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Excuse the title but that is exactly what this thread will be about:
How to Sell Web Design/Web Services during Coronavirus (or any major crisis)
At the summit, @ZCP had a challenge to positively impact as many people as you could and I feel this is a thread that could help out a few of you over the next few weeks or months.
The advantages right now:
- you can do this from your house
- you already got everything you need right now to start
- there is no shortage of people who need help
So let's get right into it...
The common way to think/sell web design is to focus on the design side.
This would be things like:
"I can make your website modern-looking"
"We can add more pages and make it load faster"
"I can make it more responsive for using on different devices "
The thing is no business owner cares about that stuff. That is way down the list of 1000 other things they could be focused on.
People who sell websites and web design this way struggle to close any deals, and any they do close are usually at a low price.
The much stronger way to sell a website is to find a serious business problem(s) that show web design as being a great way to fix/reduce that issue.
This creates a strong mental case in a business owners mind to invest in a solution (for 1x) that can solve a much bigger problem (10-100x)
Basically show you can solve a $10k or $100k or $10m problem and it isn't hard to close a decent web project deal.
---
Now under normal circumstances, this would be a good example of how you go about this:
- A business is not closing big contracts (problem)
Solution: The website can have better messaging to focus on what is needed to close these contracts, we can use trust-building content like reviews, awards, testimonials, case studies to build trust and authority.
We can also back this up with effective copywriting and persuasive images and/or videos.
Then on top of that, we can make the sales-system of the website very effective at meeting people where they are at and bringing them through the different sales stages needed so they are comfortable (and motivated) to take the right action.
Now when bidding you can include the website name within the contracts and also refer possible leads to your website to view past projects (which we include) and more details about your business. Instead of a normal website, we have an effective strategic selling machine that compliments and improves all your current bidding activities.
---
Now that is a fictional example but it shows the overall idea of how it is done. You don't focus on the design or visual side of things - it has to be all about what will get the business real valuable results, what is worth them investing in to solve problems, and showing why it will be effective/useful.
In short - Find real and painful business problems > show how web design can solve them in a high value (and high ROI) way.
---
So how to sell/help in Coronavirus?
You got to meet businesses where they are at right now.
The problems are clearly there at the moment and for a lot of people simple web design skills could go a long way.
Let's look at two fictional examples to see how we could maybe help a business...
Yoga Studio
- Problem: they probably have to shut down soon and will lose all monthly membership income.
Possible solution: We bring the classes online with live broadcasts done through a Facebook group. Members can still watch their favourite instructor online and also get some morning breathing and relaxing exercises through email. New members can sign up online through the website and if needed can quickly book a 15-minute call with staff before joining.
The website can also have new content to show how to do Yoga at home and the benefits of doing so at the moment.
The quick pitch: You can reduce the loss of your monthly income while keeping your staff on payroll and also helping out your customers in a time of stress. Also, you have the added opportunity of being the only studio open in your area right now and might even create new members.
What is needed as a web designer to do this: Some very basic tech skills and a few hours of watching videos on Youtube about how to live broadcast through FB.
Legal Services
Problem: The government has said they have to close their offices and work from home. They have 8 experienced legal staff but have zero online experience.
Solution: Changes to the website (or a new website) to allow for an online meeting with a lawyer and doing all legal services 100% online. People can view the availability of different lawyers and book an initial or full consultation. There is an email system set up to tell people their meeting time after booking and how to prepare for a video call.
The website can also offer online advice on the new common legal issues that arise in a crisis to help create new customers and run new effective local ads. They can pick the top issues they see people facing and have great content to give people useful content. This link could also be shared in local business online groups and to their current email list.
The quick pitch: No need to lose a ton of potential cash, people need your legal services right now and this can be quickly set up to help them.
It also shows your business as a leader/trusted advisor in a time of crisis. Plenty of chances to land new customers and improve your brand/reputation.
Again what is needed as a web designer - very simple tech skills but simply the right mindset to creatively solve an immediate problem.
---
I hope this gets some wheels spinning and shows people this is something they could be doing right now to help people.
For you newer entrepreneurs who maybe have your main biz slow right now this is something you could easily pivot into for a few weeks to keep the funds going.
It is easy enough to learn the code part and after it is much more just about your mindset and strategy on how you solve problems.
If you are interested in this thread please post up and let me know. I will be happy to post a lot of content to get you up and going with the sales side and also how to learn things on the tech side.
Anyone is able to do this and you already got what you need to get going.
Hope this helps - there is no shortage of problems right now and this is something people on here could be doing to help businesses stay going and hopefully stay growing.
How to Sell Web Design/Web Services during Coronavirus (or any major crisis)
At the summit, @ZCP had a challenge to positively impact as many people as you could and I feel this is a thread that could help out a few of you over the next few weeks or months.
The advantages right now:
- you can do this from your house
- you already got everything you need right now to start
- there is no shortage of people who need help
So let's get right into it...
The common way to think/sell web design is to focus on the design side.
This would be things like:
"I can make your website modern-looking"
"We can add more pages and make it load faster"
"I can make it more responsive for using on different devices "
The thing is no business owner cares about that stuff. That is way down the list of 1000 other things they could be focused on.
People who sell websites and web design this way struggle to close any deals, and any they do close are usually at a low price.
The much stronger way to sell a website is to find a serious business problem(s) that show web design as being a great way to fix/reduce that issue.
This creates a strong mental case in a business owners mind to invest in a solution (for 1x) that can solve a much bigger problem (10-100x)
Basically show you can solve a $10k or $100k or $10m problem and it isn't hard to close a decent web project deal.
---
Now under normal circumstances, this would be a good example of how you go about this:
- A business is not closing big contracts (problem)
Solution: The website can have better messaging to focus on what is needed to close these contracts, we can use trust-building content like reviews, awards, testimonials, case studies to build trust and authority.
We can also back this up with effective copywriting and persuasive images and/or videos.
Then on top of that, we can make the sales-system of the website very effective at meeting people where they are at and bringing them through the different sales stages needed so they are comfortable (and motivated) to take the right action.
Now when bidding you can include the website name within the contracts and also refer possible leads to your website to view past projects (which we include) and more details about your business. Instead of a normal website, we have an effective strategic selling machine that compliments and improves all your current bidding activities.
---
Now that is a fictional example but it shows the overall idea of how it is done. You don't focus on the design or visual side of things - it has to be all about what will get the business real valuable results, what is worth them investing in to solve problems, and showing why it will be effective/useful.
In short - Find real and painful business problems > show how web design can solve them in a high value (and high ROI) way.
---
So how to sell/help in Coronavirus?
You got to meet businesses where they are at right now.
The problems are clearly there at the moment and for a lot of people simple web design skills could go a long way.
Let's look at two fictional examples to see how we could maybe help a business...
Yoga Studio
- Problem: they probably have to shut down soon and will lose all monthly membership income.
Possible solution: We bring the classes online with live broadcasts done through a Facebook group. Members can still watch their favourite instructor online and also get some morning breathing and relaxing exercises through email. New members can sign up online through the website and if needed can quickly book a 15-minute call with staff before joining.
The website can also have new content to show how to do Yoga at home and the benefits of doing so at the moment.
The quick pitch: You can reduce the loss of your monthly income while keeping your staff on payroll and also helping out your customers in a time of stress. Also, you have the added opportunity of being the only studio open in your area right now and might even create new members.
What is needed as a web designer to do this: Some very basic tech skills and a few hours of watching videos on Youtube about how to live broadcast through FB.
Legal Services
Problem: The government has said they have to close their offices and work from home. They have 8 experienced legal staff but have zero online experience.
Solution: Changes to the website (or a new website) to allow for an online meeting with a lawyer and doing all legal services 100% online. People can view the availability of different lawyers and book an initial or full consultation. There is an email system set up to tell people their meeting time after booking and how to prepare for a video call.
The website can also offer online advice on the new common legal issues that arise in a crisis to help create new customers and run new effective local ads. They can pick the top issues they see people facing and have great content to give people useful content. This link could also be shared in local business online groups and to their current email list.
The quick pitch: No need to lose a ton of potential cash, people need your legal services right now and this can be quickly set up to help them.
It also shows your business as a leader/trusted advisor in a time of crisis. Plenty of chances to land new customers and improve your brand/reputation.
Again what is needed as a web designer - very simple tech skills but simply the right mindset to creatively solve an immediate problem.
---
I hope this gets some wheels spinning and shows people this is something they could be doing right now to help people.
For you newer entrepreneurs who maybe have your main biz slow right now this is something you could easily pivot into for a few weeks to keep the funds going.
It is easy enough to learn the code part and after it is much more just about your mindset and strategy on how you solve problems.
If you are interested in this thread please post up and let me know. I will be happy to post a lot of content to get you up and going with the sales side and also how to learn things on the tech side.
Anyone is able to do this and you already got what you need to get going.
Hope this helps - there is no shortage of problems right now and this is something people on here could be doing to help businesses stay going and hopefully stay growing.
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