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November 28, 2006
12 Ways to Build Your Opt-in List
Building your opt-in list starts with having a website that will persuade visitors to spend some time there. By doing that they will be more apt to sign up to your newsletter or offer.
Here are 7 steps that will help accomplish this.
1. Use original material. If they see that you are displaying the same content as similar sites. They aren't going to stay around for very long.
2. Start out with a headline and introduction that captures their attention. Let them know what is going to be found on your website. It doesn't take long for today's surfers to decide if this page is going to be worth further attention.
3. Make sure your visitors know just what they will find on your website. They are looking for information on a certain subject and they need to know that you have their possible answers. Therefore be sure to use the keywords that best fit your web page because when your visitor clicks on a keyword with his browser he wants to find the corresponding content.
4. Be sure you have numerous cross links to various pages on your site so the visitor can browse through it. If he finds it helpful and pertinent he will be more inclined to bookmark your site and come back again. Be sure your links are well designed to catch the reader's eye.
5. Design your site so your pages can load quickly. Don't load it up with too many pictures and long blocks of text. Leave enough "white space" so one's eyes can be drawn down the page. Articles should be broken up into short paragraphs and adjust your text so it is easy to read--not too small nor too light. Difficult in reading the content will discourage a visitor from continuing.
6. Proofread your pages so you don't make grammatical and spelling mistakes. You need to appear a professional. If you are not sure of the effect the page is presenting let someone else take a look. Forums are a good area to ask members to view your site or particular page. (You will probably receive all kinds of opinions!) But you should definitely get some valuable help.
7. Offer your visitors freebies--ebooks, software, articles etc. that they can download from your site. Ask them if they would fill out a survey which could help you find out for what type of information they are looking, or ask if they would like to sign up for your newsletter. If a visitor does nothing else than to become one of your subscribers and be put on your opt-in email list you have won the first battle.
Now that you have a means to add to your opt-in list by way of your website, you also need to build your list in other ways, especially if you don't yet have too many hits on your site. That takes time but by building your list you will increase them.
Here are 5 more possibilities outside your website.
1. Advertise a free ebook. You can have it downloaded from your site as mentioned before or you could have the visitor send you an email and you could attach the ebook to an answering one. This ebook doesn't have to be more than 7-10 pages.
Advertise your newsletter and send responders to your list via your autoresponder, which will take care of the opting in, and startup of your emails. Be sure any email, whether yours or your autoresponders has an opt-out feature.
Use email signatures, which you can add to the bottom of your emails. In 3-6 lines you put your name, short description and appropriate link to your site or offer.
4. Send an email to an individual email address and ask the recipient if they would like to sign-up for your mailing list or offer the option to decline from any future mailings. Be careful here because anyone receiving your email could consider it to be spam. To me this is the least desirable method.
5. If you have a newsletter in which you have just about exhausted your material and want to start another newsletter on a different area you could send a broadcast and invite anyone nearing the end of your letters to change to the new newsletter. You may be able to keep some of those who are ready to make a change. You won't gain any new subscribers really but you may be able to keep some of those you might otherwise lose. Let them know that you are proficient in different areas.
As you can see building your opt-in list need not be difficult. Use your imagination and I am sure that you can find many other means to get results.
Posted by billenross at 09:56 AM | Comments (0)
November 26, 2006
Five Basic Steps to a Successful Interview
People love to learn about other people, and interviews are an effective way to accomplish that learning. Successful interviewing is not simple, but there are basic steps you can take to make sure your interviews are successful and that you come up with interesting, useful information about those you interview. Here are five such basic steps, whether you are doing an in-person interview or a remote interview by telephone or email:
1. Prepare as Much as You Can in Advance. This should be obvious, but often it isn't. You should go into the interview knowing as much as you can about the person you are interviewing. Especially, you should know what their likes and dislikes are, what may especially anger or irritate them, and what your audience most wants to know about them. You use this information as a tool to shape the content and flow of the interview. Depending on the type of interview and the preparation time you have, of course, your advanced preparation may be limited. Do the best you can.
2. Establish Rapport With Your Subject. Try, if possible, to meet with your subject prior to the actual interview and show them you are friendly and that you are genuinely interested in them. Part of this step involves putting your subject at ease about the physical layout and surroundings of the interview, i.e., where you will sit or stand, where they will sit or stand. If you are planning to tape or videotape the interview, try to make your subject familiar and at ease with the technology you are using.
3. Control the Flow of the Interview. You are the one doing the interview and you need to move through it using the questions and very brief comments you have prepared ahead of time. Don't let the subject feel they are going to control the interview with a personal agenda when you have objectives you need to accomplish. (Look again at Step 1.) At the same time, be alert for unforeseen or unplanned information that may come up during the interview. Don't miss out on something good because it may be unexpected. Be in control, but be prepared to "go with the flow" if the flow looks good. Your goal is to part with the subject knowing you got what you needed, and to appreciate any bonus that come along.
4. Part on the Friendliest Possible Terms. Make an effort to be courteous and express appreciation for the interview. This will leave the door open for any follow-ups, as well as create good networking opportunities for additional interviews with people your subject might know. Never kill a potential future lead with a bad attitude or ingratitude. Always try to end the interview on good terms.
5. Get All the Spelling Right. Yes, you read that correctly. It is amazing the number of common words and "obvious" names that can be misspelled when you write up the interview. If your subject is well known, this might not be much of an issue. But even well known people have lesser known friends and family members. Don't let spelling those names trip you up. How do you get the names spelled correctly? You ask, of course. Even "famous" people appreciate the professionalism and concern you show by asking to get the spellings correct. Don't let inattention to spelling details ruin your good work.
Successful interviewing and interviews may not be simple, but can be fun. With a little care and attention to these five basic steps, interviews can be well done and professional.
Posted by billenross at 10:45 PM | Comments (0)
November 10, 2006
What is Your Number One Asset as a Business Owner?
As a business owner you have many assets. Your expertise, your client base, your brand, the list could go on. But what is your number one asset and how do you protect it?
It’s your health, of course. Without good health, your expertise, your client base and your brand will all suffer. You need good health to be able to function effectively, be creative, productive, to have enough energy to see projects through.
However, it is all too easy to neglect your number one asset when running your own business. Client demands, commitments, family life, crises, all compete for your time and attention.
You feel you can’t justify regular breaks during the day because work is piling up! You stay up later and get up earlier in order to stay on top of things. Perhaps you’re not even sleeping as well as you used to.
Did you cancel dinner out with friends because you simply didn’t have the time or energy? How about weekends, is work seeping into Saturday and Sunday? Are you grabbing fast food on the run just to save some time?
If any of these questions resonate with you it’s time to take action. There’s no need to make drastic changes straight away. Start by making small changes.
Take regular 15 minute breaks throughout the day for a quick stroll outside, or for sitting quietly doing nothing. Rather than wasting time, you’re actually going to be saving time because when you get back to work you’ll be so much more efficient and productive.
Exercising regularly will enhance your energy levels and general health immensely. It doesn’t even have to be slogging it out at the gym or running. Thirty minutes of walking a day will greatly improve your sense of wellbeing.
Make sure you’re getting at least 7 or 8 hours of good sleep a night. Reduce the amount of caffeine you drink during the latter half of the day so that you’re sleeping more soundly.
Staying connected to your friends and family is essential for balance. Schedule time out to share laughter with friends over dinner and enjoy a game of frisbee in the park with the kids. Don’t let your hobbies and other interests slide because of your business. If you like reading, relax and read books that aren’t related to business!
Make a commitment to yourself that at least on one day of the weekend you don’t turn your computer on at all, you don’t go into your office, you don’t even think about work!
Eating good, nutritious food and drinking enough water are vital to your health. The time you invest in making the right food choices and preparing healthy meals will pay off in dividends.
If you put just some of these tips into action over the next few weeks, you’ll definitely be protecting your number one business asset and feeling the benefits. Take that 15 minute break now, you deserve it!
Posted by billenross at 08:38 AM | Comments (0)
