The Budget Webmasters Guide to Increased Credibility - Part One
Hey, I just noticed something. I've been sitting here filling out a bajillion forms, submitting my dang article 'til I'm blue in the face (Vent much? Why, yes and thanks for listening!), and I realized what makes me give out my real email address.
With the volume of mail I get as webmaster of several sites, even my hyper-organized Outlook Folder and Rules System is just not good enough to handle the volume of incoming email. So I have several accounts.
I have one free email account I NEVER open- anything that has spam potential goes to that address. I've got one I clear out once a month- I check some of the titles that look interesting, but they're mostly either junk, status reports or emails I need to look at once then throw out.
There's another I clear out once a week, there's semi-important stuff in there- information I can't keep track of, back ups of emails or attachments. Then there's the one I use ONLY for signing up for things. If I subscribed to your newsletter, that's probably where it'll end up.
But after a while, if I really like your ezine and you don't spam me, I'll also subscribe at one of my real email addresses.
One of my real email addresses is a personal one, that's the one for family and friends to send me personal stuff, where I get all my jokes and horoscopes and what not.
The other real email address is my premium support business email. It is a fortress against spam because no one who would spam me knows I have it. It's an important list to be on if you want access to me, and here's why.
I stay on a computer about ten hours a day. During those ten hours I leave this account open in my email client. If you're a client of mine, this is the email address you have to get directly in touch with me at any hour. And I realized today, that I let a few more people into one of those top three email boxes today- guess why? We'll get back to that in a minute.
Now, I'm sure all your clients aren't as crazy as I am with the spam-proof fortresses and the highly organized email system. But any savvy consumer on the Net learns eventually to have more than one email address, usually only two.
There's normally the ISP email address, the one they use for primary communication with family and friends, and for information that is near and dear to their hearts. This is where you want to be.
Most people who spend any significant amount of time online also have a second one -an email address they can dump if they feel their privacy is being violated. You never even want to be associated with this address.
And if they are fellow marketers, or small business owners, they will also either have additional addresses or some type of spam blocker.
I don't even have Spam Assassin, or any other spam filter, turned on for my private email. Why should I? No one who would spam me knows it exists. So again, why do you think I would let anyone get my one of my primary email addresses, since I guard it so closely?
They made me believe I could trust them with my information. How?
Privacy Policy.
They promised me no spam. Ever. No sharing. Ever. Never Ever EVER.
Value.
Something they were going to send me was as precious to my business as air is to me.
Reciprocation.
If I gave them my email address, they gave me something of theirs that I wanted.
Past Trust Lasts Unless It's Violated.
In the past I wasn't sure what they would do with my email address and something they did or said, or just my experiences with them earned them my trust. Once they earned it, they never violated it.
Disclosure.
They told me what they were going to use it for, when, how often, why and who would have access to it. Then they stuck to what they said, or at least notified me if it could potentially change
Personal relationship.
The person who contacted me at that email address didn't send me some generic blahblah form email, or stop with their smart auto-responder message. They reached out to me person to person and asked my opinion, offered their help, or wanted my advice. They gave me THEIR real email address and what else could I do but reciprocate?
Quality
There was so much great stuff going on at this site, such a great product that I wanted to consider for future purchase, so much information that was so frequently updated, that I wanted to make sure I came back. I figured any webmaster worth their salt would remind me on a weekly basis to return.
Which of these do you offer to your visitors? Is some version of your privacy policy, or a link to it, on every main page of your site? Do you offer value to your visitors, or are you recycling the same bonuses they can get anywhere? Does your site make your visitors want to come back? Do you remind them to?
Now, you and I both know that you have no intention of spamming anyone- if not on a question of ethics alone, you're just not stupid - it would to ruin your online reputation! Fast.
What I'm saying here is that perceptions speak louder than words.
Take another look at your site, or, better yet, get a fresh eye from another person in an online community you belong to. It may not be clear to your visitors that you are employing some of the techniques above.
Perhaps making your customers feel how I felt will get them to give you their real information and their Primary Email address. And, maybe that email address will one day lead to a lifelong customer.
Copyright 2004 Tinu AbayomiPaul
If you are having trouble getting subscribers to join, and you've been properly exposing your ezine, and packing it with value, maybe the issue is trust. We explore this issue of trust between you and your visitors more deeply in an upcoming issue of Free Traffic Secrets. Subscribe at http://www.freetrafficdirectory.com or ftdsecrets-topica.com
About The Author
Tinu is a free traffic FANATIC. She has been offered treatment for this condition but says it just saves her too much money!
 Google News Updated : Tue, 14 Oct 2008 11:56:09 GMT Cambodia: Thailand withdraws troops from border - The Associated Press
The Associated Press - PHNOM PENH, Cambodia (AP) - Thai troops retreated from a disputed border zone Tuesday, a Cambodian general said, averting a possible military clash after Cambodia's prime minister issued an ultimatum to Thailand to withdraw by midday. Thai army to maintain troops in disputed area Thailand, Cambodia spar over border troop positions Publ.Date : Tue, 14 Oct 2008 09:51:31 GMT Berlusconi Shares Investor Pain With $2 Billion Loss (Update2) - Bloomberg
Bloomberg - By Andrew Davis and Lorenzo Totaro Oct. 14 (Bloomberg) -- Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi promises Italians they won't lose ``even a euro'' of their bank accounts in the current credit crisis. Video: Bush Says He Will Help US Banks Bush To Speak About $250 Billion Banking Rescue Plan Monday Morning Publ.Date : Tue, 14 Oct 2008 09:46:59 GMT North Korea to resume nuclear dismantlement - The Associated Press
The Associated Press - SEOUL, South Korea (AP) - North Korea planned to resume dismantling its nuclear program Tuesday for the first time in two months, days after the United States removed the communist regime from a terrorism blacklist as a reward under a disarmament pact. IAEA: N. Korea disabling set for Tuesday North Korean foreign minister set for nuclear talks in Moscow Publ.Date : Tue, 14 Oct 2008 09:11:42 GMT House Race Is Shaken by Report of an Affair - New York Times
New York Times - By IAN URBINA WASHINGTON - The Florida congressman who succeeded Mark Foley after he resigned because of a sex scandal is now embroiled in a sex scandal of his own, and has requested a Congressional ethics investigation to clear his name. A Florida (House) Bombshell House to investigate lawmaker for alleged affair, ethics lapse Publ.Date : Tue, 14 Oct 2008 03:20:36 GMT Kashkari Leaps From Obscurity to Lead Role in US Bank Rescue - Bloomberg
Bloomberg - By Robert Schmidt and Rebecca Christie Oct. 14 (Bloomberg) -- Minutes before Neel Kashkari's public debut as the chief of the US Treasury's financial rescue plan, he sat in a hotel lobby in Washington, unrecognized by many of the international bankers ... What Treasury is planning After Historic Rally, Feds To Buy Bank Ownerships Publ.Date : Tue, 14 Oct 2008 07:57:34 GMT Milk, Sunshine Each Day Keep the Doctor Away - Washington Post
Washington Post - ยท Kids from newborns to teenagers should take twice as much Vitamin D as previously recommended because it may help prevent serious disease, a leading medical group said yesterday. Video: HealthWatch More tenacious about vitamin D Publ.Date : Tue, 14 Oct 2008 06:17:28 GMT Asian, European Markets Continue Upbeat Rally - Washington Post
Washington Post - By Blaine Harden TOKYO, Oct. 14 -- Feverish buying in Japan on Tuesday replaced last week's market panic, as the benchmark Nikkei stock index soared to its largest-ever percentage gain in a single day, up 14.15 percent -- part of a global rally in ... Video: Asia Markets Mostly Up Monday World Markets Reflect Growing Hope Publ.Date : Tue, 14 Oct 2008 10:11:14 GMT Web Site Traffic |
PARLOT::Ebooks, Scripts,
Websites, and more... The goal of most webmasters is driving more traffic to... Read More Today I was checking out Michelle's A Small Victory. There... Read More There is no reason to be afraid of creating an... Read More Many people join internet business opportunities online blindly. By this... Read More Have you ever seen the trading floor in action on... Read More Establishing a web presence on the internet is based on... Read More Your prospects want one thing and one thing only! They... Read More I believe it is a principle of human nature that... Read More When I mention, "flavor", I mean the appeal of the... Read More Public relations is popular because it is very cost-effective and... Read More If you're like most of us, you're not on a... Read More Just ask!You can learn useful information about your business, customers,... Read More Since I own my own business web site and have... Read More Conventional wisdom says find a niche. Don't go where the... Read More Hey, I just noticed something. I've been sitting here filling... Read More When you offer your products via an email campaign to... Read More Remember those Super Bowl and World Cup commercials where you... Read More With all the people offering products and services online, what... Read More People ask me this question all the time! The "Now... Read More It is not enough to set up a website to... Read More Website advertising is an art and you must understand its... Read More Staying awake at night wondering how to pump up your... Read More If you are new to the Internet Marketing arena, or... Read More It is really a small wonder why most people fail... Read More Real estate has made many people large amounts of money... Read More
Adsense
websites
Strategic Internet Marketing Using Joint Ventures
Networked Markets Are Democratic, Structured Markets Are Republican
Seven Steps to Starting Your Internet Business
The Relation Between Internet Marketing Education and Profits
Getting Targeted Traffic by Standing Out In The Crowd
Internet Marketing On A Budget
Convey Website Credibility Authentically!
What is So Exciting about Money and the Internet?
What is the Flavor of Your Website?
Become a Star: 10 Do-It-Yourself Publicity Techniques to Build Buzz for Your Online Business
Two Steps to an Investment-Free Online Empire
Just Ask! Using Surveys to Improve Your Business
Scam And Scheme Free Advertising For Your Business Web Site
A Better Mousetrap
The Budget Webmasters Guide to Increased Credibility - Part One
If you Sell a Product, Use Online Marketing, Part 2
Dont Become Another .com Road Kill
The Undeniable Value Of Differentiation
Ive Started My Own Online Business...Now What?
Internet Marketing: The Secret Magic Of Converting Your Website Visitors To Buyers
Website Advertising: How to Seduce Your Website Visitors And Make Them To Buy From You
Ten Simple Tips To Create A Money Magnet Web Site!
3 Ways In Which You Can Kick Butt With Low Cost Advertising
Nobody Knows You Yet!
Getting Some Good Ol Internet Real Estate
Affordable and Reliable Web Hosting Starting at $4.49/Month
Use Landing Pages to Boost Sales and Capture Metrics
If you are sending out a periodic email newsletter, no... Read More
Educate Yourself to Succeed in Internet Marketing
More and more people are considering the World Wide Web... Read More
How Internet Marketeres Can Create Their Own Powerful Niche... Even In an Over-Crowded Industry!
For some reason, people who look to the internet to... Read More
The Tao of Web Marketing
A few months ago I was watching a stream meandering... Read More
A Crystal Ball for Your Web Business
Are you considering launching an eCommerce website? If you are,... Read More
Do?s and Don?ts for the Internet Marketing Newbie (Part 1)
I, myself, being an internet marketing "newbie" (endearing term used... Read More
10 Search Tips for Internet Marketers
From kids to the old, everybody searches and search engines... Read More
A Frugal Internet Marketing Strategy That Works!
So you finally created the website that your business or... Read More
Internet Marketing: Dr. Robert Anthony Reveals How To Use Quantum Physics To Supercharge Success
What secret dreams do you have for your Internet marketing... Read More
Internet Marketing Success Requires a Business Plan (Part II)
Formal business planning is a process that takes that "great... Read More
Dont Baffle Me - Talk to Me
Congratulations, all you Internet marketing people you. You now command... Read More
Website Promotion With Content Exchanges
Ever hear about an idea that is so simple yet... Read More
The Power of Viral Marketing
When I first heard of the term Viral Marketing I... Read More
Are You Utilizing a 5-Point Prospecting System?
If not, you may be losing out on some very... Read More
List Building Through Cooperative Partnerships....
This is a little tip I got from Alex Sampson,... Read More
A New Way to Profit From Your Content-Based Website
"It's a labor of love." That's how I've always described... Read More
Make Internet Marketing Work for You Via RSS
RSS marketing is a tool used by many on the... Read More
Developing Your Export Import Business Using Internet - Part I
Since most of the businesses throughout the world have access... Read More
Ten Tried And Tested Viral Marketing Campaigns
Believe it or not, viral marketing did not originate from... Read More
Wealth Is Around The Corner
There are so many simple and achievable ways to make... Read More
What Big Pharma Can Teach You About Niche Marketing
A recent newspaper review of a new book, Selling Sickness,... Read More
The Power Of Free
Free can set you free...The powerful word "FREE" is an... Read More
Relevancy - The New Black for Online Marketing?
Information OverloadWith information overload rapidly killing traditional forms of online... Read More
Selling to Sellers - Utterly Stupid Idea or Not Quite?
The list of promotional tools and resources available to online... Read More
Make Your Real Estate Website Visible!
So, you've created a Website to highlight your realty services... Read More
Internet Marketing |