How To Use Database Marketing To Skyrocket Your Online Profits

Database Marketing is the gathering and storing of specific information about your prospects or customers. This information is usually stored in a database program on your computer. You would then use the information to market and advertise to them. It can save you time and money because you can target your promotional efforts to your best prospects or customers.

The Types Of Information To Collect

The information will vary depending on the product or service you're selling. If you're selling a product that costs $2 you wouldn't collect information about their yearly income. If you're selling web space you wouldn't collect information about what type of books they read. The basic information you need would be all their contact information, purchase history, and birthday. You will need to decide what other information would benefit your business.

How To Collect This Information Online

It's pretty easy to collect this information online but the hard part is getting people to give it to you. The best way to collect this information is to give them something FREE in return. Ask them to fill out an email survey before subscribing to your free ezine. Tell everyone who visits your web site they will get a free ebook when they fill out your online questionnaire form. Ask them this information before they sign up for a free contest at your web site. Sometimes you have to give a little something to get a little information online.

Beneficial Uses For Your Database

Find out your customers purchasing habits. Use the information to improve the design of your web site. Use it to write all your advertising material more persuasively.

Find out the things they like or dislike about your business. Use the information to target your best prospects.

Find out how much money your prospects or customers make. Use it to improve your customer service.

Find out what new products or services they need or want. Use it to test ideas before launching a total sales campaign.

Find out how to your improve your existing products or services. Use it to build your customer loyalty.

Find out which benefits or features they like most about your products or services. Use it to send electronic greeting cards on holidays or on your customer's birthdays.

The list of beneficial uses are endless. Do you see the importance of collecting this information? The Internet makes the process of collecting this information quicker and cheaper than offline methods. Take advantage of database marketing and watch your online profits skyrocket.

Regards
Roger Mayne
Swiftdeal

Survey Says

Do you have a list of email addresses of your customers or prospects? Do you have a list of ezine subscribers? If you have their permission, send them an email survey to conduct market research. See if customers are satisfied with your products or services, or see if they enjoyed their visit at your web site.

You can learn things you didn't know about your business by surveying. Maybe your customers buy your main product just to get the free gifts. Your visitors may think it's to hard to navigate through your web site. You may find out that most of your customers make over $100,000 a year. By knowing this type of important information you can improve your web site, products/services, advertising, and marketing.

3 Popular Types Online Business Surveys

Customer Satisfaction Surveys - what did you like or dislike about our product or service, what can we improve or add, how satisfied are you with our customer service, etc.

Web Site Feedback Surveys - did you find it to easy navigate through our site, did you find the information you wanted, what did you like or dislike about the site, how did you find our site, etc.

Demographic Surveys - what's your gender, age, income, occupation, marital status, etc.

Sometimes people don't want to take the time to fill out a survey. To encourage them to fill out the survey offer them a freebie if they fill it out. Some ideas are free ebooks, free advertising, free reports, free internet services or a free ezine. Hold a free online contest or sweepstakes and ask visitors to fill out a survey before they enter.

If you don't yet have an email address list you could post your survey on appropriate newsgroups, forums and email discussion lists. You could also upload survey software to your web site or use a free survey service on the internet.

To find such services just type in the keyword "survey" in your search engine of choice.

Regards
Roger Mayne
Swiftdeal

6 Payment Offers That Sell Like Crazy

The way you structure your payment offers can increase your sales. I'm not talking about the way people pay like credit cards, digital payments, checks, and cash options. What I'm taking about is can your customers try before they buy, pay later, make payments, do they get a rebate, etc. Below are six payment offers that will sell like your products or services like crazy:

1. Sample It

Offer your customers a free sample or short version of your product or service. Your sample should give them only a few benefits of the full version. This will entice them to purchase the full version to get the total benefits.

2. Name Your Price

Offer customers a choice of want they can pay for your product or service. List your original product and price then add another product with it for a little higher price. Your orders will increase by letting the customers choose their price.

3. Free To Try

Offer your customers a free trial of your product or service. You could offer the free trial for 5 to 30 days. This is showing them that you have confidence in your product or service and it will sell itself.

4. Give A Little Back

Offer your customers a cash back rebate after they buy your product or service. I feel a good rebate would be a least 10% of their purchase price or higher. This will increase your sales and, like most of us, they will forget to turn in the rebate.

5. Pay Later

Offer your customers the choice of being billed later for their purchase. Bill them in a few weeks or a month. This will stop you from losing customers who can't afford to purchase your product or service at that time.

6. Little At A Time

Offer your customers the option of paying you a little at a time for your product or service. You could divide up the purchase price into bi-weekly or monthly payments. You won't lose customers that may not be able to pay the full amount at that time.

Regards
Roger Mayne
Swiftdeal

Online Joint Venture Ideas

A joint venture is when two or more businesses join together to work on a project for a set period of time. Doing online joint ventures can increase your chances of beating your competition, increasing your sales and profits, saving time and money, getting valuable referrals, and increasing your market share. The following are ten online joint venture ideas:

1. A simple joint venture would be exchanging text links or banners with other related web sites.

2. Share a web site with another business with the same target market. You both will be marketing and advertising the same web site which means double the traffic.

3. Exchange testimonials or endorsements for each others products or services.

4. Combine your products or services together with another businesses into one big package. You could split the profits.

5. Do you have and product or service that doesn't sell good? Offer it as a free bonus for another businesses product or service. In exchange ask for a small portion of the profits.

6. Offer to insert a promotional ad for another business into your product package. Just ask them in return to do the same for your business.

7. Trade ezine or auto-responder ads with similar businesses.

8. Team up with related businesses to create an promotional ebook to give away. Publish your web site ads in the e-book then just give it away for free.

9. Host a virtual trade show or seminar with another business. Include each other's promotional material on the web site.

10. Create a freeware program with another business. Include a promotional ad for each of your businesses in the program. Submit it to freeware and freebie sites.

Regards
Roger Mayne
Swiftdeal

8 Ways To Get People To Visit Your Web Site Again And Again

1. Polls

Hold an interactive poll on your web site. Ask visitors a poll question. Have them email their vote or opinion. People love to give their 2 cents worth. They would also like to read the results the next day or week on your web site.

2. Prize Drawings

Hold an ongoing prize drawing on your web site. The prizes should be something of interest or value to your subscribers. Most people who enter will continually revisit your web site to get the results.

3. Original Content

Give your visitors content they can't read anywhere else. I'm not saying all your content has to be 100% original, but a portion of your web site should have original information. People will usually read information they haven't read before.

4. Quizes

Give your visitors a quiz or a series of trivia questions. Post the correct answers weekly on your web site. The people who participate will want to come back to your site to see if they were right.

5. News

Supply news stories related to your web site topic. People want current and up-to-date news. If you can be their first source, they will become repeat visitors to your web site.

6. Jokes

Give your visitors a little humor now and then. Don't be so serious; tell them a joke. If they associate your web site with being happy they will visit again and again.

7. Free Stuff

People love to get free stuff. List free stuff on your web site. It could be software, services, sample products, e-books etc. The freebies should be related to your web site topic. Keep the freebies coming and your visitors will return regulary.

8. Directories

Tell your subscribers about Web sites related to your web site topic. The web sites should be interesting and helpful. Become your readers web site directory and they will come back.

Regards
Roger Mayne
Swiftdeal

Increase Your Credibility With Web Site Awards

Web Site Awards are given from other sites to reward your site for a specific reason. They will usually give you an award graphic or text link to include on your site if you win. Awards are great to display on your Web site because they will give your business more credibility to your visitors and customers.

Some things your Web site could be awarded for are:

Web Design
Content
Load Time
Web Features
Ease of use
Originality

If you think you have a chance to win one of these awards submit your Web site to the sites that give out web awards. Visit other peoples Web sites and see what awards they have won. Only register for awards that are related to the content of your Web site; this helps promote your site to your targeted audience.

Before you register to win an award, make sure your Web site is ready. Your sites content spelling and grammar should be correct. It should be easy to navigate through your Web site. Graphics should be related to the content on your page.

Create your own awards site for other Web sites. Give the winners a graphic or text link to place on their Web site when they win. This will link your Web site to theirs and draw more traffic to your Web site.

Regards
Roger Mayne
Swiftdeal

How To Use Bartering To Gain An Advantage Over Your Competition

If you have a business on the Internet you should be bartering goods and services with other businesses. You should always try to trade for something before you buy it. Barter deals usually require no money. Although sometimes you may need money to offset the value of the goods or services being traded.

Bartering will give you many advantages over your competition. It can save your business money. You can spend the extra money on a buying paid Internet advertising. It allows you to offer your products and services at a lower price than your competition. You can afford to get the higher priced goods and services to compete on the internet.

There are numerous ways to find barter deals online. Set up a barter message board or chat room on your web site to get more barter offers. Note on your web site or ezine you are willing to barter for goods and services. Join newsgroups or email discussion groups that are about bartering. Join an online barter club to meet other businesses that barter. Find web sites that barter by looking up the keywords barter, trade, or swap in your search engine of choice.

There are a few things you should do before bartering. Compile a list of your goods and services you are willing to barter. Make a list of goods and services you need or want for your online business. Know the approximate cash value of the things you are trying to trade and the value of the things you are seeking in return. All of this information can help you negotiate a successful barter deal.

When proposing a barter offer, tell the person the benefits of the barter deal. Explain to them why it would be a win/win situation. Give their business many compliments in your proposal. Prove to them why it would be a fair trade. This type of proposal can increase your chances of them saying "Yes, I will barter".

Regards
Roger Mayne
Swiftdeal

How To Increase Your Online Sales Anytime

Hold a discount sale on your web site. Use the sale to get rid of excess inventory, gain new or repeat customers, and increase your sales. Most businesses pick a theme for their sale, like a Halloween Sale. Below are six unique sales themes you could use:

Nobody's Visiting Today Sale

Every online business has low visitor and sales day through the week. My days are Tuesdays and Thursdays. You could sell your products or services for cheaper to increase and sales on your slow days. You could have this advertised right on your web site.

Time Of The Day Sale

Periodically , pick out a time of the day like 5 to 7 pm to lower your prices. With online sales you need tell people the time zone. Announce your scheduled times ahead of time in your ezine. This will give people enough time to plan when they will visit your web site.

Product Or Service Of The Day Sale

Each day offer different product or service at a lower price. This will draw people back to your web site everyday. This is a high traffic generating sale. If you don't have a lot of products and services you may want to run the sale weekly or monthly.

Niche Group Sale

Hold a sale for a niche groups of people. Students, senior citizens, single people etc. This really works if your introducing a new product or service for the first time to a new target audience. Announce your sale in a targeted ezine, email discussion groups, message boards, etc.

Holiday Or Seasonal Sale

Offer lower prices on holidays and during seasonal changes. These type of sales let your visitors and customers know your no scrooge. Be creative and go as far as decorating your web site. You could upload holiday and seasonal graphics. Change the color of your text to match. Get in the
spirit!

Get More For Your Money Sale

Give customers more products or services for their money. People relate these kind of sales to getting a bargain or saving money. You could offer a buy one get one for half off sale, a buy two get the third one free, two for the price of one sale, etc.

Regards
Roger Mayne
Swiftdeal

How To Eliminate Your Competition Without Bloodshed

So how do you eliminate your competition without bloodshed? You must create a niche for your business. A niche is something that makes your business different from your competitors. To compete with other businesses nowadays (especially online) you need something that nobody else can copy. One of a kind!

First you must know who your competitors are. Is your business the only one of its type? I doubt it. If so, it won't be for long. Do you know your exact target audience? If not, you will have to find out this information before creating any kind of niche. Below are two ways to come up with a competition eliminating niche.

1. Just Ask! The first way to come up with a niche is to think like your target audience or customers. Know their exact needs, wants, goals, problems and interests. There're two ways to do this: The first way is to put yourself in their shoes, think like them. The second way is to give them polls and surveys to find out what they're thinking. Pick a niche that none of your competitors are using. If you can't find one that your competitors aren't using pick one to improve.

2. Just Think! The second way to come up with a niche is to use your brain power. Ask yourself questions like: How can I set myself apart from my competition? What could I offer that they can't? Imagine or daydream that your business is on top of all your competitors. What niche put your business at the top in your head? Now, if you keep asking these questions your mind will eventually start shooting out more ideas than you can handle. One of those ideas may be the niche you're searching for.

Now that you have your niche that's just half the battle. You must test it. Does your niche appeal to your target audience? Will it attract people away from your competition? If it does, you're done, until your competition comes up with a better niche. If your niche doesn't, than repeat the process above and test a new niche until it works. If you want to eliminate your competition and be successful you will use this process several times in your business life.

Regards
Roger Mayne
Swiftdeal

Cross Promote Online For Maximum Profits

Cross promoting is when two or more businesses promote their products or services together. I try to find businesses that have the same target audience, but are not in direct competition with my business. Doing cross promotions with other businesses increases your profits, sales, and beat your competition.

You can find businesses to cross promote all over the Internet. Participate in email discussion groups, online forums and newsgroups that deal with your target audience. Subscribe to ezines that deal with your targeted audience. Note on your Web site or ezine that you are interested in cross promoting your products and services. Search in your favorite web directories and search engines to find targeted businesses.

Cross promoting has many benefits. Save money by sharing the advertising and marketing costs. Save time when both businesses share the workload. You can offer your customers new products and services. Get referrals from the other business' clients. Receive valuable information from the business.

Once you find a business you would like to cross promote with simply email them your proposal. Tell the business owner the benefits of the cross promotion. Explain to him or her why it would be a win/win situation for both of your businesses. Give them a lot of compliments about their business, Web site, products and services. Using all three methods above will greater your chance for a profitable cross promotion. Good Luck!

Regards
Roger Mayne
Swiftdeal

Build A Successful Business By Staying Connected

Over the course of your business life you'll come in contact with a number of other business people. They could be lawyers, business services, suppliers, customers, etc. These people are important to your business in more ways than one. If you hired them or they bought your
product or service, you can also gain their business knowledge, experience, ideas, and advice.

How do you do this? Stay Connected! Network! Networking is when two or more different businesses stay in contact on a regular basis to build and improve each others business.

Consider all the benefits you'll gain from talking to other business people:

Knowledge or information that you didn't have before
Advice on how to solve a current business problem
Leads to a new business project or opportunity
Joint ventures and cross promotion deals
Learn important skills that you didn't have before
Constructive criticism that improved your business
Brainstorming that sparks a profitable business idea
Encouraging and motivational statements

There are many ways to meet business people. Join business clubs and associations. Participate in on-line business-related forums, email discussion groups, and chat rooms. Go to business expos and trade shows.

Use your creativity to come up with even more ideas.

If you have the time, start your own networking group. You could hold meetings at a local seminar room, at a park , or at your own business building. If you want to hold meetings on-line use a private chat room. Publish a print or email newsletter to keep members informed of meeting time and dates.

Keep all your business associates' contact information all in one place. Have it organized by business type or profession for easy finding. So when you need some advice on a new marketing campaign you can call that marketing expert you met at that trade show in Ohio a couple of weeks ago.

Networking is a surefire way to build a successful business. I have used it countless times and will continue too. I have also met a lot of business people who are now some of my closest friends.

Regards
Roger Mayne
Swiftdeal

9 Sure-Fire Ways To Increase Your Ezine's Readership!

You Have Won!

Hold an ongoing prize drawing in your ezine. The prizes should be something of interest or value to your subscribers. Most people who enter will continually read each issue for the results.

100% Original

Give your subscribers content they can't read anywhere else. I'm not saying all your content has to be 100% original, but a portion of your ezine should have original information. People will usually read information they haven't read before.

Was I Right?

Give your subscribers a quiz or a series of trivia questions. Publish the correct answers in your following issue. The people who participate will want to see if they were right.

Read All About It!

Supply news stories related to your ezine's topic. People want current and up-to-date news. If you can be their first source, they will become loyal readers.

The Polls Are In!

Hold an interactive poll in your ezine. Ask subscribers a poll question. Have them email their vote or opinion. People love to give their 2 cents worth. They would also like to read the results in your next issue.

Become A Jester :)

Give your subscribers a little humor now and then. Don't be so serious, tell them a joke. If they associate your ezine with being happy they will want to read every issue.

The Information Free-way

People love to get free stuff. Tell readers were to get free stuff online or offline. It could be software, services, sample products, e-books etc. The freebies should be related to your ezine's topic. Keep the freebies coming and your subscribers will keep reading!

Mini-Yahoo

Tell your subscribers about Web sites related to your ezine's topic. The web sites should be interesting and helpful. Become your readers miniature "Yahoo", you know how many readers they get.

In Our Next Issue...

Get your subscribers excited about your next issue. Tell them about upcoming articles, prize drawings, freebies etc. If they know what's in store for them, they won't want to miss reading
your next issue.

Regards
Roger Mayne
Swiftdeal