Kevin Nunley
Millions of people love the Internet because it
offers them so much free information. People used to grab the phone book, pick
up a newspaper, or call the library when they had a question. Now vast numbers
log on and find the information online.
You can harness this massive and powerful demand for free information. Use it to
build your base of customers and prospects. Use your ability to provide free
information to build image, customer confidence, brand recognition, and sales.
Get and use your own email course. This is an all-time favorite with Internet
users. Courses can be nothing more than a few successive email messages that
give readers information on a particular topic.
Most courses are seven messages long, although some are as short as three
messages and many have ten or more. Use a multiple autoresponder to send your
messages automatically. I find it is best to have a lesson arrive every day or
every other day.
If your messages show up every other day, you keep your name and information in
front of customers for a full two weeks. That gives prospects the time they need
to carefully consider your offer and decide to buy. You makes sales in many
cases where customers would have forgotten your name, your site, and your offer.
If you don't have a newsletter, offer an email course to keep your information
in front of people until it has time to make an impact.
Your email course makes an excellent free bonus for people who
subscribe to your newsletter or request your sales information.
When the page comes up that says "thanks for subscribing,"
include a box where people can type their email address to get
your free course.
How can you get your own email course? The easiest way is to
offer a course someone else has written. Many course authors
don't mind if you use their course as long as you keep their
contact and promotional information in tact. Ask permission.
Chris McClean has created a service that connects web site
owners with free courses. http://7LessonCourses.com
lets you
choose the course you want to offer, insert your ad in the
course, then gives you a simple sign-up form to put on your site.
In case you want to create your own course, here are the
mechanics:
1. Pick a problem that lots of your customers struggle with. In
my business the big stumpers are getting a site that sells,
finding a way to handle email, figuring out search engines, and
finding low-cost ways to advertise effectively.
A course on any of these is guaranteed to bring lots of interested prospects and
customers (and you can bet I'm plugging my ads here and there during the
course).
Your course could be on how to complete a basement, how to avoid an IRS audit,
how to give your kids straight teeth, or anything else that customers often ask
about.
2. If you don't write or have time to pen your own articles,
look for others who have written on the topic. It is perfectly
legal to put their ideas in your own words (always proper to
give them credit).
You can also quote the article. It is best to ask in advance, if your course is
for commercial purposes. Start your article, then say expert Jane Doe has some
valuable information. Include a few paragraphs of what Jane wrote.
Be careful not to use so much you give away her entire article
and spoil her ability to sell the information.
Email is by far the most popular feature of the Internet. Use
your own email course to build an audience and promote yourself
as someone who knows their field.
About the author:
Kevin Nunley provides marketing advice, promotion packages, and copy writing.
Get his series of free email courses at http://DrNunley.com
Reach Kevin at mailto:kevin@drnunley.com
or 801-328-9006.
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