Online Business Priorities: The Key To Success
Steve Beck
I am an expert in teaching families how to succeed online. Because of my knowledge, I am often asked, "What can I sell on the Internet? What types of businesses have been successful in e-commerce?" I've given this a lot of thought, and now I have the answer.
If you are also asking, "What type of businesses have been successful in e-commerce?" I challenge you to change your thinking. Right now, you're asking the wrong question. Products come, and products go; fashions change with each new season. Clients, however, can be very loyal. Once you find your niche, take a few simple steps to make them feel valued. This will help insulate your business from changing trends.
Start by collecting basic information on your customers, just their name and e-mail addresses to start. Get an autoresponder, a program which will quickly and easily capture this information from incoming e-mails. These auto responders can also be used to send e-mails to customers, selling your product or service even while you sleep.
For example, if Bob joins your email list (via your email capture form at the top of your home page) on Monday, he will begin receiving an email every 7 days about who you are, what your credentials are, what you are selling, why they should buy from you as opposed to the other guy, and so on. If Sally joins a month later, she will start receiving your messages in the order she needs to receive them.
A month later, Karen also joins your list. While Rick is receiving his fourth e-mail, Karen is receiving her first. Both customers get the same e-mails, in the same sequence, even though they did not join at the same time. Auto responders make this easy by automating the task - you don't have to spend hours tracking and sending e-mails. Your computer does it all.
Think about that! How many of your products require more than one email to answer all the objections your customers have? Or how many of your products require some basic knowledge before your customers realize they can't live without it? Nothing is better than sequential emails for getting the job done.
Sequential e-mails ensure that all your clients get the same information, no matter when they join your e-mail list. Your clients will never again miss a valuable promotion, and you will increase your clientele.
I cannot stress enough how important this is. Put an e-mail capture form on your most popular page; usually, this will be your home page. Offer something valuable to your customers in exchange for their e-mail addresses (as an example, I offer mini-courses for marketing online). You don't need anything expensive. Create an article, a report, even a mini-course - anything that will help your client, and convince them to provide you with an e-mail address.
building your list of subscribers, you are developing an online business that will be profitable for years to come. A word of warning - if you neglect building this list, you may find yourself at the mercy of products whose popularity waxes and wanes. Develop your list for success today.
Stephen Beck teaches 7 simple repeatable steps to beginning a
http://www.familyebiz.com/ Christian Home Based Business. For a free CD explaining those steps, visit
http://www.familyebiz.com/ Start Home Business immediately.
