Usually, business owners who offer a service think their only option is talking with a potential client by phone. But you can have a meaningful conversation by email too. And although one American belief system, even a universal belief system says, "We hate anyone pressuring or pushing us to a sale." But there is another way.

The Softer Marketing Message that Brings Small Business Big Profits

In the last seven years online as a book and business marketing coach, I discovered beyond the small business marketing articles approach, I would also need to approach potential clients who already contacted me with another free ecommerce approach--one that would converse with him or her for specific needs.

Like me, you already have these emails (data bases) in your files or in an autoeresponder. Perhaps you save them as "subscribers" or "potential clients."

The email marketing price to use these emails? Zero!

This non salesy follow up works especially well for service businesses. These people contacted you because they wanted or needed something from you. Now, you need to follow up with an informative message.

The purpose of this soft sales email marketing message lets your targeted audience know more about your service and includes important specific information to help them make an informed decision to buy or not to.

Share in your message answers to potential client's questions. Include "outcomes" in one email. Inlcude "why choose you" in another. "What values you will experience from coaching" in another.

In this article, we will answer the questions "What outomes?" and Why Choose you?"

Dear Successful Business Person,

Since you have contacted me about coaching I wonder if you still have questions you need answers for? It's a big decision to choose the right coach for you at the right time and for the right time frame so I share these to help you make a decision that fits your needs.

Most people ask me what will be their outcomes in a particular time format.

Outcomes for Short Term 6-Meeting Bookcoaching

1. You will create a complete model chapter or more with the right chapter outline and chapter format for you to follow for the rest of the book.
2. You will have a pre-marketing plan called "The Essential Nine Hot Selling Points." to guide your writing so you can start selling the minute you are finished.
3. If you already have some of your book written, you will see how to augment the information you have with WOW writing that compels your reader to finish each chapter wanting more until they finish your book. Now you have a 24/7 sales person who will share the love for your book.
4. You will gain confidence almost immediately from interacting with your coach who acts as a sounding board--that you and your book are valuable to your audience. This leads to doing what it takes to allow your book to succeed.

The outcome list above is short, but works for a 6-meeting bookcoaching committment.

Why Choose You? What Value Will They Receive

Most small business people shop around for the best price and best service. They will want a sample of you to see if you are a good fit, so offer an inexpensive fee for a short phone coaching sample.

You need to share why you are possibly the best for them and that involves answering questions such as "What do you need?"

The age-old question is "will the cost be right for the value received.?" One client claimed that her coaching fees helped her decisions on what to invest in and what not to invest in-saving her far more than the fees.

What Value will you Receive from Book Coaching?

1. More income from your saleable print or ebook. Emerging authors often underprice their work.
2. More business leverage from this great expanded "business card." This can translate into more speaking bookings, more coaching clients, more consulting work, and more business contacts in any field.
3. More positioning or branding to be known as the expert in your field, which in turns brings more trusting prospects to you.
4. Allows you to share how you make a difference to others' lives so you live your mission.

Naturally, you don't want to sell your audience. You want to give them enough specific information so they can make an informed decision on their next step. So what is your next step in getting the mentoring you need?

Increasing Customer Retention - Show Them You Care

Maybe your clients include small business specialists. Or, they are top entrepreneurs. They may be a coach for women or a coach for men, even an executive life coach.

To earn your independent business owner's recommendation and appreciation, you need to show them you care.

Now, you an increase clients and increase customer retention by asking these questions.....

1. Do you treat your client as the gold he or she is?

Your clients wants to believe they are your top priority. One way to stay connected is to send a little email note with encouragement, tip, or "wondering how you are doing?"

Know your clients are leaping over such hurdles as fear and lack of skills. Be patient with them and give them the action steps to overcome their challenges. Help them to create their goals in pictures, so they can move more quickly.

2. Do you listen to your new business owners and help them focus in their goals?

Early on, clients may look confused and need you to help them focus. Listen well to sort out the wheat from the chaff.

One book coaching client came to me with a 350 page book, partly written. She thought she wanted a print book to give her credibility. But, when I pointed out that most of us want to read much shorter books , and that each title will sell better with an angle such as solving a particular challenge, she changed her approach. When a client shows up with multiple books to finish, I ask her which one are you most passionate about? You need to finish one book and promote your book a year or more for a profit making business--before you write another one!

3. Do you give your client the resources needed to implement and finish the project?

You can make a difference in your client's progress when you shorten her learning curve. Offer reliable services and resources you already know are a good price and work well. Don't rest on your past laurels.With the internet changing information regularly, you need to know what works today, not 5 years ago. You share what you know now, and what you are learning.

One gentle client, a teacher of yoga, kept an open mind, even though she was non-techie and a reluctant marketer. Right now she has 170 listings of her activities in Linkedin.com and ezinearticles.com. These sites bring her targeted audience to her site. She came back for more small group coaching in article marketing to get a world presence and high Alexa rating for her web site. If you want to test yourself to see if your site is being seen, just Google your name. If you see results of 1 out of 70,000, you are doing pretty good in marketing your site. If you are like one professional speaker who only has 1 in 8 entries, you need to commit to writing a few articles and submitting them each week. The web doesn't like inactivity, so keep your marketing regular. Remember, without your investment in promotion, your projects and services will lie fallow.

Be open to improve your service. When you get a lot of verbal kudos, make a note of it and later, ask clients for a short testimonial that you will write a draft for to save your client time. As a good testimonial is worth its weight in gold, so is a good client. Make sure you show your commitment to your clients.

Organize Computer Files and Folders for Online Marketing

If you want to do business on the Internet, you must lasso your folders and files for easy retrieval when you need them. When you promote your business through email campaigns such as "FREE" reports, 'thank you" notes, or sales letters about a service or product, you will make consistent money each month.

How to Organize Compter Files?

1. Keep a folder and files for each email group you promote to.

First, create a folder called "Email Lists." These may include subscribers, customers, clients, potential clients, other groups you network with, past customers, clients, teleclass attendees. Send a different message to each specific group. Aim for 2-3 different group promotions each month. Stay in touch with all of your groups every month ot so.

For you who want to deliver your messages by autoresponder, contact companies like www.constantcontact.com or 1ShoppingCart with multiple capabilities such as a merchant account that collects the money and delivers the product.

2. Put your major topic in a folder.

One client's new book put 3 sections or chapters into 3 separate files under the folder name with her book's title. Now that she has these organized, she can add new material, as she needs in the proper folder and file.

3. Put your unfinished work in a file in My Documents.

Located right after your folders by the alphabet, you can skim right to each file, retrieving it quickly.

4. Take care to name your files correctly.

When I write articles, I realized I needed several folders. For instance, "articles to submit," "articles to edit." After producing 90 articles, I realized I needed to categorize them. They were: "writing/publishing," "ebooks," "Online Promotion and Marketing," and "Web Copywriting and Marketing." Plus, I added one "under 500 words," and "tips." We placed these categories within the "articles to submit." Your folder and file titles are all important.

5. Include the date at the end of your file name.

Once I started this technique, I can always find the file within a minute or so. These are the pieces I currently work on and am not so certain which folder they will end up in. Since you know about when you worked on them, the date makes finding them easier.

6. Use word files for printed work such as books and use textpad files for article marketing.

Once I discovered TextPad, I installed this share ware program and used it to write and submit articles for article marketing. Article directories don't want any formatting like print media would want. So, when you write promo for your web site, or email promotion, use Word, color, and formatting with different fonts.

Without organizing your files, you will waste much time looking for the correct one. You will also waste money because when you don't share your projects you won't make a profit.

Get more online marketing advice by downloading Judy's free article marketing report.

Please feel free to leave comments and questions! :)

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