Seeking Expert Sales Points - How do I approach local businesses to do their website

[rufryder]

I would like to approach a for profit org via email to redesign their website since it is very much outdated and I mean back from early 90's. They do not invest the money in their tech area, systems, web sites, etc. How can I approach them by email to sell the services of redesigning their website without providing them with any portfolio?

What can be the selling points? Tips? Sales pitch? etc..? It is somewhat of shot in the dark but some sort of a template that I can use to send it out them?

thank you for your help.

 

[rufryder]

36 views and no assistance?

 

[kiore]

36 views and no assistance?

I was going to be #37 It's outside my area of expertise, but email probably isn't the best way to approach them. My fiance is a custom baker & gets several approaches a month from people offering web redesign or SEO to "get her on the front page of google" (She's already on the front page of Google), they go straight in the spam folder; your target business probably gets the same.

If they really are local businesses, why not pick up the phone and call them? You can suggest meeting them to discuss their web presence. Small businesses that aren't geeks really like the face-to-face.

 

[rosy]

As you are saying that they are local in business then it will not good to approach to them by mail.
I suggest you that you must either make a call or fix a business meeting with any senior personal of their....................
And also as you are saying that they didn't spend much money then you can make a frame of website design and can apply to it on as many websites only by changiing some of the contants.That will be cheaper for themand you will get a client

 

[Chuck Williams]

Dude, its all about ROI, Return On Investment.

First you hurt them. Find their competition... take a screen cap of their website, print it, in color. Do the same with theirs. Ask them, if you were a prospective customer, which company looks MORE PROFESSIONAL? Which one looks MORE MODERN? Where would you DO YOUR BUSINESS?

Seriously, if you walked in there with dreadlocks, jeans, and a holy t-shirt, you would have never gotten the meeting. But you have a nice haircut, a great smile, and a suit. Presentation. You never get a second chance to make a first impression.

After you hurt them, you HEAL them. Since you do not have a portfolio, you are NOT in a position of power. You have no leverage. Frankly, you might be a GREAT programmer, but a terrible designer. You might have a great design skill, but no sense of SEO. You might know design, and SEO, but have no clue how to effectively design to translate into SALES.

So why would I buy from you?

Maybe because you are willing to do it for free? Or maybe you say "I'll redesign your site, no strings attached, and then we can discuss what you think the work is worth". Or possibly, the site is free, and then we can discuss a maintenance contract to keep it fresh.

Once you have a portfolio, recommendations, and raving fans... then you can start asking for real money... until then, you've got to cut your teeth somewhere.

 

[liquidcherry]

Dude, its all about ROI, Return On Investment.

First you hurt them. Find their competition... take a screen cap of their website, print it, in color. Do the same with theirs. Ask them, if you were a prospective customer, which company looks MORE PROFESSIONAL? Which one looks MORE MODERN? Where would you DO YOUR BUSINESS?

Seriously, if you walked in there with dreadlocks, jeans, and a holy t-shirt, you would have never gotten the meeting. But you have a nice haircut, a great smile, and a suit. Presentation. You never get a second chance to make a first impression.

After you hurt them, you HEAL them. Since you do not have a portfolio, you are NOT in a position of power. You have no leverage. Frankly, you might be a GREAT programmer, but a terrible designer. You might have a great design skill, but no sense of SEO. You might know design, and SEO, but have no clue how to effectively design to translate into SALES.

So why would I buy from you?

Maybe because you are willing to do it for free? Or maybe you say "I'll redesign your site, no strings attached, and then we can discuss what you think the work is worth". Or possibly, the site is free, and then we can discuss a maintenance contract to keep it fresh.

Once you have a portfolio, recommendations, and raving fans... then you can start asking for real money... until then, you've got to cut your teeth somewhere.

Great advice Chuck, repped you!

Cheers

Liquid

 

[Chuck Williams]

Great advice Chuck, repped you!

Cheers

Liquid

I appreciate that!

 

[nielsencl]

When I first started my SEO business, I spent quite a bit of time finding sites, looking to see if and how the site was optimized, and since most sites back then were NOT optimized at all, I wrote up a short report by hand and started sending it to people. What I said was true and although I had only been doing SEO for a couple of years, I was pretty good and knew that I could increase their traffic 2-4 times from what they were getting, at least.

It was quite a learning experience. Most people didn't respond, and of the few that did, most were upset that I should criticize their fine web site...!!!

After that bad experience, I spent more time doing SEO for my site and started posting in forums a lot. I didn't spam, I just posted messages and answered questions and had a nice signature to my site. That worked well and I started to get more business.

If you can't do or afford SEO for your site, you are going to have to use other methods to get clients. Calling and trying to find contacts at a company is a great suggestion. Joining the local Chamber can be good, and going to local trade fairs can really let you meet many people quickly. Doing some free sites for non-profits can also put you in touch with more people and show off your work for years to come.

I hope this helps. There are many, many ways to promote your business, but I recommend you try to put yourself into the path of those looking for what you offer, rather than trying to lead then down your path.

 

[jenture]

As you are trying to help your business flourish locally, as of now, I think that it will be a very good thing to advertise about your services in your locality, for instance distributing some pamphlets, an ad in a newspaper or some other means where you can find more traders lurking. You should adopt an advertising method keeping the target audience in mind, as this will help you have a better impact.

 

[domainstaff]

Dude, its all about ROI, Return On Investment.

First you hurt them. Find their competition... take a screen cap of their website, print it, in color. Do the same with theirs. Ask them, if you were a prospective customer, which company looks MORE PROFESSIONAL? Which one looks MORE MODERN? Where would you DO YOUR BUSINESS?

Seriously, if you walked in there with dreadlocks, jeans, and a holy t-shirt, you would have never gotten the meeting. But you have a nice haircut, a great smile, and a suit. Presentation. You never get a second chance to make a first impression.

After you hurt them, you HEAL them. Since you do not have a portfolio, you are NOT in a position of power. You have no leverage. Frankly, you might be a GREAT programmer, but a terrible designer. You might have a great design skill, but no sense of SEO. You might know design, and SEO, but have no clue how to effectively design to translate into SALES.

So why would I buy from you?

Maybe because you are willing to do it for free? Or maybe you say "I'll redesign your site, no strings attached, and then we can discuss what you think the work is worth". Or possibly, the site is free, and then we can discuss a maintenance contract to keep it fresh.

Once you have a portfolio, recommendations, and raving fans... then you can start asking for real money... until then, you've got to cut your teeth somewhere.

Just awesome stuff, Chuck, thanks!!!!!!:bingo:%%-