Customers are acquired by driving prospects to your virtual point of sale. At this point, usually a web page, the prospects are engaged to take the desired response. The desired response varies from change of attitude for a newsletter, to purchase of a product for a sales webpage.
Fly-ins can be blocked. Like pop-up ads, which are frown against by many marketers and not by others, this craze will last another 3-6 months. So jump on it while it's still hot and people get smart on how to block. They do work and they aren't as annoying because of their movement. AOL users are blocked from receiving these.
These figures are good news for every business owner, particularly those in small towns. Why? To successfully compete nationwide or worldwide is no longer a problem for small businesses. When a business has a professional online presence, the size and location of the business are not readily apparent. Anyone can compete online with the right knowledge and tools.
Free Online Classified Ads
If you search the Internet for ?free classified ads?, you will discover hundreds of sites. Start posting! This may take time but it doesn't cost you any money. Make certain to get the biggest return for your posting by having a compelling 25 word ad for your website.
You don't have to deal with people. Many novice small business owners think a few auto responders and occasional e-mail will help them avoid the tedious task of customer service. E-businesses have much lower customer service expenses than other types of businesses but it doesn't mean you don't want to provide your customers with options. It's a good idea to set up a special phone number, during specific hours where your customers can reach you. Even if you have to start with just a voicemail, it's a start.
Affiliate programs go beyond the drop ship companies. You promote their products, the customer clicks on your link to purchase the product and the affiliate company will handle the payment, ship the order, and send you a commission check.
Simple Navigation: The consumer side of the Website should have clear and central navigation. If a consumer needs to pass through several pages before seeing items for sale, avoid the site. Consumers will not enjoy having to click on a variety of links to find offerings. Classification of the items listed on the Website should be easy and direct.
Ezine advertising is a very good way to advertise your turnkey site, website, product or service. You have the option for free (need to watch for their instructions), and various paid ads. What's great about ezines? It's an opportunity to sell to a more targeted market. The more targeted your market, the better the opportunity to get a sale.