I make more money selling my servicesonline to entrepreneurs and small business owners who want to create an online business.
But, if you think that eliminates me from being a REAL Internet Marketer, think again!
I get most of my clients via my online marketing efforts and NEVER leave my home. Not to market anyway. Frankly, I hate networking meetings, tried the “go by foot” method of visting local shops and, right now, I don’t even have any relevant business cards, flyers or promotional material.
I’m about to fixt that though so don’t copy me! It’s not something I’m proud of … just telling you, I still make money without doing all of this.
If you want to see something that’s similar to my online model, check this out … http://www.mainstreetmarketingmachines.com/cmd.php?af=615360
But in the meatime, let me tell you my story …
It was 2006 and I was sat with hundreds of others Internet Marketers in London at the 2006 World Internet Summit when Brett McFall, Co-Founder, made this statement … he said …
“There’s more money in offering services than products.”
Now, I’m not sure whether his message had such a huge impact because only hours earlier, Brett had dislocated his shoulder and was now standing on stage probably very much in paid, arm in sling and putting on a very brave face or, whether it was because I was already working with a few people but hadn’t seen the real value in what I was doing.
Anyway, whatever the reason, I heard that statement loud and clear and started thinking about how to package what I knew about marketing online and selling my services to others. By this time, I’d spent the best part of £20,000 (UK pounds) learning this stuff and that conference made me realize just how much I knew about marketing online and therefore, how much knowledge I had to share.
About two years ago, John Reese created a video and said that whilst he had advocated that people shy away from the Internet Marketing niche that in fact, there was a way to benefit in that niche … sell your services to local businesses.
I was encouraged that I hadn’t been put off by the nay sayers, but had carved my own niche within the Internet Marketing niche.
Soon after that, it seemed that everyone had some product teaching you how to make money online by selling to offline businesses and, I won’t mention the name of one of the products I purchased, but the sales copy went something like this … go sit with your local restaurant owner, tell him what you do and he or she will pay you thousands of dollars to up their business online.
Now in theory, this was okay, but the traffic method was to “go by foot!”
And yep … I did it!
I Spent days driving to some of the local high streets in Bristol, trying to sell my services to restaurant owners and local retailers but, thank God for my husband who said to me after a few days …
“Trish, you’ve been doing well getting clients online, just do more of what you’ve doing rather than getting despondent walking the high streets.”
Oh I love my husband’s common sense!
So now, I have my model, thought I was doing okay until Mike Koenigs comes along and tells me a) you could be charging more for what you do (I like you Mike!!) and b) you can sell your products to local businesses without having to “go by foot” (I REALLY like you Mike!) and c) you know Trish, I have an entire blueprint that will help you help more businesses without being overwhelmed and, without having to do it all yourself. (Now I’m loving you Mike!!).
If you’ve spent money “inteligencing” yourself in Internet Marketing but as yet, you’ve not seen a return on your investment because you’re having difficult making online as a “traditional” Internet Marketer, what Mike has here is your lifeline.
I’ll say no more, I just highly recommend you go check it out.
Over the next few days, I’m going to introduce you to my online business model, but for right now, I want you to consider this:
“There’s More Money in Offering Services Than Products”
It’s true and I’ve personally experienced it and, in my next post, I’m even going to tell you which world famous Internet Marketer said this … during a seminar I actually atteneded.
But, what if I told you there’s a way you can take what you already know about marketing online and team up with the best businesses in your area to make more money…
And you actually do it by HELPING people, not SELLING them! Hint about my model here …
I’ve personally purcahsed similar “Offline” money-making schemes before, but I have never seen anything like this and in fact I watched the webinar a few evenings ago and had to go watch it again since I was so awed.
One thing I have learnt early on in my Internet Marketing journey is that even if you’re new to marketing online there is no need to become an uber-expert guru to land clients and, if you’re in that category, consider how many people ask you for advice.
You can make money helping these people and this video will show you how and why.
Some months ago, John Reese posted an interesting article on his blog, where he asked the question, ”can you make more money by marketing to fewer people?” He goes on to explain why this is the best way to market your products and services online.
The logic behind what he says will still be ignored by the majority who market online
Why? Because in their view, the bigger the market, the more sales they are likely to make. But, when I see this kind of marketing, it signals “ameteur” all over the site and sadly, this same mistake is made by experienced marketers as well as newbies too.
You take the weight loss industry, a target market John Reese mentions in his blog post, in 2007, Marketdata, Inc., stated that the annual total spent on weight-loss products and services reached $58 billion, a clear indication that this is a big and growing market. If you read some of the articles about starting up a new business online, you’ll probably read things like “weight-loss is not a target market and neither is Internet Marketing.”
Well, I say these writers have a point, especially if you want to focus on organic traffic to get more sales. But, by targeting a smaller segment of that marketing, you could have yourself a winning online business.
Take Lisa over at Flat Stomach Exercises, whilst her site isn’t strictly about weight-loss, she has captured a segment of the weight-loss market … those who want to get rid of the tummy bulge. Most people understand that to lose tummy bulge, you need a combination of a sensible diet (eating habit rather than rabit food and low fat nonsense!) and exercise. Lisa combines the two and has a #1 spot in Google for the term “flat stomach exercies.” Now she can talk weight loss to these people!
I hope you’re getting a picture of what I’m trying to hightlight here.
Had Lisa attempted to go for the weight loss market, her site is unlikely to have made it to the #1 position in Google or anywhere near the first page.
When newbies and experienced marketers alike get less than satisfactory results in the search results, they give up. Fortunately for some of us, we listened to the likes of John Reese and instead of running from a particular market, we simply targeted a smaller segment within that market and by doing this, we can now shout “Bingo!” Wow, and I didn’t even gamble.
Seriously now, if you identify yourself in this or John Reese’s post, dare to be different than 95% of the market and go for a smaller niche or segment. This might be all you need to recession-proof your business and save it from ruin.
One of the biggest problems I face as an online marketing consultant is to get people to provide content.
I’m convinced that the myth of putting up a one page site to sell a product has permeated the very marrow of our bones that when it comes to blogging, we think the same thing is true. The reality of it though is that even if that was the case many, many years ago, it certainly is far from the truth today.
If I consult with a client that isn’t very technical but just gets on and writes, I always have the assurance that that person will go on to build a successful online business. Why? Because even if that person just keeps writing, they are a) giving the search engines something to work with and b) there are a myriad of ways that we can repurpose the content after tweaking and refining it if necessary.
Giving the search engines something to work with
Each time you publish a new post on your blog, so long as you have the appropriate pinging software installed, you automatically tell the weblog services or, update services as it is called in WordPress, that you have updated your site, inviting them to come take a look and see what’s new.
If the article you have posted relevantly matches what a searcher is looking for online, your post or page will appear to them in the search results and, if the url and description look enticing enough, they will click on the link to read more.
But, it’s not just about putting out a load of articles … no one wants to buy a dry boring book and likewise, no one wants to read a dry boring blog! You have to appeal to your readers by giving them solutions to the problems they are looking for and, in a way that encourages them to keep reading and, other bloggers to link to your article.
Getting other bloggers to link to you is like “word of mouth” marketing and, the more links you get from quality sites, the higher your search engine rankings are likely to be.
Repurposing Content
Repurposing content is a great way of “squeezing the juice” out of one piece of content. If you create 30 blog posts (articles) but you’re now struggling to come up with more content, go over all of your blog posts and see whether you can publish them in another format.
Here are 5 ways you can reuse or repurpose content once you’ve written it:
Rework your blog posts and submit it to article directories. See Steve Shaw’s article on how to rework your blog post to make it unique.
Make a podcast (audio post) from an existing blog post and submit it to iTunes, Odeo or the many other podcast sites. If you don’t have the necessary recording equipment, you can consider using Audio Acrobat which allows you to make your recording over the telephone.
Create a video from your article and upload it to the free video sharing sites such as YouTube.com and Google Video
Turn your article into a press release and then submit it to the relevant press release submission sites. You’ll find more information about this at www.prweb.com.
Open up an account with HubPages.com and rework your content for your hub. Building hub pages can get you great backlinks to your site due to the amount of exposure you’ll get from other hubbers. You must however write good quality articles … articles that get read!
I’m feeling myself wanting to go off into a little rant here about people who want to make it big online just because they have a blog with a few articles on it but, I’m going to reserve my “major” rant for another day.
All I will say for now though, is stop the crying and create content people want to read, watch or listen to! If you think about providing a solution to a problem, it’s going to be easier to write good quality content … solve people’s toothache, headache, backache or insomnia and, they’ll love you for it.
I perosnally don’t know of any book which made it to the best seller list with 15 pages (though I’m not saying it’s impossible) so why on earth do people think they can become an overnight success with 5 to 15 blog posts!
In business, effective time management usually equates to the saying “time is money.” And whether you’re a consultant, other service provider or online marketers, the one thing you get no more or less of is TIME which, is the reason you have to manage it well.
But do you know who your “time suckers” are? And more importantly, do you know how to manage those “suckers!” No pun intended – seriously! Just sounded good!
I receive the Coaching Compass newsletter from The Coach Training Alliance on occasions and one article I read recently was so profound that I felt it would speak to many of my readers as it did to me.
Apart from the effective time management element, the real question is whether you’re worth the value you provide and therefore, is your time worth more than you’re charging for.
Take a look at the article and make a decision today to value yourself more by beginning to value your time:
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Are You Undercharging? by Kendall Summerhawk
The topic of money can make even the most confident entrepreneur start squirming in their seat. What we charge seems to get tangled up with how much we value ourselves.
Our sense of self-worth and our rates are in synch with each other. This is why it’s crucial to take a good, hard look at how we spend our time and plug up leaks in our “money bucket.”
If you suspect you undercharge here are a few pointers that will help:
As change experts and choice architects, we Professional Coaches face two fundamental challenges:
Tip #1 – QUIT WORRYING ABOUT GETTING IT RIGHT
Worrying about what to charge chews up valuable time and energy you could be devoting to getting more business or improving your packages. There is no such thing as the “right number” to charge. More worry will only zap your confidence.
Tip #2 – START ‘UPPING’ THE VALUE OF YOUR TIME
It’s tough to command higher fees if behind closed doors you’re doing tasks you can pay someone else to do. It can feel like a stretch to pay someone for support when you might not be bringing in that much yet but you have to start somewhere.
Tip #3 – PLUG THE LEAKS IN YOUR BOUNDARIES
Letting people steal your time is like throwing money out the window. Client calls that go over time… the person who calls you with the request they “just need a minute”… or letting yourself be interrupted while working on your business.
It’s okay to have some doubts or even fears about raising your fees. What’s not okay is to stop there. Once you start changing your inner relationship with money, you’ll find it easier and easier to charge what you’re worth…and get it!
Kendall SummerHawk, the “Horse Whisperer” for Business, is a leading small business expert, a Professional Certified Coach and an avid horsewoman. She is the author ofthe new program, How to Charge What You’re Worth and Get It!See below…
Charge What You’re Worth
Take the guesswork out of setting fees (and quit caving in at the drop of a hat). You can quickly and easily charge 20, 30, or 40 percent more than you do right now. Follow Kendall’s 10 simple steps in How to Charge What You’re Worth and Get It! and increase your fees TODAY.
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I haven’t checked out the program but thought it only fair to publish that portion of the newsletter in its entirety.
But, if you are a local business owner, have you ever considered globalizing your local business? The Internet is the perfect medium for doing this.
It may seem strange that your local plumber or local greengrocers would want to go global but not only is this a great way to build credibility and get people talking about your local business, it’s a great way to recession-proof your business.
Unless you’re a large plumbing company or, you have a chain of greengrocers and a fair few staff, most of the day to day running of the business relies on you being present and fit to be able to manage the business. If for some reason you’re unable to work for even short periods, you don’t get paid.
On the other hand, by creating a downloadable tips booklet on say “Basic Plumbing Essentials” which you sell for $15 online, suddenly, people on the other side of the world looking for information on basic plumbing are able to learn from you and buy some of your experience.
So, now you may be asking ”why on earth would someone want to spend $15 on a digital product online when they can go find a good plumbing book at borders or better still, find some information for free online?” These are fair questions but the convenience of buying online is one of the reasons Amazon are so popular and, whether we want to admit to it or not, we live in a “microwave society.” Not that I want to encourage that, but people want instant gratification and if they have a plumbing issue, they want it dealt with NOW!
I’ve had conversations with local plumbers in the past and suggested they create a basic ebook with basic plumbing tips for women. And the reason I suggest for women is that this is a particular niche market (namely women) tend to be cautious about touching the plumbing works and, if they felt that a man was writing for their specific needs and understanding, they are more likely to buy.
The local greengrocer doesn’t have to sell his produce abroad (in fact he can’t) but nothing stops them writing a tips ebook or creating a series of videos on choosing the right fruit and veg for you, how to buy fruit, the health benefits of certain fruit and veg and questions to ask your greengrocer about their produce.
Taking these steps, not only ensure you stand out from your competition, it could be the start of your local business becoming a household name worldwide. You’ll never know until you take action though.
You may not find it as funny as I did, but I’m just amazed that during this downturn in the economy, few businesses seem to be doing anything differently. Everywhere you go, it’s these big red posters shouting “we’re broke, can you come and buy from us … pleeeease!”
I expect this kind of “BIG RED” ad from the retail shops, but I’m just shocked that this is ALL the retail banks can come up with!
And this is the same bank that will force you to take out a loan to cover your overdraft or else they’ll default your account, despite the fact that they know the only monies you receive are from benefits, since you don’t work. And NO, I’m not speaking about me … I don’t bank with Natwest.
I’m sure someone is going to want to shoot me down in flames for saying this, but whilst I feel very sorry for those caught up in the cross-fire of redundancies, I have very little sympathy for these big orgainisations who have been treating people badly for years and now the economy is biting their butts, they’re looking for the same people they’ve mistreated over the years to now come buy from them.
But worse than that, they’re using the same old tactics used by retail shops such as Matalan and Primark! And don’t get me wrong, I’m not knocking either Matalan or Primark.
The next thing we’ll be seeing from this retail bank is “Blue Cross Day.” If they do, I hope they can spin it off as well as Debenhams who in my view, has the edge when it comes to getting people into their stores.
If you really want to stand out from other businesses, it really is time to stand out … Be different … Be innovative … Be creative.
Blog Marketing is about getting more exposure for your business or for what you’re selling and it’s more than just about getting lots of traffic.
What’s the point of traffic if you can’t convert them into sales right?
In terms of blogging and blog marketing, my main focus is helping people who already have an offline business get their business online. So, the initial focus is on attracting more clients and, making more sales whilst we strategize for how to get passive income from information products, based on their service.
For weeks now, I’ve wanted to talk to you about one of the ways a client of mine is approaching blog marketing but, until now, I’ve had to bite my lip ….
Gavin Ingham of www.GavinIngham.com is a sales trainer and motivational speaker and since building his blog in 2007, Gavin has been consistently blogging and making his presence known online and then earlier this year after each show of Sir Alan Sugar’s “The Sales Apprentice,” Gavin sat down and wrote a review of the program for his blog.
In fact, I know that on one occasion, Gavin was so tired, he didn’t do the review and went to bed. He woke the next morning to about 25 emails asking “where’s the review of last night’s show?”
Don’t you just love it when your readers beg you for more content!
Anyway, I digress … As a direct result of Gavin’s reviews, two of the Apprentices have been in touch with him about partnering on a project or two. You can see Gavin’s post, The Return of the Sales Apprentice for more information.
The real point I want to make here though is that blog reviews extend beyond trying to make a quick buck from an affiliate product.
It seems to me that small business owners, entrepreneurs and independent professionals are still a little slow adapting to blogging and blog marketing. It’s not seen as a serious business building tool by some and others just complain that they just don’t have time to blog – these are generally those that don’t have time to build their business either.
Now, don’t get me wrong, if you’re marketing online and doing great with the online strategies you’re implementing, then blogging may not have to be a serious consideration for you right now. I will say however that I personally believe in the long-term, if your competitor is blogging and you’re not, you’ll lose out.
But back to my business of reviews …
I think Gavin’s approach of reviewing The Sales Apprentice program after each show was not only an excellent idea and credibility booster, indirectly, he was making more sales. He’s a professional speaker and he’s selling himself essentially in selling his services.
But, he didn’t need to litter his blog posts with links to products or even his services. He just provided an honest and frank review, gave away some great sales tips and not only do I know he has been booked for speaking gigs as a direct result of these reviews, he’s now been contacted by two of the apprentices theselves.
Dave Taylor of AskDaveTaylor.com told a true story of a lawer who didn’t have a blog but left a comment on Dave’s blog. The comment was read by either a news reporter or authority in a large organization (can’t remember for sure) but the result was that he landed himself in a very high position job.
One comment and no blog but one helluva reward at the end … can’t be bad for a few minutes work.
So, what business are you in and what can you review to get some more exposure for your business?
Is it the last book you read? Maybe the last ad you saw on TV, a seminar you attended or even a company review that would help your readers see you as a potential giant or even giant in your field?
As a service professional, you are seeking authority and credibility because people buy from those they know like and trust and I’ve proved over and over again that blog marketing works for getting clients and making more sales and isn’t just limited to selling $29 eBooks.
In my blog post Easier To Sell A Product Than Your Services Online, I pointed out technically, it’s harder to sell your services online than a product … so many will tell you anyway but most of my consulting clients are acquired as a direct result of my blog and, my services cost way more than the average information product that is launched online.
So, if you’re looking for more clients, if you’re looking to make more sales and if you’re trying to sell products, I highly recommend that you add blogging to your marketing mix sooner, rather than later.
It was refreshing to watch Andrew Lock’s first episode of Help My Business Sucks earlier today as he talked about the fact that Image Advertising is Dead.
If you don’t know what image advertising is, it’s what Coca Cola, Ford Motor Company and other large organisations do … they take every and any opportunity to get their logo in front of you and, they attach emotion to their logo by advertising their product in the happiest setting such as on the beach or work break time (Coca Cola and Diet Coke for example).
The problem with image advertising is it’s hugely expensive and the truth is, few companies using image advertising make a return on investment but yet, they still pour millions of dollars into advertising in this way.
If you’re a small business owner or entrepreneur, be warned …
Image Advertising is Dangerously Expensive to the Longevity and Growth of Your Business
I know most people are not going to want to hear that because this is what they were taught in Business School. I was too, so it’s not sour grapes! My MBA taught me little about “real world” marketing and depite spending in excess of £10,000 ($20,000) to earn it, it cost me much, much more to learn how to marketing my business both online and offline.
But I’m going to reserve my spiel about what it cost me participate in Image Advertising and the BEST way for small businesses and entrepreneurs to approach marketing for another blog post. For now, I want you to watch Andrew Locks’s video and take note of his 21st Century methods for marketing your business.
You’ll be pleasantly surprised that you don’t need an MBA to market effectively.
Over the next few days, I’m going to introduce you to my online business model, but for right now, I want you to consider this:
Some months ago, John Reese posted an interesting article on his blog, where he asked the question, ”can you make more money by marketing to fewer people?” He goes on to explain why this 
One of the biggest problems I face as an online marketing consultant is to get people to provide content.
In business, effective time management usually equates to the saying “time is money.” And whether you’re a consultant, other service provider or online marketers, the one thing you get no more or less of is TIME which, is the reason you have to manage it well.
In a previous blog post, I talked about 
Helpful Banking Sale..
Blog Marketing is about getting more exposure for your business or for what you’re selling and it’s more than just about getting lots of traffic.
It was refreshing to watch Andrew Lock’s first episode of 
