Tips for Web Workers

Meryl Evans at Web Worker Daily has assembled a collection of tips on the Minimum Specs for a Successful Web Worker Machine. I am honored to have one of my own tips included!

Web working is not for everybody. Those who do it tend to have traits and personalities that fit the web working life. For others, it means making sacrifices they don’t want to make. “I don’t really understand why people would like to work at home. It’s like reducing to the minimum (almost nothing) the barrier between professional and private life,” comments Chris on Georgina’s recent post, “How To Ask the Boss If You Can Work Remotely.”

In interviewing people in web working careers, one fact is clear: Many of us share similar specs beyond motivation and organization. I asked some web working colleagues what it takes to make a successful web worker. Do you have the right components to become a fine-tuned web worker machine?

Read the article “Minimum Specs for a Successful Web Worker Machine” for the rest of the suggestions.

It’s Time to Prepare for SOBCon 2010!

The SOBCon2010 “Reserve Now, Pay Later” Program | TerryStarbucker.com

We have a theme for 2010 - “Where the Virtual Meets the Concrete“.

Or as Terry Starbucker likes to call it - “The Return of the Digiloggers, Part 2“

But there’s a catch.

We can only accommodate 150 people, max.

This is a gathering where size does matter, and we really want to keep the numbers at a level where we maximize the value of the learning and interactions.

So that’s why we’ve already opened up registration, so those who would like to get a head start on reserving a seat to this event can do so, right now.

Because I know you don’t want to miss it.

But we also know that plucking down cash so far in advance is a lot to ask.

Therefore, we are announcing the “Reserve Now, Pay Later” program. It’s a “three-fer”:

1. You get a seat early, and rest easy - your there
2. You get a deeply discounted rate - $300 off the “at the door” price
3. You only have to put down a $95 deposit now - and just pay the rest by December 31, 2009

Here’s what you need to do:

* Go to the SOBCon2010 Registration site
* Click “Enter Discount Code“
* Put in this code: paylater10, then click “apply discount“
* Buy your tickets at $95
* Pay the remaining $500 per ticket to us by 12/31/09 to keep your seats (I”ll let you know how to do that)

To take advantage of this program you need to act quickly - the $595 rate, and thus this program, expires on July 3, 2009

Using Sales Techniques in Relationship Management

Long Term Customers With New Needs

Most sales people have experienced that moment when a customer says, “Oh, you have that? I just ordered one from someone else!” Often this happens because we have failed to continue to treat existing customers as prospects.

Even with a reliable customer, we may miss opportunities when our product line or their responsibilities change.

On every call be sure to:

• Find out what’s changed for them since you spoke last
• Alert them to any changes in your product line or services
• Make sure they have your latest catalog or product list
• Go back and ask again, “I know you said you don’t need _____, has anything changed since we last spoke about that?”

Even our most loyal customers won’t buy from us unless they know we can fulfill a need when they need it fulfilled, and they don’t have our catalog memorized.

Setting Goals for Your Business Website

This is the question you should be asking yourself every day:

How effective is your website at achieving the goals you have for your business?

If you do not know the answer, it may be because you have not set your goals properly. Do you know what the purpose of your site is? What are the benefits for you and your business?

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Lets take a look at these questions, and potential answers.

• Your website should position you as an expert in your field. Perception and reputation are everything to your potential customers and clients. Having a website that effectively conveys that expertise to your visitors improves your visiblity in the marketspace, your credibility as a business-person, and begins to build trust in your products/services.
• Your website is a starting-point for the identity of your brand. It is a starting point because it is impossible to control all aspects of your brand identity anymore. Your customers have blogs, forums, and Twitter now - where they can and will discuss your product’s price and quality, your customer service interactions, even your advertising strategies.
• Your website expands your marketspace beyond yesterday’s geographical boundaries. Depending on the products and services that you offer (shipping may be a consideration) you can now offer the services of your business to a global audience, not just the people within a few minutes’ drive.
• Your website is a tool for expanding your list of potential clients. Due to the expanded nature of the marketspace and the rapidly growing number of people who do their research online before making a purchase. Having an e-mail capture/site registration application on your site can help you to build a list of self-selected potential customers.
• Your website is a venue for providing value to your market before you ever make a sale. E-books, white papers, product reviews, service explanations - all of these marketing tools can be made available throught your site. For free, or for the price of an e-mail registration. When your visitors see your site (and your business) as value-added then doing business with you is an opportunity, not a risk.

Does your website do these things? If not, do you need help putting them in place? Let us know how we can help.

Does Your Product Have a User’s Manual

Andy Sernovitz from Damn I Wish I’d Thought of That points to an article on Creating Passionate Users:

The Best User Manual Ever:
Focus on making your user manual easier to read (even enjoyable!), and you’ll find your customers get more use out of your stuff and are more willing to become repeat customers. Parelli Natural Horsemanship not only instructs customers on how to use their equestrian products, but they offer tips, solutions to typical problems, and even motivate customers to master new skills. Try replacing your boring manuals with pocket guides, instructional videos, and ways for your fans to track their achievements.

The Lesson: Turn your crappy user manual into something that encourages customers to use your stuff to the fullest.

“remember, all things being equal, he who gets his users past the suck threshold and into the kick-ass zone the fastest wins. “

It’s a long post but look at the pictures, then think about what you could do with your crappy manual…

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