How do you position yourself as a worthwhile business when many people want to look it up and do it themselves?

Let them look it up. They are not your prospective customers. For some, money has more value than time; for others, time has more value than money. Focus on providing great value to those who value their time over their money.

Some people have the time and enjoy researching and doing things themselves. They are not my prospects. However, if I am talking with a mechanic I ask if they think I can fix my car as well as they could. The answer is usually "no." I ask them why. They respond that they are the professional, they fix cars all day every day and they are up on all of the new information. Exactly, I say. Someone can learn what I know and do it themselves but they will suffer through many errors and mistakes that I can help them avoid. Do what you do well and leave the rest to professionals.

There's a big difference between what an inexperienced person can do and what a professional can do.

Maybe all they want is a low budget, "looks like they did it themselves" look. You don't do that anyway.
Once they figure out that what we do isn't that easy they'll come to you.
"An amateur practices until they get it right. A professional practices until they can't get it wrong."

We own a private facility, (our home), and just being who we are, and networking, we’ve earned a stellar reputation AND we can be found online! (We didn’t intend to be, we started on FB), but we also earned our rep by advising certain owners that our place wasn’t right for them, and to search out other businesses, and even if they want to go with us or our recommendations, we always tell them to do their research! Even on us! Once you earn a reputation like that, you will have no problem getting the business you want! Hope this helps!

The more they learn, the more informed they are as a client. Let them discover the hard way that what we do takes skills and experience. When they are looking for value, they'll find us, right next to the do-it-yourself websites. We take full advantage of the propensity to use search engines. SEO, meta tags, key words, etc.

After 10 years in the business, I've learned that if you aren't adapting to the way clients search, and being found in those searches, you're most likely approaching the end of your business life cycle. By then, it could be too late.

We are now in the information age and the availability of the things you can get on sites these days makes it more challenging for the professional. We have to embrace it and what I have found that once they try it and the desired results are not there or they forgot to read the part that say it will take several application to achieve the desired goal, they will look at how time consuming it is and call the professional. This is a great opportunity to do your own community outreach programs through your local suppliers and this is sure to open up doors to aiding in the process in some level. Our industry continues to evolve and we have to change our delivery methods to do what we do or look for a new career. Remember, our population is getting older and they are looking for time to get away from home as they retire not spend more time do garden work and the younger ones do not have time because they are developing technology for us to use to make our lives easier. We will survive and continue to be vital to keeping America Green Forever!!!

Can't yet ride a horse via internet instructions, you really need a horse!

Unfortunately, the society we live in today relies on the Internet for shopping and comparing. So to say that you don't need that nich, would not be wise. You need to start building your brand online as well as continue laying the ground work in your local community. We don't pay for advertising, but we do sponsor local activities and events in our area. We are a small business with over 20 years of serving the Coachella Valley. We have defenitly had to keep up with the internet/social media end. It provides many leads. But Customer service, Honesty, and Reliability. Is what has not, and will not, change.

There is a big difference between DIY and a professional doing their job! You are never going to get all of the business, but when it's important or a higher end event or project we are here to do those jobs. Also as a florist I know even the DIYers are not going to make a floral arrangement and then deliver it. So yes some will DIY and look it up, but even they may be a customer for bunches of flowers at a more wholesale level. Then you can still make a little money without much labor or expense.

We take what we can get and service it all to the best of our ability!

Making them aware of the value of using professionals to complete things correctly, while meeting and exceeding codes, finishing on time and in budget. We have been asked to correct projects by individuals that have attempted to do things themselves. It always takes more time and money to correct those mistakes. A person other than a dentist should not perform a root canal or someone other than a surgeon to perform a surgery. Extreme examples, maybe, however safety and complying to code is extremely important to us.