The Internet can be a confusing place to do business. It often seems like there are a million 'gurus' on the Net, all speaking at the same time, and telling you how they have "the" road map to success.
The truth is ... there is no one map. There are many roads to the destination we call success. How long the trip will take depends a great deal on the choices you make.
They say that a journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step. So here are five steps to get you started on your road to online success.
1. Sell What People Want To Buy.
For a thousand years (or more) small business has thrived on one motto. Find a need and fill it. The Internet is no different that Wal-Mart. If Wal-Mart didn't sell what people want they would go out of business in short order.
The best way to find what people want is to ask them. Contact the people you know and ask them what their #1 problem is today. Then tally the results and look for a pattern. Once you find the pattern, find a product or service to meet that need and contact them again.
When you do, good things will begin to happen.
2. Follow Up With Everyone
The people who come to your website will fall into two broad groups. Those who buy and those who don't buy yet. Create a follow up system for the people who don't buy and you will make time your ally, not your enemy.
You don't have to be a great writer to do this. Just jot down the five top reasons people should buy your product and create a short message for each reason. Then put those in an autoresponder and offer people more information. Over time, many will buy your product.
It's equally important to follow up with those who do buy. Be sure to offer them products and services that compliment your own.
For example, it's only logical that someone who buys a car will eventually need their oil changed. In a like manner, people who buy your offer may want products or services that enhance your product's benefits.
3. Use A Simple Sales Site
There is a lot of discussion about how many words should be on your web site. While this debate will continue to rage on, the sites that sell the best seem to be one-page, very simple sales sites. After all, why use more words than necessary.
People are in a hurry today so give them what they want. Tell them clearly why they should buy your product, ask for the order and offer them more information if they choose not to buy now. Simple.
4. Use Automation To Your Advantage
'Automation' is simply a fancy term for letting a computer do the work you would normally do. Perhaps the best example is an autoresponder.
A sequential autoresponder is a program that sends emails out over a period of time. Rather than having to remember who should get which message when, the computer remembers and sends them for you. That is how you are going to follow up with the people are aren't quite ready to buy yet. And you'll use a separate sequence for your customers - to offer them complimentary products and services.
There are ways to process orders, send email follow ups, ask for referrals, place ads and more - all using the power of automation.
While it is important to maintain a personal touch, automating everyday tasks means you will be able to respond faster to inquires and have the time you need to follow up with clients and expand your business.
5. Give Yourself Time
Just as in any business, it takes time to succeed in an online business. Since time is going to march on anyway, why not make time your ally?
Using tools to automate your business will help you save time every day. Having clearly defined goals and objectives will help you have 'staying power' for the long haul.
Using time wisely and being committed to long term success are both vital to your online business.
Success is simple if you keep it simple. One key is to find people who are successful and learn from what they are doing.
When you are offering a popular product using a simple sales page website, are following up using automation to your advantage and are patient enough to let your business grow, you will find that the path to success is short indeed.
Dr. Jeanette Cates is an Internet strategist who works with experts who are ready to turn their knowledge and their websites into Gold. Her reputation as a speaker and trainer has earned her the title of The Technology Tamer. Jeanette shares her news and views in onlinesuccessnews.com
best cleaning company Highland Park ..In many cases when you start a new website you... Read More
How to improve conversion rate for your website? How to... Read More
Being a restaurant owner means you are always interested in... Read More
Many of you will remember the line from the movie... Read More
People are always wanting to attract more visitors to their... Read More
Many people miss out on some very valuable promotion opportunities... Read More
Do what I did. Learn these 10 insiders' ad writing... Read More
Culture and Website Localization With the rise... Read More
WEB DIRECTORIESDirectories play an important role in aiding a site's... Read More
Directory marketing can help boost your companies performance a great... Read More
The Google patent application submitted in March, 2005 has generated... Read More
Do you want to advertise about your website?Wait and have... Read More
Congratulations! You and your designer have just finished creating your... Read More
You have invested your time and money into putting up... Read More
Once your site is launched, half your battle is won.... Read More
You can learn many things you didn't know about your... Read More
Do you have a website or are you planning on... Read More
The internet is a wonderful source of information and full... Read More
Web site traffic promotion on the cheap is labor intensive... Read More
Submitting your website to the main search engines should be... Read More
Write it, offer it for free on your site and... Read More
So you have completed that new site and want to... Read More
Here are 10 power secrets to help your website promotion... Read More
Do you know how your web site fits into the... Read More
Creating a sense of credibility for your product and website... Read More
high-end home cleaning Winnetka ..The Google patent application submitted in March, 2005 has generated... Read More
Success in business thrives on ideas.The more creative you're the... Read More
Before one can fully understand the importance and necessity of... Read More
With learning about online promotion, there is so much information... Read More
1. Tell people you have a siteThis might seem blindingly... Read More
Writing and distributing articles is fast becoming a popular method... Read More
Viral Marketing is allowing people to giveaway and use your... Read More
When promoting any product or service every hit to your... Read More
Free content builder. Articles are the best way to add... Read More
1. Use reward programs to keep people revisiting your web... Read More
I've been operating two small retail Websites for several years... Read More
Got one? Two? Three?If you have competitors, then you should... Read More
Stop wasting your time and having your energy sucked dry!... Read More
Five Nifty Ways to Make Your Site Sticky!'Stickiness' is one... Read More
Interested in boosting your link popularity, raising your Google PR,... Read More
I created my first website in 1995 - it was... Read More
Each week I receive dozens of article submissions to my... Read More
If you master these nitty-gritty website promotion tactics, you'll be... Read More
Hundreds of millions of people have spent thousands of dollars... Read More
Benefits of Website Localization Maximising profit today... Read More
Would you attempt to use a cell phone with a... Read More
Let's face it. Getting webmasters to link to your site... Read More
Any time you use a URL in an Article, Web... Read More
1. Give people a free subscription to your e-zine. Almost... Read More
No matter what you're marketing or promoting, if your Ad... Read More
Web Site Promotion |