Are You Asking For Permission or Disaster?
by Maria Marsala
Summary: You may think you're using permission based marketing, however, the person receiving your email may think you're spamming them.
Learn more now.
Community groups and businesses alike can create permission-based enlists and ezine to build relationships with sponsors, members, clients and future sponsors, members and clients.
If used properly, enlists are community builders. If misused, they can get your email address or even your web site shut down by complaining members. OR you can end up picking up your phone to someone irate who then starts to bad mouth your business to his or her friends.
It used to be, that if you ran a contest or met someone at a networking meeting, and then contacted the person by mail or email, that was OAK. Or if you picked up a business card or brochure to send someone your postal newsletter, that was OAK. Spammers and junk mailers have helped change the way things "were done". .
What's a business owner to do? Ask for permission. Anytime someone gives you their card, ask if you can contact them using the information on the card. Ask specific questions regarding the type of contact you'd like to have with them. Asking helps you define what type of future relationship the person is willing to have with you. You'll get a much better idea if they "really" want you to contact them later, or if they're brushing you off, by listening to how they answer your "permission based" questions.
What low cost things can you do to create a permission-based marketing campaign?
- Create permission based index or post card size cards for people to complete.
- After receiving a business card, note on the card, the ways the person has given you to contact them.
- When speaking or conducting workshops create a permission based form to pass around.
Receiving permission is not difficult ¯ it is a more work on your part. This work will pay off in the long run. People who are on your lists will be people who want to be there... they'll be your best readers, referrals, sponsors and clients.
Speed up the permission based marketing process. Request a copy of the Evaluation Form I use when speaking or teaching,
© 2012 Elevating Your Business. An unstoppable entrepreneur, Maria Marsala is a business strategist, financial advisor coach, speaker, and author. Her clients are independent accounting, financial, and insurance advisors. She guides them to increase their productivity and profits, growing their businesses to serve their lives — not the other way around. Download her free Business Evaluator to quickly learn which areas of your business are screaming for your immediate attention and which areas deserve a big hurrah! Visit www.ElevatingYourBusiness.com
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