Saturday, February 19, 2011

Keep Your Online Customers Away From Your Competition

 Keep Your Online Customers Away From Your Competition

1. Stay In Touch
Stay in contact with customers on a regular basis. Offer them a free e-zine subscription. Ask
customers if they want to be updated by e-mail when you make changes to your Web site. After
every sale follow-up with the customer to see if they are satisfied with their purchase.

2. Friendly Web Site
Make it easy for your customers to navigate on your Web site. Have a "FAQ" page on your Web
site to explain anything that might confuse your customers. Ask them to fill out an electronic
survey to find out how make your Web site more customer friendly.

3. Easy And Free Communication
Make it easy and for your customers to contact you. Offer as many contact methods as possible.
Allow customers contact you by e-mail. Hyperlink your e-mail address so customers won't have
to type it. Offer toll free numbers for phone and fax contacts.

4. Teach Your Employees
Make sure employees know and use your customer service policy. Give your employees bonuses
or incentives to practice excellent customer service. Tell employees to be flexible with each
individual customer, each one has different concerns, needs and wants.

5. Impress Your Customer
Give your customers more than they expect. Send thank you gifts to lifetime customers. E-mail
them online greeting cards on holidays or birthdays. Award bonuses or discounts to customers
who make a big purchase.

6. Be Nice
Always be polite to your customers. Use the words Please, Thank You, and Your Welcome. Be
polite to your customers even if they are being irate with you. Always apologize to your
customers should you make a mistake. Admit your mistakes quickly and make it up to them in a
big way.


Ways To Increase Your E-zine's Readership!

Ways To Increase Your E-zine's Readership!

You Have Won!
Hold an ongoing prize drawing in your e-zine. The prizes should be something of interest or
value to your subscribers. Most people who enter will continually read each issue for the results.

100% Original
Give your subscribers content they can't read anywhere else.
I'm not saying all your content has to be 100% original, but a portion of your e-zine should have
original information. People will usually read information they haven't read before.

Was I Right?
Give your subscribers a quiz or a series of trivia questions.
Publish the correct answers in your following issue. The people who participate will want to see
if they were right.

Read All About It!
Supply news stories related to your e-zine's topic. People want current and up-to-date news. If
you can be their first source, they will become loyal readers.

The Polls Are In!
Hold an interactive poll in your e-zine. Ask subscribers a poll question. Have them e-mail their
vote or opinion. People love to give their 2 cents worth. They would also like to read the results
in your next issue.

Become A Jester :)
Give your subscribers a little humor now and then. Don't be so serious, tell them a joke. If they
associate your e-zine with being happy they will want to read every issue.

The Information Free-way
People love to get free stuff. Tell readers were to get free stuff online or offline. It could be
software, services, sample products, e-books etc. The freebies should be related to your e-zine's
topic. Keep the freebies coming and your subscribers will keep reading!

Mini-Yahoo
Tell your subscribers about Web sites related to your e-zine's topic. The web sites should be
interesting and helpful. Become your readers miniature "Yahoo", you know how many readers
they get.

In Our Next Issue...
Get your subscribers excited about your next issue. Tell them about upcoming articles, prize
drawings, freebies etc. If they know what's in store for them, they won't want to miss reading
your next issue.

Build A Successful Business By Staying Connected

Build A Successful Business By Staying Connected

Over the course of your business life you'll come in contact with a number of other
business people. They could be lawyers, business services, suppliers, customers, etc.
These people are important to your business in more ways than one. Yes, you may have
hired them, or they bought your product or service. You can also gain their business
knowledge, experience, ideas, and advice. How do you do this? Stay Connected!
Network! Networking is when two or more different businesses stay in contact on a
regular basis to build and improve each others business.

Consider all the benefits you'll gain from talking to other busines people:
-Knowledge or information that you didn't have before
-Advice on how to solve a current business problem
-Leads to a new business project or opportunity
-Joint ventures and cross promotion deals
-Learn important skills that you didn't have before
-Constructive criticism that improved your business
-Brainstorming that sparks a profitable business idea
-Encouraging and motivational statements

Their are many ways to meet business people. Join business clubs and associations.
Participate in online business related forums, e-mail discussion groups, and chat rooms.
Go to business expos and trade shows. There are other ways use your creativity to
come up with more.

If you have the time, start your own networking group. You could hold meetings at a
local seminar room, at a park , or at your own business building. If you want to hold
meetings online use a private chat room. Publish a print or e-mail newsletter to keep
members informed of meeting time and dates.

Keep all your business associates' contact information all in one place. Have it
organized by business type or profession for easy finding. So when you need some
advice on a new marketing campaign you can call that marketing expert you met at that
trade show in Ohio a couple of weeks ago.

Networking is a surefire way to build a successful business. I have used it countless
times and will continue too. I have also met a lot of business people who are now some
of my closest friends.

Cross Promote Online For Maximum Profits

Cross Promote Online For Maximum Profits

Cross promoting is when two or more businesses promote their products or services together. I
try to find businesses that have the same target audience, but are not in direct competition with
my business. Doing cross promotions with other businesses increases your profits, sales, and beat
your competition.

You can find businesses to cross promote all over the Internet. Participate in e-mail discussion
groups, online forums and newsgroups that deal with your target audience. Subscribe to e-zines
that deal with your targeted audience. Note on your Web site or e-zine that you are interested in
cross promoting your products and services. Search in
your favorite web directories and search engines to find targeted businesses.

Cross promoting has many benefits. Save money by sharing the advertising and marketing costs.
Save time when both businesses share the workload. You can offer your customers new products
and services. Get referrals from the other business' clients. Receive valuable
information from the business.

Once you find a business you would like to cross promote with simply e-mail them your
proposal. Tell the business owner the benefits of the cross promotion. Explain to him or her why
it would be a win/win situation for both of your businesses. Give them a lot of compliments
about their business, Web site, products and services. Using all three
methods above will greater your chance for a profitable cross promotion. Good Luck!

How To Eliminate Your Competition Without Bloodshed

How To Eliminate Your Competition Without Bloodshed

So how do you eliminate your competition without bloodshed? You must create a "niche" for
your business. A niche is something that makes your business different than your competitors.
To compete with other businesses nowadays (especially online) you need something that
nobody else can copy. One Of A Kind!

First you must know who your competitors are. Is your business the only one of it's type? I doubt
it. If so, it won't be for long. Do you know your exact target audience? If not, you will have to
find out this information before creating any kind of niche. Below are two ways to come up with
a competition eliminating niche.

1. Just Ask?
The first way to come up with a niche is to think like your target audience or customers. Know
their exact needs, wants, goals, problems and interests. There's two ways to do this: The first way
is to put yourself in their shoes, think like them. The second way is to give them polls and
surveys to find out what they're thinking. Pick a niche that none of your competitors are using. If
you can't find one that your
competitors aren't using pick one to improve.

2. Just Think!
The second way to come up with a niche is to use your brain power. Ask yourself questions like:
How can I set myself apart from my competition? What could I offer that they can't? Imagine or
daydream that your business is on top of all your competitors. What "niche" put your business at
the top in your head? Now, if you keep asking your brain these questions your mind will
eventually start shooting out more
ideas than you can handle. One of those ideas may be the niche you're searching for.

Now that you have your niche that's just half the battle. You must test it. Does your niche appeal
to your target audience? Will it attract people away from your competition? If it does, you're
done, until your competition comes up with a better "niche". If your niche doesn't, than repeat
the process above and test a new niche until it works. If you want to eliminate your competition
and be successful you will use this process several times in your business life.

How To Increase Your Online Sales Anytime!

How To Increase Your Online Sales Anytime!

Hold a discount sale on your web site. Use the sale to get rid of excess inventory, gain new or
repeat customers, and increase your sales. Most businesses pick a theme for their sale, like a
Halloween Sale. Below are six unique sales themes you could use:

Nobody's Visiting Today Sale
Every online business has low visitor and sales day through the week. My days are Tuesdays and
Thursdays.You could sell your products or services for cheaper to increase and sales on your
slow days. You could have this advertised right on your web site.

Time Of The Day Sale
Periodically , pick out a time of the day like 5 to 7 pm to lower your prices. With online sales
you need tell people the time zone. Announce your scheduled times ahead of time in your e-zine.
This will give people enough time to plan when they will visit your web site.
Product Or Service Of The Day Sale
Each day offer different product or service at a lower price.
This will draw people back to your web site everyday. This is a high traffic generating sale. If
you don't have a lot of products and services you may want to run the sale weekly or monthly.

Niche Group Sale
Hold a sale for a niche groups of people. Students, senior
citizens, single people etc. This really works if your introducing a new product or service for the
first time to a new target audience. Announce your sale in a targeted e-zine, e-mail discussion
groups, message boards, etc.

Holiday Or Seasonal Sale
Offer lower prices on holidays and during seasonal changes.
These type of sales let your visitors and customers know your no scrooge. Be creative and go as
far as decorating your web site. You could upload holiday and seasonal graphics. Change the
color of your text to match. Get in the spirit!

Get More For Your Money Sale
Give customers more products or services for their money.
People relate these kind of sales to getting a bargain or saving money. You could offer a buy one
get one for half off sale, a buy two get the third one free, two for the price of one sale, etc.

How To Use Bartering To Gain An Advantage Over Your Competition
If you have a business on the Internet you should be bartering goods and services with other
businesses. You should always try to trade for something before you buy it. Barter deals usually
require no money. Although sometimes you may need money to offset the value of the goods or
services being traded.
Bartering will give you many advantages over your competition.
It can save your business money. You can spend the extra money on a buying paid Internet
advertising. It allows you to offer your products and services at a lower price than your
competition. You can afford to get the higher priced goods and services to compete on the
internet.

How To Use Traffic Generators To Get FREE Advertising!

How To Use Traffic Generators To Get FREE Advertising!

You can easily lure people to your Web site by using traffic generators. It could be a free e-zine,
service, e-book, contest etc. Giving away these types of traffic generators also gives you the
opportunity to get free advertising. There are online directories that will let you submit your
freebie information. This is a powerful way to get free advertising. Below are just four of the
many traffic generators you could use and some
popular online directories to list them at to get free advertising.

Giveaway a free e-book. It's better if the e-book is related to the theme of your business. An
e-book is considered software. You can get free advertising by including your ad in the e-book
and submitting it to thousands of freeware and freebie sites. People will download it and see
your advertisement.
You can submit your product to these directories:
http://www.download.com
http://www.freehound.com
http://www.thefreesite.com

Hold a sweepstakes/contest at your web site.
Allow people to enter for free. That alone will draw
a lot of visitors to your site. This will allow you to get free advertising because you can submit
your information to these contest/sweepstake directories:
http://www.free-sweepstakes.com
http://www.huronline.com
http://www.freecontests.com

Publish a free e-zine.
They're free to send and you can include your advertisement along with
your content. Trade ads with other e-zines or print publications. You can submit your e-mail
newsletter to these e-zine directories:
http://www.dominis.com/Zines/publishers
http://www.lifestylespub.com
http://www.meer.net/~johnl/e-zine-list

Start an online community.
Moderating and participating in your own online community can
give you an expert reputation. The community could be an e-mail discussion group, discussion
board, or chat room. You can get free advertising by listing your community on these online
directories:
http://www.forumone.com
http://www.new-list.com
http://www.liszt.com

Increase Your Credibility With Web Site Awards

Increase Your Credibility With Web Site Awards

Web Site Awards are given from other sites to reward your site for a specific reason. They will
usually give you an award graphic or text link to include on your site if you win. Awards are
great to display on your Web site because they will give your business more credibility to your
visitors and customers.

Some things your Web site could be awarded for are:
Web Design
Content
Load Time
Web Features
Ease of use
Originality

If you think you have a chance to win one of these awards submit your Web site to the sites that
give out web awards. Visit other peoples Web sites and see what awards they have won. Only
register for awards that are related to the content of your Web site; this helps promote your site
to your targeted audience.

Before you register to win an award, make sure your Web site is ready. Your sites content
spelling and grammar should be correct. It should be easy to navigate through your Web site.
Graphics should be related to the content on your page.

Here are some of my favorite web awards sites:
Awards Jungle
http://www.awardsjungle.com
The Awards Connection
http://www.dtecomp.com/awards.html
1000 Web Awards
http://members.aol.com/youraward/1000awards.html
The Awards Awards
http://www.gaylasgarden.com/awards/default.htm

Create your own awards site for other Web sites. Give the winners a graphic or text link to place
on their Web site when they win. This will link your Web site to theirs and draw more traffic to
your Web site.

Redecorate Your Web Site To Increase Sales!

Redecorate Your Web Site To Increase Sales!

The use of the right colors on your web site can actually increase your sales. When people see
certain colors they can change their emotions or they can symbolize things related to the colors.

Here are a list of colors with some emotions and symbolizations they can cause:
Red - love, excitement, warmth
Pink - romantic, affection, sensuality
White - purity, peace, perfection
Blue - sky, water, travel, freedom, truth
Purple - royalty, dignity
Black - space, night, authority
Green - money, calm, envy, greed
Yellow - light, purity, understanding
Orange - autumn, youthfulness, fire
Brown - wood, comfort, strength

Its very important to know which emotions or symbolizations will trigger your target audience to
buy your product or service. If your selling a money-making product you should use green colors
to represent money or bring out the emotion of greed. People also associate comfort and travel
with money so you maybe want ad in some brown and blue
colors on your web site.

The same principle can be applied to graphics or pictures of your product on your web site.
Package your products with colors that will trigger your audience to buy. If your selling a book
about how to be more romantic, use red and pink colors on the cover. I hope these simple web
site color techniques will increase your business's sales.
What's Stopping Me From Deleting Your E-zine?

I'm subscribed to over 50 e-zines. I don't have time to read them all. I usually root though my
e-mail box, read the e-zines that look interesting and delete the rest. Does this sound like you?
When I send out my own e-zine "The BizReport Newsletter", I always try to put an appealing
headline in the subject line than just the name of my e-zine. My sales and readership are always
higher compared to the issues I don't use an appealing headline.
Which issue would you read first?
Subject Line 1:
The BizReport Newsletter
Or
Subject Line 2:
The BizReport Newsletter - FREE Internet Marketing Course!
I think all of you would honestly pick subject line number two.

Here are three types of appealing e-zine headlines that I have used to great success:

A "Freebie" Headline

Use a headline about a freebie you are offering in your e-zine. People love to get free stuff. The
freebie should be related to your e-zine's topic. Keep the freebies coming and your subscribers
will keep reading!
Examples:
FREE Online Marketing E-book!
NEW! Free Autoresponders!

A "Content" Headline
Are you publishing an interesting article? Use the article's title in your e-zines subject line.
People won't delete your e-zine if they know you offering appealing content.
Examples:
5 Sure-Fire Ways To Attract New Customers Now !
Increase Your Credibility With Web Site Awards!

A "Contest" Headline
Use a headline about a contest or sweepstakes you're holding in your e-zine. The prizes should
be something of interest or value to your subscribers. Your subscribers will open your e-zine to
see how to enter.
Examples:
Win A $1000 Worth Of Advertising!
Would you like to win a trip to Hawaii?

Online Business Press Release Writing Tips And Ideas

Online Business Press Release Writing Tips And Ideas

Press releases are one of the most cost-effective ways to get promotion for your online business.
Many entrepreneurs ignore this type of promotion because they don't know how to write a press
release. It's important to promote your online business with press releases because of the media
all over the internet.

The following is a list of some common press release writing tips:
- your press release should sound like news, not an ad
- you should only send your press release to the media related to the topic of your press release
- keep your press release one page in length
- your header, contact information and release date should be at the top of your press release
- use short sentences and double space in between sentences
- your header and first few sentences should capture the readers attention
- you should tell a story and briefly mention your business, product or service in the body of the
press release
- proofread your press release many times. Look for grammar and spelling mistakes.

Here are some excellent resources online to help you with your press release writing and distribution:
PR Web
http://www/prweb.com
Gebbie Press
http://www.gebbieinc.com

Another reason entrepreneurs ignore promoting their online business with press releases is
because they don't know what's newsworthy.

Here are 16 online business press release ideas:
- new products or services you're offering on your web site.
- the results of an online survey or poll you've completed
- a virtual trade show or seminar you're hosting.
- a free chat room class you're teaching
- your opening of a new web site
- an online award your business or web site has won
- a free e-mail newsletter you're publishing
- new online products or services you're giving away
- an online business association or club you're starting
- a famous person that's endorsing your business
- a major joint venture you're doing with another business
- a new book or e-book you wrote
- an expert or celebrity who's speaking in your chat room
- a fundraising event you're doing at your web site
- a new contest or sweepstakes you're having at your site
- major sponsorships you're doing online

You can get other press release writing tips and ideas by reading other businesses press releases,
reading how to publications, talking to experts and visiting other media web sites. I hope this
article persuades and helps you to promote your business through press releases.

Ways To Generate Profitable Business

Ways To Generate Profitable Business

All businesses are created first by ideas. Then once you're in business you need ideas for
marketing, advertising, solving problems, product development etc. The difference between
success or failure could be one just one idea.

That's all! Below are three ways to generate profitable business ideas.
1. Communicating regularly with other business people can generate many ideas. There are
many resources online and offline to meet new business people lie; seminars, chat rooms,
discussion boards, trade shows etc. Sharing your knowledge, asking questions, and taking in new
information will stimulate your mind. Your brain will begin to put all this
information together to create profitable business ideas.

2. If you're not much of a communicator, try reading.
Reading can also stimulate your mind.
Read business books, magazines, e-books, web sites, journals, e-zines, newspapers etc. Your
brain will generate profitable ideas by absorbing and rearranging this information on a regular basis.

3. Don't have a lot of time to read?
You could listen to business audio books, seminars and courses.
Listen to them in the car, while your doing house work, working in the yard, or exercising.
Also, tune in business related radio stations. This will help you save time and generate
profitable business ideas at the same time.

There are a few extra tips that will help improve these idea generation strategies. Take short
breaks to brainstorm about the information you absorbed. Keep a notepad and pen handy to
record your ideas so you don't forget them. All businesses need profitable business ideas to stay
ahead of competition and survive.

About Things To Check Before Joining Someone

Things To Check Before Joining Someone

Else's "Pay Per Sale" Affiliate Program
1. Does the affiliate program offer you a free way to join without buying the product or service?
2. Contact other affiliates already in the program to see if they have had any problems.
3. Is the product or service related to your target audience?
4. Can they notify you by e-mail when a sale is made?
5. Do they offer backend products so you can get repeat sales from the same person?
6. How often will you receive a commission check?
7. Do you get credited for a sale if people come back in month and then make a purchase.
8. Can you get around-the-clock help online or offline?
9. Do you get a large percentage of each sale as commission?
10. Do they provide you with proven sales material? (links, banners, classified ads, sales letters
etc)
11. Will they give you the leeway to create promotional ads.
12. Do they offer you access to an online sales stats page?
13. Do they use a reputable system to track your sales?
14. Does the affiliate program pay commission for sales of people who sign up under you?
15. Can they offer customers a lot of different ordering options, so in return you won't lose sales.
16. Will they keep in contact with you on a regular basis by e-mail?

Ways To Attract New Customers

Ways To Attract New Customers Now !

The product could be a simple report posted on your Web site or autoresponder to a
downloadable e-book. The information product should relate to your target audience. Just place
your advertisement somewhere on the product. Allow other people to give away the information
product to attract even more customers.

2. Offer Free Consulting Via E-mail
Allow potential customers to ask you specific questions relating to the subject of your business.
Giving away free advice can show your prospects your expertise and give you instant credibility.
Another benefit is when you e-mail them back the free advice or information include your
signature file to get free advertising.

3. Hold A Free Chat Room Seminar
People go to seminars to learn about a particular subject. With chat rooms you don't need to fear
public speaking or spend money to rent out a seminar room. You can use your own chat room or
hold the seminar in someone elses. Holding a chat room seminar is an incredible way to get free
publicity. Just send a press release to the media announcing your free seminar.

4. Start A Free-To-Join Club
Having people join your club is a creative way to attract new customers. People want to belong
to something, why not your online club. The club should be related to your product or service.
You could give away a free e-mail newsletter for club members only . Have a members only
message board, e-mail discussion group or chat room. Post your advertisements on all the club
information.

5. Provide Your Product Or Service For Almost Free
Tell potential customers you'll accept barter deals for your products or services. You may not be
getting money but they will become your customers. If they are satisfied they might pay money
the next time they make a purchase. Barter for things to improve your business or your own
personal life.