Online for Success

Any marketers managing leads through a sales lead software for lead management should make sure their sales software can do the following tasks.
1st off, lead nurturing should have the ability to be handled via automated mechanisms such as:
1. Emails – Automatic emails that are triggered at specified time intervals, when leads reach certain milestones.
2. Reminders – Reminders that are automatically triggered based on specified software rules and follow-up times.
3. Posting & Routing – Leads may be automatically posted to a predictive dialer, a telemarketing company, another database, a marketing services company, etc. to attempt additional contact or take other actions.

Your software should effectively perform lead nurturing and drip marketing tasks by incorporating different content at different intervals. Some recommended formats include:
• Varying Format – Newsletters, personal notes, relevant articles and follow-up calls can all work well in combination.
• Adding Value – Effective lead nurturing comes from being consistent and relevant.
• Keep it Simple – It’s got to be easy. After all; that’s why we purchased the software.

How About This..
Can Your Lead Management Software provide..

• Dialers (Predictive/Progressive/Click-to-Dial) that offer built-in click-to-dial capabilities that integrates with Five9, Touchstar, Genesis, DialConnection and/or OPC Marketing
• Pricing and Instant Offers that integrate with NYLX, Mortech, LoanSifter, Optimal Blue & QuoteBurst.
• Loan Origination Tracking; bi-directional software solutions that can easily integrate with most applications using the Fannie Mae file format. Software is Calyx Point, Encompass, PCLender, OpenClose and Empower compatible.
• PDF Generation that can merge lead information into PDF templates automatically. PDF’s can be emailed or attached to leads for storage.
• Lead Routing, Lead Distribution & Live Transfers compatible with live transfer providers that integrates with DoublePositive & LeadQual.
• DNC scrubbing capabilities that can be enabled for all leads or for specific lead groups based on campaigns or rules.
• Email Marketing & autoResponder software for automatic lead follow-ups
• Marketing Automation solutions for enhanced rich media email and tracking capabilities compatible with SoftVu
• Lead Scoring verification technologies that integrates with TargusInfo, eBureau, iLeads
• Custom development & integration for those that need something ultra specific.
• Overall: A CRM solution to manage customer relationships, customer service and accounting. There are a variety of CRM solutions from Mortgage CRM, Insurance CRM & Enrollment CRM; all compatitble with SalesForce.com, RightNow Technologies (RNT)

I often wonder how the practice began of pretending to be someone else in order to market your business. You know what I’m talking about — it’s the marketing face, the selling voice, that you often put on in order to attend a networking event or make a sales call. Who taught you to do that? I have a suspicion where we learn this behavior.

Most of us spend a lifetime observing showroom salespeople, product spokespersons in the media, and hucksters on street corners. What we see demonstrated there is artificial enthusiasm, manipulative use of language, feigned interest, and in some cases outright deception.

Sounds awful, doesn’t it? So why copy any part of this distasteful way of selling?

Psychologist Abraham Maslow said, “If all you have is a hammer, everything looks like a nail.” Perhaps we believe this is the only way we can sell because it’s the only way we know. I’m not accusing anyone of consciously deceiving prospective clients. What I’m suggesting is that what we do unconsciously and automatically is to behave nauthentically around them.

Intuitively, many of us feel as if something is wrong with this way of operating. When we have to sell ourselves, we find it unpleasant, disagreeable, even repulsive. But what if all those negative feelings were simply because we hate the artificiality and manipulation we think must be a part of selling?

Imagine what it would be like to go to a business networking event as yourself. No facade, no pretension, just plain you. When someone asks your reason for coming, you tell them the truth. You don’t have to claim you wanted to hear the speaker (if you didn’t). You can come right out and say, “I’m hoping to make some contacts that will lead to business for me.”

You wouldn’t have to invent reasons to start a conversation. You can walk up to someone who looks interesting and say, “Hi, I haven’t met you yet.” If you’re shy around strangers, you can tell the first person you meet, “I’m sort of a wallflower and feel awkward at events like this. Could you introduce me to some folks?”

Now imagine placing a follow-up call to a prospect where you are completely honest. You could say, “I have some days open on my calendar soon and I’m wondering if this would be a good time for that project we’ve been discussing.” Or, “We haven’t talked in a while and I’d like to find out if you’re still planning to start the new training program this year.”

I see so many professionals and consultants struggle with trying to find an “excuse” to call a prospect. You don’t need some manufactured excuse. You know the reason you’re calling. Most of the time THEY know the reason you’re calling. Just say what it is.

Let’s extend this same principle to making a cold call. Instead of stumbling around awkwardly trying to make a polished — but unnatural — sales approach, imagine yourself saying, “I’m not much of a salesperson, but I’m really good at what I do. Can we have a conversation about what you need and see if I’m the right person for the job?”

If you’ve been working from a cold-calling script that makes you flush and get a tight throat every time you read it, throw it out. Come up with one really good opening line that feels authentic and gets directly to the point. Then decide how you will answer — honestly — some of the typical questions prospects ask you.

My bet is that your calls will immediately get easier. In fact, the more you become honest, direct, and authentic in all of your marketing, the more appealing selling will be to you, the more effortless it will become, and the more success you will ultimately achieve.

Because most business results from building relationships, and how can you develop a relationship with someone when you never reveal who you really are?

Submitting to Award Sites featured award submission sites >>> Since the dawn of the popular internet, and the growth of interest in being online, there have been those who have dedicated their time and efforts to the review of new web based properties. These critics have in turn garnered the respect and interest of web travellers everywhere, folks practically begging for information on the freshest new properties. Submitting your newly developed internet wonder can be rewarding in more ways then one. Firstly, there is the infinite satisfaction of being recognized for the serious efforts applied in the preparation of your web project. Secondly, there exists the potential for traffic… Award sites that have been in operation for some time can deliver the selected "site of the day" thousands of visitors in a very short period of time. Their online, and email publications are in demand, and those in receipt of the information waste no time in visiting the newest web commodity. Some sites offer no cost submission, while others may charge a range of fees depending on time of review. As in many pay per service internet areas, payment does not promise the featuring of your site, merely its review. When considering such a submission, it does the business owner good to keep in mind that all things are not what they seem. Many internet based award sites are merely intended to draw you, and your site visitors to their site, via visual awards that must be placed at your property in order for you to be considered. The traffic given in return is often minimal, and not worthy of the additional download time on your site relative to the added graphics. The award sites below are considered some of the premium honors available on the internet today. If you feel confident in your site’s leading edge appeal, consider a submission, and good luck with your review! Yahoo Internet Life Surfers Choice – 15% off Cool Site of the Day Yahoo Pick of the Week USA Today Hot Sites The Webby Award   Related Subjects: Establish an affiliate program Banner advertising and exchange     top of website aware directory page

List Your Property with a Shopping Portal featured shopping portal providers >>> Online malls have been prevalent on the internet since the launch of ecommerce. There exist the invariable variety of venues, ranging from "free listing" shopping directories, to pay for placement properties whose charges can vary significantly based upon the type of service you select. For organizations whose sole purpose is retail, such environments, if selected carefully, offer an opportunity to place your product line in the sightlines of a large number of internet savvy, ecommerce ready shoppers. The best online shopping portals provide a wealth of buying traffic that can truly advance your operation’s potential. In selecting a mall or portal listing, take care to do in depth research into the benefits of placement with that organization. Ask sufficient questions regarding traffic, both in general, and to areas of specific interest to your product line. Consider contacting existing mall merchants to inquire regarding their experience with a listing in that location. Take care to select a non-competitor, as a company in a similar line to yourself may choose to offer an inaccurate review simply to lower the risk of competition. One note of caution – there do exist a number of mall properties offering purported benefit to their listed clientelle, who do not deliver sufficient numbers to warrant the initial listing expense. Fortunately, these organizations are in the minority, as many online shopping portals work diligently to provide their merchants with sufficient traffic to sustain their companies, and make their listing expenses worthwhile. Their very survival depends upon it! Additional opportunities outside of the standard mall listings include search portal shopping areas, such as Yahoo shopping. These services offer a simple fee-based store building package, and will also, for a % cut of your company’s sales, give your individual products a keyword based listing in Yahoo Shopping. Most shopping at Yahoo is completed via a product search tool that will bring up your products, and your competitor’s, when queried on a specific keyword. These portals can generate a substantial amount of exposure for your products, presuming an existing market, and competetive pricing on your part. Yahoo in particular will not charge your company the % fee until monthly sales of $5000 are achieved. Many of today’s most popular portal sites maintain their own shopping specific areas, with listing potential for your company. Some offer very few listings, with pricing that is reflective, while others have opened up to merchants of all shapes and sizes, creating a potentially affordable option for the newcomer to the always expanding ecommerce marketplace. Shopping Portal Examples Buy.com Mall.com Dealtime.com Yahoo Shopping ChoiceWorld.com MaxManager.com   Related Subjects: Internet Marketing – Award Site Submission Online’s Affordable Site Sponsorship Directory     back to top

Internet Marketing – Promotion Of Your Business the complete web site promotion directory >>> The development and implementation of a successful marketing plan for your newly launched internet business is key to its overall potential for success. In the world of ecommerce, competition is fierce, and growing stronger with each passing day. Virtually every aspect of your organization’s planning – site design, development, service and product offerings, pricing, market selection – will be carefully watched, and potentially incorporated by entrepreneurial minds searching for additional opportunities. How do you stay ahead of the pack, ensuring your operations staying power? With a well organized array of consistently improving products, services, and marketing components. The keys to successfully created brand awareness on the web are innumberable. In today’s ecommerce world, fiscal responsibility and control are an imperative, an experience taught by the dot com failures of recent years. The days of exhorbitant spending on web based advertising, without relative gains in the overall profit margin are long gone, though the opportunities to spend magnificent sums of money on an infinite variety of marketing approaches are not. Preparing an effective, and targeted internet marketing strategy requires a number of elements. Knowledge of your target group. Awareness of available mediums for communicating to that market, be it via the internet, or otherwise. And the final imperative – a keen insight into what it is that motivates that market, grabs their immediate attention, and brings them over the line, from looker to buyer. Commonly, online operations utilize in-house creativity to develop a successful methodology of communication. They understand their market through and through, and via that knowledge have created an outstanding message to brand and define their company within that marketplace. The question that most often arises within those groups new to the internet economy is where to go from there. Selection of the avenue of most potential value to your company type requires a significant amount of research. There are any number of marketing related offers, suggested mechanisms of delivery, and promises of substantial traffic increases throughout the web. Many of these techniques are successful. Some were once effective, but have lost their shine. Others are up and comers, sure to strongly impact in the near future. All require research to ensure a practical and profitable fit for your organization before any agreement is reached. For any new business, web based or otherwise, the marketing budget is a substantial consideration. Fail to create product awareness, and your organization suffers from the needle in the haystack syndrome. Too substantial a commitment financially, and you may lose funding before the profit factor can catch up. Take the time to carefully establish your overall budget for web site marketing, explore each of the options within those parameters, then review each of those providers in detail, requesting any information not clearly defined at the outset. Only when fully comfortable with the potential for successful enhancement of your business’ bottom line should you proceed. Care of this nature is sure to ensure efficient traffic delivery, increasing sales of your product or service, and enhancing your internet property’s ability to achieve its own online success. Would you like to use this article on your site, or have it emailed to you?   Related Subjects: Web site promotion – Online’s complete resource directory Internet marketing service – Press releases Internet marketing strategy – Email marketing       top of the internet marketing strategy page

Internet Marketing and Print Advertising In the early years of internet commerce, marketing and corporate branding for internet business were managed almost exclusively via online media. Banner advertisements at major properties were the "must have" of the day, with a presumption that to visually appeal to those already traversing the net was sufficient to creation of a sustaining customer base. In the end, the banner advertisement began to tire, as the high speed travellers of the web developed an immunity to their lure, due in part to the overexposures dealt to them through the initial years. Though continuing to this day as an effective branding tool, traffic generation was no longer most efficiently managed through the careful placement of a few image based links. As the advertising executives of the brick and mortar world began to make the crossover to corporate ecommerce, the use of standard media by this industry began to show signs of substantial growth. In the end, some of the strongest internet companies began to create their own market, literally generating a previously unheard of level of interest in the web, with the aim of drawing the newly converted to their properties, and products. In today’s increasingly competetive marketplace, the utilization of standard media tools continue to show that same level of growth. Many of today’s television, radio, and print media campaigns relate to partially, or entirely web based organizations. It is now relatively commonplace for existing companies to assemble large scale media blitzes to announce the launch of their new presence on the web. And with a dedicated viewer, listener, or reader base, whose own affiliation with the internet is growing, these well thought out campaigns are impressively successful. Utilizing print media as a marketing avenue for your new internet business can prove to be one of the most efficient advertising investments that your organization will make. That is, of course, presuming the ad to be well targeted, and effective at drawing that market once it has been exposed. When considering placing your property in print, their are many considerations. Who? What? Where? When? The why is relatively obvious. Selecting a publication can require a significant amount of research, as pricing and level of exposure can vary considerably. Companies with a limited budget for this form of advertising would be well advised to carefully explore all their options. This is not to say that a fixed budget restricts you to ads in the local paper – explore your market for affordable trade, or regional publications, within, or outside your area of residence. As a business on the web, your scope is potentially international, which both expands your available market, and your advertising platforms. Some examples of print publications for consideration include: coffee shop tabloids neighborhood papers trade publications local newspapers national newspapers, classifieds international publications, classifieds yellow page directories catalogue publications magazines Select your avenue of communication with care, and with an eye to the needs of your potential customers. Analyze the response levels achieved, consistently improving your ad message to draw the interest of your market. And remember that in print advertising, it is rarely a first glance that garners you a visit, more often the fifth or sixth exposure that gets them there. Print advertising is a long term investment, that if made selectively can have a significant, positive impact on your online success. Would you like to use this article on your site, or have it emailed to you? Related Subjects: Internet Marketing – Promotional Merchandise Internet Marketing – Listing at a Shopping Portal     top of print advertising for internet business page

Issuing a Press Release featured press release services >>> Although common practice in the corporate world, press releases are an example of an all too often overlooked potential for business growth, exposure, and traffic generation. Press releases, done correctly, can garner the online business significant, low cost marketing via interest generated in writers and editors across the globe. These interests can develop into stories, features, or even a mere mention that can send traffic counters reeling, and sales through the roof. Developing an effective press release is an artform all its own. The content must be creative, eye catching, and somehow moving to the reader. Though this sounds much like the creation of a successful marketing campaign, the idea here is to assemble a final release that communicates ideas and features in a manner that makes the copy of interest to the news-hungry. Such development can be challenging for the uninitiated, but as in all areas of internet marketing, there exist a growing number of services to assist in the creation and delivery of a successful press release regarding your business. Many of the organizations dedicated to this area provide a wealth of services including tips on release development, third party press release writing, and of course, circulation services to a variety of media and internet information portals. Measuring the value associated with any one particular organization is going to depend strongly on the nature of your business. As in any area of marketing, the correct targeting of your release can play a strong role in its end value. As well, though many of the services noted below offer substantial circulation possiblities, there may also be value in the personal contact of press agents for operations that are completely niche in market, or local in their interests. Below are some samples of organizations that can assist you in the development and circulation of your business press release: Press Release Services Internet News Bureau Market Wire Press-Release-Writing.com     Related Subjects: Internet Marketing – Print Advertising Internet Marketing – Promotional Merchandise     top of press release help page

Promote Your Site With Partnerships In the internet business world, the phrase partnership conjures up any number of images, depending upon who’s sitting in on the discussion. Every business has had an individualized experience with partnering, but the base interpretation is the same, regardless. Partnerships are an arrangement of mutual benefit between either two persons, or two organizations. Achieving such arrangements for your company can be a versatile and effective means of growing your business into its highest of potentials. Partnership arrangements common to the marketplace today include a number of complimentary agreements, such as: content sharing in exchange for additional exposure advertising to another’s mailing list in exchange for similar ads within your mailing group advertising to another’s mailing list in exchange for on-site ads at your property marketing of another organization’s products within your property in exchange for like treatment of your products site advertising on another’s property in exchange for the same style of advertising at your business site standard "affiliate" agreements collaborative advertising efforts, mutually marketing both properties to garner reduced costs of visibility mutually funded contests and promotions This list is by no means exhaustive, as the nature of arrangements between organizations are ever-changing, and entirely dependant on the type of companies involved in the collaboration. When exploring the idea of partnership with another company online, there are a few key items to keep top of mind. Is There True Value? In preparing a partnership request, or reviewing an incoming offer, carefully consider the ramifications of affiliation. Is the organization being given consideration well respected? Do they bring traffic numbers to the table that are equivalent, or preferably greater than what your property can provide? Are the numbers provided confirmed? Is your aim the branding of your market, or sales increases? What is the potential impact on sales, based on given traffic numbers? Is there a possibility of sales lost to their product, even if complimentary? What is the impact on your customers? Will your hard fought for mailing list suddenly experience a massive unsubscribe when exposed to an influx of outside advertising? What is the impact of on-site advertising? How will the ads impact download times? Page views per visitor? Presentation? How targeted is the advertising/exposure your company will receive in exchange? What timeframes are being recommended? Is there a means of leaving the arrangement if found to be unsuitable? Finally, a word to the wise – though the majority of online business operators are upstanding, there certainly do exist those who will misrepresent themselves in the development of partnership arrangements. In these scenarios, locking into a poorly performing affiliation can put your business at a significant disadvantage, by negating your potential to negotiate other, more lucrative arrangements over the life of the agreement. Serious number crunching, and some significant company research are an absolute necessity prior to signing off on any partnership agreement. Once all facts have been verified, and the true value calculated, you can move forward by trusting your instincts in the selection of only the best affiliations, targeted at ensuring your company’s online success.   Related Subjects: Internet Marketing – Pay per Click Advertising Internet Marketing – Press Releases     back to partnership agreement help page

Internet Marketing Through MLM The success of any MLM, or multi level marketing based venture requires a few key ingredients – a large level of exposure to a client base interested in making money, and willing to invest a small financial sum, in exchange for a purported opportunity to make a much larger sum. The internet is rife with opportunities that are based on the old MLM platform, and with good reason. Potential exposure numbers for the online entrepreneur are huge. There is no limit to online business folk itching to live their dream of financial success. And they are willing to invest to ensure that it becomes so. Consider this – MLM already plays a role in many different forms of internet business. One example is affiliate programs, which are often multi-tiered, an MLM based concept. With the increasingly competitive nature of internet marketing, MLM based traffic generating programs have become more popular, and widely available than ever before. With advertising revenues taking a downward turn, and a resulting slump in available funds to market their sites, property owners have their ear to the ground for opportunities to generate low cost, high impact traffic volumes. Though MLM based enterprise can occasionally deliver such volumes, it has its share of associated risks as well. In considering an MLM based marketing opportunity for your business enterprise, research is imperative. The very nature of such an exercise in pyramid style business means that the success of the venture is largely doled out to those at the top of the mountain, while those on the lower slopes tend only to find the smallest of value in these increasingly available opportunities. The internet is rarely different from any other area of enterprise. You generally get what you pay for. Though offers with an MLM base may indicate substantial promise through on-site hype, only a small portion will actually deliver. The marketing of a product or service oriented site requires planning, research, and skilled delivery. Success in such ventures are rarely an overnight occurence, more often one derived through hard work, and consistent drive. Select your company’s direction carefully, with an orientation towards realistic expectations, and you help to ensure your online success.   Related Subjects: Web site promotion via newsgroups Partnerships as a means of internet marketing     back to top of mlm caution page

Email Marketing on the Internet featured list rental providers >>> Email based advertising has taken the internet ecommerce world by storm. Currently considered one of the best available investments in web based promotion, email ads have proven themselves to be both affordable, with a strong return on investment potential. Utilizing email as a marketing tool can involve a wide variety of methodologies, goals, and results. Covering the gambit of advertising intent, email promotions are used to introduce new properties and products, acquire new customers, refresh relations with previous purchasers, announce contests, and in general, develop positive relationships with markets of all shapes and sizes. Email List Rental Email based advertising presents a level of flexibility that is hard to match in other environments. Many available lists are well targeted, with a known demographic, and click through rate. This allows the savvy marketer to carefully research, locate, and sell to a group with a known interest in their products or service. Arranging a company specific mailing to a specific market via a rented list can be an expensive proposition, but done correctly can quickly and efficiently create awareness of your new online property, and sales of your product. Many list managers also provide opportunities to buy ad space within a topical mailing, a means of reducing costs associated by sharing in the expense with other advertisers. Some examples of list providers commonly utilized today include: PostmasterDirect.com Focalex.com DirectMarketing-Online.com Responsys.com Ezine Advertising An increasingly popular form of email based advertising is the purchase of ad space within one or more of the thousands of regularly distributed ezines on the market. These ezines can have subscriber bases running into the hundreds of thousands, and a well placed, market specific text ad can draw a strong click through rate to your property, and products. The ezines are generally subject oriented, creating a simple means of targeting a group with a natural interest in your product line. This form of advertising can often provide the budget minded entrepreneur an affordable opportunity to create awareness of their web property. Many ezines even offer free ads to subscribers, as an incentive to grow their readership, allowing for pay for inclusion ad rates down the road. Online has assembled the following resources relative to this area: Online’s Ezine Directory A Word on Spamming In your day to business on the web, you will no doubt come into contact with offers to dole out your product or service to millions of hungry buyers for very small fees. These offers are prevalent across the internet today, and can be very tempting to the new online business struggling to raise traffic numbers, and sales. Beware. Known as spamming, these types of mailing lists have been gathered through online harvesting of addresses, as well as other techniques, which will result in the majority of your emails going to individuals who have not requested them. Not only is this action illegal, but it does considerable damage to the online business attempting to establish a reputation for legitimacy. Always verify the collection techniques utilized by any mailing list rental agency, to ensure that your company is presented positively, enabling the development of a relationship of respect with potential clientelle.   Related Subjects: Establish Your Own Mailing List Online’s Ezine Advertising Directory     top of email marketing strategy guide