Bright Ideas from the Idea Lady

Keep in Touch

10/19/04-Published every Tuesday by Cathy Stucker
Copyright 2004 by Cathy Stucker, The Idea Lady(tm)

Does everyone who visits your web site buy from you? Many
visitors are simply looking for information for a future 
purchase decision, or your product or service isn't right 
for them at this time. Although they didn't buy from you
today, they are good prospects to become customers in the
future. 

To convert browsers to customers, you need to contact them
and remind them about your business. That might mean sending 
coupons or notices of sales, publishing a newsletter, 
notifying them when new resources are added to your web site,
and providing other invitations to return.

In order to do that, you need to capture contact information
from your visitors. Many people are hesitant to provide 
personal information, because of spam and privacy issues, so
post your privacy policy. And most don't want to take the 
time to enter a lot of data, so ask only for what you need.
For example, subscribers to this newsletter only have to
provide an e-mail address. We also ask for a name, but that
is optional.

Give visitors a reason to provide their contact data. Just
saying, 'Give us your e-mail address so we can stay in touch,'
probably isn't going to work. Give them a free download of
an e-book or other information they can use. Tell them they
will receive sales and specials only available through your
mailing list. Show samples of the articles and tips they 
will receive. 

One way I collect contact information is by offering e-mail
courses. Subscribers get a series a seven e-mails, one each
day for a week. After that, they receive updates--usually 
every three to six weeks. It is a great way to give a sample
of the kind of information and assistance available from you.
(See an example at <http://www.idealady.com/msecourse.htm>)

Don't abuse the trust visitors put in you. If you say you
will send one e-mail a week, only send one e-mail a week. 
Send more, and people will leave your mailing list in droves.

Make it easy for people to change their information or leave
the list. The automated system I use (Learn more at 
<http://www.idealady.com/wmm.htm>) includes clear links at
the bottom of each e-mail.

Be responsible in your use of e-mail. Don't add people to your
mailing list unless they have asked to be included. Never use
the cc: field to address mailings. It is best to use mailing
software that individually addresses each e-mail. Include your
name and postal address in all e-mails, to comply with current
regulations.

Keep in touch with visitors and when they are ready to buy,
you will be the one on their minds.

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Have you seen the FreeArticles.biz Web site? It's loaded
with lots of free articles, many of them from past issues 
of Bright Ideas. 
http://www.FreeArticles.biz/ (Note that it is .BIZ)

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If you are not currently a Bright Ideas! subscriber, you can 
subscribe at http://www.idealady.com/

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Cathy Stucker, The Idea Lady(tm)
Attract Customers and Make Yourself Famous
Make growing your business easy and fun!


Published by
Special Interests Publishing
4646 Hwy 6, #123
Sugar Land, TX 77478

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