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Start your ad, sales letter, commercial, or web page out by briefly explaining a common problem you can solve. The web designer might start: "Website not making any sales?" or, "Is your site just a little ugly and embarrassing?"
Now she has
attention of LOTS of people who WANT and NEED her web design skills. Next, she can list features of her service and connect them with problems she solves or benefit customer gets:
* Attractive graphics that get attention and load quickly, so your customers don't click away. * Professional copy to get prospects excited and ready to buy. * A more logical flow from page to page, leading customers directly to your shopping cart for more orders.
4. Get FREE publicity and FREE word of mouth. Nothing brings in new business like an editor or broadcaster saying, "I checked this out and thought is was important for you to know about it."
Send your press release to your local media and to trade publications that cover your industry. Call radio talk shows when they venture onto a topic related to your business. You can be expert that calls in with some advice... often slipping your company name in during call.
Offer media people free samples, free product to give away as prizes, and even free donuts or pies (it's amazing how well free food works).
And now about FREE word of mouth. Nothing is as powerful. When one person tells another, "I found this great place with cool stuff you should try," it far more powerful than any ad you could ever buy.
Work like crazy to get free word of mouth. It usually comes when you provide more than customer expected. Give some extra free advice. Take a bit more time after sale to make sure service is done just right. Encourage customer. Give them 13 when they only ordered 12.
Don't make advertising your new business too complicated. You've got too many other things to worry about. Do these four simple steps over and over until you find a combination that works, then keep your plan in place consistently for a year or two. You will watch as your customer list and sales grow steadily.
