Note: Some Links may be out of date.

Blitz Ezine # 209 April 7, 2003
Generating business during tough economic times

Note: This is an archived issue. Some links and/or content may be outdated

Building your business during difficult times - Part 1
The Blitz-Promotions News Letter.
Issue no. 209, April 7, 2003

************ In This Issue **************
Comments
Food for thought
Articles
The Classifieds
Next Issues
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Blitz Comments
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Lots of good info this week - we start a new series, we have a sample lesson from our links course, and useful info from the archives on making your site sticky (no chewing gum needed).

This month we start a series on helping you to build your business. Since this will be a work in progress I'm not sure exactly how long it will take. Although it will assume you already have a business on the net, even folks starting out should get some benefit from it. This months lessons will be focused on building a good foundation or reinforcing the one you have. The issues for April shape up like this.

This issue - what happens when something shakes the foundation of your business. Five things to do to generate business in tough times.

April 14 - Ten things to do during times of trouble (continues).

April 21 - Ten things to do during times of trouble (Part 3).

April 28 - Finances and the long haul.

May 5 - Building your profit centers.

May 12 - Foundation elements you will need.

Coming Next Issue -
Ten things to do in times of trouble (continues)

+++++++++++++++++
Food for thought
+++++++++++++++++

If you wish others to believe in you, you must first convince them that you believe in them.
Author: Harvey Mackay

+++++++++++++++++++
Sample portion of Lesson 1 of our links issue.
+++++++++++++++++++

You should know by now that we have created several different link programs. In March we started work on a Linking course which guides you through the process of getting good links. The first portion of lesson 1 can be found below. If you would like to get the rest of lesson 1 and the remaining lessons for the course check out the link below.

http://www.ineedlinks.com/freelinks.htm

Lesson 1

As you may know, or maybe not, getting links is hard work.

What this course will do for you is:
a) Give you a plan.
b) Provide you with the tools to do an effective job.
c) Show you how to get links that will show the biggest return on your investment (time).
d) Streamline your record keeping and plan your follow-up.
e) Show you some creative methods for linking. Here is an overview of the lessons you'll get each week. If for some reason you don't get a lesson, then please don't hesitate to send us a note.

Lesson 1 - Overview
This is the lesson you're reading. Provides an overview of the course as well as gives you a heads up on finding good keywords for your site.

Lesson 2 - Five myths about linking and creating your links page.

Lesson 3 - How page rank works.
We'll oversimplify how the process works and how page rank works.

Lesson 4 - Tools
Discusses the tools you will need - how they work - why they work and how to make them work effectively.

Lesson 5 - Link preperation
Preparing your links page and the note you will use when contacting link partners.

Lesson 6 - How to find good links - an overview
Just what it says.

Lesson 7 - Ten resources for finding good links fast.

Lesson 8 - Creative ideas for finding links.

If you don't know how people are searching and the keywords they are using to find your site, the first thing you need to do is find out. Without this information, your link campaign will not be very effective... you will be shooting at a bullseye in the dark, blindfolded, with a rubber band. If you get bogged down or don't have enough time to do your own studies - we offer a Keyword Study for 49 bucks. Click on the link below for details. http://www.blitzpromotions.com/websitepromotion.htm#key

Lesson continues with how to find the keywords for your site.
http://www.ineedlinks.com/freelinks.htm

+++++++++++++++++++
Your foundation
Five ways to generate business during tough times.
+++++++++++++++++++

We'll take more about planning in a future lesson but one thing you should be aware of (if you aren't already) is there will be times when business will be tough to come by. We are currently having one of those times now. So what can you do to help build your business when no one seems to be shopping.

The most important thing to remember is that it will pass. After 9-11 we had a real slow down, but a few weeks later business was back. Listed below are five things you can do to help you get through the tough times.

1. Timing is everything.

Realize that after an event that your traffic will slow down and your sales will decrease. It is really important during this time to keep a close tab on your traffic levels. When you see some moderate increases from the lull that would be the time to work on #3 and #4 on our list.

2. Plan for future advertising, work on building your networks.

Any lull in business is a great time to plan for your future. Where do you see your business in six months, a year, five years, ten years. We'll talk much more about planning later on but in a nutshell you set the goals and then you make a plan. Realize that you aren't alone in the lull. Now is a great time to work on getting some deals for future advertising and to build a network.

Having a network helps in many ways.
1) It is much easier to face challenges when you have a number of people who may be going through the same thing.
2) Networks may help you to reduce some of the costs of doing business because you can share the costs.

3. Contact your previous customers.

When you begin to see a return of traffic and sales. Contact your previous customers with an irresistable offer.

4. Run specials on your site.

Again when folks start to shop again offer a sale, discount, free shipping etc.

5. Take some time off.

Taking a few days away from the computer will help you recharge your batteries and will help you run your business better. No one works all the time and you shouldn't have to either.

Part 2

2. Know what can happen.
3. Come up with an action plan.
4. Back up the Back up.
5. Cash Reserves.

Part 3

6. Learn from your mistakes.
7. Plan for the worst.
8. Know your numbers.
9. Take care of your customers.
10. Take care of yourself.

+++++++++++++++++++
From the Blitz Archives
Blitz 115 - Making your website sticky.
April 2001 - New comments have been added.
+++++++++++++++++++

You’ve built your website and uploaded all of your pages. You are officially online! Now what? The big question is: “How can I entice people to visit?”

Whether you’ve had your site online for years or are in the planning stages, your main objective is to cater to your target market. Naturally, you want people to visit but what can you do to keep your viewers interested enough to come back again and again? This is really easier than you may think. Here are some methods that may work for you:

Be courteous!

If a viewer emails you, always greet them with a smile and answer any and all questions as politely and promptly as possible. A prompt response says, “Hey, this site owner really cares about me!”

Ask yourself this question: “How many times have I submitted a question via email to a website and never gotten a response?” You do not want your site to have an “I don’t care label” as this is very difficult to overcome once you’ve attained such a title. There are many sites online that actually ask the viewer not to bother them with email. Personally, when I see a phrase such as… “If you’re looking for this, don’t email me as I do not have the time to answer you!” I tend not to visit that site anymore and definitely would not purchase anything from them. That sentence alone portrays an “I don’t care” attitude and the first and main objective in business is to make your customers happy. If you walk into a brick and mortar store and the manager ignores you or tells you he doesn’t care what you need, he’s not helping you; there’s no way you will buy anything from that store.

Keeping in mind that your first priority is your viewer, you should answer any and all questions promptly. If you do not know the answer to a question you should respond honestly. Having an online business is a bit different than the brick and mortar store setting in the sense that you do not actually “see” the person who is visiting. But, to have a successful online business you must be courteous and helpful to all visitors as this is the best way to change a “viewer” into a “customer”.

Offer your visitors something free.

Yes, the newsletter is free. But what can I offer the visitor who is afraid of entering their information into an online form? One of the goals of your site should be to offer something free (in return for them offering some information– like their name and email address). This also gives you an opportunity to show off your products or services. In essence, offering freebies is a great way to attract visitors.

Give your visitors a forum.

A message board is a great way to attract repeat visitors. Providing a message board allows your visitors to post questions and reply to questions others have posted. This allows interaction among your visitors and keeps them coming back.

A chat room is also a great way to prompt visitors to meet. Schedule a time to discuss a certain topic.

In either instance you may offer a prize to encourage the viewer. For a chat room you might offer a free prize to the tenth person who enters the room during a scheduled chat session. For a message board you could offer a special prize for the person who posts answers to the most inquiries.

Contests

Contests are a great way to keep visitors coming back. Many people go online in search of risk free contests. I believe it’s best to offer a prize TOTALLY FREE. Most people do not read the fine print and would be rather annoyed to find they had to pay shipping and handling for something they were told would be free. If you’re going to offer a prize it should come with no strings attached. If you can’t afford to offer a prize then you may ask other sites to donate or sponsor contests on your site in return for ad exposure on your site and/or in your newsletter. If a contest sponsor is used be sure to promote the site well so the sponsor feels that participation was well worth his while.

A great example of this is a contest that our business group does. Businesses contribute items for the monthly contest, and as a result the business directory (which we are all in) gets an increase in traffic.
http://www.asmallbusinessdirectory.com

Give your visitors something to do. Polls, surveys, and quizzes give your visitors something to do while they visit your site. These can be valuable tools in finding out information about your visitors. Below is a resource where you can add some to your site for free.

http://www.pollit.com/

Next week – 10 more ways to get your visitors to come back for more.