The key to a building a great Marketing Strategy is knowing how to find and filter your prospects to a finely selected or targeted customer and client list. This is not to say you can't and won't accept "walk-in" customers that come by any other means.
You want to ask yourself, "Where do I find prospects"?
You more than likely find them where they normally go. I know, you’re thinking, “what a lame answer”. But, it happens to be the right answer. Many entrepreneurs don't give this simple fact enough credit and consideration.
A few ways to reach these prospects:
ONLINE:
Publishing a Newsletter
Writing Articles
Discussions Lists
Newsgroups
Ad and Banner Swaps
Link Trades
Search Engines & Directories
Joining Online Clubs & Organizations
OFFLINE:
Publishing a Newsletter
Direct Mailing
Calling them & & The Phone
Sending Letters Or Brochures
Conferences and Conventions
Parties & Outings
Yard Sales, Flea Market & Shopping
Acquaintances!
Always make use of Free & Paid Advertising & Publicity as best you can whether on or offline!
Making yourself available to help others is not only a nice gesture but an often unforgettable one as well!
These are just a few ideas.
I'm sure you can come up with many more!
You do you have to know where to look and who you are looking for.
Remember your target group? You wouldn't join a technical list if you wanted to interact with newlywed prospects, would you?
When trying to invoke a direct response, you are in realization attempting to qualify the prospect by making them realize that you are talking about them.
You can read more about this in a another article I wrote called, "HEY! You're Talking About Me!". (Ural to follow). http://www.makingprofit.com/mp/articles/data/20010716043255.shtml
This article offers an example of getting the prospect to realize that they should be listening to what you have to say.
Once you have their attention then what? You have to get them to see the benefit of your product or services. There are 3 crucial questions you must answer to make your prospect see your benefits.
1) What exactly is the benefit of your product or service?
2) How will you go about making this benefit work for them?
3) Why is your product/service more successful than others?
As soon as you have the prospect's attention (A job in itself, but headlines are another story), tell them the benefit (your product or service) that you provide.
Keep it clear, easy to understand, short and to the point. Describe your service or product in such a way that there is no mistaking yours will make the difference.
Offer proof of competence, experience and testimonials. Don't over do it. Just a little invites interest, too much invites suspicion.
To turn a prospect into a customer you must make them an offer to good to turn down, but not to good to be true. Then show them how to respond to the offer.
There are two ways to get the response; the hard and soft response request. The difference between them is the commitment you require from them. A hard request might mean that they must commit to speaking with a representative or even committing to the product or service at that time. A Soft Response on the other hand could mean getting a free brochure.
The value of each response differs as well. The CPP (Client Per Prospect) Rate is much lower from a Soft Response Request than a Hard Response Request. The way you decide to go will depend on your circumstances. Direct sales should always close with a Hard Request, whereas a department store would work better with a soft response. You must decide on your best Response Requests.
Gaining the response is what we call activating your prospect.
Important rules to calling a prospect to action:
1) Be Prepared and know the answers.
2) You must show, tell and/or demonstrate to the prospect
what he/she hey are buying.
3) You must make an offer that is too good to be ignored.
A few techniques used in activating a prospect:
1) The "Free Sample"
2) The "Great Introductory Deal"
3) The "No-Risk Offer"
In Closing:
My goal here is to merely show you the possibilities that await you. These are just a few ideas to help you along in the process of gaining response.
About the Author
Wild Bill Montgomery
Webmaster@MakingProfit.com
http://www.MakingProfit.com