The Local Business Owner and Web-based Marketing. What Are They Waiting For?

Written by By Tim Charles


The Local Business Owner and Web-based Marketing. What Are They Waiting For?

Way back inrepparttar 1990's, (your remember) duringrepparttar 125017 spectacular growth and hype ofrepparttar 125018 Internet, one group in particular learned to doubt they neededrepparttar 125019 Internet as a new marketing tool -repparttar 125020 local business owner.

While many simply ignored it as a game for larger businesses, there were those who bravely set out to explorerepparttar 125021 possibilities. Unfortunately, many of these local business web-marketing pioneers ended up wishing they had ignored it too.

What happened? Why do many who tried web-based marketing for their local businesses feel burned, or at best, skeptical?

For starters, somebody forgot to tell them it required marketing. The "build it and they will come" theory prevailed. Instead of being a marketing driven, these early attempts were frequently, and solely, put intorepparttar 125022 hands of web designers.

Now don't get me wrong. The designers did their job. Many sites were built. Basic functions performed smoothly. Evenrepparttar 125023 site email worked… and a few local business owners could be heard bragging - "I got a web site."

Then… nothing. Neither current nor potential customers were visiting, let alone taking any kind of buying action at these web sites.

The business owner, likely applyingrepparttar 125024 same thinking they used aboutrepparttar 125025 Yellow Pages (put it out there, and they'll find me), grew frustrated, then angry. Problem was, consumers had long ago become accustomed to usingrepparttar 125026 phone book as a source of information about local businesses. Using a web site was a different story.

"Web site? " they might ask, "How do I find it?" Such comments often conveyedrepparttar 125027 gap between having a site that could fulfill its promise and having a site that did nothing but add an expense.

While much of this happened just a few years ago, a lot has already changed. Many more consumers have grown comfortable usingrepparttar 125028 Internet as a source for local information, and these numbers will grow. Unfortunately,repparttar 125029 residual 'bad taste' lingers among many who operate inrepparttar 125030 local business arena today.

Simple Things You Can Do To Get Out of Sales Slump

Written by Lisa M. Cope


Don't get down inrepparttar dumps when your sales are in a slump!

Most businesses hit a slump now and then. Sometimes when your in a slump it just takes a little extra push to get repparttar 125016 sales rolling in again. I have what I call a slump file. Inside I have a list several profit generating ideas that I keep handy to help boost sales when business is slow.

But first let's talk about preventative measures you can take to help keep your slump in sales from being so hard on your bottom line.

When your in business you know that follow up isrepparttar 125017 equivalent torepparttar 125018 goose that laidrepparttar 125019 golden egg. You must follow up with every customer who makes a purchase or your business is dead.

A good idea is to incorporate some slump preventing measures into your follow up process. It is very simple really. When you follow up with a customer who makes a purchase just include a customer satisfaction questionnaire. Ask a few basic questions like, Isrepparttar 125020 product to your satisfaction? Did you find it easy to place your order? Did you have any trouble with delivery? You getrepparttar 125021 idea!

This information will allow you to improve your sales copy, customer service and ordering process. Also include your recommendation for other complementing products or a plug for your favorite affiliate program this will increase your profits inrepparttar 125022 long run.

It's a good idea to start your own slump file. To get you going use some of these simple techniques to help increase your sales. As you learn more tip's and tricks you can add them torepparttar 125023 file. Keep it handy and any time sales are low instead of just staring at your computer screen refer to repparttar 125024 list to rev things up.

- Offer to give a percentage of your profits to a worthy cause. Your customers will appreciate your willingness to give and it will also make them feel good about making a purchase and helping out atrepparttar 125025 same time. It could be to a favorite charity, local school, church, to helprepparttar 125026 environment or endangered animals depending on your personal preference andrepparttar 125027 type of business your in.

- Send your customers a surprise gift like a discount on their next purchase, a free consultation or offer a free product to them for referring a friend. Set up a good customer loyalty program and your sales will very rarely slump.

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