The Amazing List Machine...

The Easiest Online Business You Can Start... Right In Your Own Back Yard! You're about to discover why local websites are among the quickest and easiest ways to create a real online business, and how to get one started successfully in less time, and for far less money, than you might think. From: Paul Myers Publisher, TalkBiz News Welcome! If you follow any of the online business discussion boards, you've probably seen the buzz about local business portals. Even if you haven't, you've probably seen your share of local web sites, and thought that it might be interesting to create one. That's a very good idea. In fact, the odds are you don't know the half of it. Let me tell you... A Tale of Two Deals My first online business efforts were in 1995. (They tell me that makes me an old-timer.) One was a direct response campaign for a national company that had a lot of competition. It did okay, but it wasn't anything to get excited about. These days we'd call it an affiliate deal, with a mediocre payout and conversion rate. Like I said: no big deal, but it was profitable. Then the company dropped their online business. *Poof* - So much for that income stream. Ever been there? The other deal I was working on at the same time was different. It was local. I set it up myself, in a conversation that took less than 10 minutes. Creating the web page and the form to promote it took less than an evening. That one didn't generate a lot of sales every day either, but the conversion rate was high and the payout was $75 per sale. And it took just about no time at all, once it was set up. That one worked out very well, but the best part wasn't the money. It was knowing that if that deal went away, I could easily create more just like it. The formula is simple, and the pitch is as close to a no-pressure, no-brainer deal as you can offer a business. It's a true "No Lose" proposition. When I tell that story today, I hear the same thing from almost everyone: "That was okay for 1995, but competition now would make it a lot harder!" Maybe. If you try and do it like everyone else does, it probably would be tough. But do it with a local audience, and it's as easy to make that deal work as it ever was. That's one of the things I'd like to show you. It's one of the reasons I believe that having a local component to your business, even if you focus primarily on global niches or larger markets, is a must these days. And if you're just getting started online, it may be the answer to your prayers. Why Is A Local Business The Way To Go? I'm not going to say it's the only option, mind you. If you have the skills and resources to deal with more complicated markets and promotional methods, and really enjoy the challenges involved with them, those are probably your best choice. On the other hand, if you're looking more for something that's straightforward, inexpensive, fun and profitable, local is the way to go. Let's look at a few of the advantages... Less Expensive: Local sites, especially in the beginning stages, don't usually require dedicated servers, fancy graphics, or staff to handle them. They can often be started with nothing but an inexpensive shared hosting account, a cheap (or free) website template, and off-the-shelf software. The reason for this is simple. Since you're local yourself, you're not seen as a "Big Company," unless that's the image you want to portray. You're not an outsider who has to prove yourself. You're "one of us." A neighbor. That's a huge advantage. Less Competition: In most cases, you will be the only person in your market running the type (or types) of site you choose to set up. What little competition there might be will rarely have any serious degree of marketing skills, so even a basic grasp of online marketing will put you way ahead of everyone else in your market. Combined with a low-key approach, this can put you in a nearly unbeatable position. Easier Promotion: Getting links to your site, optimizing for natural search engine traffic and building a membership are all much easier when you're dealing with a local audience. Along with that, it's easier to get word of mouth and develop viral campaigns when you're giving people something that's "close to home." Most people are more comfortable with the familiar, and that's a core part of the appeal of local sites. Better Response and Retention Rates: It's a lot easier to get people to take advantage of a special offer from a business they know than one off in some distant part of the country. Credibility is a major part of making any sale. A large part of that concern goes away when people know they're going to be dealing with someone they can pick up the phone and call, or who they may even have already done business with. Also, since your offers will invoke that sense of familiarity, you'll find that your unsubscribe rates will be lower. More Visitor Loyalty: Since you're all part of the same community, your visitors will be more comfortable interacting