There are a LOT of trolls
on social media now
– both the bots
and the less likely
human sh*tstarters.
Trolls suck energy,
especially if we respond to them.
That’s energy
we could be using
to make our businesses a success.
They bring negativity
to ourselves
AND
our prospective customers.
That will decrease our sales.
And they will NEVER
buy our products/services.
NEVER.
Blocking them
will increase your sales
AND your happiness levels.
Block the trolls
and move on.
You’ve followed
the great advice
you were given
and
have collected
dozens, hundreds,
thousands
of names and email addresses.
But you haven’t sent
a newsletter
in
months, years, ever.
Hey, I understand.
I’m dang lazy
when it comes
to sending newsletters also.
They’re work.
But whenever I send one,
my sales increase.
AND I’m
often presented
with other opportunities.
We could all benefit
from more sales
and awesome opportunities.
Send your newsletter today.
I often receive requests
from customers
that don’t reference me
or my books (products)
by name.
I suspect
these are a form of spam,
perhaps a way
of verifying the emails
they used
are correct
before they sell their lists.
If the request is easy
to fulfill,
I fulfill it.
The worst that could happen is
I get added to spam lists.
I already receive
a ton of spam.
The best that could happen is
I make a reader (customer)
super happy.
If the request is difficult,
I’ll fulfill it
if I believe I’ll receive
that request again.
I’ll then save that response
to copy and paste later.
If I doubt I’ll receive
that request again,
I ignore it.
Determine
how you’ll deal
with vague customer requests.
A buddy of mine
will buy an item priced at
$19.99
much faster than
an item priced at
$20.00.
Why?
Because 1 is much less than 2.
That first digit
in the price
makes a huge difference to her.
It makes no d@mn sense.
It is only a penny cheaper.
Yet many of us
think the same way.
It is called
left-digit bias.
As Jeff Haden explains
“the leftmost digit of a number
disproportionately
influences decision-making.”
We perceive
prices ending with .99
as being bargains
and we buy more.
Researchers estimate
“ending every price with .99
would boost profits
by as much as 4 to 5 percent.”
End your prices
with .99.
We’re all busy.
I realize that.
But we should set aside
some time
every week
for learning new things.
Watch a 15 minute
YouTube video
on marketing.
Read a post
about industry changes
while spending time
in the bathroom.
Have lunch
with a skilled business builder.
Listen to a podcast
on packaging
while waiting in line
at the grocery store.
Increase your knowledge.
It will improve
your odds of success.
Always be learning.
I’ve noticed a trend
on social media.
I’ll share another writer’s post.
They’ll, in response,
like one of my posts.
That’s not the same thing.
At all.
When I share a post,
it means all of my followers
have a better chance
of seeing the other person’s post.
When I like a post,
it means the other person’s followers
have a better chance
of seeing their own post.
Both increases reach.
But only one increases reach
to new-to-us readers (prospects).
A like doesn’t equal
a share.
Remember that
when reciprocating
on social media.
If you send virtual promotional material
– a newsletter, a social media post,
an email
– give your prospects direct links
to your products
in their country-specific store.
Almost no one is going to
search for your product.
Many prospects are so accustomed
to receiving direct links
they don’t know HOW
to search for your product.
I receive emails from readers
in countries I sell very few books in
asking for direct links.
Yes, they prefer to email the writer
of a book
than to search for that book
at their online store.
Give your prospects
direct links.
A loved one
has been battling
a huge internet provider
for well over a month.
Every time
he calls their customer service
they have NO record
of his previous calls.
This is a company
that likely tracks
everything we do
on the internet,
selling that information
to other companies.
The lack of tracking
re: customer service
is deliberate.
It is irritating.
And it likely loses them customers.
But this company is one
of the biggest in the country
so they don’t care.
We can’t be as uncaring.
Our businesses are smaller.
We’re trying to build our customer bases.
We need positive customer experiences
and the positive word of mouth
that accompanies that.
Track customer service experiences.
Keep a thorough customer file.
Ensure your customers
feel respected.
Send your newsletter.
I know. I know.
You’re busy.
You think you have nothing
to say.
You don’t want to
‘bother’ people.
Etc.
First, they want
to be ‘bothered.’
That’s why
they signed up
for your newsletter.
You will receive
some unsubscribes.
Those are people
who have changed their minds.
Or maybe they’re going through
some personal sh*t.
Who knows?
But at one time,
in the past,
they wanted your newsletter.
The remaining people
on your list
still want your newsletter.
Give them what they want
and send it.
Second,
we’re all busy.
But newsletters
are the best sources
of sales.
And most of us
would be happy
to have a few more sales.
Third,
you have plenty to say.
Tell subscribers how other people
are using your product.
Tell them why people
love your product.
Tell them
why you developed it.
Show them a photo
of your dog
and the product.
(Photos of pets
put most customers
in a good mood
and people in good moods
buy stuff.)
You worked hard
to develop
your newsletter subscriber list.
Use it.
Keep putting out great products
and someone will eventually notice.
Older business gurus offer
this advice
ALL the time.
It is wrong,
so very wrong.
Look at this blog
– client k.
I’ve posted every day
here
for a couple decades.
My readership is tiny.
And it isn’t growing.
There’s a LOT
of sh*t on the internet.
It is highly unlikely
someone will ‘discover’ this blog.
If I cared about
the size of my readership
(I don’t),
I should promote
this blog
– constantly.
I would definitely
have to do some things,
perhaps many things
differently.
If your products/services
have too small of a customer base
for you,
you have to do something
different
also.
No one is going to
‘discover’ you.
You have to bring
yourself, your business,
your products/services
to prospective customers.