How much would you be willing to pay for a list of people who need what you have — and know it — and who are so close to being ready to buy that they've already made the effort to contact you? Wouldn't that be worth a lot of money? Or maybe even invaluable?
You might call this your Dream List. Or you could call it your In-House List, that is if you really took the time to develop the best list for your business.
The best list for you is the list of people with whom you have already begun the process of building a relationship. Don't underestimate its value for a minute. These people already know you, and may even trust you (at least more than those on the mailing list you're thinking of renting), which means that the amount of time it will take to make the sale is shorter.
There are two parallel strategies for building your In-House list: in the first, you choose your prospects by compiling names from invoices, business cards and little bits of paper and records, attendee lists from networking meetings. The names you want to capture are those of everyone who's ever expressed interest in your work.
At the same time, choose marketing tools that motivate qualified leads to raise their hands and ask you to market to them — tools like publicity and press coverage, offers of free samples, and the newest marketing tool: email newsletters.
Together, these two strategies produce your Dream List — people who either already know you or whom you've selected to get to know you.
Sounds like a lot of work? It's actually not the complex task you may imagine it to be — it just takes some work and some time. In fact, compiling your Dream List is an ongoing process that can be surprisingly economical and made to fit manageably your day-to-day routine. Just keep your eyes open and be organized.
4 SIMPLE WAYS TO GET PROSPECTS TO IDENTIFY THEMSELVES
My most effective list — my Dream List — is the one that keeps growing because every day, people call my toll-free number. They call because they've read about this newsletter in a magazine or it was recommended by a colleague. Maybe they've even purchased one of my handbooks, sight unseen.
I have no doubt that these people are my prospects; I know they're interested because they've qualified themselves. They've raised their hand and said "I need what you have. Please tell me more." Whether they know it or not, they've granted me permission to market to them.
Besides traditional publicity, (i.e. getting your name and phone number in the press) here are a few ways you can get your prospects to raise their hands ...
1. Reader Information Cards.
This newsletter was recently listed on the Reader Information insert in Target Marketing. Readers circle the number corresponding to my blurb, then the magazine sends me their labels and I send them information they requested. In some publications, this is paid advertising, in others, it's part of their editorial content. Find out how your customers' trade magazines handle this.
2. Mail or Fax-Back Reply Cards.
Send out a simple, one-page letter to 100 prospects chosen from a trade group's directory of members, and include a form that your prospect can mail or fax back for more information. Those who do are hot leads -- almost as hot as they get. Be sure to follow up with a phone call to all who take the time to respond.
3. Offer something free.
Run an ad or coupon in a local or industry paper that will motivate prospects to call.
4. Simple mailing list form or guest book.
Keep a simple form handy for prospective customers to fill out when they come in, or for you to fill out when they call you.
How To Make Your Dream List A Reality - To learn more about this author, visit Ilise Benun's Website.
Like this article? Share it with your friends
 |
Related Articles |
|
 How to Go From Dreams Vision to Reality
|
| |
Do you have a dream or vision for your business or organization? Do you have a personal dream or vision? How many dreams or visions have you had in your life that you did not act upon? How many did you pursue? And w...
|
|
Row Sow Tow Your Boat
|
| |
The great spiritual masters have said that life is but a dream. But here we are in a scientific age with analytical brains and reason to boot. Let’s see...
|
|
If You Can Dream You CAN Become a Woman Entrepreneur
|
| |
Article to inspire and instill in women, no matter what their personal situation is, that if it is their dream to do so, they can turn their dream into reality and start their own business.
|
|
Turn Your Ideas into a Profitable Small Business
|
| |
The "idea phase" is one of the most exciting parts of the entrepreneurial process. You start to get a vision of how people will love the products that emerge from your idea, how they'll flock through the door, how y...
|
|
The Art of Passion
|
| |
 I was moved to write another manifesto on the nature of Dreaming in relationship with Passion.
|
 |
Related Businesses - Evan Elite Authors |
|
Kim Castle
With nearly two decades in the advertising and design business, with clients like Domino's Pizza, General Motors, Direct TV, Pedigree, Wolfgang Puck, Higher Octave Music, Hollywood Celebrity Products, Disney, and Paramount, as well as thousands of entrepreneurs around the world define, structure, communicate, and position their business for greater profits, BrandU(R) co-creators Kim Castle and W. Vito Montone discovered that entrepreneurs could experience the same power that big brands command for a fraction of the cost with the world's only process-based results-drive Integral approach to business creation.
BrandU(R) is helping entrepreneurs grow with the power of extreme clarity from idea...to brand...to market(TM) and helping one million entrepreneurs become successful and whole so that they can make a difference in the world. Are you one of them?
If you want to experience clarity all the way to the bank(TM), get started now at http://www.brandu.com. - Visit Kim Castle's Website |
|
Vwodek Wojczynski
Business Coach and Consultant Vwodek Wojczynski (pronounced Voy-chin-ski) brings fun, awareness, accountability and fresh perspectives based on his diverse experiences in life and business.
Born in Poland and educated in Greece and Canada, he is trilingual with 8 years experience in business development with clients in Canada, USA, Switzerland and Poland.
His approach is systematic and process-driven. He fuses the know-how of proven business methods with his commitment that entrepreneurs experience satisfaction and joy based on their values, motivations and strengths. He believes that businesses succeed based on their ability to generate value by providing what’s needed and wanted.
Ultimately, he trains executives and true business owners - people who work less, produce more, own businesses that run automatically after a while and make a difference globally.
His current research focus is the development of intelligent business systems and the application of emerging artificial intelligence technologies in business.
He is also an avid traveler, spoken word performer and visual artist. He resides in Toronto, Canada. - Visit Vwodek Wojczynski's Website |
|
George Ludwig
George Ludwig is a recognized authority on sales strategy and peak performance psychology. An international speaker, trainer, and corporate consultant, he helps clients like Johnson & Johnson, Abbott Laboratories, Northwestern Mutual, CIGNA, and numerous others improve sales force effectiveness and performance.
Though it's George's strategies and processes that help corporations increase productivity and performance, it's his tremendous energy and dynamism that spark the transformation. Again and again, clients remark on his amazing ability to unleash human capacity and inspire men and women to break out of their comfort zones. The result is a whole new type of salesperson.
His customized presentations teach achievers to make stunning advances in their lives. From helping salespeople realize cherished dreams to helping corporations exponentially accelerate revenue streams, George Ludwig leaves audiences and individuals empowered, emboldened, and clamoring for more.
George is the best-selling author of Power Selling: Seven Strategies for Cracking the Sales Code and Wise Moves: 60 Quick Tips to Improve Your Position in Life & Business. - Visit George Ludwig's Website |
|
The Evan Elite Authors program is currently in beta phase. For details please contact us.
|
|
|
Ilise Benun
(Visit Ilise's Website)
Ilise Benun is an author, consultant,
national speaker and co-founder of
Marketing Mentor.
Her books include “The
Designer’s Guide to Marketing and
Pricing"
(HOW Design Books, Spring 2008), “Stop
Pushing Me Around: A Workplace Guide for
the Timid, Shy and Less Assertive” (Career
Press 2006), “The Art of Self Promotion”
(2007) "Self-Promotion Online" and
"Designing Web Sites:// for Every
Audience" (HOW Design Books).
Her work has been featured in national
publications such as HOW Magazine, Inc.
Magazine, Nation’s Business, Self,
Essence, Crains New York Business, Dynamic
Graphics, The New York Times, Toronto
Globe and Mail, The Washington Post, The
Denver Post and more.
Benun publishes a blog ww
w.marketingmixblog.comand a weekly
email newsletter, Quick Tips from Marketing
Mentor!
which is read by 8000+ small business
owners.
Benun started her Hoboken, NJ-based
consulting firm in 1988 and has been
self-employed for all but 3 years of her
working life.
|
|
|
|
![[Get Copyright Permissions]](http://license.icopyright.net/images/icopy-w.gif){kind=small}
