work at home
How to use the Internet to grow your local business --
without a website!
By Jim Daniels -
Work at home
site.com
Is your business local or regional? Have you considered
putting up a website but think that maybe it would be a
waste of time and money? Or maybe you already have a website
for your local business but it is not bringing in business
like you thought it should?
If you answered yes to any of those questions, this tip is
for you.
Today I'd like to help you grow your local or regional
business using the Internet. Let's face it, there are lots
of businesses that just cannot serve an international
marketplace. It's just not the nature of some businesses.
Here are just a few examples of the thousands of businesses
that I'm referring to...
Limousine service
Landscaping business
Local delivery service
Local entertainment service
Restaurants and bars
Hair and beauty salons
Housekeeping services
Mom and Pop stores
Independent gas stations
Auto service centers
Local contractors
Computer repair/upgrade service
And these are just a few of the many localized businesses
you'll find in every town across the world. And what most of
these business owners do not realize is that every single
one of them can use the Internet to grow profits --
even without a website. Here's how..
We'll use the first business on the list as an example.
Let's say you offer a limo service. Either you are
considering putting up a website or you already have one.
But since you only serve local communities, your website is
limited in its reach and sales potential. So forget about
the website for a minute! Here's a BETTER way to drum up
business using the Internet...
Grow a powerful customer "e-list" that includes the name and
email address of every customer you ever get. And when every
slow period (expected or unexpected) hits your business,
spend an hour and email a personal message and a special
savings coupon to these folks.
This strategy is virtually free and your customers will love
you for the special attention. (And your bank account will
love you even more!)
Here are the exact steps you need to take to use this
Internet marketing strategy for your local business:
- Step 1
-
- Every time you gain a new customer, make sure
there is a spot for their email address on the paperwork
they fill out. And every day, have someone at your office
enter this information into your database.
If you do not already have a customer database, start one on
your office computer today. There are lots of ways to do
this. Some software solutions for small businesses include
database software and contact management software, such
as...
Access: http://microsoft.com/office/access/default.htm
- GoldMine 5.0 -
- http://www.frontrange.com/
-
- Act! -
- http://www.act.com
If you are completely non-technical or do not have the
money for a software solution or a programmer, you can start
a basic customer database yourself. Simply open up Notepad
on your computer. (In Windows click Start, Programs,
Accessories, Notepad.)
Once Notepad has opened, type the following headings...
Mr./Mrs. then press Tab.
First Name then Press Tab.
Last Name then press Tab.
Email address then press Tab.
What you will have is something that looks like this...
Mr./Mrs. First Name Last Name email address
Next press enter to move your cursor down to the next line.
Now type your first client's salutation (Mr. or Mrs.) and
press tab. Next type their first name, then tab. Then their
last name then tab. And finally their email address then
tab.
That's it, you have the start of a basic database! Save this
file every time you update it. It will be a powerful tool in
your business for years to come.
- Step 2
-
- You're almost set to contact your list of customers!
If you are using one of the software solutions mentioned
earlier, or a similar program, you already have email merge
capability built in. You can skip to step three.
If you went with the basic customer database using NotePad,
the next step is to get an email merge program. Here are a
couple programs that are easy to work with...
WorldMerge: http://www.bizweb2000.com/wm
Tuglet web-based solution: http://www.tugnut.com/
These programs allow you to open your tab delimited customer
file and will merge any of the fields directly into your
letter.
Step 3
Compose your special letter and send!
There's nothing more to do other than to create a great
letter and email it. So I'll close today's tip with this
final component - an actual letter you can use.
Sticking with the same example as above, here's a letter
that is guaranteed to boost the bottom line for your limo
service. Feel free to borrow this and modify it for your
business. A few small changes can tailor it to ANY local
business.
(The fields enclosed in brackets are database fields that
your email merge program will fill in with your customer's
details.)
For [[Salutation]] [[Last Name]]
"Stu's Limo" <Stu@bizweb2000.com>
Hello [[Salutation]] [[Last Name]],
Stu from Stu's Limo here. I just wanted to thank you for
your past business. It was a pleasure to serve you.
I'd also like to take this opportunity to present you with a
special e-coupon for 20% off your next ride!
Here it is...
Stu's E-coupon #2982
Good for 20% off any limo
ride before Sept 30, 2001.
The next time you want to paint the town in style, tell your
friends the limo is on you. (You don't have to tell them our
little e-coupon secret - just print this message and slip it
to the driver when he picks you up. He'll make sure you get
the special rate!)
[[FirstName]], we hope to see you again soon.
And remember, if YOU cannot take advantage of this special
savings, feel free to pass your coupon along to a friend!
Sincerely, Stu Barnes,
Stu's Limo
* This work at home tip by
Jim Daniels of JDD Publishing Co., helping online businesses since 1996. Whether
you own a medium sized company or you work from home, Jim can help you. Visit
http://www.work-at-home-site.com
for more expert advice.
Yes, I want
to work from home. Tell me more...
Internet Marketing info
from bizweb2000.com
(Webmasters may reprint this article by including one of those live links to our site.)
