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Would you like to get maximum branding power using E-mail
without spending another dime? Many
are using E-mail, but few are maximizing this opportunity to create a unique and
distinctive on-line presence when
sending communications. Keep in mind that electronic messaging for the most part is
a flat medium using text only. Unlike a business card, there are no photos,
logos or colors to make the communication outstanding, unless you use fancy
digital graphics fonts and stationery. Although
these are great tools, many have browsers that aren’t that advanced, which may
inhibit the transmission. So how can you send a simple message and pack it with
E-Power? Begin implementing a few
of the steps below and cash in on building a strong E-Presence. Are you selling
you and your name? If you don’t have your name in front of the
“dot.com” (or “dot.net”)
in your E-mail address, you most likely do not have a permanent E-mail address.
Imagine having someone else’s name or phone number on your business
card! Registering your own
name builds your business presence around you
as the basis for your marketing efforts, both regular and digital.
Purchase your “domain” name and use it as the cornerstone to brand
yourself on the Internet. Registering your own domain insures that no matter what
business you are in, or what Internet Service provider you choose to use, your
E-mail and web address will remain constant.
No need to reprint, or repaint signs, as long as you
maintain the annual registration of your domain name.
Choose a name that is YOU, not your company or a slogan that may not make
it clear who is behind the name. Domain registration is easy and costs under $70
for the first 2 years and is a nominal annual fee there after to maintain the
“licensing” for you to continue to use your name.
Be smart…get your own domain right away and begin building your
electronic marketing plan around the important person in your business. YOU! Supply Full Information Many send an E-mail with very little information about the
sender. Anything less than a personal branded E-mail address can make
it tricky to find out exactly from whom the message is being sent. Take very opportunity to add value and convenience by
typing out full information about you at the close of your message.
Sign off, but include your full name, Company with address and phone,
your credentials, your E-mail address and your Web address.
To really add a convenient step, type your E-mail and web address so they
appear as “hot links” when received. This
easy step requires typing the words “mailto” without a space before your
E-mail address. To create a hot
link to your website, type in the full http://www
which will light up as an automatic link to your site, offering more information
about you and what you do. Make
Automation work for you This whole process can be simplified by implementing a few
easy shortcuts available in your mail manager (built into most browsers).
There is a process to create an automatic full signature text that
automatically adds your full information signature to every E-mail that is sent.
This is the age of automation, and sending your E-mail already set up for
you with critical information is not only easy, it’s a smart thing to do!
You can usually look in your “tool box” for the steps to create your
signature. Ask a tech coach for
help, and get going! Build your
address book: The most
important part of an E-mail message is the E-mail address bank you build from
exchanging on-line communications. When
using a mail manager, an address book can be filled instantly with a simple
“right” click on the person’s E-mail address, which automatically will add
it to your contact base. (Microsoft Internet Explorer Mail Manager.
Check for the steps with other products).
This information is your wealth builder for 21st century
E-commerce. Don’t miss an
opportunity to build and categorize your contact database. – Expand use by
creating distribution groups to send mail to all those people that are involved
with a singular project. You’ll
save time, money and improve your own efficiency. Get Organized: Most people think they are on-line because they exchange
E-mail, but few are implementing the tools to organize and maximize on-line
communication. A good mail manager
offers the opportunity to create on line “folders” to electronically
“file” your correspondence. This
convenience insures organization, and creates a paper trail. By designing folders on line, you can eliminate printing and
deleting of valuable information. Create
folders for those regular communications you need to keep at your fingertips,
like meeting minutes, active transactions, past clients, important links and
closed transactions. Practice
“Netiquette” when corresponding: Keep in mind that E-messaging is a flat medium without the
benefit of enjoying the visuals or audio benefits of phone or person to person
contact. Be mindful of spelling
errors, poor punctuation or the misuse of upper and lower case typing to make
your communications look less than professional.
Take advantage of automatic spell checking which is built in to your mail
manager to insure professional looking messages. Avoid slang or profanity in any communication. Emoticons A fun way to communicate real “emotions” on the Internet is with the use of Emoticons. Emoticons are simply punctuations put together to convey the tone or emotion behind a text message. When joking, the addition of an emoticon conveys the levity intended by the sender. When you put a semi-colon with a dash and a half of parantheses together, you get a symbol that looks like this: ;-) That little wink insures that the recipient understands the jesting intention. There are plenty of emoticons being used like a happy face :-) Or a frown L Or a giggleJ) Whenever appropriate, these fun inclusions can help
communicate your true intentions when using E-mail. Electronic messaging is a fantastic communication tool that
can be used to promote ourselves while providing instant information for less
than a phone call. Take every
opportunity to let us know you are the sender, sign it professionally with the
convenience of additional information, convenient linking and set up for an easy
response back. E-Blast
your E-Presence Now that you have your act together, don’t waste another minute hiding your electronic presence. Although many are using E-mail, more are still not aware of how to promote themselves and their E-Presence. Get your permanent E-mail on every piece of promotional material you have. Include your E-mail and web address on your business cards and stationery. Don’t miss adding this information to those programs you already have in place, like brochures, flyers and direct mail. Get creative and get sign riders that add your web and E-mail address for those “digitally inclined” customers. As a natural part of sales, we offer ways to reach us….so definitely include the Internet side to this information. Throw away old cards without this information and start moving down the information highway with all the right tools to reach you, anytime, anywhere! See you on-line! |
