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CHECKLIST: How to Start a Digital Marketing Agency & Hit $5K in Less than 90 Days

Bearcorp

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That's a risk, but it's mostly overblown in my opinion. Honestly, anyone can do basic digital marketing type stuff after watching a few YouTube videos and some Udemy courses. This isn't nuclear physics or engineering that requires 4 years of schooling and a license.

These small-medium business owners hire us (marketers) because they don't want to spend TIME even thinking about this stuff. If they do, then they're probably gonna be a cheap client or a micromanager.

I can only share my experiences as a business owner, I could be very much in the absolute minority here so don't take this as advice on how to cold email someone, but I get emails every day from people offering services of all types, and the ones that open with pointing out how bad something is go straight to trash. (Along with ones that have spelling errors or that look generic, as though the person hasn't even looked at my online presence)

Because as you rightly pointed out, this isn't rocket science (well for me it is a bit as I'm not very tech savvy haha!) and there are heaps of people out there that offer the services, so I'm more likely to want to work with someone who wants to help build on what I've started, rather than spend money on someone who wants to criticise the house I've built.

Now if I seek you out, because you've been recommended to me, or I know you or someone you've done work for, high rating somewhere, whatever the reason, then thats different. If I approach someone and want/need their skills go ahead and tear it apart and make it amazing!
 
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Micahbiz

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Hey, @Sean Marshall and anyone else that can give me input. I'm planning on doing web design for medical professionals as there's a huge need locally. My problem is I want to sell them on a monthly service in my packages but it doesn't seem like medical professionals have a need for that. Email marketing? Sure, but most people only visit when they're sick so there isn't much to sell them on(vaccines maybe?). SEO? Again, sure but most people look at google maps and yelp when looking for doctors and that's not really an ongoing thing. Facebook ads? Again, for the most part, the only thing I feel like you could sell someone on is vaccines. Am I missing something? I can see dentists, orthodontists and maybe plastic surgeons needing a monthly plan. Not many others though. Should I just focus on doing a monthly plan for clients that would benefit most and get the largest ROI from it? What monthly services could I offer that a family practice doctor could use?
 

Sean Marshall

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Hi @Sean Marshall. I'm having a bit of difficulty with this business owner question: "How many leads will you send me?" Obviously difficult to guarantee anything. What would you suggest? Thanks a lot!

Smart business owners understand that marketing supports sales. If they want quotas to be met, hire sales people. What we do is to support an overall strategy with a focus online. Yes, we'll bring them leads but unless you have a super specific process, you can't guarantee that number. I wouldn't. You'll set yourself up for failure.

Instead, focus on the work you'll be doing. Redirect them to thinking about having a website and online presence that represents their business as well as bringing them leads.

If you do get someone that wants specific lead count, they don't understand marketing and they will make for a bad client. It's a red flag.
 

Sean Marshall

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It sounds very interesting to me.
The thing is I really get frustrated by thinking about SEO and SEA, I really don't like it and it's so boring.

I do like social media advertising and email.
This is not that many of services to provide...

Is this just not made for me?

I'm not preaching how to do SEO for people. I'm talking about how to start and scale an online marketing agency. If you enjoy growing a business with other people doing the work for you, then this is for you. If not, then no.

Perhaps look elsewhere in the forum for an idea that resonates better with you.
 
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Sean Marshall

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Hey, @Sean Marshall and anyone else that can give me input. I'm planning on doing web design for medical professionals as there's a huge need locally. My problem is I want to sell them on a monthly service in my packages but it doesn't seem like medical professionals have a need for that. Email marketing? Sure, but most people only visit when they're sick so there isn't much to sell them on(vaccines maybe?). SEO? Again, sure but most people look at google maps and yelp when looking for doctors and that's not really an ongoing thing. Facebook ads? Again, for the most part, the only thing I feel like you could sell someone on is vaccines. Am I missing something? I can see dentists, orthodontists and maybe plastic surgeons needing a monthly plan. Not many others though. Should I just focus on doing a monthly plan for clients that would benefit most and get the largest ROI from it? What monthly services could I offer that a family practice doctor could use?

Medical professionals can ALWAYS benefit from a good website, local SEO, and reputation management. These are all monthly - ongoing.
 

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Hi Sean,

What niche of digital marketing provides the most MRR?
 
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Sean Marshall

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Hi Sean,

What niche of digital marketing provides the most MRR?

If you mean monthly recurring revenue, any of them really. It just depends on the depth of your services and how much value you're offering. You could offer SEO for $1000/mo but you could also offer content marketing at $1000/mo. What are they getting for their money? That's the key.
 

harlansjobs

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Sean,

What was the website that had a directory of businesses that you can look up?
Manta is good. There are also directories that are linked to your local library that lists thousands of businesses. It is free for them and for you (some do pay for more extensive listings though) and these do list the names of the owners in many cases.
 

Matt Sun

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Hi Sean. Very inspiring post. Since i'm from and live in Argentina, and will have Argentinian Busnisess as clients, you think i still can build an online team / outsource to fiverr ? or should i consider also the cost of translators when making the pricing?

Also the safest way to start and get experience is to give free trials, so i should learn how to do everything, that means web design, ad campaing... and start outsourcing when i have many paying clients ?
 
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The Abundant Man

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Hi Sean. Very inspiring post. Since i'm from and live in Argentina, and will have Argentinian Busnisess as clients, you think i still can build an online team / outsource to fiverr ? or should i consider also the cost of translators when making the pricing?

Also the safest way to start and get experience is to give free trials, so i should learn how to do everything, that means web design, ad campaing... and start outsourcing when i have many paying clients ?
How Kevin Read a Family Rocketship Post & Made $3,600 in 1 Month - Family Rocketship
 

Real Deal Denver

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I have been doing Facebook ads for realtors and it has been hell finding realtors that can pay me even 1k a month.
Not sure what I am doing wrong

I'm a real estate agent. Similar to a Realtor(R) but I don't belong to that group because I can do things on my own. When I started out, I was a Realtor(R) so I know how they work pretty well.

Realtors are perhaps the most sold to group on the planet. They NEED technology, and I'd guess that over 80% of them do buy it.

Because it's such a huge and lucrative market, there are lots of offerings for them. Typically companies provide fully developed websites, drip marketing, and most importantly - LEADS. Leads are the life blood of being in real estate.

I fully plan on spending $500 a month very soon to get some fantastic software and leads. I know several agents using this company, and they have good results. It's Boomtown. There are many others that are similar. For the deluxe packages, they do the website, facebook, google, SEO, and as I said - leads.

The moral of the story here is you have to ASK your customers what they want, and what they're doing to meet their goals. You will get a very clear picture in no time. Just ask.

I asked an agent that was the number ONE agent in the entire country for two years in her VERY large company if she would be interested in a new service that I had developed. She totally blew me OUT of the water. There is competition out there that does ten times more than I do, for the same price. I have NO chance. But I'm thankful for that information. I am using that advice to pivot and build on something else. My first plan got shot down in flames, but that redirected me to a new plan. THAT'S how you find success and evolve.

Ask a lot of questions. Keep on them. There was a saying I saw somewhere... Keep selling them until they die or buy!

Good luck!
 

Real Deal Denver

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OMG, that is fantastic. I had never really thought about that. Thank you so much. I am currently watching a course on how to create an agency and while they talk about methods of finding business owners through sites like local chambers of commerce, the course never talks about the above method. I want to find his video because I'm interested in finding out about once you have grabbed their attention by pointing out what they are doing wrong with their website or advertising how to sell them on the service, what to write and how to turn them into a monthly. Will use this with that course. Hopefully can use that to turn it into a major agency to sell to get into something completely automated to free up time and finally get into the fast lane.

Thanks.

Oh, also almost have finished the Fastlane book. Anyone know how to ad the badge to my profile?

Here is a company that markets to what I do; real estate.

They seem to have this method perfected. Check it out.

Go From Simple to Stunning! - Best Real Estate Websites for Agents and Brokers
 
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Real Deal Denver

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I followed this link and read the article.

Great article.

But the funny part is that at the end of the article are links to Maxwell's Web Design. The website does not exist. The facebook page does, but it is pretty skimpy.

And he's selling what again? Oh yeah - web design services!

No doubt he is successful, but come on - he's selling websites and internet marketing, and doesn't use it himself. What. Ever.
 

Real Deal Denver

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Just downloaded your book 10 business plans @Sean Marshall

Absolutely love your website design and what you provide.

I no doubt will be taking your courses at some time in the future.

I am now finishing my second website (using Divi) which is very rewarding and fun to do. I could easily do this 10 hours a day, 7 days a week. Love it. But don't ask me about the first one I did. Cutting your teeth on something like this is, well, painful. Frustrating. Aggravating. But one time around the course, and it all gets so much easier.

Great thread here. I've spent the last hour or two studying it.

You provide great value to people, and appear to be living a very full and enjoyable life. That is a rare thing indeed. Hope to join you SOON!
 

Sean Marshall

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Hi Sean. Very inspiring post. Since i'm from and live in Argentina, and will have Argentinian Busnisess as clients, you think i still can build an online team / outsource to fiverr ? or should i consider also the cost of translators when making the pricing?

Also the safest way to start and get experience is to give free trials, so i should learn how to do everything, that means web design, ad campaing... and start outsourcing when i have many paying clients ?

It all depends on how much you can charge and what your profit margin will be with clients based on Argentina. You can also look to hire within Argentina or even other parts of Latin America. I have a friend in Mexico who's entire staff is from Mexico.

You could get started with one or two free clients if you wish - to get experience and to record the process/create the system. Instead of free, I would offer a big discount.
 
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Sean Marshall

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No doubt he is successful, but come on - he's selling websites and internet marketing, and doesn't use it himself. What. Ever.

I should perhaps change that article. Kevin has since changed up his own business quite a bit. Still though, the point of the article remains.

Learn. Do. Make money. With all of the info available online, it's impossible NOT to make money if you just learn and do.
 

deep singh

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Smart business owners understand that marketing supports sales. If they want quotas to be met, hire sales people. What we do is to support an overall strategy with a focus online. Yes, we'll bring them leads but unless you have a super specific process, you can't guarantee that number. I wouldn't. You'll set yourself up for failure.

Instead, focus on the work you'll be doing. Redirect them to thinking about having a website and online presence that represents their business as well as bringing them leads.

If you do get someone that wants specific lead count, they don't understand marketing and they will make for a bad client. It's a red flag.
Thanks, Sean. Makes sense.
 
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Matt Sun

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Sean i love your 60 day entrepreneur book. I wonder. If I translate your book to spanish. Also Mj de Marco's. Do ads. Help you sell in Latin America wich DESPERATEDLY needs to change it's mind towards hard work and money making, Argentina, Brazil, Venezuela, all have slowlaner epidemic. To translate you guys, Would be slowlane or fastlane ?

Edit: I'm super new to being active on this forum, but read The Millionaire Fastlane 1 year ago. Being trying to apply since.
 

The Abundant Man

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I should perhaps change that article. Kevin has since changed up his own business quite a bit. Still though, the point of the article remains.

Learn. Do. Make money. With all of the info available online, it's impossible NOT to make money if you just learn and do.
What does Kevin do differently now than what he used to do?
 

Sean Marshall

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Latin America wich DESPERATEDLY needs to change it's mind towards hard work and money making,

This is why I haven't yet translated the book. Me gustaria hacerlo pero ahora creo que no vale la pena cuando muchos de mis amigos alli no estan pensando asi. Es posible con mas libros como los de MJ, podemos efectuar un cambio - ojala que si! Obvio que hay una necesidad.
 
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babyballer

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What does Kevin do differently now than what he used to do?

Probably he realized that this was not for him and went back to take a job. Not everyone has grit to be his own boss.

His domain gives a clue that he was using wix.com. The wix subscription has been terminated or he changed it to another domain (very unlikely). Below is the archive from Feb this year which shows that it was using wix all along.

maxwellwebdesigns
 

Real Deal Denver

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He also runs his own appraisal company. He's a successful dude and I respect his hustle.

I bit my tongue. I really tried to not pipe up. I did. But I can't help it...

I've been an appraiser since 2001. I am working 16 hour days, six days a week to get OUT of being an appraiser. On the seventh day, I usually only work 10 hours.

You have NO idea of how bad this job can be. It didn't used to be that way. But it sucks so bad today - it could suck a golf ball through a garden hose. You might think prison is bad. I can understand that if you've never been an appraiser.

Some day I could give you the inside scoop - but it will cost you a few beers.
 
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The Abundant Man

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Sean, what's the key to sales for Digital Marketing?
 

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Hello Sean. From what I’ve read about your thread (great thread by the way), I think the outsource all jobs is your unique twist here?
 

Kyle T

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Hello Sean. From what I’ve read about your thread (great thread by the way), I think the outsource all jobs is your unique twist here?

I don't really think outsourcing is a unique twist. My guess is that the majority of online marketers outsource a good chunk of the work (although some are probably unwilling to admit it).

The business is not unique. What makes this thread unique is that he has outlined the entire process and shown you how you could turn a hustle into an automated unscripted lifestyle.
 
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