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-   -   So, from the brainstorming session...you can DO or you can SELL (http://www.sowpub.com/forum/showthread.php?t=8064)

GordonJ April 15, 2012 12:31 PM

So, from the brainstorming session...you can DO or you can SELL
 
Drive into a town and DO something OR SELL something.

There probably is some selling on what you DO...but let's look at the ideas.

IF you are going to be around the town, or if you have a product you can send to people...there are lots of possibilities.

You can clean HEADLIGHTS. DO something. You could approach the car dealers in this unknown town to see if you could clean some headlights. At 50 bux a pop, you'd have to do 10 in a day (very doable).

OR you could find one or two auto related businesses to TEACH them how to clean HEADLIGHTS. See? 10 sales vs 1 or 2.

You could do fantasy photos. OR teach the local photog to DO them, and charge him 500 bux for this add on profit center.

You could sell something, like MOOD rings in bulk to retailers.
OR you could sell PROGRAMS, like advertising programs.

The challenge was to drop into an unknown place and come away at the end of the day with 500 bux.

NOW...

Most of us are NOT going to be traveling...and we KNOW the area we live in.

So, let's take some of these ideas and try to apply them so you can still make 500 bux a day BUT, to do it day after day in your area.

Selling ADVERTISING specialties or ad programs to businesses could be one way to do it. IF you are a salesperson or IF your offer is unique, or you have something of value.

Despite what a couple of people CLAIM, they did not invent this business opportunity. One of the first things Ben Franklin did when he started his publishing businesses was to find ADVERTISERS.

Businesses need customers, PERIOD. Customers are people. People have to know about the business...so advertising of some form has been around for a very long time.

AND, you'll find very few NEW things, except as technology advances and what happens is the new technology builds off of OLD world ways.

The MOBILE ads on phones, not unlike the FAX or Telephone. It won't be long until there is a bill or legislation that gives you the OPTION of receiving coupons or offers...you will have some say in what comes over your smart device...but until then, it is the FAX all over again.

But advertising is only one of several of the so-called Evergreen methods.

I prefer the term PARADE OF LIFE over the so-called Evergreen method...which simply says that people have different needs as they go through life...likewise a business may have POL needs.

A new business is different than a 20 year old established biz.

A more mature biz, perhaps doesn't need new customers, maybe they are ready to sell the biz.

But don't forget the PEOPLE, and by that I mean you can sell to individuals too, not just businesses. MOST towns require you have some sort of business license and if you go door to door, sometimes either a temporary vendor's license or registration is needed.

Still knocking on doors is a viable way to do a business. Home improvement offers, often into the thousands of dollars are still being done door to door.

But, as was pointed out with the POTATO PEELER, you can sell to individuals in "bulk" via DEMONSTRATION...something I've done for most of my life.

It is, in fact (for most trained salespeople) easier way to sell multiples.

Let's continue the discussion on ways to make our 500 bux a day, and this time there are NO constraints.

I'll start by asking a few questions.

Do you ever encounter DEMO people in your area? Where? In stores?

Events? Fairs?

On Saturdays in many grocery stores you can find people doing food demos, which work.

At events, like Italian Festivals, you can find people doing demos of all kinds.

And along with YOU witnessing any demonstrations of products....

WHO has knocked on your door recently and what were they selling?

I expect this discussion to yield some gold as we tap into the mine shafts or our varied experiences.

So, what have you seen demonstrated? And did you buy?

What was being offered by a door to door person?

And, what, if any, IMPULSE or Point of Purchase POP item did you buy either for yourself or for someone else?

Thanks for all your participation on this subject, we'll all benefit as more and more ideas are revealed.

Gordon Jay Alexander

Phil April 15, 2012 05:41 PM

Re: So, from the brainstorming session... Tools & Golden nuggets of the Trade...
 
With ''Lots'' of Great [related] resources to Help Figure out things Ahead of Time...

Exactly when... What Time etc. etc...

To be Released & Dropped out Of Those Flying/Landing type Toys, Parachutes and into misc. Never-ending Opportunities, ideas, Networking and Connections...

Keep in Mind, you Don't always have to Do it All by yourself...

Years ago, there were some Excellent SowPub threads All About joint venturing, Cross Promotions/Promoting with other Businesses who Were/Are already Attending Many of these Events? Fairs?...

Also, those Who Might not be able to Afford Access into Many of these Shows...

Can still {Participate} by Becoming An Event? Fair? Professional Floor Walker... :cool:

Very Affordable Access...

Amazing at What you Can Market, Sell, Network and Wheel & Deal along With All Kinds of other Very interesting Connections & Financial Benefits and A Hole lot more... ;)

Quick little Example to Get the Process Started...

Trade Show Directory : Exhibitions, Conferences & Trade Shows ...

Directory of Trade Fairs, Conferences & Trade Shows Worldwide with a comprehensive Trade Shows Classification. Information on 1,000's and 1,000's of Trade shows and [related] Events...
https://www.google.com/search?q=trad...1 486&bih=698

All the Best...

Phil

Randy April 16, 2012 11:45 PM

Re: So, from the brainstorming session...you can DO or you can SELL
 
Phil as you mentioned ... years ago there were so many creative ideas flying around SowPub if a person could not find something to get excited about and earn some money with ... their wood was wet.

There were a lot of really good ideas and from many sharp people such as are here today. Matter of fact some from that era are still here ... some sadly have passed.

It had been a while since I had been here and when I come in the other day it was a breath of fresh air to come into another brainstorming session like we used to have. It looks like I have a lot of catching up to do so will be checking out some of the ideas that have been shared here in the past few months.

Most of my work has still been advertising as it was in the past but of course much of that has shifted to the internet but print media is still alive in its many and varied forms.

I originally left because I found myself spending too much time on the forum and not enough time actually getting any work done. :) Then life happened with some health issues, etc. so now I am in need of some fresh new ideas which is why I found my way back. Some of the sharpest people I know are plugged in right here. Iron sharpens iron if I recall correctly. :)

As I learn some new ideas hopefully I'll be able to share some experience along the way to benefit others here.

Duane Adolph April 17, 2012 01:26 AM

17 Year Old Kid JUST Knocked on my door and he was selling...
 
Hey Gordon,


He says "YOU could do the same thing you know?"


Get this. After our Sowpub brainstorm session. Last week my door bell rings and a 17 year old student starts to "pitch me" on his services.

His pitch was not the greatest. He started saying something to the effect of.


"Hi My name is Aaron and I am with Aaron Professional Services. We are a registered business and we are offering..." etc. etc.


I was a little distracted as he spoke because:
1. He had interrupted me while I was working on a project and
2. He had 2 younger kids behind him a young girl and a boy about 8-10 years old. They were Playing in the background. YES on my lawn!

So I kinda stopped him and said. "WAIT A MINUTE" is this YOUR OWN BUSINESS?

and he said. "YES"

Hearing that I gave him a LOT more attention. He proceeded to tell me about his business and that he needed to make some CASH.

We spoke for over 45 MINUTES, partly by Quizzing him and Consulting him as to how I could be of service.

He was Selling 2 Services

1. Car Washing (Interior and Exterior)
2. Lawn Care Services

He had a basic flyer i.e a white sheet of paper with the following words
on top CAR WASH ( I have the actual flyer in case anybody wants to see what else was written)

I unfortunately do not recall the specific pricing details, as I was not buying. I think he was charging $35 for the Car wash.

I started to tell him how and why he should NOT call it a "Car Wash" because a car wash frames the value proposition at about $7 bucks, which makes his price seem ridiculously HIGH. Instead he should call it "Car Detailing" which would frame it as a $200-$400 value and thus his asking price would seem low....And Blah Blah Blah Blah.

I STOPPED myself, and Just asked him POINT BLANK.

DUDE Is ANYBODY BUYING this and Which Service Are they Buying??

That was when he pulled out his Sheet of paper.

...
...
It was HALF Full, so about 15 names, address, and phone numbers. And I think he may have been asking for some cash upfront. NOT SURE about that one. However, I was SHOCKED.

But that was not all.

He proceeded to tell me that he had ANOTHER PAGE That was ALREADY FULL of names.aka. $$$

WOAH!!

He says to me "YOU could do the same thing you know?"

This "Kid" proceeded to tell me about how he made $4k last summer doing lawn irrigation? the one with the machine and you put holes in the lawn.

The point of the story was that this "Kid" was out there making money. I was so impressed. So much more to the story about his background, and his "other" activities (college pro painters, telemarketing, and a SWAT team... but those are just background info)

I'll end with this in regard to ANY Sowpub.com idea ...

"YOU could do the same thing you know?"


Quote:

Originally Posted by GordonJ (Post 30603)
Drive into a town and DO something OR SELL something.

There probably is some selling on what you DO...but let's look at the ideas.

IF you are going to be around the town, or if you have a product you can send to people...there are lots of possibilities.

You can clean HEADLIGHTS. DO something. You could approach the car dealers in this unknown town to see if you could clean some headlights. At 50 bux a pop, you'd have to do 10 in a day (very doable).

OR you could find one or two auto related businesses to TEACH them how to clean HEADLIGHTS. See? 10 sales vs 1 or 2.

You could do fantasy photos. OR teach the local photog to DO them, and charge him 500 bux for this add on profit center.

You could sell something, like MOOD rings in bulk to retailers.
OR you could sell PROGRAMS, like advertising programs.

The challenge was to drop into an unknown place and come away at the end of the day with 500 bux.

NOW...

Most of us are NOT going to be traveling...and we KNOW the area we live in.

So, let's take some of these ideas and try to apply them so you can still make 500 bux a day BUT, to do it day after day in your area.

Selling ADVERTISING specialties or ad programs to businesses could be one way to do it. IF you are a salesperson or IF your offer is unique, or you have something of value.

Despite what a couple of people CLAIM, they did not invent this business opportunity. One of the first things Ben Franklin did when he started his publishing businesses was to find ADVERTISERS.

Businesses need customers, PERIOD. Customers are people. People have to know about the business...so advertising of some form has been around for a very long time.

AND, you'll find very few NEW things, except as technology advances and what happens is the new technology builds off of OLD world ways.

The MOBILE ads on phones, not unlike the FAX or Telephone. It won't be long until there is a bill or legislation that gives you the OPTION of receiving coupons or offers...you will have some say in what comes over your smart device...but until then, it is the FAX all over again.

But advertising is only one of several of the so-called Evergreen methods.

I prefer the term PARADE OF LIFE over the so-called Evergreen method...which simply says that people have different needs as they go through life...likewise a business may have POL needs.

A new business is different than a 20 year old established biz.

A more mature biz, perhaps doesn't need new customers, maybe they are ready to sell the biz.

But don't forget the PEOPLE, and by that I mean you can sell to individuals too, not just businesses. MOST towns require you have some sort of business license and if you go door to door, sometimes either a temporary vendor's license or registration is needed.

Still knocking on doors is a viable way to do a business. Home improvement offers, often into the thousands of dollars are still being done door to door.

But, as was pointed out with the POTATO PEELER, you can sell to individuals in "bulk" via DEMONSTRATION...something I've done for most of my life.

It is, in fact (for most trained salespeople) easier way to sell multiples.

Let's continue the discussion on ways to make our 500 bux a day, and this time there are NO constraints.

I'll start by asking a few questions.

Do you ever encounter DEMO people in your area? Where? In stores?

Events? Fairs?

On Saturdays in many grocery stores you can find people doing food demos, which work.

At events, like Italian Festivals, you can find people doing demos of all kinds.

And along with YOU witnessing any demonstrations of products....

WHO has knocked on your door recently and what were they selling?

I expect this discussion to yield some gold as we tap into the mine shafts or our varied experiences.

So, what have you seen demonstrated? And did you buy?

What was being offered by a door to door person?

And, what, if any, IMPULSE or Point of Purchase POP item did you buy either for yourself or for someone else?

Thanks for all your participation on this subject, we'll all benefit as more and more ideas are revealed.

Gordon Jay Alexander


SteveSki April 18, 2012 01:27 AM

Re: 17 Yr Old Kid Knows The Secret!
 
Knock and doors of opportunity will open... Ask and you shall receive... The only ones not making money are those to lazy to knock (do) and / or to shy or afraid to (sell) ask for what they want.

Pick almost any good product or service and start telling others about it and you will get orders... You can even make a good living selling potato peelers on street corners or candy on the subway.

But you have to decide what you want... and go after it yourself... even if it means forcing yourself outside of your comfort zone.

I have that problem myself... Made $10,000 this past weekend and now I feel like sitting back and coasting. Lucky for me, the wife is more than happy to kick me into gear so I don't get too lazy.

Cheers,
Steve
www.MomsWithCamera.com
www.BabyPhotoBackdrops.com
www.DigitalFantasyBackgrounds.com

-TW April 18, 2012 07:48 AM

Re: 17 Yr Old Kid Knows The Secret!
 
Quote:

Originally Posted by SteveSki (Post 30615)
Made $10,000 this past weekend


CONGRATS!!

sandalwood April 18, 2012 09:58 AM

Re: So, from the brainstorming session...you can DO or you can SELL
 
Steve put his 17 yr old kid to work :D :D :D

Duane Adolph April 18, 2012 12:57 PM

Re: 17 Yr Old Kid Knows The Secret!
 
Steve that IS awesome. "10k in a weekend"?

Care to share details?
I'll presume it has to do with photography?

Either way. Great work. Keep moving forward. Glad to hear you have a great accountability partner i.e your wife:D

Quote:

Originally Posted by SteveSki (Post 30615)
Knock and doors of opportunity will open... Ask and you shall receive... The only ones not making money are those to lazy to knock (do) and / or to shy or afraid to (sell) ask for what they want.

Pick almost any good product or service and start telling others about it and you will get orders... You can even make a good living selling potato peelers on street corners or candy on the subway.

But you have to decide what you want... and go after it yourself... even if it means forcing yourself outside of your comfort zone.

I have that problem myself... Made $10,000 this past weekend and now I feel like sitting back and coasting. Lucky for me, the wife is more than happy to kick me into gear so I don't get too lazy.

Cheers,
Steve
www.MomsWithCamera.com
www.BabyPhotoBackdrops.com
www.DigitalFantasyBackgrounds.com


Phil April 18, 2012 04:19 PM

Re: 17 Year Old Kid JUST Knocked on my door and he was selling...
 
On a little Bit of a Different Note...

Some Good ol' Best Salespersons Around the World...

I'm Sure at least a few will Remember and Learn a Thing or Two From...

Definitely interesting on How the Internet, Growing on A Daily Basis can Change just About Anything... ;)

Enjoy a Few Good Lessons... When you Have a little Time and or Need some Some Good ol' Best Salespersons Help!
http://www.google.com/search?q=world...ient=firefox-a
http://www.google.com/search?q=Joe+G...ient=firefox-a
http://www.google.com/search?q=How+a...ient=firefox-a
http://www.inc.com/ss/10-greatest-sa...le-of-all-time
http://www.joegirard.com/

TAKE A CARD FROM JOE GIRARD!
Joe gets thousands of requests for one of
his famous business cards—now you can download one for yourself. Click Here
http://www.joegirard.com/take-a-card...ke-a-card.html
http://www.joegirard.com/take-a-card.html
http://www.google.com/search?q=The+G...ient=firefox-a

The 10 Biggest Goofs Salespeople Make...

One solution is to be reminded of the importance of salespeople in world society. ... things is to make the person feel good or to overcome some pain, real or imagined. ... a ballpark budget number, a range, "off the record," "in round numbers," and then refine it. 5. ... It's sometimes called "Good Ole Boy-Good Ole Gal" Selling...
http://www.google.com/search?q=The+1...ient=firefox-a

Last but Not Least...
http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/20...-in-the-world/
http://www.google.com/search?q=R.I.P...ient=firefox-a

All the Best...

Phil

SteveSki April 18, 2012 07:39 PM

Re: 17 Yr Old Kid Knows The Secret!
 
Quote:

Originally Posted by -TW (Post 30617)
CONGRATS!!


Thanks TW, Just to clarify....

It was just over $12,000 in sales....

$10,162.00 paid up front thanks to people using credit cards and the balance on payment plan. After I pay my wife her cut and the two employee's who helped us do the shoot.... plus travel expenses, motel rooms and product delivery costs and taxes... it isn't very much at all.

I need to book 3 times as many to make a weekend shoot really profitable.

Cheers,
Steve


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