by Dr. Jeffrey Lant
Do you own a business with walk-in traffic? Then
you’re sitting on a gold mine of mammoth
proportions. All you have to do is gather customer
names and email addresses… then get organized
so you can contact — and profit from — your hot list
on a regular basis.
1) Start collecting customer data at once
As I have pointed out for years, “the list is the
business…and the business is the list.” Start
building this all-important list TODAY.
Make it a point to ask ALL your customers
for name, address, phone and e-mail address.
If you have employees, make sure they
realize the importance of the list. Show them
how to request this information from all
customers, thus:
“Mr. Smith, would you like to receive e-mails
from us with tremendous discount offers?
Just fill out this brief form or give me your
card with e-mail address.”
Add this information to your list at the
end of every day. Be consistent!
2) Start brainstorming hot offers today.
For your special “alert” list to work, you must
present scintillating offers. Start collecting them
now.
Open a computer file and enter all your sales
offers, always concentrating on what made
money. Squeezing the most dollars from your
list is a direct function of making offers that
get your customers to stop in their tracks
and head your way!
Don’t hesitate to “swipe” offers from other
media sources. Your offer need not be original
to you. It just has to pull.
3) Develop a format.
Start with the subject line. It should read
something like this: ANOTHER great offer from
(your name). Expires 5 p.m. today… so don’t
delay!”
Then entice!
“Just in… the most delicious golden pears
you’ve ever tasted. Prepare to pamper yourself…
but act NOW. We only have a few! Drop by now..
and indulge yourself!”
4) Unless you ship as part of your current
business routine, make sure recipients understand
this is an in-store offer only.
You have twin goals here: first, you do NOT
want to increase your work load by starting
a shipping department; second, you want to
increase your in-store traffic and resulting
sales that come when customers drop in.
5) E-mail your offer at a regular time
Your goal, remember, is to increase in-store
traffic and sales. Thus, e-mail your bulletin
about 1 hour before you’re open. That way
you’ll have customers at the door right away…
just what you want.
6) E-mail your list at least once a week.
E-mailing regularly is key to your success.
Select a day for your e-mail special offer
and adhere to it religiously.
But don’t hesitate to e-mail two or even three
times a week if you are announcing great
offers and value. Value and great offers
determine how often you should contact
your list. Customers will be glad you contacted
them… if the value warrants.
7) Track the offers that work… and the
ones that don’t.
Over time you’ll develop a cornucopia of
proven money-makers which you can profit
from while merely copying, pasting and
updating. In short fast, easy money, just
the kind you like!
Have fun with your list — and your
customers
Business is about relationships. About
knowing your customers and them knowing
you. Use your “alert” list to do both.
Have in-house drawings… and announce
the winners.
Compliment a customer on a stunning outfit…
or a stunning smile.
Share a joke, a quip, a thoughtful line.
It’s your personal messenger… have fun with it
while you’re making sale after sale.
About The Author
Harvard-educated Dr. Jeffrey Lant is CEO of
Worldprofit, Inc., www.worldprofit.com where
small and home-based businesses learn how to
profit online. Attend Dr. Lant’s live webcast
TODAY and receive 50,000 free guaranteed
visitors to the website of your choice! For details
on Dr. Lant’s 18 best-selling business books,
go to www.jeffreylant.com
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