You already know how to install a blog.
You also know which plugins to use to make it functional and how to make it look great with a pretty professional WordPress theme.
You know which pages are must-haves on any blog.
AND you understand the benefits of blogging in terms of getting free traffic, as well as how to use PPC at the local level to reduce advertising costs.
So, why not make money using your knowledge to help businesses in your local area either set up a new blog, or improve an existing web site?
Surely, you've come across a few local businesses that could benefit greatly from your blogging knowledge.
I run across awful local business sites all the time.
For example, most of the small resort, motel and private RV park/campground sites I find when doing travel research are just downright ugly. Most of them look like they were designed in 1997 and haven't been updated since.
Here are two examples…
Typical errors that you find on these sites include:
- Fonts and font colors used are either too big, too small, bolded throughout, completely inappropriate or just plain awful.
- Site navigation is terrible or non-existent, and I refuse to hunt and peck to find either the current rate sheet or a map to the place.
- Sometimes the pictures do the venue absolutely no justice and probably chase potential visitors away.
- No thought is given to capturing free traffic through SEO. “Welcome” in H1 isn't going to bring visitors to XYZ Lodge in ABC county.
- There is insufficient information posted. Simply placing the words ‘fishing licences' at the bottom of a page with no link doesn't tell me anything about what fishing licence I might need to fish in that area, or where to get a fishing licence if I want one.
Those are just a few examples of how these local businesses need help.
Now here's an example of a resort site that was done right, and it IS a blog.
The blog is attactive and gives visitors all the information they might need, including a number of ways to contact the owners for more information.
Think about it.
How hard would it be to approach a local business and tell them that you can help them get MORE business by helping them improve their online presence?
Use your knowledge about blogging and blog design to make extra money helping local businesses improve their sites or put a blog online.
Interested?
Learn HOW to set up your freelance business as a blog designer / installer / builder, join Affiliate Blogger PRO and see the Grow Your Business section.
You'll find instructions on how to set up your business blog, how to price your offering and how to market to local businesses.
Thank you for this information and website. I think that with this economic crisis anything that has to do with helping small local businesses is probably the most important thing these days. Its not just about helping local businesses, its also about helping communities survive. Who knows how long this economic crisis is going to last? Small business need more help than ever before…Making money AND helping local communities and businesses at the same time… Its a win win situation. Thanks again.
It’s a very wonderful & informative site. People should always lend a helping hand to each other to make a money & help local business to bloom. Thanks for this site.
Wow, how’s that for thinking out the box. I am working on an article on “How you must diversify income streams to make success of business online today”… Something like that. Great article.
I am curious, if one does not know much about blogging and how to set it up and all, would this program that Rosalind has help beginners learn the business? I am wanting some kind of business like this. And, I would also like to know how to promote the business as asked by others. Please advise.
Thanks so much for your help,
Yes, this is very good idea using our internet skills to help local businesses offline to set up a new blog for them as our customers, or improve their existing website.There are many companies with no website or online presence. Thank you for sharing your idea.
Recently I was searching for the phone number for a local business, a mobile dog groomer. They had absolutely NOTHING online. I couldn’t find their phone number or any mention of them locally anywhere.
I had almost given up but I thought to call our vet to see if they had the #.
This groomer almost lost my sale, I wondered how many others she had lost.
Local businesses without websites are also potential customers for that reason alone. At $60/sale, it wouldn’t take much to recoup the cost of a simple site. We’ve had a lot of local businesses VERY receptive to our proposals.
Kim,
What a GREAT way to approach the dog groomer …”Hey, did you know you almost lost my business?” And explain why.
That’s why I did with a local diner here. Their website had two words on it “It works.” Can you believe it? So I asked him, “What works?” (Great opening line, don’t you think?)
Now we’re working on a REAL site along with having gotten him on Facebook. He’s already got almost 1,000 followers. Not bad for a small mom-and-pop diner in a small town in Idaho!
But I love the idea of approaching the dog groomer with that opening. What a wonderful opportunity for you …and now that I think about it, a couple more businesses have almost lost my business. I’m off to find more great opening lines!
Hi Rosalind,
Great post! I’ve been kicking this around for a while now because so many people keep coming to me to help them with WordPress. Now I guess it’s time to make some mula with it!
Question – to anyone – what do you think is the easiest way to approach a business? I mean can you really say, “Hey I saw your site online and it’s kind of 1997. I can help”. I mean I’m sure you can say that in a nice way but is it best to email or call? WordPress I can do all day. Selling to Mom and Pops? Umm, let’s just say I’m willing to learn.
Any pointers?
Merci!
Hey Sean,
I would definitely not tell them their site looks like it’s from 1997! Rosalind might have some better ideas but I just sell them the benefits of WordPress; easy to learn, easy to update. Better rankings on the search engines, etc. All the stuff you already know!
I hate cold-calling people, too. One method I’ve found to be effective so that I don’t have to cold call is to send them a hand-written letter (so they’ll open it) that says on the outside of the envelope, “I’ve got a great idea for your business!”. In the letter, mention you’ve got a better way to do online marketing or whatever you want to say to them, as long as you don’t tell them exactly what it is you have for them. Don’t mention your website or blog. Just give them email address or phone number. Their curiosity will get them to call you.
Whenever I’ve done this, I’ve gotten about a 30% return on investment. Out of 10 letters, 3 called me ! That’s pretty good for a “direct mail” campaign.
Good luck!
I love this idea. Ros: I need a little more knowledge on learning how to maintain and build my WP. Any suggestions as to some learning webinars or courses?
Hi Rosalind.
This is brilliant and I am going to post it on several of my sites, most particularly those that have to do with Virtual Assistance. So many VA’s seem to be struggling in this economy and this article should give them some great ideas on how to work in their community. Thanks!
Hi Rosalind,
I’m in YVR. Would it be better to go after local Vancouver shops or the shops in the suburbs? thanks,
I help local businesses do this and one of the great selling points I use is that they can control costs by not having a web designer update their site for them. It’s easy for you to teach them how to do it once the blog is set up.
Hi Ros
I do this everyday and it is a very easy sell. If a business has an existing site I build the new blog on a new domain and when I’m done I’ll do a redirect on the old domain.
I can then keyword optimise the new domain name based on local searches and those domain names are so much easier to find.
I have different packages $250 to set up the blog and $400 to set up the lead capture. I’m putting together a monthly package which will be around $200/mo for some backlinking, content creation, video creation, etc.
Most of it can be outsourced, which I don’t do yet… I enjoy the building too much 🙂
Have Fun
Ian McConnell
Your two “ugly” example sites are still up and unchanged. So somebody nearby them could maybe offer THOSE two a redesign! (Though I notice one is credited to a website design place.)
I’m too far away for those, but thanks for the idea. I actually am working at the moment out of my RV in a park with yet another ugly website! Time to present an offer.
That was interesting.. when I read your email it was like having a conversation with you. I was reading and answering in my head.. yes I do know how to do that.. and yeah.. I can do that too.
I have ads on Craigslist to do exactly what you’re talking about… but I have yet to go out and beat the bushes, which is the next stage since CL isn’t working out all that well. I get an occasional inquiry, but I haven’t contracted with any clients yet. In fact, I’ve been having trouble selling the affiliate sites that I already have for sale. It seems that people are afraid to spend money even to make money right now.
Having said that, I realized when looking at your examples that I am somewhat lacking in the design department.. do you know of any resources that could teach me better site design? Preferably free ones since I have very little money as a result of not having sold a site in a proverbial coon’s age. Btw.. how old do raccoons get anyway? 🙂
Cheers
John