11.05.06
Posted in General at 4:16 pm by Livvie
Follow up contacts are by far much easier to initiate than cold calling due to the fact the people you are contacting already know or have heard about you from the initial contacts made. This means:
1) You aren’t having to spend as much time to initiate the contact
2) You already are known by the business/person you are contacting
3) Your name is in front of them again if they need you
4) Each contact is another step in building and strengthening your relationship with the person you are reaching
Make sure when you are making either initial or follow up contact that if someone asks you to follow up at a certain time, you make a note on your calendar, in MS Outlook , or wherever you keep your appoitnments, especially if these people ask you to “touch back with them in a couple of months” if you hadn’t heard from them. Then make sure you contact them at the appointed time. I’ve had contacts that actually thanked me for remembering to contact them!
Key lession to learn: Initial contacts are needed obviously, however follow up contacts can offer even greater rewards!
Keep up the contacts!
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09.11.06
Posted in General at 12:15 am by Livvie
September 11, 2006 marks the 5 year anniversary since September 11, 2001. We all have memories that come rushing back to that eventful day and that exact moment, myself included.
My daughter, Stacey, and a friend of hers were in NYC that day. It was her first trip to NY, she had been there 5 days and was to board the airplane at 6:30 the evening of September 11 returning home to Charlotte, NC. It didn’t happen that way.
Stacey was only 30 blocks away from the WTC when all this took place but didn’t know anything had happened! Although she heard sirens, she said that wasn’t anything unusual in NYC, but what she couldn’t understand was why her cell phone wasn’t working…indoors or outdoors, as she tried to retrieve the message she had on the phone.
The message she was trying to retrieve was the message I had left, trying desperately to locate her and make sure she was all right. I knew in Charlotte, NC before she knew, 30 blocks away from the WTC….what had happened!
From Tuesday morning until Friday morning, when she and her friend rented a car and left NY in the wee hours of the morning were very difficult hours.
Stacey and her friend who lives in Florida, arrived home Friday evening around 6:30 PM, their lives changed forever.
Time has passed and now 5 years later much healing has occurred. Stacey still has a problem at times when she sees low flying airplaines and has a special place in her heart for the people who’s lives were forever changed that day.
God, who is the Great Physician and Healer, in His infinite wisdom has allowed time to heal.
We are so blessed! Our loved one returned unharmed, for the most part, from the eventful day 5 years ago, but many families and friends were not as fortunate.
As we view the memorial programs and read the articles related to September 11, 2001, please take a few moments and remember those families and individuals whose lives were forever changed by…… A Moment In Time.
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08.11.06
Posted in General at 3:03 pm by Livvie
Even though cold calling sends shivers down some spines and cause some to break out into cold sweats, it really does work.
In Peter Bowerman’s Well Fed Writer: Back For Seconds cold calling is a subject he endorses extensively due to it’s “law of averages” for success.
Granted you must be making, as Bowerman puts it, “….a TON” of calls for the averages to work, but the point is, it works!
The beauty part of it is you are just saying a 20 second message and it’s amazing how receptive the prospects can be to receiving the calls. The more you call, state your message and move on to the next call, the more proficient you become in delivering your message.
Now how about it? Go ahead–pick up that phone and see how many people are glad you took the time to contact them! How will you know??? YOUR phone will be ringing with inquiries in no time.
Happy Calling!
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07.31.06
Posted in General at 8:38 am by Livvie
I know many writers have a problem making cold calls and would rather go to the dentist for a root canal than make the calls.
For me, the cold calls are very easy. This is because coming from a dental front office background I made confirmation calls to confirm dental appointments everyday for years.
One of the easiest ways to make cold calls is to have a short 15 - 20 second message (script) stating the purpose of your call. I have two scripts, one for actually speaking with the contact and one for leaving a message on their voice mail.
In both scripts I reference my web site www.WriteBusiness.net for them to be able to see samples, a brochure and more information.
When creating your script write as though you were writing it for a client…present the value and benefit to the prospect and sell your services. You can do this.
Have your list of people ready that you will be contacting. This can be a list using the Yellow Pages, the Book of Lists, or a list you have created from gathering prospects. For example using the Yellow Pages, you may be contacting Graphic Designers. When the person answers the phone, introduce yourself and begin reading your quick script. If the person is interested in seeing your work ask for their e-mail address that you may send them the link to your website. Then send the information to them immediately after ending the call.
Make sure you set up a way to manage the information for those you contact, those you actually spoke with, the ones requesting additional information, and those you leave a voice mail. Record any names given and make sure you use their name in any additional contact made or sent. Be personable and remember you are building relationships starting with these initial contacts.
During those first 2 weeks you will also do warm follow-up calls or e-mails to prospects you previously contacted and those you sent requested additional information. Working the cold calls and warm follow-ups will allow you to see what type of responses both bring.
So with that said…let’s get those phones to ringing!
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07.30.06
Posted in Articles at 5:20 pm by Livvie
First there was the fax-on-demand…information received
instantly by using a fax machine. Then the Internet evolved
into the use of e-mail, producing email-on-demand with the
use of autoresponders.
An autoresponder is just what the name implies. It is an auto response that is programmed to automatically deliver a specific message upon receiving the request.
Autoresponders allow your business to be operational around the clock 24 hours a day - 7days a week - 365 days a year. A good example is the Customer Service link provided on so many web sites.
Once you have sent your question or comment to the Customer Service link, you receive an auto-reply message acknowledging receipt of your message.
Autoresponder messages can by used in a variety of ways
delivering your strategic information instantly to your targeted
viewer /audience. Newsletters, sales information, free reports,
even ecourses, articles and tutorials are just a few of the ways
autoresponders can be used effectively.
Follow up is critical to keeping your name, service or product in front of your prospects and clients. Autoresponders allow you to deliver your follow up messages automatically, specifically, and most importantly…timely, to your target audience!
Most all of us are familiar with signing up to receive news about impending sales or discounted items automatically from retail stores. Our e-mail address is entered into their mailing list and the requested information is automatically sent right back using an autoresponder.
But are you aware you too can send pre-determined messages with specific information related to your business, to your prospects and /or clients at pre-set intervals?
For example, let’s say a prospect, client or customer visited your web site and responds to a link on your site to receive more information on your services or products.
Immediately your first autoresponse message goes out thanking them for expressing an interest and giving them the basics on your services or products and any other information in their initial request.
A couple of days later your 2nd message automatically goes out. This is the perfect time to let them know about who you are, your experience, and what you do…your credentials and area of expertise.
A few days later (don’t wait too long), your 3rd message automatically goes out. This could be testimonials and feedback from clients or customers stating the positive experiences they have had as a result of doing business with you. This will associate value with your services.
A couple of days later your 4th message goes out with maybe a free offer, a free bonus, article, special report, or specific tips related to your services or products. If you have an online newsletter (ezine) this is an excellent time to offer a link to your free subscribe area.
Your 5th message could be your final (pitch) response message. Offer any additional products or services you may have that would be of benefit (solve their problem) to your client or customer. Usually by about the 4th or 5th message you have a new client or customer.
The number of messages sent is entirely up to you based on the information you are delivering. If you are offering a tutorial or an e-course for example there could be message for up to 6 weeks or longer. I recently subscribed to receive 89 messages (one a day for 89 days) on a specific subject.
A good impression to ending your response messages, and one more time your name is in front of your audience, is a short survey asking for feedback on your services or your products. This is an excellent way to receive testimonies for use on your web site or other marketing materials.
Using the above example, you can see how autoresponders keep your name and your specific information in front of your targeted prospects, clients, and customers making the critical follow up as easy as (message) 1, 2, 3.
For those of you interested in creating the autoresponder messages yourself for your business, here are the addresses of a few of the most widely used autoresponders:
www.getresponse.com,
www.sendfree.com,
www.aweber.com,
www.responders.com,
www.autoresponders.org,
www.freeautobot.com,
As you can see, having your business on auto pilot using an autoresponder means your time can be better spent marketing your business, creating new services or products (increasing your revenue), or enjoying more quality time with family and friends.
Autoresponders allow you to conduct this critical follow up part of your business to your targeted audience continuously and automatically with little upkeep on your part….allowing you to say, yes, your business IS on Auto-Pilot!
Please feel free to publish this article on your web site, blog and/or in your e-book or newsletters with the authors resource box included and without any changes to the article.
_________________
Livvie Matthews is an Internet and off-line professional freelance copywriter helping large and small businesses enhance their image and increase their bottom line through creative writing services. Whether it’s marketing brochures, web site content, Americanized content or newsletters, Livvie can meet your challenges and communicate your strategic message. Visit http://www.WriteBusiness.net or livvie@writebusiness.net
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Posted in Articles at 4:32 pm by Livvie
Symptom: You want to be a writer, you’ve written several articles, but just n-o-t quite the way you want them. It needs a little more….
Symptom: You want to start a web site, you have finished designing the layout, but just n-o-t quite ready to publish. You need to check on……
Symptom: You have decided on starting your own business, you have everything in place, but just n-o-t quite ready to “open”. There’s one more…..
Diagnosis: ……Paralysis Of Analysis!
I know from personal experience just how this feels. I have had so many ideas, good ideas, but just when it came down to the final step….I needed to “add this” or “change that”, or “just tweak it a little more”.
I “tweaked” it until I tweaked it out! It was never quite right. The result was, it never got completed.
A perfect example is I could have been on the Internet eight years ago, even six years ago, but I managed to “analyze” myself right out of it.
Until I “published” my first website BizyBodies.com, and started my first ezine, BizyBodies.com Ezine, I had only completed three things in my life….Sandra, Susan, and Stacey……my three daughters!
We are of the opinion it has to be “perfect” before we can actually begin whatever it is we are trying to do.
We are stopped because we analyze this, and we analyze that, then….we analyze the analysis. By that time we have contracted…..Paralysis Of Analysis.
So what can you do to get the “feeling” back? To coin a phrase…..”Just do it”!…..It doesn’t have to be perfect. In fact, it won’t ever be…perfect.
The term Ready, Aim, Fire comes to mind, however sometimes we need to…. Ready, FIRE, and then Aim. The point is to move yourself forward. You can always go back and make changes, fine tune it, …..”tweak” it. That comes from gaining knowledge and experience.
Now write that article, submit it…design that web site, publish it…research that business, open it…then go back and “tweak” it.
The fact you are reading this “published” (completed) article is a step on the road to recovery which means, I no longer suffer from…..The Paralysis of Analysis!
Please feel free to publish this article on your web site, blog and/or in your e-book or newsletters with the authors resource box included and without any changes to the article.
___________________
Livvie Matthews is an Internet and off-line professional freelance copywriter helping large and small businesses enhance their image and increase their bottom line through creative writing services. Whether it’s marketing brochures, web site content, Americanized content or newsletters, Livvie can meet your challenges and communicate your strategic message. Visit http://www.WriteBusiness.net or livvie@writebusiness.net
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07.24.06
Posted in General at 9:34 am by Livvie
Welcome to our new online Blog site. Here we will be discussing marketing, blogging, and all aspects writing. We will also share learning and implementing new skills while we fine tune current skills as we grow your business.
Zig Ziglar said:
You can get anything you want, if you help enough other people get what they want.
No matter where you are with your business, start-up, intermediate, or well established we hope you will find this blog to be a valuable resource and a place you will continue to visit and even contribute.
This blog will be an ongoing work in process. Check back often for articles, reviews, techniques and other updates.
“As always, I invite your inquiries and comments. They are always welcome. Just click here and start typing away.”
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