As an expert in teaching families to start online businesses, I am asked a lot of questions about selling on the Internet. By far the most common question is, "What do I sell on the Internet?" or "WHAT TYPES OF BUSINESSES HAVE BEEN SUCCESSFUL IN E-COMMERCE?"
My answer is always the same - you are asking the wrong question. Products come and go. What is hot one year, is forgotten in the next. Your clients will stay with you forever -- if you take a few basic steps to ensure their loyalty. Why not start by collecting their name and e-mail address?
Collect all the e-mails from your visitors. Many autoresponder services include a simple e-mail capture form, making this quick and easy. Those auto responders can also be used to contact your clients, making the job of selling easier. Automatic systems like this one will build your business even as you sleep.
Let's use an example. Bob joins your e-mail list using a simple capture form on your webpage. The next day, he gets an e-mail thanking him for visiting your site. One week later, Bob receives an e-mail to tell him about your great new sale. After that, Bob receives weekly e-mails telling him what you are selling and how it can help him. Your auto responders do all the work for you, so you can relax.
A month later, Sally decides to join. Your auto responders send the same messages, in the same sequence. Bob, meanwhile, receives continuing e-mails advertising your products or services. Sending sequential e-mails through an autoresponder is a great way to save time, and your business will build itself.
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.
Another benefit of sequential emails is that people will see them eventually, even if they join your email list at month later. This catches the missed sales that are so prevalent when online business owners have a single promotion that misses everyone who came to the web site after the promotion is over.
Place an e-mail capture form on your most popular page, usually near the bottom of your homepage. Make a trade with your clients - their first name and e-mail in exchange for something really valuable (for example, I offer mini-courses for marketing online). It doesn't have to be expensive, just useful for your client. Try offering a downloadable report, article, or a video link in exchange for your clients e-mail address.
Concentrate on building that list of email subscribers and you will have an online business for years to come. Neglect building an email list and you are at the mercy of products that may not last through year's end!
My answer is always the same - you are asking the wrong question. Products come and go. What is hot one year, is forgotten in the next. Your clients will stay with you forever -- if you take a few basic steps to ensure their loyalty. Why not start by collecting their name and e-mail address?
Collect all the e-mails from your visitors. Many autoresponder services include a simple e-mail capture form, making this quick and easy. Those auto responders can also be used to contact your clients, making the job of selling easier. Automatic systems like this one will build your business even as you sleep.
Let's use an example. Bob joins your e-mail list using a simple capture form on your webpage. The next day, he gets an e-mail thanking him for visiting your site. One week later, Bob receives an e-mail to tell him about your great new sale. After that, Bob receives weekly e-mails telling him what you are selling and how it can help him. Your auto responders do all the work for you, so you can relax.
A month later, Sally decides to join. Your auto responders send the same messages, in the same sequence. Bob, meanwhile, receives continuing e-mails advertising your products or services. Sending sequential e-mails through an autoresponder is a great way to save time, and your business will build itself.
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.
Another benefit of sequential emails is that people will see them eventually, even if they join your email list at month later. This catches the missed sales that are so prevalent when online business owners have a single promotion that misses everyone who came to the web site after the promotion is over.
Place an e-mail capture form on your most popular page, usually near the bottom of your homepage. Make a trade with your clients - their first name and e-mail in exchange for something really valuable (for example, I offer mini-courses for marketing online). It doesn't have to be expensive, just useful for your client. Try offering a downloadable report, article, or a video link in exchange for your clients e-mail address.
Concentrate on building that list of email subscribers and you will have an online business for years to come. Neglect building an email list and you are at the mercy of products that may not last through year's end!
About the Author:
Stephen Beck teaches people how to write an ebook. Go get his 3 free videos at http://www.8weekstoprofits.com so your family can begin your ebook business today.
