My spare time offline biz....
 

If you are anything like me, sitting in front of a computer from dawn to dusk and beyond will drive you up the wall after a while. That's why I still like to go out and get my hands dirty working in the brick and mortar (plaster) world now and then.

Offline, I'm a drywaller/plasterer/painter. I have several general contractors who hire me on a subcontract basis to provide their clients with smooth painted walls for their renovation projects.

Recently I ran a small space ad in the home services section of a local weekly newspaper with lukewarm results. The ad cost about $60, I recieved 8 calls, and did 2 small jobs for a total of $800 in my pocket. Not bad when you consider the ROI for advertising.

But that was not enough. I knew there was more I could do to get more business. Here's what I did:

I ran the exact same ad in the same section of the same newspaper, but with one difference... At the bottom of the ad I added this:

Know anyone who
needs Drywall or
Painting done?

We'll pay you $50+
for any referrals
resulting in
new clients!

It cost me an extra $20 for the space that the extra wording used. I recieved over 30 responses to the ad - got 3 new clients as a direct result of the ad, PLUS, I did 7 estimates and got 4 of those as new clients as a result of referrals from others.

A very simple referral generating technique that is so effective, yet used so little offline (for this type of business in my area at least).

People probably saw the ad the first time and said "hmmm, nope - don't need my house painted". But after seeing the ad the second time said "nope - don't need my house painted, but I know my neighbour John does, and if I refer him I'll earn a cool $50 just for telling him!"

It's Leverage. I'm not an expert on the subject, just a student of marketing. Offered people an incentive to pass my name around that's all.

Now, in order for my offline business to grow properly, I'm forced to use the "Leverage" thing again. After a few weeks of running the new ad on a regular basis, I've had to sub out several jobs to other drywallers and painters, many of whom were running ads in the same section of the same paper I advertised in!

I still get my hands dirty from time to time, but now I have about 2 dozen or so people passing my business cards on to their friends and associates, who in turn do the same. I have lot's of paperwork, and business management stuff to do as a result of all this new work...

Which puts me back in front of this computer. Hmmm, so much for trying to get out of the house and away from the darn thing eh?

Paul

Me too. How bout THIS.........
 

Yes Paul...us "pc freaks" who sit in front of our screens for hours at a time...SHOULD get out and see what goes on "OffLine" (also known as "outside" or "life") ...if not just for keeping our "sanity".

I myself am a "salesman". I LOVE talking to people. I LOVE selling things. So...every few months I go out and "sell something".

I just sold a project which involved placing ADS on the sleeves that go around hot coffee cups to keep your fingers from getting burned.

What I am putting together now is going to be FUN also.

Have you ever been to a restaurant where there's a "Daily Special" board?

It's usually just a blackboard with chalk but some can get pretty elaborate with neon lights and colored letters...etc. And these "Daily Special" boards are usually at the front of the restaurant...either mounted on the wall or free standing.

Well...what if there were ADS around the side and across the bottom of this pretty neon "Daily Special" board? Would the ADS be seen?

You Bet! Would someone be interested in paying for an ad on this "Daily Special" board? You bet.

I found one guy who gets $520 for a year for each ad on one of these boards and he puts 6 or 8 ads on each one. $3,000 to $4,000 per restaurant.

And...guess WHO his prospects are?

Right! Business people who frequent the restaurant.

And...guess where he gets the NAMES of these prospects?

Right! From the owner of the restaurant.

Business people who are "regulars" at that restaurant would LOVE to see an ad for their business on this board RATHER than their competitor.

So...THIS is one of the easiest "sales" I will ever make. I call it the "Obligation" sale...because the restaurant owner has an "obligation" to do a favor for his/her regular diners and would be glad to give a list of their "REGULARS".

And...these business people will GLADLY buy an AD on the board because they do NOT want their competitor there! Capishe?

I believe I can "sell" one of these "boards a week.

Oh...the boards are given FREE to the restaurants.

ALSO...The guy who is doing this now...and has been for a number of years...does not want to tell me his source of Boards and...I would prefer not to have to make these boards myself...

So...I am seeking the help from people on this forum.

If you have seen a "Daily Special" Board, either wall-mounted or free-standing with ADS around the side or at the bottom...would you please make note of WHO is providing the board and email the name to me?

Thanks much.....I in turn will email any of you who want to take a closer look at THIS money-maker.

Don Alm

> If you are anything like me, sitting in
> front of a computer from dawn to dusk and
> beyond will drive you up the wall after a
> while. That's why I still like to go out and
> get my hands dirty working in the brick and
> mortar (plaster) world now and then.

> Offline, I'm a drywaller/plasterer/painter.
> I have several general contractors who hire
> me on a subcontract basis to provide their
> clients with smooth painted walls for their
> renovation projects.

> Recently I ran a small space ad in the home
> services section of a local weekly newspaper
> with lukewarm results. The ad cost about
> $60, I recieved 8 calls, and did 2 small
> jobs for a total of $800 in my pocket. Not
> bad when you consider the ROI for
> advertising.

> But that was not enough. I knew there was
> more I could do to get more business. Here's
> what I did:

> I ran the exact same ad in the same section
> of the same newspaper, but with one
> difference... At the bottom of the ad I
> added this:

> Know anyone who
> needs Drywall or
> Painting done?

> We'll pay you $50+ for any referrals
> resulting in
> new clients! It cost me an extra $20 for
> the space that the extra wording used. I
> recieved over 30 responses to the ad - got 3
> new clients as a direct result of the ad,
> PLUS, I did 7 estimates and got 4 of those
> as new clients as a result of referrals from
> others.

> A very simple referral generating technique
> that is so effective, yet used so little
> offline (for this type of business in my
> area at least).

> People probably saw the ad the first time
> and said "hmmm, nope - don't need my
> house painted". But after seeing the ad
> the second time said "nope - don't need
> my house painted, but I know my neighbour
> John does, and if I refer him I'll earn a
> cool $50 just for telling him!"

> It's Leverage. I'm not an expert on the
> subject, just a student of marketing.
> Offered people an incentive to pass my name
> around that's all.

> Now, in order for my offline business to
> grow properly, I'm forced to use the
> "Leverage" thing again. After a
> few weeks of running the new ad on a regular
> basis, I've had to sub out several jobs to
> other drywallers and painters, many of whom
> were running ads in the same section of the
> same paper I advertised in!

> I still get my hands dirty from time to
> time, but now I have about 2 dozen or so
> people passing my business cards on to their
> friends and associates, who in turn do the
> same. I have lot's of paperwork, and
> business management stuff to do as a result
> of all this new work...

> Which puts me back in front of this
> computer. Hmmm, so much for trying to get
> out of the house and away from the darn
> thing eh?

> Paul




Make Money Sending Faxes

Cafe Moolah!!
 

Hi and thanks for the response Don,

> Yes Paul...us "pc freaks" who sit
> in front of our screens for hours at a
> time...SHOULD get out and see what goes on
> "OffLine" (also known as
> "outside" or "life")
> ...if not just for keeping our
> "sanity".

I love the creativity and challenge involved in the Internet. But I also like variety and working with my hands as well. Both generate a good income, keep me challenged, and add the variety I crave. What could be better than a combo of the two? (for me at least)

> If you have seen a "Daily Special"
> Board, either wall-mounted or free-standing
> with ADS around the side or at the
> bottom...would you please make note of WHO
> is providing the board and email the name to
> me?

Don, you never cease to amaze me with the ideas you have, and ACT upon. A true entrepreneur to the core.

I have'nt seen anyone using the boards the way you describe, but I'll be on the lookout.

Here's an idea I had that's sort of an adaptation of your pre-paid movie rental punch card. I drink a lot of coffee... is there a way to make money with supplying pre-paid coffee cards to cafe's?

I know my wallet is full of those cards where you buy 9 coffee's and the 10th is free, but how about buying the card first with 20 or 30 coffee's prepaid, and then just presenting the card whenever you want a coffee until it's used up?

Hmmm...

Paul

Re: Cafe Moolah!!
 

Yes Paul....you could put together a "pre-paid Coffee Card" and sell it to regular Coffee Drinkers.

Now...you can't go door-to-door to sell these because not every household buys expensive coffee BUT...with the coffee shops that participate...you COULD place a Fish Bowl offering a "DISCOUNT COFFEE CARD FOR FREE"...drop your business card in the bowl! Drawing to be held at end of month!"

That way you will have ALL the leads you can handle to either call or mail a sales letter selling the "Discount Coffee Cards".

Worth looking into. The Pacific Northwest is going nutso for expresso. 60,000 cups/mo sold from 8 cafes in MY dorky little town. And...that is just the drive-thrus...doesn't include the sit down places.

Don ALm

> Hi and thanks for the response Don,

> I love the creativity and challenge involved
> in the Internet. But I also like variety and
> working with my hands as well. Both generate
> a good income, keep me challenged, and add
> the variety I crave. What could be better
> than a combo of the two? (for me at least)

> Don, you never cease to amaze me with the
> ideas you have, and ACT upon. A true
> entrepreneur to the core.

> I have'nt seen anyone using the boards the
> way you describe, but I'll be on the
> lookout.

> Here's an idea I had that's sort of an
> adaptation of your pre-paid movie rental
> punch card. I drink a lot of coffee... is
> there a way to make money with supplying
> pre-paid coffee cards to cafe's?

> I know my wallet is full of those cards
> where you buy 9 coffee's and the 10th is
> free, but how about buying the card first
> with 20 or 30 coffee's prepaid, and then
> just presenting the card whenever you want a
> coffee until it's used up?

> Hmmm...

> Paul




Some of my UNIQUE home-based businesses

I've been preaching ...
 

the use of Finder's Fees to increase business for over 30 years - but - only the wisest of the wise ever do it.

Good on ya,

Jim


Finder's Fees - The Easiest Money You'll Ever Make!

The POWER of Finders Fees...
 

Thanks Jim,

I certainly ain't the wisest of the wise by any means, but for anyone out there reading this, the finders fee concept is indeed a powerful boost to your bottom line!

My offline Drywall Taping and Painting biz has literally tripled in size (and income) over the past 2 months as a result of me offering a small finders fee (or referral fee) to people who refer others to me. It "Jogs their memory" so to speak. It's an easy $50 for them *AND* brings in more business for me.

I personally have not purchased Jim Straws infoproduct on finders fees, but if you're looking to incorporate this technique to build your business, I would highly recommend getting the proper info first. And it seems Jims infoproducts come highly recommended by all.

You can find the link to Jim Straws product on finders fees in his post that I'm responding to here.

Again, thanks Jim,

Respectfully,

Paul (a little wiser) Short

> the use of Finder's Fees to increase
> business for over 30 years - but - only the
> wisest of the wise ever do it.

> Good on ya,

> Jim

Thank You, Paul (dno) (DNO)
 

Jim's product not worth the price...
 

...it's worth MUCH MORE!

I bought his Finders Fees information and will tell you I made money the day after reading it.

I was standing in a line when I overheard someone talking about how hard it was to find an item and I was just about to tell them where they could find it because I knew the person selling them when Jim's information hit me.

I told the person looking that I might know where they could find it but that I wanted to be sure so I got a phone number and an email address.
Next I contacted the guy selling the items and we had a deal. Two days later I got a check for $50!

Now fifty bucks doesn't sound like a lot but remember this was money I was about to GIVE AWAY!

That was a very simple example and if you really are interested in learning anything about this subject then you really should learn from the best and that is Jim Straw.

Matt

The profit of Finder's Fees....
 

Hi Matt,

Thanks for your post! I got Jim's Finder's Fees course about a week ago, and it's truly the "king" of his stuff (that I have so far anyway).... :)

It really opens your eyes to the possibilities out there.... I've already read it twice, and I'm planning to read it several more times too....

And the thing is, when you are busy "finding" you come across all kinds of other leads too.... The whole thing starts to snowball, and possibilities lead to further possibilities....

I just sent my first letter to a manufacturer, asking for more info on their product (as Jim instructs), so I've started on my way.... :)

- Dien Rice


Read about Jim Straw's Finder's Fees course here!

Re: The profit of Finder's Fees....
 

Mr. Rice,
About a week ago I got an e-mail from JM Straw recommending an addition to his "Finders Fee" course that tells about using the techniques found in his course on the internet.
I ended up getting it and the thing is AWSOME.
If you are interested in checking it out here's the URL: http://21centuryfinder.8m.com

> Hi Matt,

> Thanks for your post! I got Jim's Finder's
> Fees course about a week ago, and it's truly
> the "king" of his stuff (that I
> have so far anyway).... :)

> It really opens your eyes to the
> possibilities out there.... I've already
> read it twice, and I'm planning to read it
> several more times too....

> And the thing is, when you are busy
> "finding" you come across all
> kinds of other leads too.... The whole thing
> starts to snowball, and possibilities lead
> to further possibilities....

> I just sent my first letter to a
> manufacturer, asking for more info on their
> product (as Jim instructs), so I've started
> on my way.... :)

> - Dien Rice