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Direct Response Marketing and The Marketing FunnelDirect Response Marketing

Every network marketer is continually looking to build networks within networks and direct response marketing is process for building them. This principle is logically sound because people are more productive working with people who share similar passions.

Whether those efforts are based on a new product release or a completely new business venture they’re reflected in a marketing funnel of any size and at any level.

At the top of our marketing funnel we’re looking for people who are interested in the online business world. That’s a broad niche but a niche nonetheless because everyone we find on the internet isn’t interested in doing business there.

Direct Response Marketing and Niche Marketing

Permission based marketing is accomplished when people choose to be courted as a lead or prospect. Direct response marketing begins before an individual first decides to be courted and continues until they sever the relationship.

The broadest niche is usually filled from responses to online content or ads at which point they become leads. Network marketing depends upon a steady flow of these leads even though many of them never buy or join your business.

The next response either through phone or email will determine if a lead becomes part of a smaller network or not. This process is the same if your lead list is 100 or 10,000 and continues as long as you have something new to offer (which in well developed funnels can be endless).

New Offers – Direct Response Marketing to your Existing Network

In the same way you would build a smaller network from a larger network, you would present new offers to appropriate networks. Sales and business building should always follow the response back to an offer and be directed to just those who welcome that courtship.

A gentleman used to ask permission from a lady’s parents and then the lady herself prior to courting her. Even if he’s the prince protocol must be maintained.

The quickest way to dissolve a network is to pitch them endlessly about every little thing you or some affiliate has available. Always asking permission at every stage of the marketing funnel engages the decision making process of your prospects; true leaders are also decision makers.

Teaching and Training – Direct Response Marketing and Leadership

Here’s another principle related to network marketing. Every network marketer leads a team of leaders.

Leadership is always a high priority for teaching and training. Everyone in the network knows how they arrived there and what is required of them provided they were engaged in the direct response marketing process.

Knowing why the process is important also helps preserve the integrity of the network. Learning how direct response marking works is far easier when you were a willing participant in that process, and easier to teach others as well.

Comments and questions are always encouraged. Thanks in advance for sharing.

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Do Software Engineers Contribute To Technophobia?dealing with technophobia

September doesn’t just mean back to school for the kids, most of the professional world will be dealing with the learning curve and the technophobia introduced by computer programmers and web designers for the last quarter of the year.

While I understand the need for fresh looks and innovative ideas, finding an engineer that respects familiarity as it relates to practicality is a rarity. When you’re the middle man between non-technical folk and the engineers who seem to be reinventing the wheel you develop a deeper appreciation for why people are afraid of technology.

I’m tired of hearing all about Facebook from journalists who are busy quoting the users who’ve made that social network what it is today. If I want to know how disgusted people are with the changes all I have to do is log in.

Changes Require Training

In the professional world upgrades usually require training at some level. I’ve sat in many classes alongside the engineers responsible for administration listening to intelligent questions about the design.

From the top down unless changes are explained adequately the end result will be frustration. From the bottom up the average user looks at the situation with some degree of fear and with the right amount of education they’ll work their way up to frustration.

Consumer based applications for example may roll out upgrades every year or two and the manuals are usually just as big for each revision. Other products may include the tech guides along with the software or on a related website.

User Friendly Competition

While I still speak to people who yearn for the old days where everything was done with paper and pencil they don’t really have to think long about how impractical that would be to their job or business. As long as they can confidently manipulate the tools, technology will enhance their capability.

Computers and the software we use are primarily intended to allow us to do more than we should be capable of doing. Software engineers must balance how well their product performs a certain function and how easy or enjoyable users find it.

Technology has exploded the ‘How To’ industry and finding answers is faster than ever before thanks to the internet. The internet also introduces alternatives for business owners who are tired of fighting with an application that just doesn’t measure up to their expectations.

‘I’m Just Not Technical’

For tech support professionals that statement is a red flag meaning even if you go slow and avoid tech-speak they still won’t get it. Fear is one of the most debilitating emotions humans have to deal with and although it’s usually irrational, it’s always real.

My fear of indoor plumbing repair has more to do with my lack of desire than the expectation that things will go terribly wrong. People that are afraid of technology in all likelihood have had something go terribly wrong and justify their fears that it will happen again.

Professional plumbers laugh and tell stories about horrible experiences they’ve had. Tech support professionals post their horror stories online. When those experiences become common they lose the fear factor.

Taking Responsibility

While it’s easy to blame software engineers for making our lives miserable because we can’t do what we used to be able to do before the upgrade, they certainly don’t want to instill fear. Since productivity is so easily measured these days most companies that are producing software focus on the usability of their product.

It isn’t necessary to have group therapy for everyone suffering from technophobia, unless that therapy includes some practical training. Discovering how to overcome technophobia isn’t that complicated providing you maintain a teachable spirit.

If the tools you’re working with are bringing the level of success you expect, don’t try to fix it. If you must upgrade, educate yourself first to avoid technophobia. The monster in your computer isn’t scary when you know it before it gets there.

One of the primary reasons for creating FreeOnlineHomeBusinessTraining.com was to help people deal with Technophobia. We’re constantly reaching out to people at that site and on our Facebook Page. Please let us know where you’d like more help and we’ll get that information out as fast as possible because if you’re having trouble with it, others are as well.

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What Local Business Owners Discover When Advertising Online

Old school advertising methods still work for some but increasingly we find advertising online has a much greater impact for local business owners. I’m always impressed when a local contractor not only recognizes the differences in ROI between print and online advertising, but also takes the time to track results.

I spend a lot of time with network marketers or web based business owners who basically drive the demand for improvements to tracking online results. From a marketing perspective it really doesn’t matter where you invest your advertising dollar as long as you know exactly how well your ad campaigns are performing.

The potential to drill down to a well defined niche target and not waste money speaking to an audience you can’t possibly serve is why internet marketing beats print or public media advertising for cost effectiveness.

Advertising Online with Social Media

I don’t expect seasoned plumbers or electricians to have the same working knowledge of social media advertising. As long as they’ve experienced the potential of an ‘Adwords’ campaign they’re essentially predisposed to jumping into the deep end.

For most small business owners who service a local clientele the social media campaign can be managed in just a few hours a week. A family member or administrator can spend about 15 to 20 minutes a day updating, responding and sharing.

While hiring a social media manager may not be obtainable for all small businesses, the skills can be mastered by anyone. Most people already know how spread news online and the menus for placing ads in social media are as friendly as the platform itself.

SEO vs. The Chamber of Commerce – or – Advertising Online vs. Print Ads

Depending upon the business you’re looking to attract, joining your local chamber may be a good idea.

Businesses typically trust chamber members but these days the local chamber can be full of competition. Everyone has the opportunity to place their ads in the chamber’s directory but anyone who wants more information is going to find it online.

SEO is important for your online business world as it relates to being found according to the relevance of your site or other online content. Advertising online through SEO is usually considered free, although there is work involved. For local businesses most of that SEO effort is focused on location.

Advertising Online as a Fully Branded Entity

Recognition and reputation go hand in hand. Comments, recommendations and reviews drive interest.

What people are saying about you on the street defines your brand in the real world. What they say about you online defines your brand in the online business world.

Advertising online isn’t just about making a connection between the person who clicks your ad and your local business. It’s also about sharing your brand with them in a way that allows them to share it with the rest of their online world.

If you’re a local or traditional business owner with results or insight you’d like to share about advertising online we welcome your input. For practical help with every aspect of doing business online please visit ‘Free Online Home Business Training’ to discover how to apply the techniques used by home business owners for your traditional business.

Advertising Online for Local Businesses

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