How would you start a mainstream marketing business from 0? Would you take clients for free to start
 

I'm interested in doing marketing for mainstream companies. Facebook promotions, Local SEO, etc. My only experience is promoting porn though so I don't have a mainstream portfolio.

So since I'm starting at 0, I have no previous work to show anyone. How would you go about getting started and learning quickly on the job?

Offer to work for free?

The first step in being able to market someone else is being able to market yourself. ;-)

Start with popular non profits in your neihborhood, this is what I did. You do a good job with them and they spread the word to local businesses. Just make sure you let them know upfront that your goal is to blow there socks off and get local business referals to kick start your company.

Since you're doing marketing, scope them out first online and have a plan mapped out you can sell them on. When you call ask to speak to the non profits administrator.

Treat the non profit like your best paying customer DO NOT treat them like a charity case.

I always look for something new. I just got a new client where they are selling a program to help people get out of debt. Should be a huge payout for affiliates

sorry, but those are scams .....

New ideas , with a real product and a real target clientele , are the way to go .

I am launching a management cloud ''software'' for HOA associations .... could do well or flop .

Some good advice from Bladewire. I would add the following :2 cents: :2 cents: :

Look for a non profit that generally has a good reputation within the community, and
relationships with the businesses you are trying to target. With some non profits, you can work on a % where you share in the money you bring in from your efforts. More important than this, sign with them an NDA, that prohibits them from disclosing to anyone that you worked for free or ______________.

Good luck!

Success breeds success.

If someone trying to sell me something can show me a few successes that they have had with the product/service I would consider them seriously -- even small time successes. It is a buyers guideline -- success patterns -- and not a bunch superlative bullshit because the seller has nothing to show.

Be honest with your first clients tell them that you want testimonial 'letters' from them as payment when you show them what you can do for them -- and that you are willing to do this to get you service business established. You give but ask for compensation -- their goodwill toward you in the 'community.'

No one works for free -- business people understand that.

Local business is a tough nut to crack -- best of luck.

Kinda like when I get 10 SEO spam proposals a month. I google SEO and their nowhere to be found. If they can't rank themselves then they can't rank me. :winkwink:

Not that you even try :1orglaugh:1orglaugh:1orglaugh https://twitter.com/erectmedia

I've got around 50 sites and 400-500 domains for sale, majority of my income is in mainstream now where the work/social work goes into that and the adult end kinda runs itself or more on auto pilot then the mainstream. 2002 when I started was 100% adult but invested profits over the years into mainstream shit so I could tell mom I do something other than porn. :winkwink:

That was evil

https://i.redd.it/557dislyjn3y.jpg

:thumbsup

It would be good if you could build them a site and get traffic to that site. so when you approach the prospective client you have something to show them that you control. You are working for free before you meet with them. Charging them for the work after you hand it over and getting a retainer to keep the site running.

Don't do anything naming them without the consent of the client and an agreement. You will have legal issues.

I tried back in 2003 to interest local retailers in the aspects of Internet marketing and selling -- hitting a brick wall back then. I walked away realizing, again, I was ahead of my time in the "early adopter" stage.

2016 is now the late adopter stage so I would expect you to find a lot of hardcore resistance or fierce competition. You really need a better angle -- a unique value proposition. Specialize in brand building or some other needed function -- if you have an angle to make a business stand out from a crowed field, that can be understood in today's market, you can succeed.

I learned the hard way selling Video Realty franchises in LA in 1976 :2 cents: Early adoption markets may be how you get rich but they are a real ball buster to get started ...

Not this one, it has 40,000 users. It uses all your accounts to help you monitor and adjust your payments to pay off interest faster. People are getting all their debt, mortgage included paid off a lot faster. I figure this will help with my other business, selling annuities!

I don't use Twitter at all, not my platform of choice either :1orglaugh

Thats a really great idea saving this. I thought today that I might just focus on 1 industry so specializing in charities might be good.