks ready then? They all OK? Things all hunky dory for them? They all making $200,000.0 a year? Probably some, probably not others. I am not trying to be negative, but nothing lasts forever, and in this internet that goes double. Lots of people need a leader, or they will sleep to noon. Human nature.

So at this point just throwing it out there. Some thing to think on. By no means do I have any agenda other than to find away to make as many people as possible competent enough to help local business men and woman AND motivated enough to stay that way.

I get what you are saying. But, the fact is only a small percentage of the people reading this thread will ever do anything with the information given.

Some will try one thing and when it doesn't land them eleventy billion dollars they will give up. Just the way it is.

I already guarantee most people reading this still haven't moved a step closer to actually getting paid. A lot of people look for reasons NOT to do something instead of looking for reasons TO do something. And the second they find something that validates why they shouldn't be doing it, that's all they need to make them feel better.

"Man, this sure does sound good after reading this thread. I'd love to make 6 figures being a consultant. But it seems like a lot of work and I'm not sure how to get started. I don't know if I can do this."

Then they go and TRY one thing and it "fails".

Instead of learning from it they see it as..."See, I knew it. This is alot of work and it's out of my league."

Remember that post of mine about beliveing something, then taking action based on your beliefs, then getting results that just reinforce your beliefs? That's what happened in my little scenario above.

Anyyyyywho, where at in MD are you DogScout? I'm up I-95 buried in 2 feet of snow. I'll bring my sled down to MD and we'll go sledding, have a snowball fight, and then mastermind when our brains thaw out.

[David Neale]

To be honest when I first saw the pricing you quoted a felt for sure you were being being duped and I thought I would investigate.... fully thinking I would suggest you were had.

So I visited the site and the first thing I saw was that they had just been aquired by Adobe. mmm OK maybe I should investigate further before opening my mouth.

This is a great idea. Really ahead of the curve.

I manage all of the services they describe for my clients using lot's of different providers like Google Analytics, aWeber, iContact (or similar) and I program in SQL and ColdFusion to provide database solutions. Then there is the wide variety of eCommerce solutions needed etc. etc.

I also have my own servers and have been providing hosting since 1995.

But this is the future. Everything together in one panel for the client or even for me or a staff member managing everything for the client. Brilliant!

Thanks Reilly3000. I'n off to investigate further.

Originally Posted by reilly3000

Allow me to give back: BC - Home

its a:
web site system
CRM
content management system
e-commerce solution
E-mail Marketing System (with autoresponder)
Includes Hosting
Includes SSL
Includes Support
Includes rules based text messaging for notifing sales reps.

Its an amazing tool. I have built a lot of sites with it, but its really a marketing solution. No affiliate link there, just the straight deal. Hope it helps you guys!!

[Dexx]

Just found a great resource on how to increase a business' bottom-line by 25% if you are looking for ideas:

How It Works | Recession Proof Marketing

[jlmkt]

DogScout, Vagabond 007 and the other seasoned veterans who have posted so generously in this thread:

Being relatively new to forums, and not aware of what subjects are on-topic and which should be started as separate threads, I just want to say how grateful I am for all of the variety of information that has been shared. That's what has made this thread so useful and beneficial to me (and I'm sure many others).

All of the aspects involved in integrating offline and online marketing merge together to give a much more comprehensive picture of things to be considered in planning how best to help offline customers. I appreciate CurlyJohn sharing the process he's going through, including his USP dilemma. I appreciate AP's client challenge. I appreciate reilly3000's concerns about his image, and so many others who have shared their stories. I appreciate the responses to those. Each question/problem has made me think and dig deeper to answer to myself "how would I handle that?" I don't think the impact and awareness would be so powerful if each topic had to be addressed in a separate thread.

This thread seems kind of like a family that has grown together for the past two months. You see people applying what they've learned and reaching a next step with kind of a what-do-I-do-now excitement and frustration -- and, wanting to share with us. I love that quality of this thread and would hate for it to be lost because someone, all of a sudden, felt their comment or question might be off-topic.

I, too, hate the idea that this thread will come to an end at some point. It has inspired, educated, encouraged and helped me (and I suspect others) gain the confidence to move forward and find our own niche to help customers. I love the idea of having a continuing group through which to learn and share...just saying for now, not at the expense of reducing the exceptional variety and value this thread has provided. (And hope it still will.)

Thanks, again, to all.
JL

[Curleyjohn]

Originally Posted by Vagabond 007

No. He is suggesting either make a new thread on this forum for the USP or another site altogether. And I agree. No disrespect, but this thread seems to be getting cluttered with trying to figure out that USP debacle.

I would agree that another thread for all the extemporaneous topics would be ideal. And by no means do I want to take away from the greatness of this thread. I've been part of it since page 3 and I truly appreciate all that have shared and got me started.

This whole thread started because someone needed help developing a continuous flow of money and what they were providing to justify that monthly billing. Creating a comprehensive marketing plan was AP's suggestion and part of that plan is creating a USP for the client.

I followed the lead of others and posted what I thought others might need help with. Just like the many posts about thought processes and getting over the fear of not being good enough.

You can tell yourself it's 90% mental but you still have that 10% you have to perform and a USP is part of that equation. And if your missing a piece like a USP, then your missing something pretty substantial.

My first post was about being perceived as an expert. I think that there are others like me that don't feel they can convey the expert persona without some experience. Even if that has come vicariously through a forum.

As I stated when I first started doing my case study posts,I would like to give people a chance to look over a noobie's shoulder as I'm trying to do this stuff, and figured that the teachers here, would be great guide posts to creating a successful outcome to show everybody that this can be done and just exactly how to do it. Now it seems that I may have been mistaken. The posts were made in the context of being part of the case study to help others not for my personal gain.

Some of us can't afford to pay $1200 bucks to have someone who is already doing this stuff teach us one on one, even if we thought it would be invaluable. We have families to provide for first.

His bet bet is to grill the biz owner with questions. Cause as of right now, I haven't seen anything posted that really stands out. And the biz owner would know more about his biz than anyone here would.

I managed the restaurant for 4 years before I had to take a leave of absence in May. I was the manager when the new owner came in. I taught him how to buy food properly along with a ton of other stuff he had no clue about. This is why I've been given a chance to help them out. I knew the answers to the questionaire before I asked them. I did it as a case study and acted as if I was learning their info for the first time. It was an exercise, just like the USP and anything else I post about this case study.

I'm busting my ass to put myself out there to be an example for those that are like me and want to do this but need to see just how it's done.My wife's all pissed off because I've been up to 3/3:30 in the morning for the last several days working and reading. She just doesn't get the fact the even though the work I'm doing right now isn't going to give me a pay check now, it will pay 10 fold in the future. So forgive me if I do feel a little disrespected.

Sure it's a "debacle", it's supposed to be. I've never done this before. And your right, as far as something being unique, I don't see it either, which has led to the last couple of posts, in this portion of the thread. If you would like to teach then jump in and make a suggestion, it's obvious I could use the help.(No sarcasm intended)

So please excuse my rant, I hope that you have found it to have been of the highest quality, uniqueness and loaded with value.

I was actually thinking about starting my own offline marketing forum. Perhaps maybe I'll move that up on my list of things to do if there is enough interest.

Answers in blue.

[upgraded]

Hi all

I'm Jonathan, I'm new to this whole Marketing and IM thing.
I'm completely overwhelmed by this great thread and your invaluable contributions to it.

I didn't finish it yet but I have a quick question I need to make.
So far I've only made it to page 9 so I have a lot to read before I get to the end. It's going to cost me a lot of sleep I think...

This thread really makes me want to start offline marketing. Now the problem is that I don't have any background at all at M or IM. So I don't really know where to start, but I'll post about that once I get to the end of the thread.

Now the question I wanted to ask is:

AP, did I miss your Fact Finding Questionnaire?
I think I found this thread too late. If it's still up, do you mind pointing me to it? I tried to pm you about it but it turns out I have too little posts.

After this I'll continue this massive thread before I start asking some noob questions.

Once again thanks for all the life-changing info on here.

Best regards
Jonathan

[Curleyjohn]

Originally Posted by upgraded

Hi all

I'm Jonathan, I'm new to this whole Marketing and IM thing.
I'm completely overwhelmed by this great thread and your invaluable contributions to it.

I didn't finish it yet but I have a quick question I need to make.
So far I've only made it to page 9 so I have a lot to read before I get to the end. It's going to cost me a lot of sleep I think...

This thread really makes me want to start offline marketing. Now the problem is that I don't have any background at all at M or IM. So I don't really know where to start, but I'll post about that once I get to the end of the thread.

Now the question I wanted to ask is:

AP, did I miss your Fact Finding Questionnaire?
I think I found this thread too late. If it's still up, do you mind pointing me to it? I tried to pm you about it but it turns out I have too little posts.

After this I'll continue this massive thread before I start asking some noob questions.

Once again thanks for all the life-changing info on here.

Best regards
Jonathan

You can find it in post #1170

[reilly3000]

Originally Posted by jlmkt

DogScout, Vagabond 007 and the other seasoned veterans who have posted so generously in this thread:

Being relatively new to forums, and not aware of what subjects are on-topic and which should be started as separate threads, I just want to say how grateful I am for all of the variety of information that has been shared. That's what has made this thread so useful and beneficial to me (and I'm sure many others).

All of the aspects involved in integrating offline and online marketing merge together to give a much more comprehensive picture of things to be considered in planning how best to help offline customers. I appreciate CurlyJohn sharing the process he's going through, including his USP dilemma. I appreciate AP's client challenge. I appreciate reilly3000's concerns about his image, and so many others who have shared their stories. I appreciate the responses to those. Each question/problem has made me think and dig deeper to answer to myself "how would I handle that?" I don't think the impact and awareness would be so powerful if each topic had to be addressed in a separate thread.

This thread seems kind of like a family that has grown together for the past two months. You see people applying what they've learned and reaching a next step with kind of a what-do-I-do-now excitement and frustration -- and, wanting to share with us. I love that quality of this thread and would hate for it to be lost because someone, all of a sudden, felt their comment or question might be off-topic.

I, too, hate the idea that this thread will come to an end at some point. It has inspired, educated, encouraged and helped me (and I suspect others) gain the confidence to move forward and find our own niche to help customers. I love the idea of having a continuing group through which to learn and share...just saying for now, not at the expense of reducing the exceptional variety and value this thread has provided. (And hope it still will.)

Thanks, again, to all.
JL

Truly, I do feel like we have a good thing going here- if only family was so generous In whatever form it takes I hope that we can maintain some level of mutual support in the days, months, and years to come. There are SO many fish in the sea and it is so refreshing to see such collaboration on an IM forum without folks trying to push product on eachother.

I would be open to setting up a PHPBB forum if people want me to, I have plenty of bandwidth on my hosting accounts. I wouldn't have the time to be the only mod though. I would want to make sure there were STRICT ground rules... no ads, no aff links, must encourage eachother, etc.

That being said, my preference would be to keep this baby alive. Its not everyday a life changing amount of amazing information is all in one place. Plus WF is awesome.

[TheMagicShow]

I have been a member of, this forum for almost 3 years, and if this thread was gonna get deleted it... would have been gone long time ago. People are assuming things and nothing is factual on the basis that this thread will get stale and die away.

There are lots of folks interested in mixing their online marketing talents with offline business prospects. This thread and its case studies and questions and the .pdf/.doc files have been very influential and helpful.

Don't worry so much about what tomorrow brings, think about today/right now and make it happen. If you are scared of this thread going away, then make sure to make it into a .pdf for your reference.

There is already, plenty advice on all matters of offline methods mentioned in this thread, so don't worry if not another post is ever made. AP is awesome and he has done more than enough for us warriors.

Also, reading another 1200-2000 posts won't do you any good if you don't take any action. Get a few ideas from the posts that have been made and start working on them right now.

Since DM mailing sequences are the way to lure in clients, can anyone expand on how to do mass mailings and what kind of envelopes, we could use so the postman do not throw away our letters? (if you can answer this please do, If not don't)

This is the biggest thread, I have seen on the WF and it's the best I have ever seen as well, thanks to all that contributed.

[EricWPM]

Hi Jonathon,

Welcome to the party! Keep reading and you will find what you are asking for... AP has posted ti multiple times. Try looking after pg 17 and I think again twice in the early 20's. It's all there!


SIDENOTE to Curleyjohn: I think you need to try a new and fresh angle to your USP. I agree with the others... it was OK for a few posts but after 6-7 plus posts it does seem to be sidetracking from the thread... If your USP is confusing and unclear to us then it's not working. Someone thought you were trying to write a jingle... others thought it was too plain and boring and did nothing to make the restaurant unique (from the USP statement) I think the best thing you can do is watch the videos that were posted earlier (from the WIS blog) and then grill (no pun.. ha ha) the owner with those same questions until you find your USP. We can't help you write the USP because we don't know the business well enough like you do and the new owners...

[upgraded]

Originally Posted by EricWPM

Hi Jonathon,

Welcome to the party! Keep reading and you will find what you are asking for... AP has posted ti multiple times. Try looking after pg 17 and I think again twice in the early 20's. It's all there!

Thanks.
On page 7 or 8 AP stated it would only be up for 72 hours so I was affraid I missed it.

Jonathan

[Curleyjohn]

Originally Posted by EricWPM

Hi Jonathon,

Welcome to the party! Keep reading and you will find what you are asking for... AP has posted ti multiple times. Try looking after pg 17 and I think again twice in the early 20's. It's all there!


SIDENOTE to Curleyjohn: I think you need to try a new and fresh angle to your USP. I agree with the others... it was OK for a few posts but after 6-7 plus posts it does seem to be sidetracking from the thread... If your USP is confusing and unclear to us then it's not working. Someone thought you were trying to write a jingle... others thought it was too plain and boring and did nothing to make the restaurant unique (from the USP statement) I think the best thing you can do is watch the videos that were posted earlier (from the WIS blog) and then grill (no pun.. ha ha) the owner with those same questions until you find your USP. We can't help you write the USP because we don't know the business well enough like you do and the new owners...

I'm gonna have to attempt to do it like the video. I have watched it a couple times now and well as reviewing several websites on the subject. Maybe the lesson to be learned here is to work the owners till they can give you the USP. I know it's a lot easier to do for my business so maybe that will work. We'll find out.

[rrakausk]

Originally Posted by Magic Mel

Since DM mailing sequences are the way to lure in clients, can anyone expand on how to do mass mailings and what kind of envelopes, we could use so the postman do not throw away our letters? (if you can answer this please do, If not don't)

This is the biggest thread, I have seen on the WF and it's the best I have ever seen as well, thanks to all that contributed.

Grab Vagabonds latest WSO - it has a DM crash course in it. Gene is a DM fiend lol.
Also he posted some videos on another thread http://www.warriorforum.com/main-int...vrTyuxwCH7c2p8

Stay Awesome!
Rick

[AP]

Originally Posted by SpyGuy

I need to know...

If any of you create "new" websites for clients.....

Do you register the Website/Domain under "Your Name" or "Their Name" ?

I read something about a web guy holding a client hostage because the domain was in their name and if the client left - they would also leave "without" their website and have to pay a hefty price to keep the website.

At first, this made me think "what a slimeball move". Smart, but slimeball.

On the other hand.... The used car salesman in me says, if the client calls it quits they will have to pay you big $$ to take the website and its properties with them because it is in your name. They are essentially "Renting" the website from you.

Do you guys "purposely" do this to take advantage of clients to make them "buy-out" the site you created for them, if and when they leave?

I try to build as few sites as possible. IMHO you lose money and time. However, when I do I "may" purchase the clients domain in my name, I do host their site under my reseller account since I have my own dedicated server. When the client moves on I just transfer the domain to them and will usually keep the hosting and send them a monthly bill. If not, I'll transfer all the files.

The first thing I do for a new client is set up a gmail account. Every time I email my client a "duplicate" goes to their gmail. If my client ever says "I never received your email" I simply tell them to check their Gmail. Can't hide from me now.

I give them the password when they leave so it's very simple to say adios.

Same with AWeber (my affiliate link), here ya go, the monthly premium is now yours, see ya.

My clients paid me to perform these tasks so the property belongs to them.

~AP

Originally Posted by bwh1

Man I hate this thread, is stealing me at least 2hrs of my well deserved sleep each night.

AP

after all you gave to us I'm almost afraid to ask you for more help.

Could you expand on above a little for that I can get the sales funnel better. I LOVE that idea to filter them over a questionnaire BEFORE we get in touch with the prospect.

Until now I went personally to the biz, dead end.

Is it a "light" version of the download you gave us or are those just basic questions about the biz with the goal to make them chase YOU for that you can set the rules?

thks

G.

Sure. Yes, it is a "light" version of what I posted. I have (6) of them, why six? Different Niches, different questions.

I have on my website "Instructions" (please send me your Name, Business name, URL, Phone number and contact person) for them to send me an "email" and ask for my 2 page questionnaire before we talk. I tell them in a nice way that I want to avoid "Wasting their time" before we talk.

My business marketing system is NOT for everyone. If they simply complete the questionnaire and Fax it back to me or send via email then I will respond within 2 business days"

I want them to think "hmmmmmm, this guy isn't taking just anyone and MY business may not even qualify for his help." Who does this guy think he is!

The more Hoops you send them thru the more likely they are to write you a check.

As usual some people will try and send an email with questions anyways. I simply reply they need to complete the Attached questionnaire then I'll be happy to set up a time to consult with them via the phone.

~AP

Originally Posted by Dexx

Sheeesh, leave for a couple days to work on projects and it takes forever to catch up! haha

Quick question for AP:

Seeing all the work and energy you put into the mindmap for the 2nd meeting (yellow page ads, Google results,etc)

Is this a pre-made mindmap that you basically 'tweak' for each customer (replace logo etc) as per your profit-checklist of things you look at in each business and go from there?

I have a Template in Mindjet that is formatted with almost every service I offer. I then add, delete, modify as needed.

Or do you do each mindmap from scratch? Rarely.

The hard part is Masterminding with YOURself to come up with solutions to their problems. This takes many hours of thought, that's why I tell them 1 week wait after first meeting with Questionnaire.

I always assume that the Business is up for Sale and I am thinking about buying it. What could I do to create more efficiency, cut fat and waste from advertising, and increase sales. The answers always come in a few days of thought.

Have you not had any clients decline your services after such a presentation?

Very few, it's the chance I take. Remember my positioning, in most cases I am referred, the already want me. I'm just going thru the process so they feel special and I want to truly understand their business to keep them as a long time customer.

Personally myself I charge $497 - $997 for the mindmap presentation (which I am sure if very much less detailed than yours)

Why is it that you don't charge anything at all, considering the time and energy you put into it, and the value the client gets from even just seeing whats out there?

I don't see many new prospects anymore, I'm content where I'm at. There comes a point when the money no longer justifies taking on more work. I'm already in the top 1% of IRS income earners, get paid more than the President of the US, so how much more do I need?

I'm over 50, have had almost every toy known to man, my kids will be leaving college soon, so I am starting to wean myself from the office. More time to travel, less work, and more fun.

Mind you, at the end of my presentation I *do* give them the mindmap etc since they technically did pay for it, so I guess by not charging, you basically force them to either use you or have nothing at all?

That's correct. I'll pass up $997 to get 10k, 20k, or 30k+

Maybe you can touch on this a bit more?

If people truly like your ideas and then you hand them your playbook they may try and do this on their own, over time, or outsource it.

People want what they can't have.

Originally Posted by upgraded

Now the question I wanted to ask is:

AP, did I miss your Fact Finding Questionnaire?
I think I found this thread too late. If it's still up, do you mind pointing me to it? I tried to pm you about it but it turns out I have too little posts.

Once again thanks for all the life-changing info on here.

Best regards
Jonathan

At the Top of Page 22, post #1053 you will find ALL (3) Word Docs I posted.

I'll be adding a 4th Word Doc on Tuesday, so stay tuned.

Your welcome, now go help a business owner and make some money!

~AP

[jacquic]

Well, I have my first prospect to go and see in two hours. It is a referral picked up by my husband but I've said I'd like to go so that I can try out all the things I've learned on this thread. As I'm the one who likes to meet people, he was more than happy to agree :-)

Over the weekend I've put a sign-up form on our home page*, learned the Great Questionnaire inside out, added some questions from my own questionnaire, made the chiropractor report my 'own', started making an online questionnaire (aimed at finding out the local need/wishes for workshops), dusted off and updated a couple of my own ebooks...and dreamed websites and autoresponders all night. All I need to do now is fill in my own USP (near the beginning of AP's template).

I looked at my terms and conditions page, and took it straight down. For example, I had a phrase in it that said for jobs under £150 ($220 ish), money would be payable upfront. £150?! No wonder we never have enough money. I now know that should read at least £1,500. I need to rethink that whole page.

Thank you AP, Vagabond and all you others who have given ideas and suggested resources and videos (loved the USPO one). I have no nerves at all about the interview now - the next hurdle will be to get over asking for money from them and others. However, as I don't need to do that until I go back with a proposal, I don't need to worry about that today.

* Our webdesigner didn't steal our website, but I have a similar problem. I moved all my domain names across to another provider, and had a (technical) problem moving my main one...left it until the next day...forgot it...someone nipped in and bought the domain name the second it expired and then approached us offering to sell it for lots of money.

To me, that's the wrong side of moral, so I told him to stuff it. The world didn't end. It meant I really concentrated on getting the .co.uk version up in the search engines - more than I had been bothering with previously.

With respect to the gent who doesn't own his domain name, could he start up another alongside it and start optimising the new site. Eventually it will take over. He can tell all his new prospects and current and new clients exactly why he's doing it. They will probably sympathise and back up his efforts. Also, I've just been reading about 301 directs. I don't quite get it just yet, but would he be able to do those, or does that require access? A solicitor's letter may go a long way too.

Hey, it's snowing! So pretty. I know you have loads in the eastern US and Canada, but we don't get so much here. Time to start getting ready to go. Will let you know how it went, whether good or if I make any mistakes.

Jacqui

[robbiex]

Yeah... some real nuggets in here, I found some great tips... thanks

[leonardpayne]

Jacqui

Go for it girl!

Pace Yourself. Don't tire yourself. I'm thinking of ya!


Leonard
(Suffolk)

[leonardpayne]

Anyone in UK.

I know this seems like a strange question
but is anyone in the UK up for a breakfast or lunch together
to share tips/resources / general brainstorming.

Convenient location - Pay for your own lunch ??

PM me rather than clutter this thread up


Leonard

[AP]

Originally Posted by leonardpayne

Anyone in UK.

I know this seems like a strange question
but is anyone in the UK up for a breakfast or lunch together
to share tips/resources / general brainstorming.

Convenient location - Pay for your own lunch ??

Leonard

I'd love to join you but I'm across the pond. If you could wait, maybe 12 hours I could attend.

I haven't had any Fish & Chips with malt vinegar in a while. Nor shepards pie, meat-pies, or some bangers. I'd also like a Guinness or some Smithwicks.

Save me a piece of soda bread.

Enjoy anyways.

~AP

[Russ Reynolds]

Hi Guys..

This is a great thread.

I want to encourage everybody to take the bits and pieces
that work for them and build their OWN SYSTEM.

What works for somebody else may not work for you in your
area.

But the principles being shared here always work...

-find a target market
-give them what they want (more business)
-put a benefit laden compelling offer in front of them
-SWSWSW - Some Will (Buy), Some Won't, So What
-get plentyof prospects in your funnel (don't slow your
prospecting because you have a meeting or 2 lined up)
-follow up, follow up, follow up.

As has been said so eloquently before me - make sure
you are getting recurring revenue so you are not
suffering 'feast or famine'.

In order to earn recurring revenue you have to provide
recurring value - note that this does not necessarily
mean you doing a lot of work.

Lastly I want to stress again - take the advice given freely
from all of the people in this thread and take action. Once
you find what works, create a system so that you can
remove yourself from the equation as quickly as possible.

Pretty cool to have a 'local offline business' and run it from
a beach somewhere.

[Ron Lafuddy]

Dex,

Thanks so much for posting that link. The testimonials read like mini case studies.

Lafuddy

[nataliarocon]

This is One of best thread I have ever came cross up till now. Talks real business!

[Fernando Veloso]

Originally Posted by AP

I'd love to join you but I'm across the pond. If you could wait, maybe 12 hours I could attend.

I haven't had any Fish & Chips with malt vinegar in a while. Nor shepards pie, meat-pies, or some bangers. I'd also like a Guinness or some Smithwicks.

Save me a piece of soda bread.

Enjoy anyways.

~AP

Raining and freezing up there. Why don't you guys grab a flight and come over southern Europe?

Another update on whats happening over here:

Will meet with a customer to deliver 2 presentations:

1 - Market the hell out of one of his companies, right now it's just a money sucker but has all the conditions to be a winner, possible (more then) 40-50K new annual revenue as soon as I start working our systems and using common sense.

2 - Create a new brand, new product (from scratch - a physical product), ecommerce solution, all design, etc etc: ALL marketing. Possible annual revenue of 50K plus first year BUT since this biz owner has 2 other companies that I can use to cross sell (same niche market) the possibilities are huge.

I just need to get things going with him, I am sure revenue will go through the roof IF he allows me to go deep in these companies and start mixing cross-sales.

Not disclosing what's his niche market but take this example:

Company 1 sells: Swimming Pools. (the sucker, it's not marketed at all)
Company 2 sells: Swimming Pools construction. (this one is ok)
Company 3 (the new product I developed for him) sells a Exclusive Swimming Pool Décor and a new line of Swimming Pool Accessories.

You get the idea.

Fingers crossed, hope my mindmaps and strategy maps can CLEARLY and without doubts show him what he's missing for not taking my strategies and plans.

Fernando

[jacquic]

Originally Posted by Fernando Veloso

Raining and freezing up there. Why don't you guys grab a flight and come over southern Europe?

Yes, it's very tempting! Brass monkey weather here.

Another update on whats happening over here:

Will meet with a customer to deliver 2 presentations:

Excellent! I'm so impressed Let us know how they go.

[jacquic]

Well, I did it!

It was only 1 ¾ hours but I was very tired by the end. Using the questionnaire meant we were able to keep on track so the meeting was straight forward and interesting. Thank you, AP.

The prospect owns and runs a credit management firm which deals with the collection of overdue accounts in the commercial sector. Stresses they aren’t a debt collection company as the latter deal with bad debts, whereas he gets in earlier and gets most of the money back.


Briefly:

• He’s looking to expand turnover fourfold by mid-summer and to roll out across the UK.
• 8 employees, taking more on.
• Website URL is www.[hiscompanyinitials]web.tv! He is not to be found (yet) on Google and that’s why we were invited in.
• He has excellent database and tracking systems set up, and needs no help in that area.
• His sales staff work on commission and are very well trained in generating leads and following up with the sales. About 35% of prospects convert.
• A typical customer stays with them for 4 years and pays about £1,500 a year.
• They work hard on building personal relationships, unlike the larger credit chasing firms.
• If they can get to a debt that’s 15-30 days old, they get back up to 95% (they guarantee 80%). For that last 5%, they have in-house solicitors who proceed with fixed cost litigation, with 99% coughing up as soon as the summons arrives.
• He says a problem is in educating prospects as people don’t realise they have a problem until it’s pointed out.
• He very obviously knows his sales stuff. However, with web related issue he has no clue. He said, rather plaintively, that he thought having a website meant he would appear on Google. That said, he recognises the current one looks nice but doesn’t ‘market’ and he is having it redone.

Apart from the sales calls and his website, they do no marketing whatsoever, and have not spent on it.

They have no JVs, etc, but he’s happy to consider them.

I did as AL said, and didn’t give away any ideas, even when he asked. That was very difficult to do, so gave me an idea of how much we usually give away.

I did crack once and said it was essential he get his website up, even if only a page or two of simple stuff, rather than have the ‘under construction, come back later’ notice that was there. He agreed, and the old one is already back up.

I have lots of ideas around research and social marketing, reports, autoresponders, etc – I won’t list them here as they appear throughout this thread. I’m just still not sure what to do in terms of packaging – price and content for the set up and then the same for the following months.

I won’t see him until later next week. We have already seen a great keyword rich URL for him – should we grab it while we can?

Jacqui

[DogScout]

Hey CJ,
My post was not 'aimed' at anyone.
more showing how an 'off-line MMC' seems to be called for. I am not starting one, but would pay to be in one AP started. Someone mentioned being unable to afford 1200 a year to be in something like that.

My take on that is this thread is 3 weeks old and will most likely go one for another 3 weeks at least. In that time, anyone who hasn't landed a client they would not have, and/or for $1200 a year more than they would have landed it for previous to this thread, then joining an MMC will never do them any good anyway. Because it will be obvious they are one of those Vagabond mentions as never implementing anything here anyway.

If a MMC was started in the Kennedy style, with 2 months free, in 60 days anyone that is going to use the info, would certainly make enough more money than they would have to pay for the MMC for at least a year or two. Granted we haven't discussed much on what to do after landing the client, but it looks like that is AP's next gift to us. (besides, just using what IM skills you have and seeing the client's biz with a fresh set of eyes and common sense would make what ever you charged worth it to him/her.)

I live in a metro area of 5-8 million people with over ½ million small businesses and maybe 200-300 at tops are members of GKIC. So Vagabond's comment about lack of implementation is probably correct. That's the main reason the success rate of IM overall is only around 3%. Most people just need a job to be able to perform. That or at least a leader to kick their butts in to taking action. In most MMCs, the inspiration to take action and skip 'all my children' & 'Oprah' is the most useful.

In any case, my post was not meant as a personal dig at anyone or an attempt to begin an MMC of my own. As stated, it was something to 'think' about. There are very few with the ability to drip content for long in such a venture, and I am not one of them, I am one that will be solvent one. two, three years from now and will take action (as best as being in constant pain allows) and help some local small businesses with all aspects of their business and make every one I work with a shining star in their field. (have little else to do until General Hospital comes on at 3 anyway ... House's favorite show as well!) With that, I am going to take a round of the rest of thr forum and do some work on a site.

Until 3

[Fernando Veloso]

Things are getting better

While finishing tomorrow presentations just had a haha moment and decided to test a couple domain names with keywords my customer needs, just in case, since the competition is low, less then 1K results and mixed results of blogs, companies, forums... I can kick some butts there.

Well, the 2 dot com's for his most relevant keywords (ex: swimming pool construction AND swimming pool accessories) are available and have at least 1.5K unique searches per month.

Go figure.

I know these can be very useful for them for good rankings, branding, credibility development, etc. Possibilities are endless, even forums can be made in these domain names to bring more prospects to their sales funnel.

Personally I feel the right thing to do is talk about the good news, place them inside all fees and work them the best I can to bring more prospects to their sales funnel.

Your thoughts are appreciated.

Fernando

[vitto]

Feel like I'm getting my PHD in Real Deal Business ...
This thread + additional books = my Text Books.
Me taking action = my labs.
customer satisfaction+payment = my grades.

Update
Dexx & SB, If you remember I told you about a prospect (Dr that invented a machine which he sells to other doctors). well, I woke up this morning noticing that he had called and left a VM staying that "if possible", he would like to move forward with the marketing plan, please call back to discuss details.
And if it hadn't been for the post over the past few days talking about leverage (thnks AP, Vagabond007, Dogscout and others), I would have called back in the name of following-up since last week. I am glad that I didn't because he would ofcourse have the upper hand and I would be the pursuer, although I was very tempted.

I didn't realize how much passion that I had for this business (originally just wanted to paybills) until Friday night, I went to a networking party and I let people pick my brain and seeing how they reacted to the tidbits of information about offline & online marketing. Seemed like a really helped some business owners wrap their minds around interactive and creative marketing. I even got invited to speak at a conference (lord knows I don't like to speak in front of crowds, I guess thats why I joined TM).

Okay, so I'm not the smartest guy in this thread or this page for that matter, but I knew a whole lot more about online/offline marketing than the business owners at that party and alot of you guys know way more than I do.<---theres a point Im trying to make here

xlfutur1 Thanks for the heads up on bestjobs.ph, my wife is currently handling the process looking for one or two people to handle the SEO & Web Traffic generation side of the biz while I get deeper into learning and implementing strategies for truly helping these business grow from the inside out.

Funny thing is that I'm a certified professional coach, I coached troubled teens @ the Y and now I can use some of those steps, plus what I'm learning in this thread & the books at my disposal to help these businesses. Thanks

BTW, if we do move this thread, can we have our own section specifically dedicated to Offline business, so that way Q&A's aren't scattered across the forum?

p.s. I know, I know, I know, I know, I was kind of tired Tony Robbins saying it too, but
TAKE MASSIVE ACTION

Motion beats meditation - Gary Halbert
There is no wealth to be found in an idea. There is only wealth to be had from acting on an idea - DK Guide to Wealth Attraction for Entrepreneurs

with that being said, this thread is worthless if your just reading it, but its priceless if you start and keep on taking action. Yes I will say it til I'm blue int the face...

And for those that are taking action or are starting to take action, you too are an inspiration.

[Dexx]

Awesome job Vitto, keep us posted!

[Fernando Veloso]

Way to go Vitto, let us know the latest developments.

[bwh1]

Originally Posted by Fernando Veloso

I just need to get things going with him, I am sure revenue will go through the roof IF he allows me to go deep in these companies and start mixing cross-sales.

Fernando

I wonder why he should NOT allow you to do so - after all he wanna more sales as stated in the briefing !

G.

[Fernando Veloso]

Originally Posted by bwh1

I wonder why he should NOT allow you to do so - after all he wanna more sales as stated in the briefing !

G.

I know G but the big plan is to attacked wide, optimize what he has already and create sales funnels in 3 companies.

He's a focused man, hope he sees what I am trying to achieve here.

Anyway, just bought the 2 domain names for him.

[vitto]

Originally Posted by jacquic

Well, I did it! .....
I have lots of ideas around research and social marketing, reports, autoresponders, etc – I won’t list them here as they appear throughout this thread. I’m just still not sure what to do in terms of packaging – price and content for the set up and then the same for the following months.

I won’t see him until later next week. We have already seen a great keyword rich URL for him – should we grab it while we can?

Jacqui

First off congradulations!

This may be the wrong way of doing things, but I present the clients with 3 different packages.

package A - the minimum of what they would need to have some type of growth
package B - is what I would recommend if they are serious about the growth of their business
package C - is A&B + something extra - I do this package to make package B seem more attractive in terms of prices.

if you guys think this is the wrong way, please let me know so I can re-evaluate.

Hope this helps in terms of packaging.

[TonyDavis]

Originally Posted by ArticlePrince

I just launched this business 2 months ago, but I do forum posting and scoial media for them as well as auto responder set up and maintenance. I only have 2 clients, but I'm getting 1500 per month from one and 1,000 per month plus 10% of increased revenue. Working on getting more clients. Remember, don't charge based on how much work you do, charge based on how much your work will bring them.

I am curious about this business model... How do you know for SURE that they're paying you 10% of their increased revenue verses 10% of some arbitrary number? Do you get access to their books when they become your client?

Tony

[JRG]

Just downloaded MindJet on AP's recommendation. Pretty sweet program. I had freemind but it was clunky and hard to figure out.

Putting together some new mindmaps and making one big mindmap and file system of everything I have used in past, plus all the golden nuggets here in this thread.

I really do hope that many will do the same and take action.

I have been working from home for 2 years now and doing various things. Of those was Internet Marketing. Although I have made a little bit of money, I understand what I believe DogScout said, that IM has a 3% success rate.

Even if you learn everything there is to learn with IM, you still need to find the right niches or it will fail. It can also take a lot of money upfront sometimes to see enough results to tweak the project into success.

Most of the "overnight successes" out there were 8 year nights of hard work and lost money. The Offline niche has interested me since my first seminar I attended, because it seemed like it would have the quickest return.

Over the last year that is what has made me the most money. And believe me, in light of what I have learned here in this thread, it now seems like a joke.

As it was said before this niche probably has a 97% success rate and I would have to say I agree.

I will always keep my IM projects going but I would definitely say that doing this is the best way to fund those projects.

It is rough out there for a lot of people, including myself. But as AP said there is no greater feeling than waking up to fresh money in the bank. But on top of that it is a great feeling to know that money came from a business that is also feeling great about money in the bank.

One of the businesses I worked with (and undercharged ) is having an amazing year and it feels good to know that I helped that.

I am also committing to doing as AP does with his seminars and donating all profits to charity. It's gonna be a fun year!

[vitto]

Amen to that! I can finally take the fam to Disney World.

[Dexx]

Originally Posted by AP

Mind you, at the end of my presentation I *do* give them the mindmap etc since they technically did pay for it, so I guess by not charging, you basically force them to either use you or have nothing at all?

That's correct. I'll pass up $997 to get 10k, 20k, or 30k+

Maybe you can touch on this a bit more?

If people truly like your ideas and then you hand them your playbook they may try and do this on their own, over time, or outsource it.

People want what they can't have.

~AP

Hrmmm, I am gonna revamp my sales funnel now using this approach.

Before my goal was to get $997 for the mindmap etc. and then charge an additional fee for setup etc. when they decide to proceed...this way I got paid for my knowledge either way.

However that was a 3-step process: 1st meeting (initial questions), 2nd meeting (interview method), then 3rd meeting solution mindmap

Thinking it was better to do 3 meetings of 1 - 2 hours each.

Instead I'll do a first meeting of 3 - 4 hours: Intial Questions + Interview Cash method to truly build report and build a strong detailed analysis of their business, then schedule meeting #2 where I will OVERLOAD their brains with the marketing system solution as well as probably results etc.

This will include keyword research, competition analysis, etc.

I'll get them excited etc like I normally do, but then do a take-away of some sort, to truly make them want to take action now...

Either they pay for it all (including my monthly services) or they get nothing and risk me working for their competiton (knowing what I can possibly give the competition that would crush THEM!)

I think that's pretty powerful in itself...like being shown the ultimate weapon...and then being told that if they don't buy it...their competition will have that very weapon to use against THEM...yowza!


Then charge them a larger setup fee should when decide to proceed with my solution...

Without having access to my documentation etc. I guess there really isnt much fear of giving them "too much" information and having them run off an implement it...especially if I overload them enough to get them excited + brain spinning with the possibilities...

Definitely excited to try out this new approach, thanks as always AP!

~Dexx

PS - The tip on printing out the MindMap on a 3' x 2' roll (or whatever the measurements were) is golden!

I have been printing out the mindmap just on regular size paper which is pretty hard to see without a microscope (when fully expanded), I can only imagine the perceived "WOW" effect alone of unrolling a GIANT MAP of the marketing solution itself...

I might even take it one step further and literally make it a "blueprint" my making the mindmap a white font color printed on a blue backround!

Should be interesting!

[leonardpayne]

Anyone help with a question on Sales Funnel?

I'm familar with this in IM terms

i.e. Free >> $27 >> $47 >> $97 >> $197 >> £397 >> $995 >> $1997 >> $3995 >> Hand over your first born etc etc -- Different products.

What suggestions does anybody have to implement a sales funnel leading up to an Interview. AP (I think) said no interview until been through the funnel.

Any ideas welcomed

Blessings
Leonard

[vitto]

Originally Posted by leonardpayne

Anyone help with a question on Sales Funnel?

I'm familar with this in IM terms

i.e. Free >> $27 >> $47 >> $97 >> $197 >> £397 >> $995 >> $1997 >> $3995 >> Hand over your first born etc etc -- Different products.

What suggestions does anybody have to implement a sales funnel leading up to an Interview. AP (I think) said no interview until been through the funnel.

Any ideas welcomed

Blessings
Leonard

Here is one way

First contact via email or direct mail which states that you may able able to help increase the networth of their business (or something to generate curiosity)>>>>>
send them to website/sales letter in where you present facts & fantasies about the problem + how you will help them improve their bottom line>>>>
they opt-in and get directed to another sales letter or video which takes them down through the forest of things that may happen if they don't take action but before you can give them a possible solution they must first qualify filing out the form you emailed to them when they first opt-in.

check out Eben Pagan/David DeAngelo doubleyourdating.com, I think thats a good example.

[Rabs1979]

AP,

Would you recommend Perry Marshall's B2B Lead Generation System for this particular business model (offline consulting)?

Thanks!

[Jason_V]

Does anyone have a strongly suggested crm software?

I found infusionsoft and they look to be pretty solid for small business. Up to 25 employees and a database of customers no bigger than 500,000. Sounds about right with most of the companies the majority of us would work with.

I also just wanted to share an excellent free report they give out.

Double Your Sales with Infusionsoft.com

You have to give them your name, email, and phone number to get it.

They will then email you the report.

I have to say the report will benefit everyone reading this thread.

The CRM software looks pretty solid too.

They do a pretty good job of protecting the inner-content of their site until they not only get your name, email, phone but address too. (There's a lesson unto itself there)

However, I defeated that by putting this into Google:

site:http: //www.infusionsoft.com/ (make sure you don't put the space between the : and // I just had to do that bc the forum was giving the site name instead of the url.)

You can then see all the inner pages of the site. The report may even be listed there without having to give them your contact info. I signed up for the report before I did that search. I was reading the FAQ's and pricing and testimonials. Pretty solid. (They also love the residual income model, as you pay them monthly because the software is server based.)

As I said though, if anyone else has any better suggestions for CRM software, I'd love to hear it.

DO GET THAT REPORT, seriously, it will not only help you build your own business, it will help you build your clients business. I'm blown away by this report. If it were a WSO they could charge $47 for it. (Again there's lessons to be learned in what they do and what they say in that report for your own free reports. Even the layout is good to model.)

[Curleyjohn]

Originally Posted by JR Griggs

One of the businesses I worked with (and undercharged ) is having an amazing year and it feels good to know that I helped that.

I'm sure I'm preaching to the choir with this comment, but just in case it hadn't occurred to you....Bang the hell out of 'em for referrals and testimonials.

Originally Posted by vitto

Amen to that! I can finally take the fam to Disney World.

Congratulations to you Vitto. My 15 yr old has been wanting to do Disney for quite some time now. I just added a new goal to my list for this year with this comment you made. Funny how children can motivate quicker than anything.

Originally Posted by DogScout

Hey CJ,
My post was not 'aimed' at anyone.
more showing how an 'off-line MMC' seems to be called for. I am not starting one, but would pay to be in one AP started. Someone mentioned being unable to afford 1200 a year to be in something like that.

I understood what you were saying about this being in it's own category or a MMC and to be honest I do agree, as I stated in my post. To borrow a poker term, I was "steaming" for a moment and as they say, 'this too shall pass".

I felt that my posts about the topic were on point and not overly redundant but didn't take into account the reply's by others about the subject. It was meant to add to the thread and not detract. It's non an issue as far as I'm concerned, for there way too much learning to be done to be worried about trivial stuff.

If a MMC was started in the Kennedy style, with 2 months free, in 60 days anyone that is going to use the info, would certainly make enough more money than they would have to pay for the MMC for at least a year or two. Granted we haven't discussed much on what to do after landing the client, but it looks like that is AP's next gift to us. (besides, just using what IM skills you have and seeing the client's biz with a fresh set of eyes and common sense would make what ever you charged worth it to him/her.)

I would definitely do that. It's the up front out of pocket that becomes the hurtle for most anything like this. I'm sure that is true of some decent customers too.

In any case, my post was not meant as a personal dig at anyone or an attempt to begin an MMC of my own.

[Curleyjohn]

Originally Posted by vitto

Here is one way

First contact via email or direct mail which states that you may able able to help increase the networth of their business (or something to generate curiosity)>>>>>
send them to website/sales letter in where you present facts & fantasies about the problem + how you will help them improve their bottom line>>>>
they opt-in and get directed to another sales letter or video which takes them down through the forest of things that may happen if they don't take action but before you can give them a possible solution they must first qualify filing out the form you emailed to them when they first opt-in.

check out Eben Pagan/David DeAngelo doubleyourdating.com, I think thats a good example.

Good one, thnks. Added to my swipe file. Funny to watch Eban Pagen as Michael D'Angelo.