In Part One of this guide, we looked at how advertising, referrals and trade shows can be Internet-based sales activities as well as office-based ones. Here are some other ways that you can translate your sales expertise into web success.
1. Seminars
Many businesses run seminars to attract new sales. Seminars range from product demonstrations to educational information, to business meetings. Traditionally, they are run at the office, or at a central venue with a single host or speaker, a presentation and a range of documentation. Attendance at a seminar usually takes up a half or whole day of each attendee's time. Online seminars, or webinars allow attendees to register online and attend online, saving them time and usually money. From the organiser's point of view, the initial costs of setting up a seminar can be large - you will require specific software to host a seminar - but if you use seminars regularly to promote your product and encourage sales, then consider the online version, where you won't just save the time of your regular customers, but attract new customers from around the world.
2. Corporate Literature
This one might seem obvious, but your corporate literature is an important part of generating sales leads. Its whole purpose is to sell your company and your product to its reader. On the Internet, of course, this is achieved by your website, which is like a corporate brochure with special effects. But you'd be surprised at how often companies get their website wrong. Before you venture into your website design, think about what you want your site to achieve - are you expecting your users to interact with the site? Do you want them to be able to purchase your product online? Consider the user - will they be able to navigate your site easily - and will they want all the information you're planning to put on there? Increasingly, your website is the first contact your prospect has with your company, and you want to make the best impression.
3. Newsletters
Many companies use newsletters to keep their customers up-to-date with product news and information and to maintain the product and corporate brand. Newsletters are used to encourage customer feedback and to highlight particular company issues. Historically, the online versions of these newsletters have been dry and uninspiring, because of the difficulties of re-producing a user-friendly newsletter in a similar format online. Solutions are available though, like our WebMags product, which re-creates your newsletter in an exact online version, complete with page turning, searching and zooming, giving your readers the flexibility to download and read wherever they are.
The Internet is bursting with sales possibilities and sales lead generation has never looked so easy. Don't be fooled, though. The science of sales is exactly the same on the web as it is in the office and if you lose sight of your key sales methods, you'll lose the sales too. Email info@wmg.uk.com or call 01423 529300 to see how we can give you measurable return on investment for your Internet marketing.