Posts Tagged ‘offline business consultant’

Getting it right, right from the start

Any offline to online transition consultant knows that the future sustainable relationship with a client depends on understanding the needs and expectations of the business actually in the process of transitioning from the offline world to the Internet.  It is extremely important to ensure that the right virtual presence is created.  Without a proper base from which to grow, no matter how flashy the site, the traffic will just not be able to sustain itself profitably.

The first and most basic task is to identify the actual needs of the business. If the focus is on the local community, and the business’s perceived role within it, there is no need to try to drive traffic from the ends of the world.  Similarly, any business that sells physical products strictly on reduced price structure has no real need to develop the persona of an expert in a given field.

But there are many times where the business is actually looking to expand and redefine itself in the process.  The Internet offers a wonderful opportunity to develop a “persona” that is completely different from the brick and mortar store setting.  In this case, the vehicle used to promote the expertise is much different from one that is displaying pure price point.

There are lots of ways to promote on the Internet, but the Home page is the most important.  The choice between blog and more standard website is critical.  Although a combination of both is often used, it is the focus of the development on one or the other that can spell the difference between success and failure.  As a general rule of thumb, if the information to be delivered is of a mainly static sort, maybe the business only desires an electronic business card.  Then the choice of the more standard website, with its ability to influence the way the pages are viewed in a somewhat structured way with the proper selection of menus and buttons, is usually the best way to offer exposure.

When the client has the requirement to build an aura of expertise, or a personality of sort is required, then this is most efficiently provided through the use of the blog format.  The blog is much less static and offers the ability to create a “web star” and hordes of followers.  This is something the more traditional website would have a difficult time providing.

You can have the best graphics and copy writing skills, but if the original platform for delivering the message is not appropriate, leading to a confused message and experience, serious problems will surface.  Even the best designed site will have problems delivering the original expectations of the contract if the experience is wrong.  Getting it right, right from the start is often the difference between success and failure in any project.

How To Add A New Dimension To Your Internet Marketing

Internet marketing is both a fascinating and frustrating activity in which to be involved.  The fascination arises because of the different skills that one has to acquire in order to be on top of the game as well as the challenges presented by the rapidly changing scenarios on the internet.  The frustration arises because of fierce competition and the constant battle to get growing streams of traffic to your website(s).

Therefore it is important to be on the lookout for new opportunities where you can beat the competition by being ahead of them.  The purpose of my article today is to alert you to a new field of opportunity where, if you take advantage of it, you will find a source of untapped riches that will swell the coffers of your bank account.  I am talking about being a consultant to offline businesses.

Do you realize that in the USA over 50% of small businesses do not have an online presence?  It is also reasonable to assume that the situation is very similar in other major countries.  The percentages may vary, but the real point to understand here is that there is a huge market waiting to be shown how to improve their businesses.

In addition to the above scenario you also need to realize that where small businesses do have a web presence, it is often ineffectual.  In other words, it is not bringing about increased business.

When you put those two scenarios together then you have a great opportunity to take your internet marketing to a new dimension.  You can become a consultant to offline businesses and to those businesses that have a website that doesn’t help generate new customers.

Consider for a moment this new dimension and what the needs of your prospective clients might be.

• They will need a website that is search engine optimized so as to bring in the maximum search traffic

• They will need a website that captures the email addresses of visitors so that there can be follow-up campaigns to convert those visitors to customers

• They will need an auto-responder that will send out the follow-up messages

• They will need a marketing plan for their business

• They will need advice about other tools and resources that may assist in the growth of their business.

For example, using videos on squeeze pages and sales pages.

Can you see the opportunities provided by this new dimension?

The opportunity is undoubtedly there and you need to get yourself organized and begin taking advantage of it.  It has been calculated that the scenarios I have outlined represent a multi-billion dollar industry.  It is therefore crucial to get organized and get in early and procure your share of this growth industry – online consulting to offline businesses.