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These are real treats for you this Wednesday! I’ve had the joy of stumbling upon a few great web resources over the past week that have truly impressed me. Click your heart out…

Dan Kennedy’s Unbelievable Free Gift
I refer to this first link as an opportunity to “partner with an expert” because Dan Kennedy is THE expert. Visit his website today and sign-up for what Dan himself is calling a “the most incredible free gift ever!”

InfoMarketer’s Zone
Now that you have Mr. Millionaire-Maker on your side, it’s time to start working on that information product you’ve been putting off. I’ll be honest: I just came across this subscriber-site today and I am not a member (yet!), but this definitely looks promising. Take a look and start building your information product empire!

Sales Funnel Article
Yaro is at it again. I can get enough of this guy… Entrepreneur’s Journey is such a key resource for Internet Entrepreneurs, you should already know about this latest series from Mr. Starak’s site. If not, check out part one and part two AND part three now!

Enjoy!

If you have any recommendations for next Wednesday, send me a line.

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If a secret belongs to a select group of people “in the know,” then these 5 secrets are still pretty well kept.

Sure, maybe you’ve heard all of this before, but did you really? And even if you did, did you implement each and every one right away? Thought so.

Here’s the review:

1. Study the Experts
We all must start somewhere, and learning from those who have made it should be on the top of everyone’s list.

Not surprisingly, this is the greatest roadblock to the success of so many who simply insist on learning the hard way.

As the well rehearsed saying goes, “Don’t reinvent the wheel!” Reach for an expert’s latest book, audio program, newsletter, ebook, or workshop to get you going. And keep going back for more!

2. Learn Copywriting
Maybe you’re not going to work for the Ad Agency downtown, but you will need to master the art of persuasion.

The very core of marketing is copywriting. Start here and you won’t be disappointed in the amazing results of your next sales page.

This is also crucial and actually quite easy. But, again, trust the experts!

3. Pick a Niche
With the explosion of the web, it seems like there’s a new niche growing out of an old niche every day. In the world of information marketing, the niche defines everything.

In some ways, this is the only place where you have to dig in and do something different. Just take someone else’s approach and find your own angle.

Remember: this is an information economy! The rate of inflation is growing…

4. Plan Your Attack
What is your marketing objective? What is your sales funnel? What are you trying to achieve? Where do you want to go? Who is your ideal customer?…

Ask yourself all of these questions and more as you dig in and figure out what you really want out of all of this.

Setup a clear profit strategy. As one information-marketer once said, “Your in business to make money – it’s as simple as that.” He’s absolutely right. So where are your dollars today?

5. Refine Your Skills
Once you’ve been “around the block” a time or two, you’ll begin to find your own way. But don’t stop there! Keep learning from the masters – keep developing your copywriting – keep creating and recreating your niche areas – and definitely keep planning the next attack!

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I have turned my focus to information marketing in the past month.

Nothing is more important in internet business than defining your niche. For me, “info marketing” best captures my work as an internet entrepreneur.

With renewed focus, I am finding it much easier to plan & develop content for this site and a handful of other current projects.

But I am applying a more objective approach now by paying more attention to audience – a key term for any author, copywriter, and/or marketer.

You may have already noticed the “take my survey” button at right. Although the “Win $25 at Amazon.com” offer has not been quite as enticing as I had planned, the entries are adding up, slowly but surely.

It’s too soon to tell how these numbers will pan out, but I have already found the preliminary data surprising in many cases.

This survey - and many others to come – is a great example of mining data from potential buyers. Like any survey, it’s always tough to interpret the results, but some information is almost always better than no information.

In many ways, your website acts as a “sales funnel.” Just by looking at the statistics from the total life of the site, I can observe some important facts about what content is most popular, what kinds of readers stick around, who will subscribe to the free newsletter, and so on.

I am looking forward to implementing more of these data-intensive methods and sharing the results with you down the road.

For your success, start mining for gold on your website today: look closely at your statistics, setup a survey, poll your email list. Listen closely to your audience and then deliver the goods!

P.S.

Stay tuned for more about my next major product release. And, by all means, take the survey!

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In business, making a sale is the ultimate aim. That’s why we do business in the first place – to provide a product or service in exchange for some form of revenue.

Most entrepreneurs and business owners spend lots of time working to attract customers or clients. Without buyers, our businesses would not exist. It all boils down to the back-scratching exchange that benefits both parties.

While it is definitely important to get new customers in the door (or on the website) and make a sale, it’s just as important to get more business from the customers already hanging around.

What is an Upsell?
Think of a restaurant. Once customers are seated and ready to begin their meal, a sales transaction begins. The typical diner will spend an average amount during their stay. The restaurant owner certainly can congratulate herself on winning the customer’s business. It takes a lot of effort to get the customer to the table in the first place.

But the selling process does not end here. The restaurateur’s goal is to “upsell” the existing client. More expensive drinks? Side dishes? Entrée add-ons? Dessert? So on and so forth.

Virtually all business models can adopt the upsell approach to increase sales and keep marketing costs low. Here’s the basic formula behind this concept:

Once you gain the customer’s trust and respect, your upsell marketing costs drop significantly. Upselling may even lead to even greater revenue than generated during the initial sale.

How to Get Started – Ideas for Internet Entrepreneurs
For internet entrepreneurs, upselling is especially important. With millions of websites and products available online, retaining a customer’s business can make or break internet entrepreneurs. What follows is a range of options for getting repeat business on your website. These options are based on my experience in online business, but could apply to brick-and-mortar businesses as well.

• Keep your customer’s attention.

Even if you’re selling a great product, your customers want to know that you’re thinking of them. Newsletters, promotional announcements, product updates, holiday/birthday messages, etc. Customers want to feel important; they want to feel worthy of your attention. Try to make these attention-grabbing newsletters personal and warm.

For creating autoresponse messages and newsletter programs, I highly recommend AWeber. It’s never too late to get started with email updates and announcements. Just be sure you’re effectively collecting email addresses before or after the sale.

• Appeal to the big spender.

If you’re selling a product, you’ve likely priced the item to make the most profit from the greatest possible number of consumers. This is a logical strategy. But once the product is sold, many of your customers will still have more spending potential untapped by that initial sale.

Here’s an example from my own business. My home business startup ebook costs $24.95, including its accompanying bonus package. That book includes all of the essential information a new business owner could want for getting started and finding success. Many readers will be perfectly happy with that material alone. But for those who want to take their business to the next level, I offer business consultation for $100 per session. The product upgrade is intended for the business owner who sees the value in the upgrade. Their $100 investment might help create thousands of dollars more in revenue during the life of their business.

• Personalize an existing product.

Customers will pay an average price for a typical product or service. The marketplace has countless everyday products available at a range of prices. Entrepreneurs who want to upsell the customers ready to buy can easily do so by offering a personal touch.

• Offer smart upgrades.

Think of the last time you bought a new car. Just when you thought the decision-making process was finished, there you were: sitting in the finance office, listening reluctantly to a sales pitche designed to squeeze every last dollar out of your pocket.

In your own business, there are likely some upgrades you could add to the product sales page. These upgrade offers should be so related to the product itself that the customer feels compelled to buy.

Upselling should not be an underhanded business tactic. In the end, the upsell should benefit both the entrepreneur and the customer. Repeat customers are much happier returning to a familiar business than taking their chances in untested waters.

upsell | internet marketing | internet entrepreneur

Reader Toolbox:

642-901 is usually attempted right after 70-620. However, the eligibility criteria can also be fulfilled with 640-863.

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As a business owner, you’re always looking for new ways to spread the word about your product or service. The standard approach can be useful: buy some Google ads or put up a billboard. But what should you do when you’re trying to save money? Or what about when you really don’t have a marketing budget at all?

I know, I’ve been there too.

Today I want to offer a handful of quick marketing fixes for small budgets and big dreams. I think you’ll find the list accessible and insightful AND easy to use. So let’s cut to the chase…

1. Laptop Ad - $50 to ???
That’s right: use your laptop for ad space. The next time you’re at Starbucks, you’re bound to catch tons of wandering eyes and maybe even a new customer. Consider using your own laptop or even renting space on another.

2. License Plate Frame - $40 to $70
Several weeks ago I found myself reading yet another silly license plate frame when I suddenly realized, “Hey, I could put my web address on the back of my car!” I’ve yet to do it, but someday soon you might see me cruising around…

3. Business Cards - $10 to $50
No, no – not just any business cards, silly. Exciting, eye-catching, useful business cards. Don’t let your cards end up buried in some guy’s wallet just waiting for the next “clean out my wallet” day! Make your cards colorful, memorable, and interesting. And while you’re at it, use the back. Trust me: everyone flips them over just to check. J

4. Email signature - FREE
It’s quite simple to setup your email signature to automatically display every time you write a message. Most programs even enable hyperlinks for web addresses and email. As of today, my email signature includes my name, title, blog addresses, and a quick add for my newsletters and my ebook.

5. Pens, pencils, etc. $25 - $75
Yes, these can be cheesy. But they work. You can order in bulk and have your business name and info stamped on for a small charge. People love free stuff, especially when it’s useful.

6. Voicemail – FREE
Don’t forget to take advantage of another message system where you can advertise for free. If you have a cell phone for business and personal use, go ahead and throw out your business name just in case. Who knows… someone you already know might not yet know about your business. Customers are everywhere.

7. Handbags and other novelty items – Price varies.
Use your imagination with this one. Think conferences, conventions, and trade shows. This approach might not be the cheapest or the easiest of the 10, but you’re bound to get some attention when your potential customer sees and/or uses the freebie.

8. Letterhead - $10 to $75 (cost of printing)
Include as much information as possible in your letterhead: business name, address, phone, mobile, fax, email, web address, hours of operation, services, etc. Doing so makes you look professional AND provides a quick info resource for the customer. Letterhead advertising is especially important if you get repeat business.

9. Blogs and Forums – FREE
It may not always be free to start a blog or forum, but it’s essentially free to participate in them. If you contribute insightful posts, comments, feedback, etc., to these types of websites, remember to include your web address and/or email.

10. Newsletters – Price varies. (cost of management/printing)
One of the absolute best ways to get new and retain old business is by providing an informational newsletter that appeals to your niche market. I currently run several of these online and would recommend the same to you. One of the best examples I’ve seen in the corporate world is “Sweet Tomatoes” (or “Soup Plantation”). On a regular basis, I get great updates and coupon-surveys in my inbox.

There you have it: 10 ideas to help attract new business. Have some other suggestions? Feel free to toss in your 10 cents below!
Tags: easy marketing | marketing ideas | web marketing

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