With the years competition online, has become fierce. Studies
shows already that there are more web pages in cyberspace today
than there are humans on the face of the earth. All these
jostling for the same customers. And if you remember that the
primary purpose of every business is to acquire customers, then
you will understand how serious this is.
If you're an internet home-based business entrepreneur, this
calls for great concern. But the solution is not to *fight* your
competition. The better way is to be creative in your marketing
strategy. Competing against the vast array of possibilities
will only frustrate and ultimately fag you out. I sincerely
believe the competition should help you to be more creative.
Also remember that your potential and existing customers have
their individual choices. Therefore they should be your real
target.
A vast number of online marketers today resort to various tricks
and unwholesome tactics to market their products. Using
hard-sell copywriting tricks they aim to producing a six-figure
income in six months. They call this working smarter and not
harder. Unfortunately many unsuspecting newbie internet
marketers fall for this ploy.
As Percy Whiting rightly said, "Selling, to be a great
art, must involve a genuine interest in the other person's
needs. Otherwise it is only a subtle, civilized way of pointing
a gum and forcing one into a temporary surrender".
You must understand that marketing is a process and not a one
time task. You must also know that it cost about ten times less
to sell to an existing customer than a new one. So instead of
using tricks and hard sell strategies, put in place time-tested
and proven methods that will keep your customers committed to you
and your business. And ultimately sky rocket your earnings.
The following tips and suggestions will help you to reduce your
marketing cost, increase your earnings and keep your customers
returning again and again for more.
1. Earn Your Clients' Respect And Trust: Put yourself in a
potential customer's position. Who would you continue to do
business with? An entrepreneur who after selling you a product
runs off, with every communication door closed? Or one who is
always at hand to answer your questions and listen to your
complaints? I'm sure your guess is mine.
If your desire is to keep your customers and profit with them
over time then ensure you earn their trust and respect. This is
easily done through consistent follow-up.
Build a separate list for your customers. When someone becomes
your customer, follow-up some days or weeks later with a
thank-you email. Thank him for becoming a valued customer. In
this thank-you email you could include a mystery bonus gift.
From this point onward, ensure you're occasionally in contact
with him. This may be to alert him to other special offers that
will benefit him as an existing customer.
2. Sell Information And Not Products: People are online for
mainly one purpose, to gather information. And as the saying
goes, information sells. Instead of marketing your products,
market information. Offer your existing and potential customers
valuable information. Present your products and services as
valuable information to your customers. Instead of dwelling on
how beautiful and wonderful your product is, show your customers
how it will solve their pains. When done well, potential
customers will become existing customers and those already on
your list will be glad to remain there.
Be on the alert and keep an eye on the media. Using your
follow-up system, send your customers a message, short report or
news, whenever you find information that could benefit them. Be
sure that this is relevant to their relationship with you. Your
customers will appreciate your interest.
3. Position Yourself: Many of the marketing tricks and
strategies being bandied online are nothing but archaic and
unpopular 'prospecting for customers' tactics. Many use email
broadcasting services. Others descend as low as harvesting email
addresses and sending unsolicited emails. All with the mind
that their recipients may be enticed to make a purchase. But if
your experience is anything like mine, such emails always end in
cyber space. Deleted without any qualms.
However, a better method is positioning yourself. Doing this
will force your potential customer to locate you first. When
your potential customer comes online with a need, pain or a want,
and desire a solution if he finds you, you stand a better chance
of having a satisfied customer. They may discover you through a
friend, an ad, an article or in an ezine. And because this
buyer has more respect for you, you have more chances of keeping
this customer.
Note that using the first two tips above will definitely help you
to double your chances of positioning yourself.
4. Keep Your Customer Service At Top Notch: customers desire
to be treated with great respect. They desire quick replies to
complaints or request. Yes, the volume of correspondence online
may sometimes be overwhelming. I know you must have automated
your correspondences to have more time to yourself. But this
could cost you some of your clients. When a potential client
request specific information but receives an automated message
that never addresses his request, he may move his business
somewhere else.
To avoid this, devote part of your business time to attend to
customers' and potential customers' email. You may get a hand to
help out with this. Also, where there is a complaint, ensure
that it is handled promptly. Where a customer asks for a refund,
instantly do so. But never stop there. Thank him for trying
out your product and request for his comments and the reason for
asking for a refund. This will help you in upgrading your
product and of course can result in more sales.
Conclusion: Your customers are the engine hub of your business.
Your existing customers' word can make or mar your business.
You would not only want to hold on them but also profit from
their clientele. Do everything therefore to build a trustworthy
relationship with them. Gain their respect while offering them
what will heal their pains. Your customer data-base can be your
re-occurring income treasure trove. Guard it well. Always
remember that your success depend on it.
Chadrack Irobogo
http://ideas4profit.250free.com
Copyright ? Chadrack Irobogo 2005. All rights reserved.
For Chadrack Irobogo's FREE email course "Success-Sure-Steps To
Making The Internet Your Own Money Machine!" and for more proven
and tested tactics and strategies to help you generate real and
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