Do you think auto responders are cool?
Do you think it’s fascinating and “state of the art” that you can get ranked high in Google, get traffic to your site and build a huge, rabid list of people that want, need and desire what you have to offer?
Probably not… it’s my guess that’s old news to you.
You know what though – believe it or not – you’re a minority in that mindset.
Yes, there are thousands upon thousands of people who would agree with you.
But there are millions who would think you’re telling them about the next eBay or Microsoft if you told them about auto responders, Twitter and squeeze pages.
Do you know who those people are?
Local Small Business Owners
That’s right, the dude that owns the donut shop around the corner might look at you like your some techno geek the first time you start mentioning simple auto responders and opt-in strategies. But when you REALLY explain to him how “this internet thing” really works – he’ll think your the greatest thing since sliced bread.
And you know what, there are a handful of marketers that are taking advantage of these local internet marketing virgins – are you?
Here are what a few people in my sphere of influence are doing:
One guy in Florida is selling the “brain dead” simple service of setting up local mom and pops in Google local, Google’s simple local listing tool.
He does a really great job and ads photos and some interesting copy for each listing.
His fee: $200 for about 20 minutes work so he can do 10-20 a week. Plus, he uses an outside sales person on commission and never even sees the customer.
Another sharp lady in Atlanta sets up and maintains local businesses Twitter, Facebook and YouTube accounts then updates them from time to time.
Her fee: $175 a MONTH minimum and she has built up to over 100 clients in just a few months.
Do that math!
Lastly, this one really killed me. One of the more clever guys I’ve seen offers a “Who’s talking about you” service for local businesses that send alerts to the business any time they are mentioned online in a search engine, social media etc…
He charges $79 a month for his service and relies largely on the free Google Alerts and Twitter Search service for most his information. I don’t know his numbers, but he has 6 full time salespeople on staff and has had them for a while.
The BIG nugget to take from this… YOU are smarter than the local small business owners in your backyard and the time is NOW to put that knowledge to use and start collecting MASSIVE fees for it.
To Your Success,
- Jeff Vacek
P.S. Make sure you share your thoughts below if you offer a local service, have a question or just want to dump some thoughts on me. Don’t be shy…
{ 24 comments… read them below or add one }
Dear Sir,
Since I do not have a website, I don’t know what comments to pass it on.
I think you’ve hit on something!! I wasn’t a big beleiver on marketing over the internet or any marketing to be honest with you
until the past year. I’ve been on a few webinars and were amazed at whats being done. It makes so much businees sense.
The funny thing is I have a Consultant business that began in 1991.
Its done OK , we’ve always had work until the past few months.
This Economy is showing me what I lack ….MARKETING!! and if I lack it so do others. Jeff, Let me see what you got, won’t hurt to look!!
Aloha
John & Lori
Hello Jeff
I was wondering if you had more info on the poeple that you mentioned in the above article..
It would be nice to see how they do what they do etc?
do they have a website we can go and look at
THanks
Dazza
Great post Jeff. This is really an untapped market. For those who can go out and sell this kind of service face to face, what a super idea!
SURE WOULD APPRECIATE MORE INFO
great post
I’m desperately looking for more info on local marketing for internet businesses. I’m in a small community – and there’s so many Mom and Pop type businesses that only want to attract a local audience.
Can you provide any more info on this – or any resources??
thanks
Hey Jeff,
Thanks for the great post. Amazing that so many people have no IDEA of autoresponders, the power of constant contact and giving.
Like your examples also, I set up, maintain, and optimize social media and consult local businesses. Its truly amazing.
Thanks for reminding!
What else do we need(website etc). Need more information
Niches are where the riches are.
Defining what you do, taking it to your the niche you select will net you far better results than trying to be it all to everyone.
Great reminder of what diamonds can be mined right in our back yard if we want.
Great post, Jeff. I’ve been creating free local business directories in my area as a way to get a foot in the door with local businesses. I use Squidoo, so they don’t cost anything. I wrote several tutorials on how people can build Squidoo lenses for their business, but come clients contact me to write lenses for them (and I don’t even advertise that service!)
Outsourcing the “face-to-face” selling is a great idea Jeff! don’t think I’d particularly like that…:-)
Seeing a lot of activity like webinars and offers for coaching programs training us how to help local biz owners.
Definitely a hot topic right now…
Mtn Jim
Thanks for the info. I am into another type of mareting, but I saved what you sent as seems real valid and useful and when I get into the local marketing, I will use this advice.
Thanks
Jeff,
Thanks for this post, it’s an affirmation for what my business partner and I are formulating. We have a free seminar coming up in April on how business’s can use Goolge Local. We’ve also set up social accounts and website for our clients.
Thanks again.
Andrew Twidwell
Smart Think Marketing Group
Great concepts, simple to do . . . and rewarding.
Thanks for sharing.
Awesome post! Thanks Jeff. I’ve heard of this concept before, it sounds great.
Now if I could just take some action on this!…
I’ve heard give em a blog, set up a squeeze page, and build a list of leads for them, or that you can sell those leads to them.
I am interested in the topic of your post on “Helping Local Businesses with Online Marketing”. Do you have any resources that would teach me how to do this. Hopefully a course that is not going to cost me an arm and a leg. This economy is hitting many people hard, including me.
With the international nature of internet marketing we often forget to look outside our own door step for niches.
Off line marketing,yes this is a fantastic method that very little marketers use. Yes they must discover simple offline promotional tactics for any online business. Yes let me reveal simple offline promotional tactics for any online business. This is an exclusive teaching! Never before broadcast in this form. Get better explosure.
Derrick Fuller
Jeff,
i think you’ve hit the nail with the hammer.! very good Sir. the local side has always been left out for some reason. Hey, glad everyone is finially seeing a market that was forgotten and really
should not have been.
from the BIRTHDAY GIRL
ALL HAPPY HAPPY BIRTHDAY WEEK 
I signed up for the webinar on this subject but just found out i have to work that night (still trying to get the online marketing stuff going). I am very interested in learning more about this subject so i can apply it where i live. Any chance it will be recorded and available for download later?
Just found this great article! I’m busy doing exactly that.
Where I live hardly any shop has figured out yet how to do Google Places, much less any social media.
My website is all about the local area and I just put a flyer together offering my services to local business owners. Great stuff.
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recently bought a mobile marketing s/ware but realised many in my area in KL is also providing this sms service to the locals. i wanted to do a membership site that helps with a marketing campaigne but how we do these stuff. setting up the 5 core webpage, the membership site for monthly updates etc,
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