Newsletter ArchiveSUBJECTs:Power Of Referrals - Building Web Site Loyalty The Internet 800 Directory - http://www.inter800.com The Internet 800 Directory Newsletter This issue is for Friday, May 17, 2002 Table of Contents 01. Building Web Site Loyalty 02. Sale!!!!! 03. Power Of Referrals 04. Tip Of The Week Welcome to The Internet 800 Directory Newsletter. On 3/29/02, I wrote an article discussing deceptive marketing ploys used by some registrars to gain domain registrations. On Tuesday of this week, a federal judge issued a preliminary injunction against VeriSign, temporarily halting the company from using advertisements that attempt to trick domain name holders into switching to its service by sending advertisements that appeared to be "expiration notices." Maybe this action will help stop some of the deceptive marketing ploys that are being used on unsuspecting companies every day. *01 Building Web Site Loyalty Many companies spend a great deal of time and money trying to attract visitors to their web site but do nothing to motivate those same visitors to return. Returning visitors are the most overlooked aspect in most companies' online strategy. Just like loyal customers in a retail store, they are more likely to buy and refer their friends to your site. Becoming a destination site can be an expensive proposition, but there are some things that can be done for little to no cost. -1 Create A Newsletter If you are serious about building a relationship with your visitors, you need to create an informative newsletter. This newsletter should provide its readers with good content on a regular basis. Creating a newsletter is not easy, nor is it expensive, but it does take commitment. The feedback from those that started newsletters has been very positive and all have reported it was worth the effort. Don't know where to start? Send me an e-mail (chuck@inter800.com) -2 Provide A Quick Response Provide quick responses to customer feedback. This lets the visitor know that there are real people behind the web site. Be careful about using auto responders to address service issues. While auto responders provide a very fast reply, they are not personal and can create frustration. This frustration can cost you the very loyalty you are trying to build. -3 Personalize Your Site Even in the computer age, personal relationships are important. Your visitor should feel that there are actual people involved with your site. This is not always easy, but let them get to know you. -4 Keep It Fresh New content on a regular basis will help establish your web site as a destination site for your field. The more current information you provide about your line of work, the more people will return. If you have any thought or ideas you would like to share with me, please send them to Chuck Arning at chuck@inter800.com We're Talkin' Serious" Bone Suckin' Sauce ! Winner: "Battle Of The Sauces." Created in true western North Carolina style. Tomato based all-natural, sweetened with honey and molasses. Order your Box of six today for $39.99 +s/h. Toll-Free 1-800-446-0947 or online http://www.BoneSuckin.com *02 Sale!!!!! Well, it's that time of the year again. That's right, the Internet 800 Directory is having a sale. For a limited time, we are offering a very special rate for the Enhanced Listing Package. Enhanced Listings provide a greatly expanded key word section, a priority over all the Free Listings, a Link to your web site, and usually list for $598/yr. If you purchase an ad between now and June 15th, you can get an Enhanced Listing for 6 months for only $250. This offer is only being made available to you, the faithful readers of this newsletter and may be obtained by sending an email to george@inter800.com or calling 800-299-1879. Thanks for your time. I look forward to talking to you soon. Vegas Vacation has the best rates on Las Vegas Hotel Rooms. Don't make a reservation without calling us first! Call 800-637-6442 or visit our ad in the Internet 800 Directory: http://inter800.com/02281174.htm *03. Power Of Referrals I just finished reading some posts in the I-Sales Digest, to which I have subscribed since 1995. The topic was "Back to Basics". It reminded me of what I learned as a life insurance salesman many years ago. We tend to forget the simplest tools when it comes to business. For example: People with whom you do business are your best source of business. However, how many times a day do you ask them for a referral, to be introduced a person who may need, even want, your products or services? Probably never. But, why not? We all know of the power of referrals. I bet every one of you can link some good piece of business back to a reference from a friend or customer. BUT, we do not consistently ASK. Here again, why not? Is it a fear of rejection? Is it because we don't think that we are doing a good job? Is it because we are just too lazy or feel that we do not need to ask? Actually, I believe that it is probably a combination of all of those, but most importantly, it is because we do not establish it as a business principle, just like going to work on time. Obtaining a referral from a friend or customer is like "found" money. It nearly always leads to new business or even to other referrals. Try it on yourself, such as, "Whom do you know that is a good plumber? - a good attorney? - that needs more business? If we make this a habit, like we do drinking coffee or eating lunch, then we will find ourselves more successful, and our relationships more rewarding. Steve Jackson saj@gotollfree.com Tip of the Week Sometimes the obvious just escapes us. In all Windows programs and on the 2 most popular browsers, Netscape and Windows Explorer, we can simply click on "File", "edit" or any other heading at the top of what we are looking at and it will pull down a tab that asks us what for what we are searching. As an example, if one is in Microsoft Word and clicks on "File" it pulls down a table that begins with "Save" and off to the right it says " Ctrl+S". Who even looks at that? However, those are important hints that mean instead of clicking on the file then re-clicking on "Save" one could have just hit Ctrl+S and saved the document. Look at all of your tabs and you may find one that you will use regularly. If you have any tips or shortcuts that you think the readers of this Newsletter will find useful, send them to chuck@inter800.com Banners? Pay-per-click? Why not target your market with links or information placed in relevant content? The Internet 800 Directory Newsletter offers direct access to business people who are interested buyers. Advertising: Information on how to sponsor this publication: Call 800-299-1879 Thanks for taking to time to review our newsletter for this week. If you know of anyone that might benefit from receiving this newsletter, send them to (http://www.inter800.com/news800/ ) where they can subscribe. All Contents Copyright ©1995-2002 The Internet 800 Directory Subscribe To The Newsletter: |