Adventures in Business and CRM

As an Internet Marketer, there hasn’t been anything more intimidating to me than Email Marketing. With all of the spam laws, and the major possibility of placing a ton of effort into an email campaign that may not arrive safely into the email inbox of every subscriber can be a bit frightening. Finding the sweet spot in email marketing is a bit more tricky than in other methods of internet marketing. Each industry varies on email response, as well as on many other factors.

So should one consider ruling out email marketing altogether?

Definitely Not!

It has many more pros than cons, which I will discuss in a later post. What I will tell you now, is that Email Marketing hasn’t lost it’s edge, and is still a great way to ramp up sales in any industry…if you know what you’re doing.

Here are 8 Powerful Email Marketing Techniques that I commonly refer to as the “Email’s Great 8″:

1. Longer Isn’t Always Better: The trick is to give readers actionable content – information they can use right away to solve a problem. You need to know what your readers’ problems are, so you can tell them how you or your company, service or product is going to solve these problems. Every email needs to give the reader something valuable and new. When you send out an email, put yourself in the readers shoes. Is it interesting? Is it going to better your life in any way?

2. Add Value: Focusing in on how to add value to your email newsletter or email marketing material is imperative. If you’re sending off emails with information on products, but not specific information on how it works, and what great things will happen if they have these products, you’re definitely not utilizing your email marketing to it’s fullest. I’ve seen many company’s whose email lists dwindle down by hundreds of people opting out, because they aren’t sending out useful content. Add more than just product displays and profiles. Include how-to articles, perhaps links to videos or articles of your product/service in action, and take any opportunity to show the reader that you’re not only looking to sell to them, but also help them in their everyday life.

3. Seperation is Key: Do you subscribe to your competitor’s newsletters and email marketing materials? If not, you are missing a great opportunity to not only research what’s working for them, but also to use that knowledge to stand out from the pack. If you’re doing exactly what they’re doing, someone who is signed up for your competitor’s newsletter and yours will likely opt of out one of these email lists. Don’t let it be yours. Be original, fun, and don’t be afraid to think outside of the box.

4. Welcome Letter Bliss: I am constantly seeing companies with great email lists that miss out on one crucial concept; the Welcome letter. When someone signs up for your newsletter, orders a product, or requests more information, this is really your opportunity to “wow” them with nice gestures…without being pushy. Coupons, useful content, free offerings, special clubs,  contests and other promotions are great for inclusion in a welcome letter. Don’t miss out on the opportunity to gain more sales, as well as to give them their first great experience as a customer with your company.

5. Create Email Titles Like a Ninja!: Have you ever clicked on an a Google search result, email, or blog post, simply because it sported a witty title? If you take a look around the internet at what’s getting tons of traffic, linkage, and buzz, chances are great that it has a great title. A great title instantly tells the user or reader what you, your product, or your service is going to do for them. Creating a sense of urgency is also great, without being pushy, of course. Aim to make your title catchy, realistic, but fun… all at once.

6. Create Community: Creating a sense of community around your email marketing campaign isn’t has tough as it sounds. Including simple elements like reader feedback, Q&A, or even a customer spotlight section gives the instant feeling of community around not only your overall brand, but your mailings as well. Take note from brands that you think have done a good job at incorporating it’s user/customer image into it’s online mailings.  People who are using your product or service will generally have a similar common goal. Run with this concept, and use this commonality to unite your brand’s loyalist clients into one rabid fan base for your company. Make them feel like it’s something special they are taking part in.

7. Brand it Baby!: A well-branded email marketing campaign is one of the most important factors in creating not only a useful newsletter, but also a memorable one. When opening your newsletter, you want to give your reader the feeling that they’re opening a present, with a shiny, new, and useful tool or toy inside.  Your brand should be one that really portrays the core culture of your business.  Some of my nominations for best in branding when it comes to email marketing are Apple, Monster.com,  and Smashbox.com.

8. Watch the Pros, and Learn: Set aside at least an hour, and skim through your old email marketing newsletters from other companies in your email inbox. What are some of your favorites? Why are they your favorite? What could they improve on? What caught your eye? What made you feel the email was worth continuing to receive? What will keep you from opting out of a retailer or service provider’s email newsletter list? Jot down your notes from your findings, and study it a while. You may be surprised at what you find. Ask friends and colleagues what they look for in email newsletters.  Always study what the big companies do, and don’t be afraid to take their innovation a step further!

Over the past few weeks, we’ve experienced more economic hardship than I could have ever imagined. Millions of jobs have been cut, large companies have shut their doors and even our own government is cutting spending by decreasing government employee hours. With all of this penny pinching going on, it can definitely start to feel discouraging to a business or an entrepreneur looking to ramp up their marketing efforts.

Many of of my colleagues have been asking me for advice on how to earn extra money to keep their marketing stable, or even to grow their overall marketing efforts, since others in their industry are seemingly decreasing their marketing spending.  We know sales and overall conversions are down, but these same sales would be stagnant without any marketing at all, which is why we shouldn’t roll-over and play dead because things are getting tough. It just takes a bit of thinking outside of the box.

While many of my suggestions may seem like they’re “below” some people, I argue that in this economy, nobody is below much of anything, short of working the streets (which I don’t recommend). I know a man who was just laid off of his $200,000 per year job and is now working as a bank teller for less than $12 an hour.  It is because of this, business owners may need to broaden their horizons when it comes to bringing in some extra working revenue into their business. I also see many of my entrepreneur friends dipping into their savings to market their businesses. This is very risky, and I always recommend having some cushion money to fall back on if you’re a business owner, and especially if you have a family.

While brainstorming with a friend, we came up with our list of:

Ways to Raise Money to Market Your Business in a Bad Economy

• Let go of Things that Don’t Matter: This is the first thing I ask clients and colleagues when they say they don’t have money… “Do you have “stuff”? Everyone loves stuff. You will likely sell it for less than you purchased it for, which is fine if it was something you didn’t use often anyways. If you’ve got a $5,000 pool table in your home that you never use, sell it! If you drive a newer luxury car that is paid for, why not trade it in for something a bit more practical? Unused office equipment? Sell it! These downgrades aren’t permanent. We all know that things will eventually get better. For now, every penny really does count.

• Make the Most of Your Client List: All of your old invoices are worth their weight in gold. Even if you aren’t the best record keeper, you should have some record of whose been purchasing from you over the years. If you have employees, put them to work calling or emailing old customers and simply asking how they are doing. Special “loyalty discounts” and other specials could do the trick.  Remember not to be pushy, and to keep the customer’s best interest in mind. You should be calling/emailing with “How can I help them?” in mind.

• Barter or Trade: Now more than ever, I’ve noticed that more and more people are willing to barter or trade services, expertise and even merchandise. Ask yourself what will help you raise money, and brainstorm it onto a list called “Things I Need To Barter or Trade For“. Post your barter request on local and regional classified sites, social networks, and of course on Twitter.  This will likely get you some good results. Do remember that your trades need to be relatively equal in value, and they should equip you with something to better your business by.

• Put Your Other Skills to Use: Outside of your business activities, what other skills do you posses that could earn you extra money? Are you a good writer? Many people make a good amount of extra cash doing freelance writing work, and with the internet, it’s very easy to find. Perhaps you are good at math? Tutoring local students could also earn you some extra cash. I know a local woman who works from her home office, and also watches a handful of kids (all over 9 years old) during the weekdays to supplement her income since business was down a bit.  She ended up making a bit more than she had thought she would, and used the excess to put towards more marketing that helped her immensely.

Besides smarter budgeting, what are some other ways you have found to raise money to keep your business going? Chances are, it required you to be resourceful, and to truly think outside of the box.

Every now and again, after consulting with, or helping launch a large campaign for a client, I go back and take a look at the initial waves of traffic coming in from the newly implemented internet marketing efforts. At that point, it’s close to 100% new users on the site. What better time to get a fresh perspective on what fresh pairs of eyes are really doing on your site, right? Time and time again, there is one element that always holds true about the habits of users on a site, and it’s as dependable as the sun is. This one element holds the real key to harnessing the power of your new-found web traffic, and it’s probably THE most important aspect of internet marketing that I’ve yet to encounter.

I am eluding to The Call and The Response.

The call and the response is just that; a call to action… and the response to that specific call. Even offline marketers know that when you’re marketing something, you’ve got to provide a call to action. A simple shout of your business’s name isn’t going to do as much good as an even larger shout telling your consumers what action they need to do to take next. Your call to action is as important as, if not more important than your actual marketing campaign itself.

You would be surprised at how many clients I have initially encountered who are running what I call “lost man” internet marketing campaigns. I have dubbed campaigns with a weak or nonexistent call to action the “lost man” campaign because that is exactly what your users end up being on your website without a clear call to action…lost men (and women).  What is the point of spending precious marketing funds on aimless traffic?

Gain better leverage and better return on your marketing efforts by always having a clear and concise call to action on your website, along with every landing page you implement.

I always laugh to myself at the response of my clients when I tell them the following:

Like a 3-year old child, you need to put, in very simple terms, in an “attention grabbing” matter… what your web users very next action should be on your website. Just as a 3-year old, you need to tell them exactly what is expected of them to reap the full response. In doing so, always remember that the call should be directly associated with how it will help the user.

What is a call? A call to action can be:

Sign up for our newsletter!

Join our club!

Buy our limited edition chocolate before it’s gone!

and so on…

Your call to action should be done in an “in your face” manner that grabs their attention. Using brighter colors, different fonts, and special graphics generally gets the point across well.

I challenge everyone to take a closer look at their site, and those of their competition. How does your call to action measure up to theirs?

For more ideas on how to implement a solid call to action, simply browse the website of any big company that you admire. Chances are, they will have a very specific call to action that you can learn a great deal from.

What are some of the most creative “call to action” methods you’ve seen?

For Internet Marketers, the last 12 years have been an unbelievable blur of ever-changing rules, strategies, concepts, web 2.0′s/3.0′s, with an unhealthy side of scams and hype. For the average business owner trying to keep up with these rules, it’s been an unrelenting race that has been nearly impossible to take the lead in.

With the internet’s landscape forever changing, and the average internet user becoming smarter and more keen to blatant advertising every minute, how does one foresee which of the vast array of internet marketing tactics will actually hit home with their audience?  You could follow the lead of the big guys implementing newer tactics, such as social media… but does it really work? What about Pay Per click advertising? Isn’t it expensive? I bet you’ve heard a friend of a friend talk about how they were able to get some notable amounts of traffic using YouTube or Video marketing.

If you’ve ever asked yourself  “How can I really leverage internet marketing, without doing something that just doesn’t work anymore”, then you’re going to highly benefit from this post. The rules have changed, and they keep changing, so I cannot say that these rules will be 100% relevant in a year, or even in 6 months. With the internet, you never know! However, right now, they are relevant, and they will help you educate yourself what your local Search Engine Marketing firm probably won’t tell you about utilizing the Internet in your marketing efforts.
The Rules Have Changed! The New Rules of Internet Marketing

• It’s all About Your Audience: Focus on your USER, not yourself, your product, or your service. Build genuine relationships with your users, and focus on them at all times. Your campaign should be focused around what your product or service can do for your user… not simply about how great your product is.
• Implementing most Blackhat SEO Methods will get you Banned: Most search engines are catching on very quickly, and a variety of blackhat SEO methods are now being recognized much faster than they used to be. Once you are black listed, it’s tough to come back from.
• Implement A system of Testing: The only constant on the internet is change. It is because of this that yourself, or your internet marketer needs to be split testing all campaigns in any given area at least once a month. This includes targeted keywords for relevance, SEO, PPC, and social media efforts.
• Researching your Market is a MUST: You may think you know all there is to know about your key demographic, or you may think that your key demographic is “everyone”, right? Wrong. Broad marketing efforts are far less effective unless your budget is close to unlimited. Each product or service should have it’s targeted niche. Aimless marketing efforts will lose you more money than they will earn. Find out who you’re really targeting or who’s really buying your product. You may be surprised to find that it’s not who you thought it was.
• You will Pay for More When Hiring an SEO, SEM, or Internet Marketing Consultant: Not too long ago, any guy with a laptop and internet connection could claim to be a “good” SEO expert, and charge a few hundred dollars per month to head an SEO campaign. In all honesty, I believe you get what you pay for, and in the Internet Marketing industry this couldn’t be more true. So many people come to me (everyday) having absolutely no idea what to budget for a consultant or an SEO. It is alright to pay a few thousand per month to someone who knows what they’re doing.  You wouldn’t believe how many clients I get who have been burned with very little or no results from past consultants and “gurus”. Why? Because they were looking for a deal.
• Connect using Social Media: If you’re not already utilizing social media, then you should. Why? Because you will gain priceless insight into your demographic. I could list 1000 other reasons, but your main objective is to listen, help, and build genuine relationships. Sales are secondary. Trust me, you’ll get it once you’re involved.
• Video Is In, so start Creating!: If you can make it a more interactive experience for your users, do it! Furniture companies can opt to create weekly video shows on decorating and interiors. Jewelry companies can create a series on fashion, or even creative marriage proposals happening live and in real-time. No matter what industry you are in, there is always a way to integrate video into your brand. In fact, it’s a wonderful way to effectively get your brand out, in a more visual and non-pushy way. Simply try to add value, as you would in any other social media situation, and you’ll do well.
• Really Listen : Dedicate time and resources to listening to your target audience. Who are they…really? What are their daily struggles? Complaints? Rants? Common web surfing habits? Find out everything you can about them and make sure to implement a way to organize all of your data from listening.
• Implement Metrics on Everything you Can Measure: Because of all of the new avenues of marketing the internet now provides, there must be a system of measurement in place to find out exactly which of these methods produces, and in what ways. Install an analytics program or service on your site, and keep close tabs on who is coming from where, and what those users from sites like Twitter are doing on your site.  This will enable you to focus more attention on what works, and less on what doesn’t produce as well.
• Don’t Underestimate the Power of a Blog: This is a big one. Effective and engaging content can lead to many potential and frequent users on a site. The best way to feature engaging content is to display in blog format somewhere on your own website. However, it’s not limited to just having a blog. Being featured on a well-known blog can render tons of highly targeted traffic to your own site in a very short amount of time.  Not only is this great marketing, it’s cost efficient. It’s also like having a friend tell 10,000 of their own friends that they recommend a service or product. Word of mouth marketing is still the most powerful and effective tool in the world of marketing…even on the internet.
• Spam Gets you Nowhere: In the older days of internet marketing, spamming forums, messages boards, (and other countless methods) could get you quick and effective first-page rankings within a week or two. Now, spamming simply annoys everyone, and takes away your credibility as a company or a professional. Spamming is no longer a way to get to the top. Don’t do it.
• They Know What You’re Up to! Time to Up Your Game: Many internet users are now much smarter than before. (Yes, I was shocked to learn this too!).    They’ve learned that the clever pop-up inviting them to play a free game of poker is really just an ad that will eventually ask for their credit card information. They know that the free offer on the side of the screen is simply just a ploy to get their home address.  It is because of this that many internet marketers are replying heavily on social tactics. In our age, marketing has got to be even more focused, targeted, and tested. As your demographic wisens up, you’ll have to polish up your marketing tactics…and it will be never-ending. Remember, testing is key. Don’t spend a ton of money on a campaign unless you’ve tested it and have proof that it works and converts for your business, not just your competitor’s.
• Impressive Branding Now Includes Having a Multi-Layered Presence: A notable brand should be featured well beyond the limits of it’s office walls or it’s company website. It should be talked about,  blogged about, Twittered about, IM’d about, and contain a viable and traceable trail of footprints that potential users can easily find when searching for information on your company. Your brand should be everywhere, and this mindset should be woven into every aspect of the internet marketing initiatives.
• Marketing Tools are Now a Must: Marketing tools that are frequently offered SAAS (or Software as a Service) are becoming essential tools in any Internet Marketer’s box of tricks.  It is nearly impossible to run a smooth internet marketing campaign without utilizing the tools of the trade.  These tools include analytics tools, CRM solutions, email management accounts, site performance tools, accounting tools, and much more. The good news is that many are offered at a variety of different price ranges to suite every budget. Some are even free and others offer free trials to help you gauge whether their service is a good match for your business.
• Utilize Social Search: If you ever wanted to know what a good amount of the internet was talking about at any given moment, most people know that you could easily head over to Twitter’s search feature to see immediate results on any keyword. You can even be updated on what people are talking about by signing up to Twitter trending clients offered via certain twitter accounts and utilities. Internet Marketers will realize how important these tools really are,  given the rapid nature in which life-streaming tools are growing.

If you found these rules helpful, please Stumble, Tweet, Digg, or share this article!

There are many misconceptions about networking for business purposes, that ultimately, many newer networkers get very turned off to business networking events simply because of the pushy sentiment that many people tend to lean towards when trying to make new friends in the business world. Now more than ever, business relationships have become worth their weight in gold.  With the popularity of the internet, it’s easy enough to make friends online, right?

We’ve got sites like LinkedIn, which really helps break the ice when it comes to meeting new people in our industry, or perhaps an industry that we’re trying to break into. However, with so many new technologies making it so simple to have these contacts at our disposal, we often start collecting and hoarding contacts, followers, fans, and prospects like nobody’s businesses… simply because we can.  To break this habit of going through the motions, simply adding contacts because they “look” interesting. Take it a step further, and make it a goal to create long lasting business relationships with the people you are adding to your social networks….online and offline.

7  Steps to Creating Long Lasting Business Relationships

1. Be Sincere: There’s nothing more annoying than meeting a new business contact who doesn’t say what they mean. If you’re wanting to connect with someone because you admire them, tell them so! If you’re wanting to connect because you are looking to break into the industry, tell them so as well! Chances are, you’ll end up gaining a mentor, because most experienced business people are generally willing to answer questions and help out. Be sincere and honest about your intentions. If you live in their area, and are simply wanting to connect with other business professionals for the sake of having someone to relate to, then tell them. Business owners are really in a league of their own, so most will understand your need to relate.
2. Don’t Implement “Automatic Networking” tactics: There was a debate a while back on Twitter about automatic responses. Many people have implemented automatic DM’s (Direct Messages) to be sent to their new followers basically saying “thank you” or “hey, check out my site”. This is highly discouraged for those looking to create personalized business relationships. Would you walk into a conference and say the exact same thing to everyone you met?  Probably not! Generally, each person likes to be greeted personally… with a personalized comment.  Your automatic email responses and twitter responses are not going to get you the results you are looking for when building solid business relationships…especially if your direct response is “Hey, go to my site (and buy this!)”…. or “hey, look at my blog”.  Take the time to greet everyone personally. (if you can’t, take a few minutes every day to at least personally respond to a few additions within your contacts). It tells them that they were worth your time, and that their friendship is important to you.  Remember, they can probably figure out how to get to your blog if they’ve found you on Twitter.  You won’t lose out, trust me.
3. Take Initiative: Often times, you’ll see people with a network of 500 or more on LinkedIn, and you start to wonder how they manage all of those contacts. Realistically most people have never met more than at least 100 of their contacts, and have likely not spoken to at least half of them over the phone. Building real relationships means showing that person that you are genuinely wanting to conect with them… not just by having them as a “friend” on your giant list of “friends” within your myspace, facebook, or linkedin accounts. Take initiative and send at least 5 of your contacts an email everyday. Set up phone calls to connect and chat. Do a local search… do you live near any of your contacts? Invite them to chat over coffee! Start a local group for yourself and your  new found contacts. The possibilities are endless.
4. Tear Down Those ‘ Walls’: It’s not all about business with business relationships. Generally, you have far more in common with your business connections than you may realize. Or perhaps you have no business aspects in common, but you love the same kind of music, or are passionate about trying new wines. Bring a your personality to the forefront of your online and offline conversations. I love talking to other business owners who have a passion. (even when it’s for things I am not familiar with). It gives me the opportunity to learn from them about why they love what they love.  Ask about their favorite kind of music, remember their birthday, favorite restaurants, foods, art, and so on. Use these as opportunities to open other means of communication. If you’re attending a new restaurant along the same lines as your colleagues favorite food, invite him and his wife along! Remember, use this method in moderation, otherwise you may come off as nosey, creepy, or even a stalker.
5. Be Generous: Have a new friend who just started his blog? Give him a shout out on your Twitter and introduce him to your giant network! Note one of his better blog posts! Getting a colleague to remember you is easy when you know how to be generous. I’m not saying to go out and buy them gifts or expensive items.  It’s really the little things that count, because to someone who needs help, these small deeds don’t seem so little at the time. Is your good friend a word-class chef? Go to his local Yahoo/Google pages and give him good reviews! Give him good reviews on his social sites as well.  Happen to be a web designer? Help out your new contact with his new site. Even just a few pointers to get him in the right direction helps! The best way to make friends is to be selfless. When you see someone struggling, cheer them up and help them remember their passion, and why they WILL succeed. Everyone needs cheerleaders. Especially business owners.
6. Don’t Sell: This is a given, but I had to include it. Don’t ever try to sell yourself to your business relationships at any point. They know what you do for a living, they know what services you offer, and they know how to contact you if they need them. You’re there to be a friend, as are they. You are there to mutually benefit each other. If you’ve agreed to refer others to each other, then that’s great, but be sure to keep this process professional and clean of self-selling.
7. Create Weekly/Monthly Contact Habits: If you’re like most business owners, professionals, or entrepreneurs, your week is probably already jam-packed with work, meetings, calls, and emails. However, taking time out to network is imperative to building your business relationships. Make it a point to set aside time at least once a month to go over your new contacts and connect with them on a higher level. Whether it be making a phone call, sending a friendly email, or inviting them to chat over coffee at your local Starbucks or Coffee Bean. Is it someones birthday? Send them a card and something else creative and memorable. Putting thought into the little things really makes an impact down the road.

The benefits of creating long lasting business relationships far outweight the time it takes to nuture them. Be sure to always be honest, and treat others as you would want to be treated. If you’re having trouble approaching people, just ask yourself how you’d like to be approached in that particular situation. You’re not making making relationships purely for your success, but to genuinely build meaningly friendships.

***  What are some of your favorite ways to really connect with your business contacts and colleagues?

As I was going over some of the marketing initiatives I had for a few of my businesses today, I became increasingly excited about a few things that were going on within the companies I had worked so hard to build.  It’s amazing to see a simple concept that I thought of while running a few miles early one morning, turn into full-fledged operations with a brand, a product/service, a following, and even a bit of buzz. It’s always interesting to see how people react to new concepts and companies that are brought to their attention. There are always one of three possible reactions. The first reaction being pure joy and excitement – which is rare. The second reaction is indifference, or a simple “cool” .  And the third possible reaction comes most often…”Nice concept, cool idea/product… maybe I’ll get one or use this service someday”. This is commonly described as “somewhere in the middle”. Marketers refer to them as “buyers on the fence”.

Can I Get Excited About Your Brand? Can You?

The unfortunate truth is that 1/3 of companies that exist today are nothing to really get excited about. They may produce their promised result, but there’s simply nothing infectious about the company’s brand or community. It always comes back to community, doesn’t it? So many of the internet’s top consultants talk about creating a community around your brand… and for good reason. I remember talking about this in a post called Increasing Sales in 5 Days Today’s tough economy makes effective once marketing methods of the past almost obsolete. Top marketers are now scrambling for newer tactics to “trial and error” other concepts on the newer more frugal marketplace.

If You’re Not Excited About Your Brand, Chances Are, Neither is Your Customer

Have you ever been awake late at night, flipping through the channels on your television, and you come across those mesmerizing infomercials? I’m not talking about the ho-hum infomercials of old. I’m talking about the full-on screaming, yelling, fun and excitement filled infomercials that you end up watching like 4 times, even though you know you aren’t going to buy that particular product or service? Do you notice a common trait among all of these infomercials? Each one doesn’t talk about how great the company is, or even how great the product is. The focus of these hard-hitting infomercials is always on what the product or service can do for the customer! The announcer or narrator is excited, and even sometimes yelling, because his product is doing great things for it’s customer.

I won’t lie… I’ve watched the infomercial with the hot girl who features a six-pack… and almost fell for her story of how she lost all of her post-baby weight, got taller, tanner, and sexier because she used her ab-roller everyday for 5 minutes. Her before picture features her with a sad and forced smile, looking pale, fat, and miserable. The newer, leaner, and better version of the new mom features an instant tan, longer/better styled hair, whiter teeth, and even a guy who appears out of nowhere because he wants a piece of this now-hot girl.  Oh, how I love infomercials! They are great at making the consumer feel that this one product… at this ONE time will solve all of their problems and make everything better in their life… if they just ‘BUY NOW’!

Time to Get Excited About What You Offer!!!!

It’s time to ask yourself an important question. This may be the most important question you’ll ever ask yourself as a business owner, or potential business owner…or eve as a marketer. Are you excited about your business? Your brand? Your marketing? Your clients? If not, why? If so, then are you excited enough?

Think about the passionate people at Apple…specifically Steve Jobs.  Steve Jobs is reknown for his keynotes because of his enthusiasm. You can tell that he thrives on delivering new products and concepts to eager mac lovers to revel at. His passion is infectious. Be the Steve Jobs of your industry. Create passion within your usership that derives from your own enthusiasm.

What keeps you from feeling your product or service is something to get excited about?

I firmly believe that every product or service has the potential to make it’s prospects enthusiastic buyers, and that’s really what it takes to sell in this market. A car is not just a car. It’s a mode of transportation. Kids experience their first life experiences, first beach trips, vital doctor visits, along with trips to visit precious families in these things. It’s more than a car, it’s a tool used to live life to it’s fullest. No longer are things just things. Objects are no longer just there for the sake of being there. Everything has a greater purpose, and tapping into those emotional experiences to elicit excitement in your consumer is the key to creating rabid fans of your brand.

How do you get lured into being a passionate user of a product or service? What are your experiences on this? Please feel free to chime in with your your opinions and experiences -  I am interested to hear your views on this one!