lmmfe
Social Media Trend Analyst
2
MONTHS
2 2 MONTHS OF SERVICE
LEVEL 1
200 XP
This was hosted elsewhere but I am compiling options of what people are working with currently -- This is the system I'm using but I've automated some areas as well
1. Create your own "agency" site AND Facebook page.
I build using wordpress+Divi, so I'm biased and recommend that everyone uses it. But feel free to use whatever you're comfortable with. Fill it with photos of your past work (assuming you have some, I had years of examples to pull from), if not fill it with dummy content from the themes (if you have the money, I highly recommend picking up a few child themes... it will speed up your design work and give you more examples to use) you'll be using to build.
2. Create three to five "base templates."
These will be what you GIVE AWAY. I always go with the same setup... Home Page, About Page, Contact Page, and a Services/Projects/Products Page. That's it. 4 pages. They can have a Services, Projects, or Products page for free -- but only one. Not all three. The reason being UPSELLS for your FREE PACKAGE. Every additional page they wish to have in addition to the 4 free pages costs extra. I charge $250 for each page "ON SPECIAL" and tell them that's HALF of what I usually charge. Which is what my Agency site says... $500 per page. The nice thing about that is it makes it super easy to advertise that you are giving away a $2,000+ Web Design package.
3. Decide on a cost for domain, hosting, maintenance, security, and MINOR UPDATES.
I charge $100 per month if they go month to month, with a 3 month minimum. If they decide to pay every six months, I charge $500, and I'll do an entire year for $900. That's me, and it's proven EXTREMELY effective; but no doubt, other pricing plans would work as well. You go with whatever you think is applicable for your business. One thing to keep in mind here is where I said that I include "minor updates." You don't have to do this, and you may want to avoid it altogether. You definitely will if you don't have the ability to be upfront, authoritative and walk away like I can. I say that because I offer minor updates as way to BUILD VALUE and provide more service for their money than just regular old hosting which can be had for a lot less. But I make it VERY CLEAR that "minor updates" means things like changing their address or number if there's a change. Or including the name of a new service/item that they offer or something. Basically, small little textual changes I can do it 2 minutes or less. It doesn't include reworks, or holiday theming, or whatever. If they want DESIGN work, they need to PAY for design work.
4. Create a set of ads, a budget, and a landing page.
These days I only run a single video ad and blast it on Facebook. My monthly ad spend only runs between $200 and $400, and I make... well, I make considerably much more than that. LOL -- I don't do any other advertising at all. But you certainly could if you're ambitious. Drive the traffic from your ad to your landing page. Collect data. Follow-up.
5. Let the customer choose between your list of templates.
I explain to them that I can swap out the design layout colors, text, and photos. But any additional design work will require an additional fee. In addition, they have to furnish the text and images to qualify for the free offer. If they need me to handle content creation, I can do so, but guess what... RIGHT -- Additional Fee.
6. Make the customer aware of my additional services.
I handle things like social media management, SEO, graphics, video production and marketing, etc. "I'd be glad to add these for your Mr/Mrs Customer for either a one time take it all price or an ongoing plan if you want to ensure long-term success." If they say, "Yes." Great. If they say, "No." No big deal. We're still going to get some money.
7. Continually follow-up with existing clients.
Create specials each month highlighting a specific service you offer and make them aware of it by email blasts and your Facebook page.
8. Keep them happy and keep cashing checks.
Basically it means don't just read step 7, actually DO step 7. It's highly important. A lot of people worry about becoming a "pest." DON'T! The fact of the matter is if you do a good job, they are going to WANT to hear from you. Furthermore, unless you do something really bad or stupid, you're not likely to upset them so badly with an email or Facebook post that they decide to go find somewhere else to host.
BONUS: PRO TIPS
Alright guys, that's it! You really don't need to do anything more than what is explained in those 7/8 steps above. You also don't need to spend $200 a month either. You can start out with $50 or $100 and scale up later. You could actually start with nothing if you're willing to invest the sweat equity into manually finding clients. I wasn't. LOL
Costs aside though, there are a few things you can do to make those steps above work like steroids, and they're all simple.
First... incorporate Facebook messenger or another Live chat (or simulated live chat with a bot) into your landing page. This will give your customers an opportunity to claim their FREE OFFER now, and for you to secure that hosting money. Building a list is not only nice, it truly is vital. That being said, if you're not following up with these people pretty quickly, don't be shocked to find that they are either A) no longer interested or
1. Create your own "agency" site AND Facebook page.
I build using wordpress+Divi, so I'm biased and recommend that everyone uses it. But feel free to use whatever you're comfortable with. Fill it with photos of your past work (assuming you have some, I had years of examples to pull from), if not fill it with dummy content from the themes (if you have the money, I highly recommend picking up a few child themes... it will speed up your design work and give you more examples to use) you'll be using to build.
2. Create three to five "base templates."
These will be what you GIVE AWAY. I always go with the same setup... Home Page, About Page, Contact Page, and a Services/Projects/Products Page. That's it. 4 pages. They can have a Services, Projects, or Products page for free -- but only one. Not all three. The reason being UPSELLS for your FREE PACKAGE. Every additional page they wish to have in addition to the 4 free pages costs extra. I charge $250 for each page "ON SPECIAL" and tell them that's HALF of what I usually charge. Which is what my Agency site says... $500 per page. The nice thing about that is it makes it super easy to advertise that you are giving away a $2,000+ Web Design package.
3. Decide on a cost for domain, hosting, maintenance, security, and MINOR UPDATES.
I charge $100 per month if they go month to month, with a 3 month minimum. If they decide to pay every six months, I charge $500, and I'll do an entire year for $900. That's me, and it's proven EXTREMELY effective; but no doubt, other pricing plans would work as well. You go with whatever you think is applicable for your business. One thing to keep in mind here is where I said that I include "minor updates." You don't have to do this, and you may want to avoid it altogether. You definitely will if you don't have the ability to be upfront, authoritative and walk away like I can. I say that because I offer minor updates as way to BUILD VALUE and provide more service for their money than just regular old hosting which can be had for a lot less. But I make it VERY CLEAR that "minor updates" means things like changing their address or number if there's a change. Or including the name of a new service/item that they offer or something. Basically, small little textual changes I can do it 2 minutes or less. It doesn't include reworks, or holiday theming, or whatever. If they want DESIGN work, they need to PAY for design work.
4. Create a set of ads, a budget, and a landing page.
These days I only run a single video ad and blast it on Facebook. My monthly ad spend only runs between $200 and $400, and I make... well, I make considerably much more than that. LOL -- I don't do any other advertising at all. But you certainly could if you're ambitious. Drive the traffic from your ad to your landing page. Collect data. Follow-up.
5. Let the customer choose between your list of templates.
I explain to them that I can swap out the design layout colors, text, and photos. But any additional design work will require an additional fee. In addition, they have to furnish the text and images to qualify for the free offer. If they need me to handle content creation, I can do so, but guess what... RIGHT -- Additional Fee.
6. Make the customer aware of my additional services.
I handle things like social media management, SEO, graphics, video production and marketing, etc. "I'd be glad to add these for your Mr/Mrs Customer for either a one time take it all price or an ongoing plan if you want to ensure long-term success." If they say, "Yes." Great. If they say, "No." No big deal. We're still going to get some money.
7. Continually follow-up with existing clients.
Create specials each month highlighting a specific service you offer and make them aware of it by email blasts and your Facebook page.
8. Keep them happy and keep cashing checks.
Basically it means don't just read step 7, actually DO step 7. It's highly important. A lot of people worry about becoming a "pest." DON'T! The fact of the matter is if you do a good job, they are going to WANT to hear from you. Furthermore, unless you do something really bad or stupid, you're not likely to upset them so badly with an email or Facebook post that they decide to go find somewhere else to host.
BONUS: PRO TIPS
Alright guys, that's it! You really don't need to do anything more than what is explained in those 7/8 steps above. You also don't need to spend $200 a month either. You can start out with $50 or $100 and scale up later. You could actually start with nothing if you're willing to invest the sweat equity into manually finding clients. I wasn't. LOL
Costs aside though, there are a few things you can do to make those steps above work like steroids, and they're all simple.
First... incorporate Facebook messenger or another Live chat (or simulated live chat with a bot) into your landing page. This will give your customers an opportunity to claim their FREE OFFER now, and for you to secure that hosting money. Building a list is not only nice, it truly is vital. That being said, if you're not following up with these people pretty quickly, don't be shocked to find that they are either A) no longer interested or