These 4 easy steps will save you time, make you money, and free you up to run your business from anywhere in the world
The exponential growth of the internet has created new-found opportunities for millions of businesses that previously would have never been able to compete in the global marketplace. Yet while the low-entry and marketing costs have leveled the playing field for many entrepreneurs, it has also created a staggering amount of competition.
Consider this: The average person -- at least those who live in metropolitan areas -- is exposed to more than 3,500 marketing messages daily. That's 24,500 messages a week and 1.2 million a year.
To make online sales even more challenging, marketing studies have shown that it takes nine or more impressions for your business to be remembered by a potential customer. This means consistent follow-up is essential. But in today's world, this type of relentless follow up is not practical for the average business owner. Fortunately, there's a solution that many online businesses are using every day -- online automation. Imagine being able to capture new leads on your website, build customer confidence through automated sequential responses, deliver products digitally while you sleep, and track all your prospects and clients without lifting a finger. For thousands of savvy online businesses, this is a daily reality.
In today's competitive environment, automation is not a luxury; it's a requirement for keeping a competitive edge. In fact, the benefits of automation are so numerous, you can't afford to ignore them.
Tips for Effective Automation
Use the following four tips to guide your decisions on using automation effectively:
1. Build your mailing list 24/7 with a prominent opt-in box and a compelling offer. Your list is your goldmine. It's critical to all your marketing and is your most valuable asset. To capture names and e-mails, it's essential that you make an irresistible offer. "Sign up for my mailing list" is no longer enough. Try something like this: "Free Special Report: How to Dramatically Boost Your Website Traffic in 30 Days or Less."
With auto responders (preprogrammed e-mail responses), you can offer digitally downloaded special reports, audios, product information, teleconference numbers, or free trials to entice visitors to share their names and e-mail addresses. When your prospect's data is entered, it's automatically placed in your database and can be programmed to trigger a well-crafted response, such as "Thank you for subscribing. Here is a special report: The 5 Most Costly Mistakes Markets Make With Google AdWords. We hope you enjoy it!" Be sure to display your privacy policy below your opt-in box as well as assurance that they can unsubscribe at any time. And of course, never spam anyone.
2. Deliver valuable content over time with sequential auto responder messages. A very effective way to build trust with your prospects is to offer a "mini-course" that delivers content-rich and relevant information to your opt-in subscribers. For example, if you're running a site that sells golf equipment, you may over time send the following courses:
- 7 Tips Guaranteed to Take 10 Strokes Off Your Golf Score
- The 5 Secrets to Finding Your Perfect Golf Partner
- Your Daily Energy Booster: Daily One Minute Audios That Will Help You Stay Energized All Day Long
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