A Simple Idea For A New Business

A blog post!

I dare not look at the date on my last post, I know it’s been a long time but the truth is that I’m starting to find it incredibly difficult to find subjects to write about. If you look back over the archives, you’ll see that I’ve covered just about everything to do with marketing over the past 3 years.

But luckily I’ve stumbled across a new subject for a post, and i think it’s going to be a good one.

As with most of my ideas, I came across it entirely by accident.

A couple of years ago I was browsing the Internet, as you do, and I came across something that made me do a little vomit in my mouth, take a look:

I’ve blurred out some of the information to protect the person that designed the site (I said SITE), but as you can see from the picture, it’s like we’ve gone back in time to 1997, there are primary colours, animated GIF’s, annoying Javascript plugins, and most importantly, the site looks a mess.

That’s just one example, I’m sure you’ll have come across many similar sites on your travels. Here’s another example that I stumbled across:

Not quite as bad as the first site, but still a very basic site, with pixelated images and general “cheap” feel to it.

So, what does all this have to do with Internet Marketing?

Quite a lot actually, I’m sure you all have your own sites, and I’m going to go out on a limb and say that all of your sites will look better than those in my examples.

That’s because, in general, the vast majority of Internet Marketers know just how easy it is to create a site that oozes sex appeal in no time at all, I’ve got 1 word for you – WordPress!

A lot of you will be familiar with using WordPress as a blogging platform, but it can be even more lucrative if you take it “offline” and use it as a CMS (Content Management System).

This allows you to create a top quality website, that people with no web design knowledge will be able to operate, all you need to do is set up the site and host it for them.

Sound simple enough? – It Is!

Just imagine how pleased the client would be if you were able to transform their drab site into something that looks like this:

So here it is, my business idea (it’s not a new idea, I’ve been doing this for ages!) laid out step by step:

1. Search on google for *name of service* *name of your town*, Eg:

Plumbers Halifax

2. Go through the results until you find a really bad website

3. Contact owner of bad website, either by phone, or go see them if they have a shop

4. Offer to create them a brand new website that they can update themselves, and will look the bees knees

5. Get a reseller hosting account

6. Set up a wordpress blog and use a professional theme (See StudioPress themes)

7. Present site to client and watch as his/her face beams with pride at the sterling job you’ve done for them

8. Collect a nice yearly payment for the site

That’s it, a nice simple business idea that anyone can do, and trust me, it works!

I use the above method all the time for local businesses, clubs, holiday cottages, village halls, community groups, the list is endless. It’s all about using the skills you’ve already attained from your time as a marketer, and then taking them offline.

With a simple tool like WordPress and a professional theme, you can blow the offline designers out of the water on both price and quality, and the clients will love you for it. They’ll then refer you to their friends and before you know if you’ll be the “go to guy” for web design in your area 🙂

And if anyone reading doesn’t like the technical side of things but has a few clients in mind, I’d be happy to work with you on a split commission basis, so you’d liaise with the customer and I’d do the design/hosting part – get in touch for details.

And that brings to an end the blog post, what do you think, have I managed to turn on that light bulb in your head or am I talking nonsense? As always leave a comment and let me know!

Regards,
Dan