|
 |
|
BUSINESS BASICS CHANNELS 
|
"Tip Bits" Want more traffic on your website? Try these tips: *Want attention? Give something away! People love the thought of getting something free and they'll spend more time at your site. They'll also give you more information and come back more often if they have the chance to win a contest or a drawing for something free. *You'll get better attention if it's something that people want. People will pay real attention to a contest that offers a new Porsche Boxter, less if the winnings are a $10 gift certificate. Since most small businesses can't afford the Porche Boxter, however, it's good to think creatively. *Make sure that your signature file for all of your email and newsgroup postings talks about your website. Keep it short--less than 6 lines, and give it a message that will make people want to check it out. *Advertise in an opt-in email newsletter that targets the customers you want. You'll get much better results than from banner ads placed in random locations. *Banner ads are losing their power to persuade. You may do better with offline advertising, especially if you put it into a publication that people are likely to keep. If you're selling the finest teas, an ad in Gourmet Magazine will have a lot more response for you than getting 30,000 banner views at an automotive website. People feel better about buying from you if they know some things about you and your business. What kinds of things do they want to know about you? *They want to know where you are physically, although a mailbox address is usually okay. *They want to know to contact a human being who can help them if they have a question or something goes wrong. So give them a phone number that gets answered by someone who is authorized to fix a problem and knows enough about the product or service to answer most questions. Get back to people promptly with more info if they ask for it. *They want to know that you care about their business. If your customers are making money; you're more likely to make money, too. *They want to know that they can rely on you. So let them know what you promise! If you ship the same day you receive the order, let them know. Do you guarantee your product or service? Let them know! *Be honest. If you have something in stock, that’s great. If you've got to backorder it, let them know when you expect to be able to ship and keep them updated if you don't get it on time. *Bill when you ship, not before. One of the best ways to guarantee an unhappy customer and no repeat business is to have the credit card statement beat the product to their house. *If you're in a business where you have a few customers that make up the bulk of your clients, keep a file on who they are and what you can do for them. You can do it on your computer with a hot shot contact management program or you can keep a handwritten notebook or develop a great Rolodex. The more you know about what they want, the more likely they are to order from you time after time, even if your price is a little higher than the next company’s. These are also the folk who are likely to respond to promotions. If you get a great deal on your stock or business is a little slow, they might be interested in buying from you TODAY, even if they’ve still got your widgets in inventory. Don't forget to say "thanks." It does make a difference and sincere thanks will build repeat business! Look for more "Tip Bits" in future issues |
|