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May 18th, 2012
V2 Work Smarter Not Harder
You may have taken stock while creating your business plan on all of the essential tools that you will need to use to run your internet marketing business online. The trick is how to make all the various applications work together.
One of the sanest and most efficient ‘concepts’ on earth is the ‘relational database’ – What it means is having everything in one place and entering data only once, and having it all relate in an easy-to-navigate interface. For example, the key piece of data in the relationship is the person’s name. Every other piece of information that we have regarding this name should be in one place.
Examples of data that would be related to this name are his contact information, such as email address, phone, etc.; then you have your notes about your contacts with this person – what date you talked to him, what are his interests, what business he is in; the date you will follow-up. (V2 Leads Management)
We might also have a record of which emails we have sent him so that we do not send duplicate messages and/or that we know the next message in the series to send him and when the appropriate time to send is. Naturally the only way to do this is to have an autoresponder. (VereMail)
Hopefully what follows is what the programs or products this person has purchased from you are and at what level – that is what upgrades or etc. would be appropriate for him in the future – and again a date where we will follow-up with him to see how he is doing.
Very few organizations including the largest seem to understand the power a relational database has and instead seem to have fragments that must be constantly manually updated and require duplication of efforts to keep everything organized.
Oh, but the real nightmare here is if you are using different software for each function, there is a point where your versions will no longer ‘talk to each other’. Literally you will be copying and pasting databases across platforms or manually re-entering data to keep it all up to date and in one place.
Where multiple applications are used for various aspects of your business, it can be another job in itself to keep everything organized – or conversely to be in constant chaos. Not the way to run a business. That is why one of the smartest things you can do is to get a program that has everything all in one place and all linked together for you.
We want you to Work Smarter Not Harder. For about $50 a month you can have it all!
Networking Communications
We hear so much of the word 'networking' nowadays – what with computer networking and social networking. The first I remember hearing about networking was during the 1980’s and it was in reference to job search or career change in that recession. I read that ‘networking’ was the best way to find the most desirable business opportunities.
I had read that networking was ‘to know and be known without having an agenda’. So this means just acting natural – not being exploitative – not selling – just knowing – 'Hi how are you? What do you do? What are your interests?' (Let’s get to know each other).
This is the first step in building a relationship – once you see the things you may have in common, that relationship begins to grow and the more you know of that person, the more the relationship begins to be based on trust.
NOW at this juncture is where you might approach someone to do business. See the difference with selling? Selling is in your face – I don’t care about you I just want to sell you something. It’s very easy to say no to that, right? “Easy Come, Easy Go”.
The premise with job search was that people would be much more likely to share information about ‘prime’ available positions with someone they knew or that was recommended by a friend or associate, versus a stranger who just appeared out of the blue or sent their resume.
It is the same thing with business opportunities – wouldn’t you be more likely to trust someone you knew than just a faceless ad?
So just try to act natural – share information – be known – People will want to know you and what you have to offer. It is a very different ballgame with them coming to you to find out what you have than you running after them shoving your ad in their face when there is no foundation.
Remember to focus on people – on speaking naturally to them and appealing to their interests. Show genuine interest in what they are doing and what they are looking for help with. “To be interesting is to be interested” - be well-informed on your topic as well as on your audience – whether it is a program or product or whatever it is – know your stuff and then share it generously and maybe you can help a friend.