Newsletter - July 8, 2010

Turning Visitors into Customers - An Internet Strategy for SMBs...

While big businesses are embracing the Internet with a passion, many small business owners are still wondering, "What's in it for me?" This brings about an important question: How can small businesses start benefiting from the Internet?

The starting point is to cut through all the hype and confusion, and start thinking of the Internet as part of the marketing mix. Just like all other marketing elements of the business, the internet is a tool that can be used to increase profits in any business.

The Internet can be used to generate more leads, increase the number of customers, the number of times they buy, and how much they buy, thereby increasing the business owner's profit margins.

The Internet can be used as great tool to generate more leads for the business. Whenever one advertises one's business, one can advertise one's website. Properly designed, the website of the business becomes an extension of the place of business. Just as a business owner advertises to get people to visit his business, he needs to advertise to get people to visit his website.

However, getting visitors to one's website doesn't mean that it will ensure more leads.

It is important to capture the details of the visitors to one's website. The reason is (and here's the point that is often missed) when someone visits the business owner's Internet site, he can be assured that he has an interest in what he is selling.

This means that just about everybody that visits his web site is a potential customer.

Visitors to one's website are just the same as visitors to one's place of business with one important difference. There is no one to talk to on the website (yet!).

Turning the visitor into a lead requires a strategy to capture the prospect's details.

It doesn't matter if the website sells or doesn't sell products on-line. If the business owner lets the visitors ‘surf' right by, without tempting them with an offer in exchange for their contact details, he is losing qualified leads and potential revenues.

Promotional incentives work well to encourage prospects to part with their e-mail address as well as other information. As an example, Qantas, earlier this year, used its web site to offer a chance to win a business class trip to New York in return for email numbers and permission to send travel information.

Information gathered on one's website including e-mail address, work or home address, phone and fax numbers, can be put directly into your contact database. Once in the business's database, this information can be used to start converting leads into customers.

The process of converting leads into customers can all be done automatically, and at little, or no cost. One can enable programs to send newsletters, special offers or any other useful information at pre-set intervals.

In every case, the business owner's contact with customers provides him with the opportunity to provide a link back to his internet site, and with yet another opportunity to sell or promote his products and services.

This is the point from where the business owner will be well on his way to turning visitors into customers.

The website of the business will become an integral part of its marketing mix, and start generating more profits from the business.

Set up a Complimentary Assessment with Coach Tim

Upcoming Workshop

Is your website older than 9 months? Ever thought it needed renovating?

The only locally presented workshop of its kind, Killer Websites and Electronic Marketing for small businesses is the most anticipated course of the summer. The workshop will focus on the 3 core teachings:

• What makes an effective website
• How to increase traffic to your website
• How your website can be used to communicate with customers and prospective customers.

"Most small business owners have had the same old dull boring ineffective web site for years! Some are as old as 15 years!" bemoans Coach Thom, the workshop's presenter. Finn will guide attendees through their own "renovation plan" of how to improve their current websites to reach the TRUE goals they want. The workshop will also coach on how to best optimize your newly remodeled website in the current environment.

"The rules of how a search engine works have changed wildly lately - and it's important that business owners know what works and what doesn't anymore". Finally, students will learn strategies to have their website assist in customer retention by use of opt-ins and tactics to encourage repeat visitors. This course was designed for the business owner who may not actually manage their web content, but is responsible for what is on it.

The workshop is being held on Friday, July 16 at 9 a.m. at Southern Market Center, 100 South Queen Street as part of The Lancaster Chamber's Professional Development Friday series.

There is no cost to attend for Lancaster Chamber members; $25 for non-members. For more information or to register, visit www.lancasterchamber.com then "Calendar of Events" or contact Sarah Stevens at (717) 397-3531.

Workshop, Materials and treats are ..."I never would have looked at websites the way Coach Thom does...but now that I sat through his coaching, I completely see his point..." Sean Bennett

Take the ActionCoach Website Assessment. Students in the workshop will receive the full 50 plus checklist but test your site with our first 5 questions:

1. Does your first screen (not first page) give the visitor a compelling reason to stay in the first 5-7 seconds?
2. Does your logo, address, company name, header graphics take up too much valuable real estate on the first screen?
3. Does your first readable headline stop visitors in the tracks?
4. Do the headlines call out to your pre defined target market?
5. Can 90% of your visitors find where they need to go within 4 seconds of opening your page?

Special Offer to those brave business owners who are dead serious about improving their websites: Sign up by weeks end and forward your website address to Coach Thom. He will use your sights as case studies in the workshop. You may feel picked on, but you'll get his expert recommendations and the feedback from your fellow classmates!

Not sure if you can make it?
As always, students can cancel up to the day of the workshop so you really aren't on the hook for anything big...

This course is NOT RECOMMENDED if:

• Don't have a website
• Don't want a website
• Don't care if your website is return on your investment.

Who could benefit from this course? Don't be stingy. Forward this email to them so they too can learn and improve...

If you know a website could bring in marvelous sales but don't know what to do to get started, why would you NOT attend this workshop

94% of all workshop students reported that they were "worth their time." Money back guarantee means you having nothing loose...sign up now call (717) 397-3531.

Jeffrey Gitomer LIVE in Harrisburg, PA

Join Jeffrey Gitomer for an information-packed half-day seminar based on his best-selling Little Red Book of Selling and his Little Gold Book of YES! Attitude. Come to the event and receive the SALES ATTITUDE you need to sell any product or any service in any economy - without sacrificing price or product!

Friday, September 17, 2010

Hilton Harrisburg, One North Second Street, Harrisburg, PA
7 am - 8 am Registration, Networking & Continental Breakfast
8 am - 11:30 am Jeffrey Takes Center Stage
Tickets: $99 per person, or $89 each for groups of 10 or more.

DON'T FORGET TO REGISTER FOR ACTIONCOACH'S LUNCHEON AND AFTERNOON WORKSHOP

TOPIC: APPLYING A YES! ATTITUDE: Put Jeffrey's Lessons into ACTION in YOUR Business
Networking Lunch from 11:45 am - 12:45 pm
Afternoon Workshop: 1:00 pm - 3:00 pm
$29 per person

SPONSORSHIPS ARE NOW AVAILABLE!
Contact us if you are interested in:

• Brand promotion on the event website and at the events
• Ticket discounts to the events for your company and customers (providing "VALUE BACK")

Contact Jamie Frey, ActionCOACH PA & NJ Marketing Manager, or call (570) 640-7436 for details.