Use Internet Marketing to Bring Customers to Your Local Business

Millions of "bricks and mortar" businesses have websites,
but only a fraction of those businesses are using the
Internet to bring in more sales. It's an expense that they
pay because "everyone else is doing it". Don't settle for
that.

Is the Internet bringing customers to your doors? If not,
here are three important tips to make you grin about your
"net profits" (and make your competition jealous):

Three Tips to Make the Internet Bring Customers to Your
Store or Office:

1. Write to persuade.

If your business is like most businesses, competition is
fierce and just a click away. Don't just put up a brochure
describing your business - that's too easy to click away
from, and they will. A brochure website is like a timid
office worker who gives just the boring facts.

Think of your website and online ads as your "salesman
in cyberspace", a salesman who makes a mouth-watering,
I've-got-to-get-it-NOW offer. Reach through the monitor,
grab your visitor by his shirt and tell him why you're
going to make a positive difference in his life. Make
him see it, feel it, taste it. Whatever you sell, make
him salivate as he gets into the car to come see you.

You can do this in audience-appropriate ways, whether
your business is an architecture firm, a sports bar or
a children's clothing store.

2. Attract as many TARGETTED visitors as you can.

Don't waste time or money on people who are not likely
to buy from you. There are many ways to bring targetted
traffic to your site and business. Some of the top
ways are:

Pay-per-click ads
Email ads
Joint Ventures
Discussion list postings
Article writing and distribution

These ways are important because you can match your
marketing message to the people you are looking for. A
great example of this was on last season's Apprentice TV
show. The contest was to sell the most discount wedding
gowns in one day.

One team handed out flyers on the streets of New York.
They drew a measley number of customers. The other team
bought an email ad from theknot.com wedding website and
had customers lined up down the block. And they sold 5
times the amount of the first team. You can use this
technique to draw customers too, either to your website
or directly to your business.

3. Set your website visitors hair on fire.

You may have heard this before. It means, give them a
reason to ACT NOW. When a website visitor says to him or
herself "I'll think about it," and clicks away, you know
THEY ARE GONE. They are busy in their own lives, thinking
about everything else but your business and your offer.

How do you get them to act now?

Make a limited time offer. It can be a discount, but it
doesn't have to be. For example, you can add an online
coupon that visitors can print and bring in for a free
gift with purchase. If you're in the knowledge business,
offer a free support information, such as a "Checklist
for Your Home Addition Project", but only if they act now.

Revamp your salesman in cyberspace to attract potential
customers, make the case that you are what they want and
show them why it's in their best interest to get up and
go get it NOW.


About the Author

Raynay Valles is a Marketing Specialist who builds sales for established businesses, online and offline. For more infon, visit http://www.raynayvalles.com
or email her at rvalles@raynayvalles.com

Written By: Raynay Valles