Semi-Local Business Survey results

Firepole Marketing and Small Business, BIG Vision present:

Results of the
Semi-Local
Business Survey

Firepole Marketing
www.FirepoleMarketing.com

Small Business, BIG Vision
www.sbbv.com
© Firepole Marketing 2011. Some rights reserved.

You may republish excerpts from this special report as long as they are
accompanied by an attribution link back to www.FirepoleMarketing.com.

Do you make some of your money
locally, and some of your money
remotely, or online?

If you answered “yes” to this
question, then you’re Semi-Local.

In October 2011, we surveyed 153 people; 107
were already Semi-Local, and 46 aspired to be:

46

31
27

18
12
5

I'm not Been Semi- Been Semi- Been Semi- Been Semi- Been Semi-
Semi-Local Local for less Local for 1-2 Local for 2-5 Local 6-8 Local for 9
yet than 1 year years years years years or
more

We asked questions to find out what
was really involved in becoming and
being Semi-Local.

This report contains their answers
to those questions.

Part 1
Who were the
respondents?

How old are the respondents?
33%

29%
25%
21%
20%
18% 18%

11% 11%
8%

4%
2%

18 - 24 25 - 34 35 - 44 45 - 54 55 - 64 65+
Aspiring Semi-Local Currently Semi-Local

Are the respondents male or female?

71%

60%

40%

29%

Male Female

What is your marital status?

55%

46%

25%
22%
15%
11% 11%
7%
3% 3%
0% 2%

Single In a Domestic Married Divorced Widowed
relationship Partner

Do you have children under 18 living with you?

79%
70%

30%
21%

Yes No

What is the highest level of education that you
have completed?
68%

33% 32%

18%
14% 14%
7% 7%
4% 3%
0% 0%

High School Trade or Some Associate Bachelor Graduate or
graduate or vocational college degree degree professional
equivalent degree degree

How do you currently earn the majority of
your income?
52% 51%

24% 22%
20%
13%
11%
4% 3%
0%

Freelancing Full-time Part-time Self-employed Unemployed /
employed employed / Own business Other

What kind of business are you in?

50%
46%

37%

25%

15% 16%
8%
2%

Products (B2B) Products (B2C) Services (B2B) Services (B2C)

How many hours do you spend working (or
earning an income) per week?
24%
23%
22%
21%
20%
16% 15%
13%
11% 11%
9%
7%
5% 4%

Less than 10-19 20-29 30-39 40-49 50-59 60 or
10 hours hours hours hours hours hours more
hours

What is your take-home income in round
numbers?
39%

25% 27%
23%
21%
18%
13% 14%
10%
4% 4%
2%

Less than Between Between Between Between Over
$20,000 $20,000 and $40,000 and $60,000 and $100,000 $200,000
$40,000 $60,000 $100,000 and
$200,000

How many different business lines or income
sources do you have?

33.3%
28.0%

17.2%

11.8%
9.7%

1 2 3 4 5 or more
Currently Semi-Local

Why did/do you want to become Semi-Local?

87% 84%

71%
66%
58%
53%
43%

24%

To increase my To reduce reliance To reduce reliance To create flexibility
income on a single source on a geographic in my life
of income area

What results are/were you expecting?

Responses showed some similarities between the
expectations of both categories of respondents, and
some differences. Both groups spoke of greater sales,
increased revenues, and the stability, security and
freedom offered by diversification.
The noteworthy difference was that whereas
respondents who aspired to Semi-Local status
emphasized the expectation of rapid growth and
passive income, the expectations of those who had
successfully achieved Semi-Local status were of
generating slow, gradual growth, with a greater
emphasis on the expected need for hard work.

What results did you actually get?

A few respondents were pleasantly surprised at the
rapid growth of their business and income, and a few
more were disappointed that their expected results
have not yet materialized.
The majority of those who have successfully achieved
Semi-Local status, however, indicated that their
expectations of slow but steady growth leading to
greater diversification and stability were validated by
their experiences.

In what way do you expect to/did you become
Semi-Local?
60%

29% 28%
19% 17%
16%
11% 10%
7%
3%

Same offer, Related offer, Related offer, Different offer, Different offer,
new market same market new market same market new market

What is the impact of being Semi-Local on
overall revenues (expectations and results)?
53%

44%

33%

23%
18%

7% 7% 8% 7%
0%

Much less Less The same More Much more

What is the impact of being semi-local on
overall costs (expectations and results)?
50%
44%

33%

23%
17% 17%
13%

4%
0% 0%

Much less Less The same More Much more

How much time is required to be ready to
“launch”?
30%
27%
25%
24%
21%

17% 17%
15%
14%
10%

0-19 hours 20-40 hours 40-60 hours 60-100 hours 100+ hours

In the last year, have you purchased courses or
information about becoming Semi-Local?
57% 58%

17% 15%
9% 8% 8% 9% 10% 9%

No, just free Yes, up to $100 Yes, between Yes, between Yes, over
information $101 and $500 $501 and $1,500
$1,500

Are you getting/did you get professional help
in order to become Semi-Local?
63%

43%

27%

12% 13% 12%
10% 9%
7%
3%

I participate in I work with a I have a coach/ I've hired staff No
a training general coach/ consultant for specifically for
program consultant this this

How much money did you invest to achieve
Semi-Local status?
42.9%

22.6%
16.7%

9.5% 8.3%

Less than $500 $500-$1,000 $1,000-$2,000 $2,000-$5,000 $5,000+

So far, what has been your biggest
difficulty/challenge in getting started?
Respondents who aspire to Semi-Local status point to
several major challenges to getting started:
 Lack of technical skills;
 Lack of strategic understanding as to what
actions they should take;
 Lack of time to do the necessary work;
 Lack of motivation to remain patient and
persevere in the face of setbacks;
 Lack of financial resources.

In which areas do/did you need the most help?

Respondents who aspired to be Semi-Local indicated
the need for help with marketing and strategic
direction, technical implementation, specific skills
such as copywriting and coding, and legal and
accounting issues.
Respondents who had already achieved Semi-Local
status most frequently indicated that they should
have realized that they could do it sooner. The also
indicated that they would have benefited from more
coaching and expert input, and more technical
training relating to online marketing.

How hard was it to become semi-local?

53.6%

20.2%
11.9%
7.1% 7.1%

Very hard Hard Same as any Easy Very easy
other project

What was the biggest benefit of becoming
Semi-Local?
Respondents who had achieved Semi-Local status
indicated several major benefits of the transition:
 Increased sales, greater revenues, and more
profits to their bottom lines;
 “Opened up a whole new world”;
 Flexibility, freedom and more available time;
 Credibility, and recognition as an “expert”;
 Confidence.

What was the biggest unexpected benefit of
becoming Semi-Local?
Respondents who had achieved Semi-Local status
indicated several unexpected benefits as well:
 Support and help from clients unrelated to the
respondent’s main business activities;
 “Personal satisfaction and increased skills”;
 “Getting my voice out there in the community”;
 Unexpected business opportunities;
 “FREEDOM!”

What lesson or experience do you have to
impart to others who are about to embark on
the same undertaking?
“It will take more than you think it will. Financially,
and physical effort. But it’s definitely worth it.”
“Researching the market and competition is
important but getting in front of the client is number
one.”
“Get more help at the start.”
“It takes far more time than you are expecting, but it
is also engaging and exciting if it is your dream.
Budget your time and stick to it.”

What lesson or experience do you have to
impart to others who are about to embark on
the same undertaking? (continued)
“Be patient and resilient. It’s a marathon, not a
sprint.”
“Make sure you have a reliable source of income to
continue for the long haul.”
“Learn SEO.”
“Take your work seriously.”
“Get a web presence and build your brand across
platforms. Stay engaged and network in social media
regularly – it’s the best marketing ever!”

We hope the data presented in this
report is useful to you.

If you were a respondent, thank you
for participating.

Thank you to all the bloggers who
helped us promote the survey:

About Firepole Marketing
Firepole Marketing is the definitive online
resource and marketing training program,
designed to turn non-marketers into expert
marketers.
www.FirepoleMarketing.com

About Small Business, BIG Vision
Small Business, BIG Vision provides inspiration
and practical advice on everything from
creating a one-page business plan to setting up
an advisory board.
www.sbbv.com

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