Let's talk today about continuity marketing. Continuity
marketing is when your customer commits to buying a series of
items over a period of time. It's a win-win arrangement for the
buyer and the seller. Customers can receive products they want
on an automatic basis without the hassle of reordering them, and
you build a growing list of repeat buyers.
Many of us have purchased merchandise this way. Health and
beauty products are successfully marketed on an auto-ship basis.
Gourmet food items also work well with continuity marketing.
Usually, the customer buys the product at a low, introductory
price. Unless the customer cancels the agreement, she'll
automatically receive new shipments of the product every 4-6
weeks at full cost.
There are different ways you can offer your products. "Book of
the Month" clubs are modeled after the open ended model. This
means that customers buy merchandise with the understanding that
goods will be shipped on an automatic basis. However, buyers
can opt-out of the program at any time.
The close-ended offering works well with a predetermined number
of products in a series. For instance, a customer may receive
one volume of an encyclopedia every month until the set is
complete. Once the set is complete, the agreement ends.
Before you decide to choose continuity marketing as part of
your sales campaign, you'll need to assess whether your product
will work well with this approach. Products where the buyer's
needs remain constant over time usually work well. For
instance, you've probably seen the Proactiv® infomercials on
Sunday mornings. This product line flourishes because acne
sufferers have to use the product continuously to get results
and maintain them. Proactiv® uses the auto-replenish model so
the customer won't run out of the product.
If you offer a continuity program to your customers, make the
terms of the agreement very clear. No one wants to be tricked
into buying products at a regular basis. Because most of these
programs automatically charge the customer's credit card or
debit card, make sure that the buyer gets no surprises when the
transaction takes place.
If you choose to use continuity marketing for your business,
decide which approach will work best for you. If you have a
series of books or films, the overall product may be more
affordable if you send a piece at a time over time. Customers
who would never think of spending $299 for the set may feel
comfortable spending $29 every six weeks for a piece of the set.
If you sell something that needs replenished on a regular basis
— such as coffee, health products, etc. — auto-ship is a good
way to go. You'll build a loyal customer base, and you can also
use upsells and cross-sells to increase your profits.
Continuity marketing is a win-win arrangement between the
seller and the buyer who wants to remain loyal to the product.
This is a great way to build a list of repeat buyers over the
long term, and your potential for backend sales will skyrocket.
Friday, January 30, 2009
Saturday, January 17, 2009
How to type a Sales Letter
At one time during your marketing career, you may have been
tasked to write a sales letter. You might have thought it
unnecessary, even useless. After all, a little email will
usually do the trick in convincing potential buyers to get your
goods, right? And if you can't write to them, you can always run
over to their houses and offices, bring in the oh-so-presentable
you, and blab away about why your service is the best in the
West, right?
Sadly, letter writing is never out of fashion, and your
instinct are just plain wrong. You will need to write a sales
letter to get to ask many people as possible. You will need to
write a sales letter to get that housewife to buy your set of
plastic cutlery, or that football coach to buy custom-made
towels for his team, or that CEO to grab that hotel membership
to his favorite five-star resort. Respect and formality are
still in.
A good sales letter needs to be terse, brief, succinct, but
full of information about the product or service that you are
selling. Many good sales letters take no more than a page or a
page and a half to tell their story: within the first few words,
they grab the reader; in the next few paragraphs, they can
convince the most miserly recipients to shell out cash for a
product or service. A good sales letter is also eager without
being overbearing, and respectful without being stiff.
A good sales letter is admittedly, very difficult to write. It
can be hard to tone down a hard selling tune, but likewise hard
to keep oneself from being boring. If you are tasked to write a
sales letter, you might want to take note of the following tips
as you put pen to paper, or fingers to keyboard.
- Format is important. As with any other letter, a sales letter
begins with the name and address of the sender, then the name
and address of the recipient. After a formal address, the letter
has a body, which contains, in order, an opening salutation,
creation of a need, a sales pitch, information on how the
product or service can be purchased, and a closing salutation.
The letter is then signed by the sender.
Follow this format, as it can give your recipients an easier
time understanding the letter and your goals. An organized
letter, moreover, speaks well about your own sense of
organization, and even the integrity of your company.
- Always start on a personal note, and avoid using the generic
address "To whom it may concern," or "To Mr. or Ms." but without
a name. Your potential buyers need to know that you care about
them, and this knowledge begins by recognizing that you
addressed them by name. In sales letter-writing, small details
are key.
- Make your pitch in two hundred words or less. If you make a
short pitch, you may appear as though you do not believe in your
product. If you make a very long one, you might not be
believable at all. Strike the balance with a medium-sized pitch
that resonates with readers. Remember, you have to create a need
for your product or service first before you can begin selling
it.
- Do not compare your product or service with those of other
companies'. This can be tempting, especially when a free market
encourages stiff competition amongst competitors with like
products and services. However, this can also speak ill of your
company, especially if you do not have a name yet. Make your
product's or service's qualities speak for themselves.
- Watch your grammar and spelling! Nothing can turn off readers
more than a poorly constructed, badly written letter. If you
cannot take care of your own writing style, you might not appear
qualified to take care of potential buyers either. Always have a
book of style next to you when you compose the letter. If you
have time, show the sales letter to your writer or editor
friends. They can give you tips on how to improve your writing,
and you can practice your sales pitches on them as well!
- Sign the letter personally. A personal touch always makes you
look good, and can soften your potential buyers' hearts toward
you.
If you want to write a sales letter, then you need to practice
often, and believe in your product or service. As in any letter,
or any product of the written word, passion shows clearly.
tasked to write a sales letter. You might have thought it
unnecessary, even useless. After all, a little email will
usually do the trick in convincing potential buyers to get your
goods, right? And if you can't write to them, you can always run
over to their houses and offices, bring in the oh-so-presentable
you, and blab away about why your service is the best in the
West, right?
Sadly, letter writing is never out of fashion, and your
instinct are just plain wrong. You will need to write a sales
letter to get to ask many people as possible. You will need to
write a sales letter to get that housewife to buy your set of
plastic cutlery, or that football coach to buy custom-made
towels for his team, or that CEO to grab that hotel membership
to his favorite five-star resort. Respect and formality are
still in.
A good sales letter needs to be terse, brief, succinct, but
full of information about the product or service that you are
selling. Many good sales letters take no more than a page or a
page and a half to tell their story: within the first few words,
they grab the reader; in the next few paragraphs, they can
convince the most miserly recipients to shell out cash for a
product or service. A good sales letter is also eager without
being overbearing, and respectful without being stiff.
A good sales letter is admittedly, very difficult to write. It
can be hard to tone down a hard selling tune, but likewise hard
to keep oneself from being boring. If you are tasked to write a
sales letter, you might want to take note of the following tips
as you put pen to paper, or fingers to keyboard.
- Format is important. As with any other letter, a sales letter
begins with the name and address of the sender, then the name
and address of the recipient. After a formal address, the letter
has a body, which contains, in order, an opening salutation,
creation of a need, a sales pitch, information on how the
product or service can be purchased, and a closing salutation.
The letter is then signed by the sender.
Follow this format, as it can give your recipients an easier
time understanding the letter and your goals. An organized
letter, moreover, speaks well about your own sense of
organization, and even the integrity of your company.
- Always start on a personal note, and avoid using the generic
address "To whom it may concern," or "To Mr. or Ms." but without
a name. Your potential buyers need to know that you care about
them, and this knowledge begins by recognizing that you
addressed them by name. In sales letter-writing, small details
are key.
- Make your pitch in two hundred words or less. If you make a
short pitch, you may appear as though you do not believe in your
product. If you make a very long one, you might not be
believable at all. Strike the balance with a medium-sized pitch
that resonates with readers. Remember, you have to create a need
for your product or service first before you can begin selling
it.
- Do not compare your product or service with those of other
companies'. This can be tempting, especially when a free market
encourages stiff competition amongst competitors with like
products and services. However, this can also speak ill of your
company, especially if you do not have a name yet. Make your
product's or service's qualities speak for themselves.
- Watch your grammar and spelling! Nothing can turn off readers
more than a poorly constructed, badly written letter. If you
cannot take care of your own writing style, you might not appear
qualified to take care of potential buyers either. Always have a
book of style next to you when you compose the letter. If you
have time, show the sales letter to your writer or editor
friends. They can give you tips on how to improve your writing,
and you can practice your sales pitches on them as well!
- Sign the letter personally. A personal touch always makes you
look good, and can soften your potential buyers' hearts toward
you.
If you want to write a sales letter, then you need to practice
often, and believe in your product or service. As in any letter,
or any product of the written word, passion shows clearly.
Sunday, January 11, 2009
Wednesday, January 7, 2009
Choosing the Best Home Business Opportunity
Having your own home business may be your life-long dream.
Knowing that you are your own boss and have the ability to make
your own work schedule is a dream that many people share.
Operating a home business takes time and since it is located in
your home you will need to understand how to manage your time
effectively so that your business does not interfere with your
family life. You should also consider the time that you may have
to spend building your business. Having your own home business
can give you time and financial opportunities that you can only
imagine; however there are several things that you should
consider when you are starting your home business. Is it
something you are truly passionate about?
In finding the best home business opportunity for you, you'll
probably want to choose something that you care about. Without a
doubt, it is best to always sell or provide a service that you
understand it and actually care about. If you care about the
product you are pushing, there is a much better chance that
you'll be motivated to do a good job. Many jobs can become all
encompassing, and home business opportunities are no different.
Make sure that the product or service you are saving is
something that you really care about, and something that you do
not mind spending your own personal time on. Does it appear to
be well organized?
Unfortunately, the world of the home business is often a
chaotic one. If you log on and search for home business
opportunities, chances are you'll be returned dozens and dozens
of entries. Of course, a great deal of these will not come close
to fulfilling their promise. One of the best ways to see if your
dealing with the best home business opportunity is to get a
feeling for its organization. Does the company seem to have an
established organization? If you call or e-mail, will they
answer? Simply taking the time to explore the company behind the
home business opportunity can tell you a lot about the
organization and the future of the product or service.
Does it appear to have good prospects?
This is a hard one to gauge. After all, if you knew exactly
what the future held for that specific home business
opportunity, you wouldn't have to ask so many questions. Still,
he should ask yourself the question: Is this a good idea? Does
the home business appear to fill a niche that is looking to be
filled? Or does the home business seem to be another interest in
a trendy market? Your goal is to choose the best home business
opportunity for you. If you are looking to invest in a trendy
business, or if you are looking for a more substantial long term
investment, this is certainly something to consider before you
make a final commitment.
Choosing the Best Home Business Opportunity
Having your own home business may be your life-long dream.
Knowing that you are your own boss and have the ability to make
your own work schedule is a dream that many people share.
Operating a home business takes time and since it is located in
your home you will need to understand how to manage your time
effectively so that your business does not interfere with your
family life. You should also consider the time that you may have
to spend building your business. Having your own home business
can give you time and financial opportunities that you can only
imagine; however there are several things that you should
consider when you are starting your home business. Is it
something you are truly passionate about?
In finding the best home business opportunity for you, you'll
probably want to choose something that you care about. Without a
doubt, it is best to always sell or provide a service that you
understand it and actually care about. If you care about the
product you are pushing, there is a much better chance that
you'll be motivated to do a good job. Many jobs can become all
encompassing, and home business opportunities are no different.
Make sure that the product or service you are saving is
something that you really care about, and something that you do
not mind spending your own personal time on. Does it appear to
be well organized?
Unfortunately, the world of the home business is often a
chaotic one. If you log on and search for home business
opportunities, chances are you'll be returned dozens and dozens
of entries. Of course, a great deal of these will not come close
to fulfilling their promise. One of the best ways to see if your
dealing with the best home business opportunity is to get a
feeling for its organization. Does the company seem to have an
established organization? If you call or e-mail, will they
answer? Simply taking the time to explore the company behind the
home business opportunity can tell you a lot about the
organization and the future of the product or service.
Does it appear to have good prospects?
This is a hard one to gauge. After all, if you knew exactly
what the future held for that specific home business
opportunity, you wouldn't have to ask so many questions. Still,
he should ask yourself the question: Is this a good idea? Does
the home business appear to fill a niche that is looking to be
filled? Or does the home business seem to be another interest in
a trendy market? Your goal is to choose the best home business
opportunity for you. If you are looking to invest in a trendy
business, or if you are looking for a more substantial long term
investment, this is certainly something to consider before you
make a final commitment.
About The Author: Wendy Pearson "presents the best home
businesses on the internet" http://www.imperial7.com
Knowing that you are your own boss and have the ability to make
your own work schedule is a dream that many people share.
Operating a home business takes time and since it is located in
your home you will need to understand how to manage your time
effectively so that your business does not interfere with your
family life. You should also consider the time that you may have
to spend building your business. Having your own home business
can give you time and financial opportunities that you can only
imagine; however there are several things that you should
consider when you are starting your home business. Is it
something you are truly passionate about?
In finding the best home business opportunity for you, you'll
probably want to choose something that you care about. Without a
doubt, it is best to always sell or provide a service that you
understand it and actually care about. If you care about the
product you are pushing, there is a much better chance that
you'll be motivated to do a good job. Many jobs can become all
encompassing, and home business opportunities are no different.
Make sure that the product or service you are saving is
something that you really care about, and something that you do
not mind spending your own personal time on. Does it appear to
be well organized?
Unfortunately, the world of the home business is often a
chaotic one. If you log on and search for home business
opportunities, chances are you'll be returned dozens and dozens
of entries. Of course, a great deal of these will not come close
to fulfilling their promise. One of the best ways to see if your
dealing with the best home business opportunity is to get a
feeling for its organization. Does the company seem to have an
established organization? If you call or e-mail, will they
answer? Simply taking the time to explore the company behind the
home business opportunity can tell you a lot about the
organization and the future of the product or service.
Does it appear to have good prospects?
This is a hard one to gauge. After all, if you knew exactly
what the future held for that specific home business
opportunity, you wouldn't have to ask so many questions. Still,
he should ask yourself the question: Is this a good idea? Does
the home business appear to fill a niche that is looking to be
filled? Or does the home business seem to be another interest in
a trendy market? Your goal is to choose the best home business
opportunity for you. If you are looking to invest in a trendy
business, or if you are looking for a more substantial long term
investment, this is certainly something to consider before you
make a final commitment.
Choosing the Best Home Business Opportunity
Having your own home business may be your life-long dream.
Knowing that you are your own boss and have the ability to make
your own work schedule is a dream that many people share.
Operating a home business takes time and since it is located in
your home you will need to understand how to manage your time
effectively so that your business does not interfere with your
family life. You should also consider the time that you may have
to spend building your business. Having your own home business
can give you time and financial opportunities that you can only
imagine; however there are several things that you should
consider when you are starting your home business. Is it
something you are truly passionate about?
In finding the best home business opportunity for you, you'll
probably want to choose something that you care about. Without a
doubt, it is best to always sell or provide a service that you
understand it and actually care about. If you care about the
product you are pushing, there is a much better chance that
you'll be motivated to do a good job. Many jobs can become all
encompassing, and home business opportunities are no different.
Make sure that the product or service you are saving is
something that you really care about, and something that you do
not mind spending your own personal time on. Does it appear to
be well organized?
Unfortunately, the world of the home business is often a
chaotic one. If you log on and search for home business
opportunities, chances are you'll be returned dozens and dozens
of entries. Of course, a great deal of these will not come close
to fulfilling their promise. One of the best ways to see if your
dealing with the best home business opportunity is to get a
feeling for its organization. Does the company seem to have an
established organization? If you call or e-mail, will they
answer? Simply taking the time to explore the company behind the
home business opportunity can tell you a lot about the
organization and the future of the product or service.
Does it appear to have good prospects?
This is a hard one to gauge. After all, if you knew exactly
what the future held for that specific home business
opportunity, you wouldn't have to ask so many questions. Still,
he should ask yourself the question: Is this a good idea? Does
the home business appear to fill a niche that is looking to be
filled? Or does the home business seem to be another interest in
a trendy market? Your goal is to choose the best home business
opportunity for you. If you are looking to invest in a trendy
business, or if you are looking for a more substantial long term
investment, this is certainly something to consider before you
make a final commitment.
About The Author: Wendy Pearson "presents the best home
businesses on the internet" http://www.imperial7.com
Affiliate Marketing Tips
The gurus make affiliate marketing seem like it's so easy. Design
a website, put out a few ads, and within just a few days you're
on the road to financial freedom. This all changes once a person
actually tries these things out. After not getting the success
they're looking for, they end up giving up altogether.
If you find you are in that boat, read on as this article will
provide three tips that will get you started on your money-making
journey. Take a look at the sections below for more information.
1. Optimize Your Content
When it comes to affiliate marketing, this tip is the most
important. And, fortunately for you it is also the easiest. All
you have to do is use a keyword analyzer to find the terms people
are looking up online. There are free analyzers such as Micro
Niche Finder or Word Tracker, but you can do just as well with
free tools such as SEO Book or Google's Adwords keyword analyzer.
Anyway, once you have decided which tool you're going to use, you
need to research your keywords. Start off by searching a general
term. From there, you will want to research long tail keywords,
(which are terms containing more than one word). Take note of two
keywords that get many searches yet aren't used by many websites.
Now you need to include the terms in your content. As a general
rule, proper SEO means mentioning your keywords between 2 and 6
percent of the time. However, don't become guilty of keyword
stuffing. Even if you go less than 2%, it's better to have your
keywords make sense than to turn off your reader.
2. Write Keyword-Enriched Articles
Writing keyword-enriched articles is the next important thing to
remember. This step should be pretty easy, because basically if
you understood what to do in the tip above, you already have the
knowledge necessary to create SEO articles. So, then it just
becomes a matter of submitting your content to article
directories such as Ezine Articles or Go Articles.
3. Initiate Link Exchanges
In regards to affiliate marketing tips, this one tends to be the
most annoying. Why? Well, you have to try to find others who will
advertise your link. And, it's best if you can initiate a
reciprocal link. What does this mean? Basically, you need to find
someone who will advertise your site without expecting you to
advertise theirs in return.
The best way to do this is to find webmasters who are offering
advertising space. Sites like Digital Point and even eBay often
have listings where people are doing this very thing. True, you
will have to pay a little bit of money, but it eliminates some of
the annoyances of the other options, which involve either waiting
for someone else to link to you from their own accord or emailing
webmasters a request for linkage.
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Blake Evans is a writer for InlineSEO.com, a site created to help
businesses build web traffic through search engine optimization
strategies. Learn about affiliate marketing on the internet in
our affiliate marketing series.
(http://www.inlineseo.com/affiliate-marketing.html) Discover
basic through advanced SEO topics at http://www.InlineSEO.com
a website, put out a few ads, and within just a few days you're
on the road to financial freedom. This all changes once a person
actually tries these things out. After not getting the success
they're looking for, they end up giving up altogether.
If you find you are in that boat, read on as this article will
provide three tips that will get you started on your money-making
journey. Take a look at the sections below for more information.
1. Optimize Your Content
When it comes to affiliate marketing, this tip is the most
important. And, fortunately for you it is also the easiest. All
you have to do is use a keyword analyzer to find the terms people
are looking up online. There are free analyzers such as Micro
Niche Finder or Word Tracker, but you can do just as well with
free tools such as SEO Book or Google's Adwords keyword analyzer.
Anyway, once you have decided which tool you're going to use, you
need to research your keywords. Start off by searching a general
term. From there, you will want to research long tail keywords,
(which are terms containing more than one word). Take note of two
keywords that get many searches yet aren't used by many websites.
Now you need to include the terms in your content. As a general
rule, proper SEO means mentioning your keywords between 2 and 6
percent of the time. However, don't become guilty of keyword
stuffing. Even if you go less than 2%, it's better to have your
keywords make sense than to turn off your reader.
2. Write Keyword-Enriched Articles
Writing keyword-enriched articles is the next important thing to
remember. This step should be pretty easy, because basically if
you understood what to do in the tip above, you already have the
knowledge necessary to create SEO articles. So, then it just
becomes a matter of submitting your content to article
directories such as Ezine Articles or Go Articles.
3. Initiate Link Exchanges
In regards to affiliate marketing tips, this one tends to be the
most annoying. Why? Well, you have to try to find others who will
advertise your link. And, it's best if you can initiate a
reciprocal link. What does this mean? Basically, you need to find
someone who will advertise your site without expecting you to
advertise theirs in return.
The best way to do this is to find webmasters who are offering
advertising space. Sites like Digital Point and even eBay often
have listings where people are doing this very thing. True, you
will have to pay a little bit of money, but it eliminates some of
the annoyances of the other options, which involve either waiting
for someone else to link to you from their own accord or emailing
webmasters a request for linkage.
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Blake Evans is a writer for InlineSEO.com, a site created to help
businesses build web traffic through search engine optimization
strategies. Learn about affiliate marketing on the internet in
our affiliate marketing series.
(http://www.inlineseo.com/affiliate-marketing.html) Discover
basic through advanced SEO topics at http://www.InlineSEO.com
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