RE: Ideas

From: Boris Kontsevoi <arch_at_ok.cz>
Date: Fri 17 Sep 1999 12:55:45 +0200

SUE LONG WROTE:
> I work for a small store owner who opened an e-commerce
> site. ... He hired me because he wants to quadruple that to
> $2 million. ... then his technical consultant explained that
> he would need about $20,000 in software upgrading...
> 1) Does anyone know where I can get statistics that show
> a rise in SALES not just clicks from either (preferably both)
> an affiliate program and an e-newsletter?
> 2) Any other ideas I can use to get sales up?

Hi Sue,

First of all, the estimation of $20,000 looks too high. It's
possible to develop and promote a very large site from
scratch for such money, not only design an affiliate program
and a newsletter. Probably, try to make more accurate
estimate.

I would be also interested to get statistics you asked. Hope
to see it here one time. As for other ideas, my list
includes (all items either are free or require small
investment, not counting your time :) ):
- Register in Search Engines (supposing the page is ready
for it) buying POSITIONING. It seems a good service is at
www.prositeonline.com. Don't buy any service that submit to
thousands engines and directories. It does not work.
- Promote using traditional media. Also any letter, invoice,
e-mail, card, brochure, ad, etc. must contain URL.
- Requestlinks on sites of manufacturers of your sales
items.
- Join eMalls and arrange reciprocal links with similar
sites.
- Join banner exchange (linkexchage.com, bannerswap.com).
- Use classifieds and trade directories (f.i., bigex.com, see
lists at uran.net, thaipost.com), especially if you are
interested in wholesales and international trade.
- Advertise in eZines, mailing lists, newsletters (many of
them were listed in this o-a digest, also, f.i.,
businesslink.com)
- Probably most important: Change your
site making it a) interesting (product reviews, statistics,
comparisons, advice, etc.); b) interactive (voting,
bookmarking, discussions, opinions, surveys, etc.); c)
serviceable (free offers, fast help/reply, personalization,
etc.)

And two final notes:
1) All above does require much work. If your boss does not
want to invest to software upgrades, will he want to pay you
for doing this (6 months work minimum)?
2) Don't buy any promotion that promise audience, use only
those who offers real results (visits, leads, sales).

Everything above looks like a plain common sense but it's
difficult to get in done! If you have it already, wait for
result or... are you sure in your product? Do people fill to
spend $2 million on it? :-)

Boris Kontsevoi
WEB SPACE STATION - web site design, programming, graphics
mailto:webdesign_at_goodvisit.com
http://www.goodvisit.com/web-design





Received on Fri Sep 17 1999 - 05:55:45 CDT