| Ok you have built your website, and may be asking | | | | product or serviceo A Free Gifto An e-booko Allow |
| yourself what's next. | | | | them to submit a free article |
| Most websites are just like an informational brochure. | | | | You could offer them anything that's valuable, as long |
| You open it up and all you do is read the information | | | | as they leave their contact information. I offer my |
| that is inside. You may see some contact information | | | | visitors free samples of my work. |
| like a telephone number or even a submission form. | | | | After you capture their information you will want to |
| Many people feel that as long as their website is | | | | store it in a format where you can utilize it |
| neatly designed with great graphics and proper | | | | effectively. The best way to go is to build your own |
| content, then it is perfect. This is similar to a situation | | | | database; you will need a programmer to help you |
| where you may have bought a brand new Ferrari, | | | | with this of course. Before I set up my database, I |
| but from the day it entered your garage, you have | | | | used a simple contact form that was redirected to |
| never taken it for a ride. You have never even | | | | my e-mail address. I would then manually copy the |
| cranked that baby up and heard that smooth engine | | | | information into outlook express, since this program |
| run. Friends and family only come by every now and | | | | allowed me to send many emails at once. Note that |
| then to look at it and admire its beauty. | | | | I'm not advocating spamming. DO NOT SPAM. This |
| Your website can provide the type of leverage that | | | | will bring you more harm than good in the long run. |
| will propel your business to heights beyond your | | | | There are many email programs out there where you |
| imagination. Have you ever heard about or even Sure | | | | pay a monthly fee and you can send 1000s of emails. |
| you have. These businesses have become so popular | | | | Constant Contact is one such program. |
| purely because of the effective use of the internet | | | | Before long you will have your own army of |
| and their websites. These are not just some regular | | | | prospects and guess who will be the general. Yep, |
| websites with nice graphics. They are more like | | | | you got it. You will be in charge. The bottom line here |
| well-oiled machines at work for the owners. | | | | is that you will be building those invaluable |
| Here's what you need to do to make your website | | | | relationships to skyrocket your business to the next |
| work for you. Note that what I'm about to tell you is | | | | level. So the question is, now that you have your |
| so valuable that you really need to study it in more | | | | prospects in your database, how do you make this |
| detail. | | | | work to your advantage? Here are some ideas |
| The Database | | | | 1. E-mail your prospects monthly specials |
| When someone visits your website, assuming that | | | | 2. Start a Newsletter - you will be seen as a |
| they did not get there by accident, it usually is | | | | professional in your field. |
| because something of interest drew them there. | | | | 3. Introduce New Products or Services |
| When they exit from the site, will they be gone | | | | 4. Make Announcements |
| forever? Will they end up on someone else's | | | | 5. Gather feedback |
| website? Who knows? | | | | 6. Distribute articles and build link popularity to your |
| Your objection should be to capture the contact | | | | website (great search engine optimization tatic). |
| information of everyone who shows interest in your | | | | These are just a few things that you could do, but |
| product or service by visiting your website. This will | | | | you get the picture. When you send mass emails |
| allow you to get back in contact with them at | | | | always give the recipients a way to unsubscribe from |
| anytime you wish. You want to have control of your | | | | your email list. You should also include an address for |
| own database of prospects, that way you can | | | | your business. These are the little things that will |
| constantly remind them about your business. You can | | | | keep you out of trouble for sending mass emails. |
| gather as much information as you like, but in many | | | | The idea of owning a database can seem intimidating, |
| cases a name and e-mail address is sufficient. What | | | | but the reality is without one your website is not |
| you are trying to do here is build relationships. Nothing | | | | working at its full potential. If you only knew the |
| beats that in business. | | | | power that a database brings to your website and |
| You might be wondering how you legally capture | | | | your business, you would make it a top priority to |
| people's information. Easy, there are many ways to | | | | get one. |
| do this. You will offer them something valuable which | | | | I would like to conclude by saying most people will |
| will require them to fill out a form before you can | | | | read this article and never take action. That's just the |
| deliver. This is called an Op-In Offer. In the disclaimer | | | | reality of life. There is no greater way to utilize your |
| for your website you will include something saying | | | | website but to capture contacts and keep in contact. |
| that members who signed up will be contacted from | | | | If you don't have a database yet, get one. Fire that |
| time to time. Here are some common things that you | | | | baby up and put it to work for you. |
| could offer:o A Free News Lettero Discounts on | | | | |