Growing a business requires more time and energy than most entrepreneurs have left at the end of the day. But if you don’t spend time on marketing, follow-up, etc., your business won’t grow beyond what it is right now. Fortunately, if you have a web site, you can put it to work doing much of the work for you. Here’s how.
I hear it all the time from clients and contacts… most entrepreneurs don’t have time to do any more sales, marketing or follow up. They’re so busy working in their business they don’t have time to work on it. And they probably couldn’t handle any extra business even if it did come their way.
These days it takes far longer to get a client or make a sale than it used to. You have to build that know, like and trust factor before people are going to invest with you. So this trend really worries me.
Because if you don’t devote enough time and energy to tasks that grow your business–like sales, marketing and follow up–it’s going to stay just like it is right now.
If you’re satisfied with that, congratulations! If not, then you need to take action and make changes. You’ve got to actively be doing sales and marketing daily.
When you’re an overworked, overwhelmed entrepreneur, the best way to do that is to turn your web site into a 24/7 salesperson. Because these days your web site is likely the single most important place to invest your time and marketing dollar–especially if you’re doing any social networking or online marketing.
Here are seven solid reasons why…
1) Powerful Introductions
Let’s face it, people don’t buy from businesses. They buy from people they know, like and trust. Unless you are selling something really inexpensive, most folks are not going to pony up their hard-earned cash without learning a bit more first.
You could let people learn more by scheduling endless phone calls, coffee meetings and free consultations.
Or, you could just send them to your web site and let it do the job for you.
2) Draw in the Crowds
Once you get the word out about your web site via social networking and other marketing–as long as you have something of value to offer and it’s designed right–new visitors are going to refer others to it.
Then your site can introduce you, and your products or services, to a wider audience in a way that weeds out the tire kickers. All without you lifting a finger. And it works whether your market is local, national or global.
Of course, you have to have an effective web site or all those new site visitors are going to disappear as fast as they showed up.
3) Make Sales Without Selling
If you hate selling, why not let your web site do it for you?
When it’s written and organized right, your web site can:
- Set you apart from your competition
- Explain the benefits of buying your products, services or programs
- Answer your prospects questions
- Address their objections
- Weed out the tire kickers
- And convince them to take action by calling, signing up, or whipping out their credit card and buying right now!
The result? You get an email in your Inbox letting you know you made a sale or got a new subscriber. Or, if you actually end up talking to them personally, they’re seriously interested in buying from–or hiring–you. No selling needed. So you waste less time on folks who aren’t your ideal client anyway.
4) Give ‘Em a Taste
I love cheese, but I’m not one to spend more than a few bucks a pound to satisfy my dairy tooth–unless I happen to get a sampling of something really yummy. Then suddenly I can justify the higher price.
The same holds true with products and services.
Most people won’t buy something that costs more than about $75 on the Web unless they already know and trust you.
But let them sample the wares with a free report or download, then stay in touch via an ezine, and it’s a whole ‘nother story. If you give them something of value, and they like it, they’ll be way more inclined to actually buy.
And your web site can handle the whole process automatically–if you plan it out properly.
5) Build Your List
The real value in any small business is in the list. First, because a list gives you a group of prospects to communicate with who’ve already said they’re interested in what you do or sell.
Second, having a list allows you to build a relationship with prospects over time. So they have a chance to get to know, like and trust you. And so you’re top of mind when they are ready to buy.
And the easiest way to build this oh-so-valuable list is with your web site.
Because you may only personally meet 100 or so prospects a year. But hundreds, or even thousands, can stop by your web site each month.
Over time, if you keep offering value–and capturing their email addresses–people will go from being prospects, to clients, to raving fans.
You can’t beat that with a stick!
6) Deliver the Goods
How would you like to sell a product that requires minimal development costs, no packaging, no shipping, no distribution and no employees to manage?
Your web site can be a completely automated store for selling both print and electronic products and services 24/7–without you lifting a finger once it’s set up. Easy for you. Easy for your clients and customers. Good for everyone.
7) Establish You as the Expert
The right web site can make you look like the expert you are, helping convince people to invest their hard-earned dollars with you. Not to mention helping you land speaking engagements and PR opportunities. And allowing you to charge top dollar.
All you need is powerful content organized properly…Including your very own downloadable freebie that highlights your expertise, and maybe a blog.
Before you know it opportunities will start knocking.
The best part is…Chances are good you just need to make a few tweaks and changes to turn your current site into a top-notch salesperson working for you 24/7. Once your web site has the right look, organization and content (and a bit of marketing behind it), it can do truly amazing things for your business.
And you don’t even have to learn how to set all this up yourself. You just have to understand what needs to be done and make a plan. Then hire someone to do the time-consuming, technical and complicated work for you.
