Product Promoting: Getting the Response!
When you publish a content site there are times when affiliate products are not the only products you want to recommend.
Situations when you'll find you'll want to promote a non-affiliate businesses' product(s).
So you'll have to set out to ask permission to do so.
And when you request to use other businesses' copyrighted material, such as graphics or content, you want to be certain to receive a reply back as fast as possible, don't you?
Absolutely!
Then there are several things you must be aware of.
What must you be aware of?
You must be aware that there are various reasons why you may receive a slow response. Or never receive a response at all. And here are the reasons why:
1. The prospect is very busy and does not have time to respond to you promptly.
2. In connection with #1, the prospect is busy, means to reply, delays, and then forgets.
3. The prospect may have to do a little research to find out if you are able to use the material since it may not actually belong to the company itself.
4. The answer to your request is "no."
After you understand all of those reasons there is one very important factor that could help you receive a quicker response.
And that is making it as easy as possible for your prospect to answer your request.
The less work he has to do, the faster the reply will come.
Typically speaking, if you request to feature material (of another business) on your website, most intelligent parties will realize it is free advertising for them.
But they still want to be particularly certain that your website is of high caliber.
Since the image of your website reflects on their business.
So you MUST give your prospect every reason in the world to say "yes" to your request.
And how do you do that?
1. Own a high quality website.
2. Inform him that is it FREE advertising for his business.
3. Include a link to your website in your email. And then call attention to your website address. (Offer an example page [if possible]).
4. Offer a simple way for him to give you an answer.
5. Be VERY aware that your email is equivalent to a resume (curriculum vitae). How the email appears is how you appear. If its sloppy, then you're sloppy, and your website is sloppy. It must be professional, have no typos, or grammar errors. Proofread!
It is best to create a template that you can use anytime a situation occurs in which you need to request to use another business' material. And in that template there should be a simple multiple choice section.
If you've done all of the work for the prospect then you have a much higher chance of getting the response. Remember, you're the one infringing on his time.
Why should he have to spend extra time out of his day to respond to you? He doesn't need you. You need him.
So give him every reason to respond.
His minutes wasted = unlikely response.
His seconds wasted = very likely response.
Minutes and seconds are a large margin apart.
Less work for your prospects equal more responses. More work for your prospects equal less responses.
Due to my own experiences I realize how important this is so I have even made it very easy for you.
I have created a template that can you use and alter to your liking. Copy and paste it into a text editor and save it.
Even if you don't need it for this specific reason you may need it later for another vital reason.
Template:
Greetings,
Let me introduce myself. My name is (Your Name). E-business owner of (Your Website Name).
There are several products that I have found on (Name of Prospect's Website Name) that have aroused my interest. And I would like to promote these products on my website. I think they would be very valuable to my visitors and send a moderate amount of traffic to (Prospect's Website Name). Therefore, I am contacting you to request permission to use the following materials on (Your Website Name):
1. (Product Name)
2. (Product Name)
3. (Product Name)
You can conclude your decision that (Your Website Name) is of high caliber by clicking on the following link:
(Your Website Name)
Also to help make your decision easier I have included a sample page of how your product will look displayed on (Your Website Name):
Sample Page
http://www.yourdomain.com/sample.html
I recognize that each person's time is very valuable so to make things simple I have included a fast and easy way for you to respond to my request. It will take no more than 30 seconds worth of your time.
To respond simply hit the "Reply" button of this email, put an "x" in one of the boxes (below) next to whichever option serves as your answer, and then hit "Send" (to send the email to me) and you're all done:
My answer is...
[ ] Yes
[ ] I'll have to check into that. I'll get back with you.
[ ] No
Thank you so much for your time. I look forward to receiving your answer. Have a great day!
Best Regards, (Your Name)
email@yourdomain.com http://www.yourdomain.com
See how easy that makes it for the prospect?
All he has to do is take a couple of seconds to reply and he'll be rid of you for good (hopefully). :P
The prospect has no real hassles with having to take much time to think up how to word a reply.
It's all done for him.
And should the prospect need to check things out before he can give you a final answer, be certain to send the prospect a follow-up email (like the template above) 1-7 days after you receive the prospect's answer.
The follow-up email can sit in his email box and be available to him when he does finally have the answer to your question.
Remember, the more your prospects have to think or work, the less chance you'll have of receiving that reply. Ever.
Do as much of the work as you can for them.
(c) 2003 by Tameka Norris
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