A Little Tip For Those Who "Rent" Local Websites

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Hey guys

It was only a matter of a few months ago I was getting into the renting out of local trades websites and I'm glad to say I've hit the ground running which is a great feeling! My overall offline internet marketing business is starting to take shape as well which is down to this forum and a lot of hard graft!

I've got a little tip for those who rent out local business websites and it refers specifically to increasing the lifetime rental time per website. When you secure an agreement with a local business and transfer of business details etc has been done, I've started to surprise the business owner with a batch of business cards emblazoned with their new website address and other business details.

This saves them the hassle of having new cards made to advertise their website on AND it ensures they HAVE to stay renting the website from you or face changing all their business cards... AGAIN!

It's a small tip but business owners love getting free business cards and it will really help to increase that overall lifetime value from each rental you get... leaving you free to chase additional rentals instead of finding new leasees for a site that's been given up

Any more tips for increasing rental lengths from the traditional 6-12 months?
#offline marketing #local #rent #tip #websites
  • Great idea but what happens if they already have well designed business card?

    I assume you are using someone like vistaprint and only printing a small batch.
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    • I don't have any contracts for my rentals, which I find most clients appreciate.
      I tell them that if they are not satisfied, just stop paying.
      As Jamie Garside (Gogetta) says, he has never had anyone cancel, so what's the use of a contract?
      • [ 2 ] Thanks
      • [1] reply
    • Maybe you could ask them kind-of under the radar.

      I 'm just thinking.

      Joe Mobley


    • Vistaprint ?

      If anyone sent me cards done by them, I'd think it an insult, throw them in the bin and probably move my business from you.

      I have never seen such poor quality crap in all my years of selling print.

      I agree with your point about them already having a nice card, the cost to reproduce and add a web address could run into £100 + and then you are leaving the client 1 of 2 options;
      1) Do they come to you for more cards etc in due course

      or

      2) They have to go back to their own printer and ask them to change the card layout to include the website address, which will probably mean a resetting fee for the printing.
    • Most of the time they do have their own cards designed and from what I've experienced most local business owners are on tight budgets and use Vista Print themselves.

      It's a case of surprising them by asking something like "Hey, with your new website up and running you're going to want new business cards, right? As a thank you, let me take care of them. Is there any specific design you want?"

      Something along those lines. Yes, you are out of pocket initially but in the long run it's another reason they won't cancel on you down the line
  • Thank you for sharing your idea in renting websites.
    I think it is depend on the website we rent...depend on the packages...
  • Always have a contract, it will save your ass if anyone wants to back-out or from any kind of lawsuit some crazy client will pull.
    • [1] reply
    • Set them up a facebook fanpage.
      Give them some review cards to hand out to customers - put a qr code with links to relevant review sites, ( also an apportunity to have a link to your services )
      Upsell google places services.
  • By J.M.Wilson: "...if you seriously don't know the use of a contract and you are running a business I would hate to be in your shoes..."

    By KaberC: "Always have a contract, it will save your ass if anyone wants to back-out or from any kind of lawsuit some crazy client will pull."

    Since we are clearly talking about "Rentals" here, enlighten me on the necessities of having a contract? What sort of the things would be mentioned? In the real world, I don't come into contracts with the month-to-month deals. It's the long term contracts are where I see them.

    As for Vistaprint, they are only as good as the designer.

    LastWarrior
    • [1] reply
    • Have you never rented a car? Or a house? Or anything for that matter? Practically everything we rent we sign a contract for and for good reason too.

      What things are mentioned? Liability, payment terms and dates, failure to pay penalties... etc.
      • [1] reply
  • Guys this seems to be going rapidly off topic. The guys wanted to share a little tip that he found helpful and now its become a debate about the pros and cons of a contract.

    Thanks for the tip, I will keep it mind in the future.
  • I just want to chime in here. Not taking any side at all, so please... if you're going to flame, keep that last point in mind.

    Now, about contracts. Although, 'ideally' I would not use a contract because I wouldn't have to etc - .... if the world didn't have the messed up people that it does.

    I am starting out with renting sites, and I do plan on having a contract. Maybe I won't even include anything about securing the client in for X period of time, but at the very *least* I would state the services offered on a monthly basis for the price paid - even if I am not going to ask them to stick with me for 6 months, etc.

    One day someone can just pull some crazy legal stuff on you and demand a refund because you didn't do this or that or whatever else they may have felt would be justified for the price they're paying, and without a contract they are pretty much in the 'right' because they can provide receipts of payments made, but you can't really provide any sort of proof of their prior agreement to said payments for said service.

    I mean, HOPEFULLY you never have to come to such a case/situation, maybe you never will.... but I am sure it will happen to someone, somewhere. Sure, this is only one example, but it is example enough for me to employ just a small, basic contract. I Just want to stay on the safe side, knowing I am getting paid for the service I am providing, and ensuring both parties are on the same level, not just through conversation, but on paper.
    • [ 1 ] Thanks
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    • Ok, now we're cooking with gas. At least that reply is straight forward and on topic! I can see that as an option.

      LastWarrior
  • so any tips on renting out sites ?
    • [1] reply
    • Yes

      Get a page one ranking for their main search term, print out the traffic stats and present them to the business owner along with a live demo of the website, going to Google and showing him his potential site showing up on the first page.

      Traffic doesn't need to be in the hundreds either... a website for a plumber I completed got around 120 visits last month from being on page one of "Town+Plumber"... 120 potential customers for a plumber...

      I use Wordpress and Thesis to design these websites and have a system where I can knock out a generic website in a matter of hours which can then be easily changed down the line to suit the person renting it.
      • [1] reply
  • No contract here, either. But I do email a memo of understanding to
    cover the main of our agreement. I ask for a reply in agreement.
    Much less threatening.

    To OP. Thanks for the tip.

    Hugh
    • [ 1 ] Thanks
    • [2] replies
    • In essence, is a memo of understanding not also pretty much the same as a contract? If things went pear shaped down the line could you refer to this and it would stand up legally, or not?

      I think it's important to have something in place to cover your back.

    • I am in Hugh's camp - this is the tactic I take with my offline clients as well as MY offline business.

      Unless I was offering a guarantee (which I do not) I wouldn't have a formal contract.

      But that is my policy.
  • To the OP's first post and the idea of gifting the client with a free order of business cards, I think it's a great idea.

    ...and you would surely have access to a copy of their LOGO so could include that design on the new cards....frankly, if they see their logo on it they will be happy...and appreciative.
    (regardless whether they have other cards or not)
    _____
    Bruce
    • [ 1 ] Thanks
    • [1] reply
    • From what I've experienced, they are always happy to receive anything that will help them grow their business or show it in a good light.
  • What a great ides :-)
  • How?

    If they stopped paying, they'd simply revert to their old business cards if they ever stopped using them and started using yours.
    • [1] reply
    • Let's say you're a plumber and you've given out a business card with a website address on it to a customer. Two years down the line that customer needs your services again and navigates to your website and sees it's a completely different company altogether with no sign of your business. What will that customer think?

      Local business owners are extremely paranoid about what people think of their business... be it friends, family or customers and if they have a website and they advertise that website they certainly don't want people thinking something is up if suddenly they don't have it anymore.

      It's just a small way to encourage the business owner to stick with renting (or buying if a fee can be agreed) the website instead of turning their attention elsewhere.
      • [ 1 ] Thanks
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  • Will you guys please stay on topic. Thanks
    • [1] reply
    • I think idear is great! Even for non local busineses out there!
      I am just wondering - when you make those business cards for them do you mention your own business somwhere? Like created by.....or copyrights.....or provided by....e.t.c.?
      • [1] reply
  • Any perceived free value-add to a client is nice touch. People love a freebie.
  • I can understand this from the business owner's perspective, especially if he/she is already showing up high on Page 1 with a Google Places listing which is free and (in many cases) they got without any effort. In these situations, saying you can get them on the first page of Google isn't effective because it doesn't offer them anything they don't already have.

    So it might be better to focus on the benefits they'll gain by having a website, rather than the positioning of that website in search engines.

    "You're business will be found by hundreds of people searching for the service you provide" is NOT a good benefit IF that's already the case thanks to Google Places. But explaining what can be put on a website that can't be put on a Google Places listing, for example, and how that content can attract more prospects and convert them into happy customers who then generate referrals, might convince them to rent the site.
    • [ 1 ] Thanks
    • [1] reply
    • Very good points here Bonnie,
      why try and reinvent the wheel and be seen to be offering then what they already have? I'd have to agree entirely that it;s the actual website they have that makes all the difference to the results they're going to pull from their Places GP1 position.

      OK,.. so they're at GP1,.. or let's say any client is on GP1 either via their own site, Places or a competitor,- what matters is the amount of leads and conversions coming from that otherwise it's kind of like having a 4 unit display in the first 2 category pages of the old Yellow Pages but having a display ad that sucks (seen plenty) and did nothing to entice people to actually call them!
      In selling it's simply a matter of finding the client's/customers pain and then providing the solution to that pain that they'll gladly pay money for and there's no hard sell involved at all!
      I really like your approach Bonnie... well thought out.

      Best regards,
      Russell Hall
  • Great tips and information
    • [1] reply
    • The clients I work with are a bit big than average. But I do have a few small businesses I have worked with. What I do is, I communicate with them via email, I make sure I use Google. If we agree on anything, I kind of, summarize things via email and then archive the emails. For those business owners, the email is the contract for me.

      I then send them an invoice. On the invoice, I summarise what I do and what they do and ask for MONEY!

      That's It. You will realize that it depends with the business and the type of customer you are dealing with. Some of them, you've got to create a simple contract and some you just send them an invoice and others you do a handshake deal. It depends!

      If you feel like someone is cocky, create a contract that will solve any future problems.


      As for designing nice quality business cards and promotional material for your clients to give them as a gift..........that is a clever idea. I do all sorts to keep my customers happy. I also believe in giving. I am always on the look out for things that will help their business to grow. If I find something useful or think of a joint venture partner, or an upsell opportunity or back-end offers, i notify them straightaway.

      I am their trusted advisor. Focus on providing real VALUE to your clients and prospects.

      Keep on following up on those who are showing you no interest.

      Keep yourself in their mind all the times. Let them know that you're around and will always be there for them.


      ***********************


      MONEY LOVES SPEED!
  • Hi Guys,
    Can anyone recommend a course that teaches this business model? I've a number of them but they all are expensive starting from $2000
    • [1] reply
    • Amaechi007,
      Everything you need is in My Signature for this Model, including the
      "How to hire Sales Super Stars Manifesto..." Which is guaranteed to
      take the guess work out.

      To Your Continued Success,
      Robert Nelson
      Mobile Fusion Texting
  • Great idea and I usually offer 1 free month if they prepay for 6-12 months all at once. I also set it up in paypal so that after the 6 or 12 months is up it starts billing them on a monthly basis. That way I dont have to remember to ask them if they want to renew. It does it automatically.

    • [2] replies
    • Good advice that, I've not tried giving out a free month in the way you have. I've toyed with the idea of offering a free trial month with no obligation to continue but haven't got around to implementing this yet.

      What I would say is that for the automatic billing I would be stating that emphatically to the business owner at the time of agreement to ensure they are aware that they will be billed after 12 months unless they cancel.

      Another useful reason for a contract to lay these terms out in a clear manner.
      • [1] reply
    • That is not a bad idea. I like the first month free idea.
      Im a bit curious, Dr. Dan. With the 200-400/month you claim to charge for your google love method, how many customers do you usually have at one time? Or is that number ever increasing?

      I guess Im curious if it gets to be too much work after so many clients.

      How many new customers do you add a month?
      • [1] reply
  • hi warriors,

    regarding renting of local site ( I suppose that is for a specific niche with a page 1 ranking), do you rent it to only one client, or were you able to get a few clients to advertise on your niche site? I have not done that but I am just wondering if clients would resist this as they are competing for attention on the same page - if the companies are located in the same city.
  • I rent one website to one business. Keep him happy. Over-deliver.
    Rinse and repeat. Now at a comfortable number. Don't want UNcomfortable.
    If an owner is unhappy, I don't want his money.
    Will use the freebie cards idea. Thanks.

    Hugh
  • You know I never really thought of renting a website. I imagine it can work wonders, but I just never seemed to try it. It seems to be working great for you so I may try it myself.
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    A Little Tip For Those Who "Rent" Local Websites

    Hey guys It was only a matter of a few months ago I was getting into the renting out of local trades websites and I'm glad to say I've hit the ground running which is a great feeling! My overall offline internet marketing business is starting to take shape as well which is down to this forum and a lot of hard graft!