How I Made $800 in 4 Hours Using Google Maps
Table of Contents
- Introduction
- Choosing a Business Idea
- Testing Demand with Google Trends
- Learning Google Business Profiles
- Finding Potential Clients on Google Maps
- Crafting a Sales Pitch
- Making Phone Calls to Small Businesses
- Using Fiverr as a Backup Plan
- Challenges and Results
- Conclusion
Introduction
Today, I was challenged by my team to make $800 in just four hours using skills that I don't already have. The catch? I have to choose a business idea that can actually make money quickly and cater to a wide audience. After considering various options, I decided to explore the potential of Google Maps and Google Business Profiles. But before diving right in, I wanted to ensure that this venture was viable. So, I turned to a free tool that I trust – Google Trends – to assess the demand and interest in this niche. Excited by the results, I knew I had found my business opportunity. However, there was one major hurdle – I had no knowledge about Google Business profiles. But, determined to overdeliver for my clients and build long-term partnerships, I found a 42-minute course on Google Skillshop to quickly learn the basics. Armed with information, I set out to find small businesses on Google Maps that needed my services. Join me on this adventure as I share the steps I took, the challenges I faced, and the lessons learned along the way.
Choosing a Business Idea
When my team challenged me to make $800 in just four hours, I had to think strategically about which business idea would yield quick and profitable results. Physical product-based businesses like Drop Shipping and Amazon FBA were out of the question due to the time-consuming nature of finding suppliers and agreement on product features. Print-on-demand seemed feasible at first, but the need to test product quality and ensure value for money made me reconsider. Consulting, on the other hand, was a viable option since I had 18 years of experience consulting businesses of all sizes. However, my team imposed a rule that I couldn't rely on my existing skills. After brainstorming various ideas, I stumbled upon an untapped opportunity – Google Maps.
Testing Demand with Google Trends
Before fully committing to the Google Maps business idea, I wanted to check its viability. To assess the demand and interest in this niche, I turned to trusty Google Trends – a free tool that provides valuable insights. With Google Trends, I could get a comprehensive view of search trends over time, compare different niches, and determine if people were actively searching for Google Business Profiles (formerly known as Google My Business). I navigated to trends.google.com and selected a five-year timeframe to gather reliable data. The worldwide results showed consistent high levels of interest in both Google My Business and Google Business Profiles. This undeniable demand confirmed that my chosen business idea had excellent potential for success.
Learning Google Business Profiles
With the decision made to pursue a business involving Google Maps, there was one major obstacle – I knew nothing about Google Business Profiles. However, I strongly believed in overdelivering for my clients, as this builds long-term partnerships and allows for organic business growth. I quickly searched for a solution and discovered that Google offers free courses on their Skillshop platform. These courses cover various aspects of Google tools and services, including Google My Business. I found the "Google My Business: Learn how to use your free Google My Business to create listings that will stand out when customers search online" course, which had a short duration of just 42 minutes. Within this limited timeframe, I learned the essentials of optimizing Google Business Profiles to maximize online presence. Equipped with newfound knowledge, I was ready to put it into practice.
Finding Potential Clients on Google Maps
To proceed with my Google Maps business venture, I needed to find potential clients – small brick-and-mortar businesses – who could benefit from my services. Utilizing the powerful search capabilities of Google Maps, I set out to identify businesses with incomplete profiles, unclaimed business accounts, low review counts, and mediocre rankings in search results. These factors indicated a lack of optimization, providing ample room for improvement. With a combination of targeted search queries and location filtering, I compiled a list of businesses that fit the criteria. This initial list included plumbers and painters from small towns in the United States, focusing primarily on the East Coast where I anticipated greater availability and willingness to engage.
Crafting a Sales Pitch
Before initiating contact with potential clients, I took a moment to brainstorm and create a loose script for my sales pitch. I wanted to ensure that I effectively communicated the value I could bring to their businesses within a short timeframe. Armed with a polished script, I felt confident in my ability to land impactful pitches and generate interest in my services. The key was to emphasize the benefits I could offer in terms of optimizing their Google Business Profiles, improving online visibility, and attracting more customers. I wanted each interaction to highlight the value of investing in my expertise and services. With my script in hand, I was ready to make my first round of phone calls.
Making Phone Calls to Small Businesses
My chosen approach involved contacting potential clients directly via phone calls. This direct communication allowed for immediate interaction and the opportunity to showcase the value of my services. Armed with a list of businesses, I began making phone calls and introducing myself as a digital marketing specialist from Scale Studio. I leveraged my Google training and expertise to pique their interest. While some calls did not yield favorable outcomes, I managed to connect with several business owners. Conversations focused on conveying how I could help small businesses maximize their online presence and stand out on Google. Through these calls, I aimed to secure appointments for further discussions and present tailored solutions to their marketing challenges.
Using Fiverr as a Backup Plan
As the clock ticked, I found that not all phone calls resulted in immediate sales. To ensure that I met the $800 target within the given time frame, I decided to leverage Fiverr as a backup plan. By creating a Fiverr profile, I could offer my services to a broader audience and potentially make additional sales. While this deviated slightly from the challenge's premise of not using my existing skills or assets, it allowed me to explore alternative avenues for generating income. A quick setup of my Fiverr profile enabled me to reach potential clients outside the scope of my phone calls, increasing my chances of hitting the target.
Challenges and Results
Within the limited time allocated, challenges arose, and I had to navigate them swiftly. Some business owners were unresponsive or had incomplete contact details, making it difficult to establish communication. Others expressed interest but required email follow-ups or further assessments before committing to any services. Despite these hurdles, I managed to secure sales from two companies for $250 each and one company for $200 after negotiations. These initial sales demonstrated the potential success of the Google Maps business venture. While I fell short of the $800 target within the four-hour timeframe, I remained satisfied with the progress made and the lessons learned.
Conclusion
In conclusion, this four-hour challenge pushed me to explore new business ideas and adapt quickly to reach my goal. Through thorough research using Google Trends, taking a crash course on Google Business Profiles, identifying potential clients on Google Maps, and making persuasive phone calls, I demonstrated the potential of using Google Maps for business success. Despite not fully reaching the $800 target in the given time frame, I exceeded expectations by securing sales and establishing valuable connections with potential clients. This experience not only presented an exciting opportunity for growth but also highlighted the importance of adaptability, persuasion, and strategic thinking in generating income quickly.
