Is there a business idea here?

I emailed 6 block wall companies for some work I need done, and I got one reply.

The other 5 didn't even have an auto responder...nothing.

I assume these business owners don't mean to purposely ignore a potential new customer, but they did.

Is there something we can offer them and make money?

A thought I had...put them on a website for unresponsive businesses...let them know they are on it...give them options to get off. This sounds a bit like blackmail, which isn't my purpose.

Just trying to think outside the box...curious if anyone has an interest in this one?

Thanks,

WW

Interesting question, WW.

I know, from being in newspapers for most of my career (not in sales), we were constantly hearing complaints from the sales staff about business owners who pretty much had this idea: "I have all the business I need. I just cherry pick the jobs I want."

Now, I think for some of them, that really was the case. They did good work, served their customers well, and made a good living "doing it my way." And for the other half, it seemed they would be out of business within two years.

I remember one particular guy ... he was quite the confident biz owner, and one day he brought in a complementary tray of hoagies (that's what we call subs around here) for the staff to enjoy. The idea was we would come to his little shop nearby and buy lunch there.

Our sales ladies, never ones to miss an opportunity, began pestering him to buy an ad, but he stood his ground. I don't need to pay for customers. I get all the customers I can handle by word of mouth.

The business went under. Belly up. But I am willing to bet that he never, ever invested in marketing, foolishly relying on the quality of his rolls, instead.

Now, back to your question ...

YES! I think there is a business opportunity there. No, I don't think it will be easy to convince SOME of these guys that they even need to change the way they are doing things.

So when you get one you can't sell/help ... just dust yourself off and move on to the next one. And once you start helping a couple, the word will get out ...

Originally Posted by WillyWallace

I emailed 6 block wall companies for some work I need done, and I got one reply.

The other 5 didn't even have an auto responder...nothing.

I assume these business owners don't mean to purposely ignore a potential new customer, but they did.

Is there something we can offer them and make money?

A thought I had...put them on a website for unresponsive businesses...let them know they are on it...give them options to get off. This sounds a bit like blackmail, which isn't my purpose.

Just trying to think outside the box...curious if anyone has an interest in this one?

Thanks,

WW

The ONE guy who responded has shown HE is interested in selling Leads. So, I would make up a "60 sec Promo Video" and;
1) Rank it for HIS Bizness Name. Sell it to him for $500
2) Then UPGRADE to.....Ranking the Video for his KeyWord (Rock Wall Contractor (Town)) and charge a monthly fee of $500/mo

Don Alm

Originally Posted by Don Alm

The ONE guy who responded has shown HE is interested in selling Leads. So, I would make up a "60 sec Promo Video" and;
1) Rank it for HIS Bizness Name. Sell it to him for $500
2) Then UPGRADE to.....Ranking the Video for his KeyWord (Rock Wall Contractor (Town)) and charge a monthly fee of $500/mo

Don Alm

Thanks Don...you mean he is interested in "buying" leads correct?

I'm "assuming" he's interested in "paying for a Lead Gen" program. It's obvious the others are not.

Don Alm

Roger that Don thanks again for the idea.

I was more focused on the ones that didn't reply...trying to think about ways to help them get out of their own way...and offer something to them I can charge for.

Failing to follow up with prospects is no doubt the number one reason why most small businesses fail. If someone has interest in handing over their hard earned dollars for your product or service - then you better show a greater amount of interest and appreciation.

As Don implied, don't waste time with people who "don't get it" - you will exhaust too many resources (especially time) in trying to educate these people.

Write down on a piece paper the estimated Life Time Value of one customer in their industry and multiple that by the number of prospects you can pick up from seemingly disinterested businesses.

Take that sheet to the business owner who "gets it" and you have them drooling over the potential revenue they can pick up. At that point, they will purchase almost anything you have to sell them to get from Point A to Point B (the vast prospect pool looking for help).

Paul

Yup....whenever I've tried to sell any Beauty Salon owner one of my AD programs.....I learned Loong ago to ask what some of their services cost and....I then ask how often do her customers come in for these services?

I then reach in my shirt pocket, pull out a card and total up a "Year of Spending."

This always gets them to REALIZE the "Yearly Value" of each customer and my fee does not seem "out of whack" (as one owner said)

Don Alm

Thanks fellas- appreciate your ideas, input, and feedback!

So in my example, 1 business "gets it"...the other 5 don't.

You guys are basically saying to forget about the ones who don't get it, and focus on the one who does.

That leads me back to my original question...is there a business idea here?

Willy, yes there is a business idea there. Read through the thread again. Robert said it great in the last few sentences of his post. It's all there. All you have to do is change the industry type, rinse and repeat.

Selling leads to interested businesses is already a business.