"Hey, My name is Andrea."
"Hi Andrea. Nice to meet you!"
"Would you like to buy my online course? It's only $47 bucks and I guarantee it will teach you all you need to know about building a business online...Hello...HELLO?!
No matter which end of the conversation you are on, it's not pleasant for either. I didn't get my sell and you feel bothered and annoyed!
Cold selling, which is similar to "cold calling," is when someone who doesn't know you, doesn't know what you want or what you are
looking for, tries to pitch you something without a warranted invitation. Cold selling does not work. You may be able to luck up and get a sale here or there but if you value your time and your dignity, you cannot cold sell, especially if you want to create a successful business online.
Do you like getting calls from telemarketers? Do you like signing up for email newsletters expecting value, only to be slapped with offers? Do you click links for products on facebook or in tweets from people you haven't heard of?
I can't tell you how many times a day I get phone calls, emails, and facebook messages showing me some kind of cold offer. Cold selling is the fastest way to lose credibility and respect from people who may have eventually purchased from you and maybe even help you promote and market your products.
- So the question is, how can we as internet entrepreneurs, bloggers, and online network marketers sell something to people online, without cold selling?
The answer is simple: Turn cold traffic warm by building a RELATIONSHIP with your list.
Relationships create trust, credibility, security... Build a relationship with your list and you'll quickly find that the cold selling dissipates. Become their friend, be real, be candid, invite them to interact and engage with you. The more you interact with your list the better chance you'll have of them sticking around and helping you out in the future. Whether it is sharing your next blog posts, linking to you on their website, buying something from you, or becoming an affiliate.
Here are 5 super simple ways you can interact and engage with your list so you can begin to build and solidify those so important relationships.
1. Be Present
There is no way to build a relationship with your list if you are hiding all the time. Be upfront, be authentic, tell people exactly who you are, what you do and what you are all about! I am a big proponent of being candid and transparent. That is one of the reasons why this blog has as successful as it has.
If you can create content and provide information that let's your personality shine through, you are primed for connecting with readers on a deeper level. Show your picture every once in a while, share your family photos. People will be attracted to what you have to say and what you have to offer. So make sure you put your face on your website...and don't forget to smile!
I mean really, how many successful blogs have you come across that don't have a face or personality connected to it?
2. Comments Bring Your Blog To Life
Another great way to build relationships is to get the other party to interact with you. There is not easier way to do this than with commenting. If people take time to fill out their name, website, and email address when making a comment, that's time they are giving to you. That's time they are contributing to the vitality of your website.
Not only will people ask you questions or add to what you've posted about, but it will encourage others to step out and do the same. So make sure you ask for comments! Encourage your readers! Talk about things that will get them commenting!
Let me know what you think by leaving a comment below =)
3. Respond!
For every comment that someone makes on your blog or website, it is important to respond and to engage back. Let your readers know you are listening to them and appreciate their feedback. It may take you a little bit more time or add a few extra minutes of work to your day but it is simple to do. Responding to people's comments, emails, and inquiries is the next best thing to meeting that person and having a conversation with them
People do notice and appreciate when you take the time to respond. They'll remember the gesture and feel a sense of connection. So when you do post something or offer a product, they will be much more inclined to give it a look.
4. Network, Network, Network
Joining social media platforms such as Facebook and Twitter and becoming friends with people of similar interest is a great way to get to know people in ways that others do not. Some of the greatest business success I've had has come from friendships I've built with friends online.
By simply accepting a friend request, you are planting the seeds to a new relationship. How you nurture and cultivate that seed is up to you but the more seeds you plant to more chances you have of developing long lasting and meaningful relationship.
Make sure you give people the opportunity to because your friend on the various social media platforms. Include links in your blog posts, in your sidebar or in your emails just like I did above.
5. Take Baby Steps
A great way to set yourself up for a sell is to prime your traffic with baby transactions. Take them through the process of Thought ==> Action ==> Receive. These are small things like:
- Answering a survey
- Entering contact info into an opt-in form for a weekly newsletter
- Entering contact info into an opt-in form for a free gift
- Offering a prize or reward for taking some type of action
These baby transactions train the mind, so that when you offer a product your traffic actually has to pay for, they are not paralyzed by the unknown, but a re comfortable because they trust you and have gone through the thought process before.
So based on your experience...which one of these steps has made the most impact on your online business?
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