Promote - Promote - Promote!

MasterMinding with Pam Jones author of  "How To Turn Your Web Site Into A Profit-Generating Sales Machine-The First Time" www.profitpowerpromo.com

Wanda Loskot : Hello Pam - hello Penny, Libby, Terri. Rhonda - so good to see so many friendly faces - Pam Jones is our guest today.

Terri Robinson : wow! Hi Arcady and Rhonda! Hi Wanda! I can't wait to learn more about Pam's topic today! Is this Rhonda from We Talk Zines with us ?

Arcady Soclakov : Hello everyone after returning from vacation. Exiting site to begin with! What I must to do to became your friend?

Libby : What's going on?

Rhonda : could be.. are you talking about the e-zine list? 

Terri Robinson : Yes Rhonda :)

Rhonda: that's me then :-)

Doug : looks like we're all hi today, hope it's with success :)

Wanda Loskot : Our guest today is Pam Jones - author of a book "How To Turn Your Web Site Into A Profit-Generating Sales Machine-The First Time"- Pam's website is http://www.profitpowerpromo.com - packed with goodies, make sure you stop by!

As usually this will be a moderated chat - please make sure to type (?) if you have a question and wait for permission, this way we will be able to follow the conversation with ease..

OK - last call for introductions before becoming a moderated chat! 

Terri Robinson : I know lots of you today! But for those who don't know me, I am Terri Robinson (www.recruit2hire.com) and I save companies hundreds of hours by doing the legwork of recruiting for them!

Penny Widell : I am changing my theme to a learning resource website. Learning how to well online, html etc.

Wanda Loskot : Ok - we are now in the moderated mode. Please type (?) if you want to ask question and (!) for comment.

Pam, we are very anxious to hear from you. I got your book the other day and I wish I read it before I started. Tell us first about your internet experience - your background and how you got started?

Pam Jones : My first intentions were to market an MLM I was involved with. Since then my whole direction has changed. The MLM I was working with wouldn't let me do the things I needed to do with my web site to be successful.

Wanda Loskot : And it is a great site! When did you start?

Pam Jones : I got started on the Internet in November 1997. I had never had any experience with the Internet before then and have learned a lot in the time I've been online.

Wanda Loskot : Pam - what is in your opinion the greatest mistake entrepreneurs make on the internet? Maybe even confess what was YOUR greatest mistake? 

Pam Jones : Not having a way to generate orders or to get an opt-in email address for follow up. My greatest mistake is not following up like I should.

Wanda Loskot : BTW mine was getting a domain a few months too late - and later designing my site around "look how great is Wanda" - hahahaha!

Pam Jones : Yes, I see that, too. Many times a site will tell how great the company or product is without telling the visitor why they need that product or service. Another thing I see quite often is no way of contacting anyone from the site-not even an email address.

Arcady Soclakov : ?

Wanda Loskot : This contacting - so amazing! Often when there IS a way, it is only a "fill the form " - big mistake. What are the ways to build the opt-in mailing list? Newsletter is the obvious choice. But what other ways could be used (for those who are not great at publishing a newsletter)?

Pam Jones : One great way is to provide a survey or questionnaire pertaining to the product you are trying to sell. Getting a visitor to interact with the site by providing things for the visitor to do makes them feel more personalized with the site rather than just reading text.

Arcady - go ahead

Arcady Soclakov : Pam, what is most suitable e-commerce provider for shopping carts and transactions all kinds without opening merchant account?

Pam Jones : I've been noticing more credit card and check acceptance providers without having a merchant account but haven't checked them all out. The services vary though. I have prepared an information piece about these providers. You can write to me at pam@profitpowerpromo.com and I'll send it to you.

Arcady Soclakov : ?

Wanda Loskot : Arcady - go ahead

Arcady Soclakov : Which are most valuable information sources for e-commerce. How much servers space use your site? Are you Webmaster?

Pam Jones : Arcady - I am not a webmaster. I maintain my own site, but don't design sites for others. I do have a few webmasters that I work with and am confident about their abilities, that I refer people to.

Wanda Loskot : Pam - this interaction is really so important! I am constantly looking for new - and simple - ways to increase that interaction factor. Could you share how this could be done? (of course the NICEST interaction for s is having them filling out the order form :-)

Pam Jones : On my site I have various forms for visitors to fill out. I have a recommend form so people can recommend a site that might benefit a link in the various sections. I also have a classified ads page and reciprocal links page. A survey is provided when people subscribe to my newsletter. I offer a weekly contest giving away a book from a joint venture. Some people provide postcards from their sites or reminder services, etc.

Wanda Loskot : Now, let's talk a bit about your book, too - who will mostly benefit from reading it? I like the title a lot!

Pam Jones : The book was written mainly for the new business owner who wants to create a web presence, but others who have had a website that may not be getting the results they desire would also benefit. I wrote it because I spent many hours trying to find information. The book is a compilation of the information I have found to be useful.

Wanda Loskot : Yeah - that is precisely the kind of book I wish I read when I started - but there was none available at that time! Is this available in print or electronically?

Pam Jones : There are three sections to the book-Planning the web site, Creating the web site, and the initial steps in Promoting the web site. Each section has a check list to help the reader perform the necessary tasks. There is also a Resources section.

Arcady Soclakov : Pam, how much time You spend for site renovation? daily, weekly, monthly?

Pam Jones : Arcady-the time I spend on the site varies. But usually I spend a few hours a week keeping it updated. Wanda-the book is available both print and electronically.

Wanda Loskot : And Pam - give us the price too, so that everyone knows.

Pam Jones : Wanda, the print book is $19.95 S&H, Electronic version $14.95 and can be downloaded immediately. Terri-No I hadn't ever written a book before. I had the thoughts for the book and visited various message boards. Monique Harris was very instrumental in my writing the book. She helped me a lot.

Arcady Soclakov : Pam, you have own correct linguistic or have literary corrector for it?

Wanda Loskot : Arcady - you are probably asking about having editor. If you plan to publish a book I advice to have a publisher no matter how good you are, not even for linguistic mistakes, but for making the text flow better.

Wanda Loskot : Terri - your question?

Terri Robinson : Pam, would you say your book would help service businesses as well as product businesses?

Pam Jones : Yes, I started out providing services to business owners who didn't have the time to promote their sites themselves. Although I have found that providing services online can be a bit more difficult than providing a product. You have to create trust with either.

Wanda Loskot : Lee - you comment?

Arcady Soclakov : Pam, how much clicks per month are needed to have any significant number of sells?

Pam Jones : Arcady - I did have a local editor help me with the book. About clicks vs. sales-that depends. There are many variables online, depending on the product, how easy it is to order, if the visitor is interested in the product, the business owners personal online goals.

Wanda Loskot : Arcady - regarding the clicks. It depends on what you are selling and on the quality of the clicks. Clicks by themselves are virtually meaningless. Pam - could you tell a bit more about that service for people who have no time to promote their sites? What could you do for them?

Wanda , I am mainly working with local businesses in various capacities. One has a contest that I am promoting for them. Another is a start up and I am mainly getting them listed with targeted sites. Again, each business owner has their own goals and I try to guide them in those directions and perform the necessary tasks.

Penny Widell : ?

Doug : Wanda, where are you from?

Wanda Loskot : Penny - your question? (Doug -  I'm now in Sarasota. You can read bout me more than you care to know on the site :-)

Just a reminder - this is a moderated chat .Please make sure to type (?) if you have a question and wait for permission, this way we will be able to follow the conversation wit ease..

Penny Widell : For someone that doesn't have their own domain yet where is the best newsletter host that is easy to use.

Pam Jones : I see a lot of people using onelist and topica. I believe they offer a free service, but include ads in the messages.

Mike Artell : ?

Rhonda : listbot is also very good.

Wanda Loskot : Penny, check the oaknetpub.com - I use the services of Phil Tanny and I am very pleased. Make sure you mention my name. Mike - your question? 

Mike Artell : Pam: Obviously, nothing happens until someone actually visits your web site. Could you give us some specific ideas for web site promotion? How do you attract people to YOUR site?

Pam Jones : I receive a lot of traffic from others referring my site. I've created some great online relationships and trade promotion with others. My newsletter has been the best move I've made online.

Wanda Loskot : Mike - the best way to attract them to your site is to have a great PROBLEM-SOLVING content that is directed to your target market. People often talk about A content or information-packed sites. That by itself is meaningless. It is important to offer a unique content that solves people's problems.

Pam Jones : Mike-My best advice is to get involved with the community that pertains to your target audience. Frequent some of the message boards. Get to know people who are well known in that community. People online are very willing to work together. Wanda-You make a very good point!!!

Wanda Loskot : Mike - and then with that content go and promote it in the community. If you promote it too early, you will get clicks of people who will not return. I agree with Pam about posting on message boards. It is a great way to become known!

We are running off time. Pam - what would be your advice to those who are already on line but are not getting enough results?

Pam Jones : Look at the site first - or have someone else look at the site and offer suggestions for improvement. Follow up with visitors. Promote - Promote - Promote. I find that when I'm not promoting my visitor count goes down, subscribers don't subscribe, sales go down. When I start promoting again, the numbers start going up.

Many of us are one-man-bands and have to do everything ourselves. For companies I really suggest having an in-house online person who maintains the site and takes care of the promotion. It really is a full time job.

Doug : it seems like a newsletter would be a big pain in the behind

Penny Widell : ?

Wanda Loskot : Penny - last question!

Penny Widell : Pam when you promote do you use free classifieds or newsletters only or both?

Pam Jones : Penny-I mainly use newsletters. Doug-it can be time consuming. However, I've been able to form a lot of personal relationships with my subscribers. This is very important in my opinion. I don't have tens of thousands of subscribers, but I find that a lot of them do read the newsletters and correspond with me. This is also important. 

Wanda Loskot : That is really a wrap - Pam thanks for coming! Friends make sure you visit her site - Pam what is the address one more time (I make mistakes :-)

Pam Jones :. Thanks for inviting me Wanda. The URL is http://www.profitpowerpromo.com. There are a lot of free resources and information on the site. Thanks again, Wanda.

Wanda Loskot : Pam, thanks so much for coming and for sharing! Thanks all for coming. Please feel welcome to stay and chat - I need to run! Have a wonderful day!

Terri Robinson : Pam, thank you for your very valuable information! Love your site! Wanda, thank YOU for always having such great guests! :)

Pam Jones : Terri-thank you!

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Wanda Loskot - Success Connection
150 Heron's Run, Suite #124 - Sarasota, FL 34232 - USA
Phone (941) 342-4203 - Fax (240) 358-7445

Professional business coach, author & speaker specializing in Internet marketing.
Business seminars, corporate training and one-on-one coaching
for self-employed sales professionals and small business owners.

wanda@loska.com