Posts Tagged ‘internet business secrets’

I review a LOT of websites, offers, ezines, products, businesses and on and on when it comes to Internet Marketing (most NOT in the Make Money Online niche).

I haven’t seen enough marketers start to “let go” of their businesses yet.  And this mindset will slowly begin to erode the “shell” you’ve hidden behind in your business…then kill that business in the next 3 to 10 years, guaranteed.

What do I mean?

Well, it’s a deep concept usually reserved for my coaching clients…but I will attempt to give the “bird’s eye view” here in this post.  And before you dismiss this as simple, or not applicable to you, you need to think of 2 questions first:

1)  Am I really conducting business this way?

2)  Am I sure this doesn’t apply to me?

Onward.

“Letting go” of your online business means, in simple terms, that you don’t have anything involved in your business processes or marketing that give the impression you want to take control away from the visitors, prospects, or customers/clients that help you grow that business (notice I didn’t say “your customers” because they aren’t yours or mine…they’re people).

And that means you have nothing that gives that impression.

Here’s a list of concepts that help you “let go”:

• Transparency.

This means your business and your activities aren’t hidden behind your monitor.  That’s right, people are going to eventually quit doing business with people they can’t see everything about.  For those of you who think hiding behind an anonymous name on chat boards and forums is “cool” and thinking that you can do business that way, well, you’re done.

• Risk Reversal (real risk reversal, not the wimpy kind).

True risk reversal involves a “more than solid” guarantee of your product or service.  Instead of wimpy “30-day” guarantees…try a 12 month double your money back if this doesn’t work guarantee. Your sales will go up, your refund rates might too, but not as much as your sales.  In some cases, your refund rate doesn’t go up, it goes down.  Let that sink into your head for a minute.

• Putting yourself out there (in promotions, not related to transparency).

Are you afraid of putting yourself out there?  Afraid of adding some controversy to this mix?  So long as your doing things legally, ethically, and morally…you should be fine.  So get your promos where people will see them!

• Policies and service that are totally in favor of the people who give you money. (who gives a &*&*& if they buy a digital product from you, get a refund, then keep the product.  Products and ideas are a dime a friggin’ dozen…so make a new one).

If people work up the trust to buy from you, or become a lifelong customer, what are you going to do to keep earning that trust?  Yeah, yeah, there are some crappy customers out there who might scam you…but it’s the smaller percentage (less than 2%)…so really, what are you going to focus on?  The 2% who aren’t honest and won’t make you money?  Or the 98% who are honest and will make you a TON of moolah (if you work hard to keep that trust)?

• Delivering on your promises when people give you their hard-earned money.

There are a few “big” “goo-roo” companies in the “make money online” niche that have made hefty promises with newsletter offers and such, then failed to deliver (I’ve tested them all, and only ONE actually met all of the promises they made).

If you have a product to deliver, deliver it BEFORE you bill the next month’s payment (and yes, you can…there’s NO excuses here).  If you make a promise to a customer, honor it…period.

And…

If a client/customer wants a refund or needs something to take care of them, do it…without question.  If you feel you’re being taken advantage of, refund their money and move on to people who will do business fairly with you.  Just remember that’s a 2-way street…not just a one-way street.

Your refund policies mean nothing to the customer, and while that may sound like a BIG, fat wrong thing to you…you’d better get used to it and just take care of them, even when it seems like they’re being idiots.

• Participating in Social Media.

This is a big one, letting go of your business also means participating in it…as social media will take a larger and larger role in the growth of businesses both online and offline in the near future.

Quit hiding behind your monitor, and talk to people.  This is an interactive medium, not a one-way communication tool.

There’s obviously way more I could add to this DEEP subject, but this should give you a start towards thinking about “letting go” of your online business.

And obviously, I’m not perfect in a couple of these areas myself, but I have plans to improve my shortcomings NOW…because I realize the survival of my businesses will depend on it.

The survival of your online business will depend on it as well…so get to it!  Start to “let go” right now. And don’t give me some “wimpy-wad” excuse why you can’t…you can.

Until the next time we look in the mirror together,

Joseph Ratliff

P.S. I’m at work on the first of my “manifestos”, titled “Rules, What Rules?”…which is a guide to empowering you to live life and build your business the way you want to, because there aren’t “rules” that govern how you should do that.

It should be completed within the next 60 days or sooner.

You know…

That feeling you get when you get ready to take on something big, try something new and exciting, start another business etc…

You get this tight feeling in your arms and chest, your breathing seems to be more rapid, and various thoughts of “Can I really do this?” start swimming in your mind.

This feeling seems to be pulling you back. Back to where everything is comfortable.

Is this a bad feeling to have?

Nope.

This feeling comes from the fear of the “unknown.” And it is actually a good feeling to have.

Here is personal example from my own “pulling feelings”:

Back in my last days of working in the retail field (a long time ago now)…I was thinking to myself…

“Self, can I really start educating business owners on how to market their businesses?

I mean, I am nobody when it comes to being recognized as an authority in marketing, my credibility is close to zero with few clients yet, and what happens if the money runs out?

How do I support my family?”

Man…I am thankful for that “pulling” feeling. I am thankful because that feeling made me sit down and create what I had created for a couple of business owners already…

A Strategic Marketing Plan. I figured out that day what I would do for the next 6 months to generate a steady stream of clients. Then, I mapped out a three year and five year plan to expand the business I started in my mind already.

Boy did that feel good. And you know what happened to that “pulling” feeling?

It went away. It has yet to come back.

I am a little past the other end of that five year marketing plan now (I started marketing consulting locally in 2001). My business and family life is so fulfilling…I cannot even explain it to you.

And it all came from that one moment. Can you create your own?

So what is the lesson here?

Well, this lesson is in two parts:

1) Get out of your comfort zone, often, repeatedly, and stay out of it. This is huge. If things are going as planned in your business…get out of your comfort zone and try new things. Otherwise, your business will get stale…and your results will start to match.

2) Set aside time to work on your business, instead of in your business. Until you master this…all you have is a self-employed job. And you do know what “JOB” stands for, don’t you… Just Over Broke.

The more you get that “pulling” feeling…the more success you can have…but you have to reach out and take it without fear.

Bringing back a very popular post from my other blog…please share this post with others.

If any one of these 18 mistakes resonate with you, avoid them or suffer the consequences.

1. I can do this for free. You cannot build a business online for free. Get over it.

Well, there they are, 18 of the most critical mistakes you can make that will kill your online business.

Please feel free to share this post with others who could use the information