Tag Archive for: follow up

“The only asset that can be kept safe from every threat and made to appreciate in value year after year is the relationship you have with your customers.”
– Dan Kennedy

Whatever business you’re in, your main role is that of a direct response marketer.

Nothing else is more important than you creating and overseeing marketing to get new customers, and increase the value of the customers you already have.

Ask Yourself: What’s the highest leverage use of my time, and what makes the cash register ring?

Sometimes as you scale up your business, your role can start to change, and you can distance yourself from the front-line marketing. That’s always a big mistake.

No one will ever understand the importance of creating and fine-tuning your business’s marketing like you will.

I came across this list from Dan Kennedy and when reading it I thought  how brilliant it was-and those feelings haven’t changed.

I recommend you print off the list!

If you’re in the Direct Response Marketing game, and you’re not already asking yourself, “what can I do to increase revenue FAST?” every minute of the day. then I urge you to continue reading.

Freelance direct response copywriter Dean Rieck says: “Response is one of the five keys of successful direct marketing. And if you have that, the other four don’t matter.”

Simply put, Direct Response Marketing is designed to provoke an IMMEDIATE response from the customer, through clear CTAs (Calls To Action) and other techniques, in order to generate reactions and feedback while encouraging decision-making.

CTA Email Marketing Tips

That’s all well and good, and to be honest it’s pretty self-explanatory, right?

Which is why we at Easy Online Biz Solutions make it our aim to arm marketers with every single tool they need to market efficiently. Because although this process sounds simple enough, the ins and outs can actually be quite challenging.

Generating a direct response from consumers isn’t as easy as it sounds. Sure, lots of people are taken in by mediocre advertising.

However, if you REALLY want to make the big bucks then you need to master the 10 rules from by Dan Kennedy’s book, ‘No B.S. Direct Marketing- The Ultimate No Holds Barred Kick Butt Take No Prisoners Direct Marketing For Non-Direct Marketing Businesses.’

Think of these as the 10 Commandments! Because in order to succeed thou shalt implement them wisely and then thou shalt get results…

1. There Will Always Be An Offer or Offer(s)

NOTHING, I mean nothing, goes out your door without offers.”

To generate a response from your consumers, you need an irresistible offer that is going to urge them into taking action IMMEDIATELY.

  • What will you offer them?
  • Is it going to be of value to them?
  • How will it improve their current situation?

Ask yourself these questions, and NEVER end a ‘conversation’ with your audience without making the offer.

Dan states that you’ll find a lot of businesses get by with ‘implied offers’. They’ll give all their details but won’t ACTUALLY say what it is they’ll do for you.

But what REALLY generates a response is direct marketing that tells the consumer how your product can enhance their life, solve their problems, make their day better, etc. Also the steps they need to take in order to reap the benefits.

THIS is how you make money.

2. There Will Be Reason To Respond Right Now

If you’re unfamiliar with direct-response copywriter John Carlton, I recommend you get familiar right now. A friend of Dan’s, John advises imagining your prospective customer as a gigantic sloth, unlikely to move, with it’s phone out of reach.

You need to think about this sloth when constructing your offer. Is a plain, mediocre offer going to cause that sloth to move, reach out for its phone and take action? Probably Not.

Your offer should generate a direct response. That’s the whole point. I reiterate my point about providing value to your prospects – if you can truly convince them that investing in your product/ service will answer their prayers and satisfy their current desires, then you’re onto a winner.

3. Clear Instructions

Give Clear Instructions

I’d like to turn your attention to Dan’s two sub-rules:

  • Confused Consumers do nothing
  • Most people can follow directions

Anything you put together in your next strategy, whether it’s a flyer, an advert, a sales letter etc, make sure the pathway to taking action is clear for the Consumer…”with high sidewalls (to prevent the prospect from wandering off).”

If you’re currently sending things out WITHOUT clear instructions, STOP. Make some changes.

4. There Will Be Tracking And Measurement

Dan says; “you need real, hard facts and data to make good, intelligent marketing decisions.”

Do you want to make unintelligent marketing decisions? Didn’t think so…

When making marketing decisions, it doesn’t matter what you and your colleagues think/feel, etc. It matters what your AUDIENCE thinks and feels.

“Tracking means accurately collecting all the information you need to determine what advertising is working and what isn’t. Which offer is pulling and which isn’t, what marketing has traction and what doesn’t.”

Ultimately, you’ll be able to know what your ROI is for each dollar. As long as you get systems in place to capture all the data you need, and make the time to get a thorough analysis underway.

Then what seems as a confusing drag will start to become profitable and easier the more you do it… Especially if your employees have a tendency to become lazy with or confused by the whole concept.

“From now on, ye shall spend no dollar without tracking ROI.”

5. Branding As By-Product

Strategies to Improve Your Branding

If you’re the CEO of a giant company that is recognized worldwide, then by all means invest in brand identity. If you’re an entrepreneur investing your own capital, then take Dan’s advice – “focus on response and sales.”

Sure, you may actually build your brand without knowing along the way, which is awesome. But don’t spend time doing it on purpose. Dan states that there are many types of direct response ads that are designed to motivate qualified leads to step forward and take action, that succeed WITHOUT branding.

All they need is a clear CTA and BAM, sorted.

6. There Will Be Follow-Up

Relationships are all in the Follow Up

There are fortunes in the follow-up. Most marketers make the mistake of only following up with a lead on ONE occasion.

But to be a SMART marketer, you need to build out a way to  continue this follow-up with your prospects.

Imagine somebody refers you to one of their closest friends. Or a business fellow, perhaps. What are you going to do? Simply say ‘thanks’ and move on?

NO NO NO!

You speak with the person who made the referral, and you ask them for their closest friend or business fellow’s details, so you can approach them personally.

Start up a sequence that involves a (SMS or Facebook) message, letter or email, with something free and valuable that is going to kickstart this new relationship.

No response? Send another message, letter or email. Keep at it!

7. There Will Be Strong Copy

I love this quote from Dan: “you can’t send a shy, timid Casper Milktoast guy out into the street to knock on a door of a home or walk into a business and beg in nearly a whisper for a few minutes of the prospect’s time . So you can’t do that with ad, flyer, letter or postcard either. Send Arnold Schwarzenegger instead.”

In a nutshell, your copy must be compelling enough to get your prospects to take immediate action.

how-to-create-powerful-copywritng

Your vocabulary choices should aggravate your prospect’s problems so much so that they can almost FEEL the pain, and then soothe them immediately with whatever it is you’re offering, and how it can solve their issue.

Think about your audience.

Speak to them like they’re human beings which they are. Do this in a conversational tone that hooks them in with power words, packs a punch and sticks in their mind.

For A Limited Time!!!

“Multi-Million Dollar Copywriter unveils his deadly copywriting Secrets that will help you print money right before your eyes!”

MLSP Copywriting Secrets VideoNOTE: For further information on kick-ass sales copy, I urge you to read another of Dan Kennedy’s books “The Ultimate Sales Letter.”

8. In General, It Will Look Like Mail-Order Advertising

Dan says that David Ogilvy once admitted: “only direct-response guys really knew what they are doing” and that his guys were guessing.

Who would you copy?

Bill Glazer is a ‘master’ at using mail-order newspapers and magazine advertisements that show clear calls to action. Next time you construct an offer, flip through the file for inspiration.

9. Results Rule, Period.

From this moment forth, you are (if not already) completely, wholly, ultimately results-driven.

Nobody EXCEPT your customers is going to put money into your business and personal back account. NOBODY ELSE. All that matters is what your customers think.

If you make sales, then your strategy has worked. If it doesn’t make sales, scrap it.

Agile Results Method

10. You Will Be A Tough-Minded Discriplinarian And Keep Your Business On A Strict Direct Marketing Diet For At Least Six Months

Last but not least…
Think of this as a regular diet.
Cut the crap. Purge the junk.
Stick to a new regime guaranteed to get results.

If your new business diet consists of mothing but the previous nine rules. I promise you that your direct response marketing efforts will pull through. Don’t let anything toxic strip through the crack.

As Dan says, “anything that doesn’t conform to the prior nine rules, do not let it in at all. Just say no. And bar the door.”

So keep in mind whatever business you’re in, your main role is that of a direct response marketer.

We are here to help. If you want any help, just Messenger us (Private Message Us) at our Facebook Messenger link – m.me/EasyOnlineBizSolutions

Talk Soon,
Nicky Cane

Successful Entrepreneurs know that the lifeblood of their business is found in making the right connections.

Whether it is for potential business alliances, sales, marketing, supply chain management or just to escape the loneliness of being a solo entrepreneur. Making connections is vital for business growth.

For those of us that are extroverts, this may come easily.

For many, it may not be so easy. Our intention today is to help you make networking an rewarding part of what you do to strengthen you business.

The 14 Key Factors to Successful Networking are:

1. Start with a Plan

All good businesses start with a plan so why wouldn’t the area of networking get the same attention as other parts of your business planning?

Often this area is left to chance or happenstance. You must not do this!

Instead ask yourself these the following questions:

  • Who would I need to connect with to be wildly successful?
  • What groups, individuals or companies could be most beneficial to my future business?
  • What will help me to grow as an entrepreneur?
  • How can I connect with them?

    Return-On-Investment-where-what-how

Write down your answers and then prioritize what your networking activities with be in the course of a day, week and month. Incorporate your activities into your calendar and commit to a plan with a timeline.

2. Become your Best Self

First, identify the ideal person (customer) you would want to do business with from a character, philosophical and principled perspective.

Your Self Image from Negative to PositiveSecond, become that person. We attract who we become.

To have an ideal network, first become your ideal self. Work harder on yourself than your job. Life is never about what we get; it’s about who we become.

When networking, don’t ask yourself, What am I getting? Keep in mind on who you’re becoming instead.

Third, connect to people with similar interests using all mediums. The best thing you can do is grow your social media network while working hard on becoming the ideal person who you want to attract.

As you become more attuned and grow your online audience, you’ll attract incredible people who are ideal for your long-term business relationships. When it does, you’ll be the right person in the right place with the right network.

3. Give Back

For Nicky, wearing a nametag and chitchatting at networking events feels like the dreaded public speaking class in high school. It fills me with dread, and often makes me feel like a sleazy car salesman.

If you’re not the networking, nametag-wearing type, then use the back-door method. Everybody knows somebody, and it’s great fun to give back to your community.

Community Smiling

Get involved.

Don’t just donate money or attend a stuffy fundraiser dinner. Roll up your sleeves and serve. Word-of-mouth spreads.

Community involvement for a Business can be a situation in which everyone wins.

4. Make a Life-Changing Introduction

Your entire world will change when you learn that networking is not about building your database but about it being the gateway to another great relationship.

So every time you meet someone new, you should ask yourself: Whom can I introduce this person to that could change their life?

Closing the Deal Hankshake

This goes so much beyond having a scorecard for business or personal favors; it instantly deepens the personal relationship, which is the foundation of an awesome network.

 5. Be Selective with your Efforts

As a business owner, time is the most important commodity that you have so be judicious of where you spend your time. Look for events that feed your business and mind.

Mindset

Utilize social networking strategically. As social media grows, so does the spam and self-promotion attempts. Be strategic in your outreach and target your efforts towards connections that will help your business grow.

 6. Apply the “Hostess Principle”

So you are finally at an event and are armed with your elevator speech and a pocketful of business cards. Your name tag is on the upper right-hand side of your suit or dress. It’s time to do a quick sweep of the room and see who you want to meet.

This is where the “hostess principle” comes in…

Walk up to the person or small group and gracefully stick out your hand to introduce yourself. The key is to act as if you are the convener of the event and it is your job to make everyone comfortable.

If you approach it with this mindset, you will be amazed at how comfortable you will become and how comfortable others will be. The same principle holds true for connections made via phone, linked in, email or other ways.

A hostess puts others first and generously gives to make others feel comfortable.

7. Meet Strangers

Networking Coffee and LunchOne of the easiest ways to meet new people is by taking strangers out to coffee, or lunch. This strategy can be employed by anyone even if you have almost nothing to spend.

We have also found that you can get to know people much better this way than any other networking format. Plus, it’s super affordable.

8. Make a Real Connection

The goal is not to get as many business cards as you can, but to make quality connections. It is important to be genuine and honest. The fallacy of much of social media these days is that it keeps us all connected.

A connection is not bad but it is not a relationship. It is a relationship that sustains a business for the long term.

To develop a personal relationship it takes face to face communication, nurturing, and time.

You need to be personal as people do business with people.

As only talking business when networking can make you come off as overallyperfessional and very sterile which makes it harder for people to bond with you.

friend circle

If we get a client from a networking event, one that has never read our blog posts has never received my newsletter, it’s because we’ve established this special bond during our first meeting.

We might have shared our story, discovered a common hobby/ interest or felt like we were a good fit based on our conversation that wasn’t strictly business related.

9. Give Instead of Take.

We try to provide as much value as possible to people in my network without asking for anything in return.

In the beginning of a new relationship, you have to earn the right to have a genuine relationship. The only way you can do that is by giving an insane amount of value.

Give Value Give Value Give ValuePay it forward by helping others to achieve success

You will only be as successful as you help others to be successful. Help others to achieve. This might seem like an old-fashioned notion but this really works to create better relationships and loyalty with your network.

You can do this by introducing them to potential clients, recommend them, offer help and suggestions, and send business their way.

It is most important to do this when you are not looking for something from them. Be sincere and care about their well-being. This is what will set you apart.

10. You Need to Listen

Networking is not about you! Yes, in the end the main goal is to get new business. But business is based on trust. So if you go to these events and all you do is talk about yourself and how great you are, no one will be interested.

We all love to be listened to, it’s part of being human.Listen to your customers

Rudolf Klaus, the king of Effective Networking has said you don’t have to be a small talk guru. You just need to be a good listener.

When we found out this we were so relieved. Try it out! It’s liberating.

11. You Need to Follow Up

Make it a habit to follow up with people you meet offline and connect with them by phone, on LinkedIn or through messenger.

Relationships are all in the Follow Up

You can send them a resource, follow up on a discussion you had or introduce them to one of your connections that you think might be a good fit.

Be helpful, not salesy!

12. Do the Work – Build and Keep your Network Current

It is so easy these days to build contacts and connections with Facebook, LinkedIn, and Twitter. LinkedIn has become the sophisticated rolodex for business professionals. Use it often to update, share, congratulate and connect.

No fairy godmother will wave her wand and give you quality, reliable contacts in a short time. You can get rich quick (winning the lotto), but nobody gets wealthy quick.

Having a great network is wealth. Creating an extensive valuable network will not happen overnight or even quickly. You can speed things up attending the right kind of events.

Just attending an event will not create a network.

You must still do the work: Reach out, be social and have sales skills. The right event can exponentially enlarge your network quickly and solidify your contacts by following up frequently and staying in touch.

13. You Need to be Consistent

Networking is marketing. And you need to market your business all the time, even when things are going well.

Think about it…What if you loose that one big client?

So book your networking events into your schedule and make a commitment, just like you commit to publish x number of blog posts per month, etc.

14. Have a CRM

A Customer Relationship Management (CRM) is a strategy for managing all your company’s relationships and interactions with your customers and potential customers. It helps you improve your profitability.

This is an essential tool that can be the difference between a broke business owner, and a 6-Figure Pro.

Aren’t you ready to GO PRO?!

It’s time to secure and deploy the secret weapon of every 6-figure business owner.

MLSP CRM System Banner14. You Need to be Consistent

Networking is marketing. And you need to market your business all the time, even when things are going well.

Think about it…What if you loose that one big client?

So book your networking events into your schedule and make a commitment, just like you commit to publish x number of blog posts per month, etc.

The networking gives you many rewards. Master this important skill set and new business doors will fly open for you. You will be enriched by the relationships you make as you help others to achieve their goals while meeting your own objectives.

Networking is essential.  Get out there and build your network.

Remember that your net worth is only as good as your network.

We are here to help. If you want any help, just Messenger us (Private Message Us) at our Facebook Messenger link – m.me/EasyOnlineBizSolutions

Talk Soon,

Nicky and Dave

Most of the business advice out there is telling you what you should do. But we’ve found it equally, if not more valuable, to ask our mentors what we shouldn’t do.

You can learn a lot from hearing experienced entrepreneurs tell you tales of all the times they made mistakes and paid dearly for it. Read more