Johan Horak's Blog

The First Problem:

Many businesses don’t realise that their potential clients surf the internet for information. Most of these surfers are not ready to buy.

There are others who have done business with you and they may want to do business with you again but you have no way of staying in touch with them.

Let’s have a look at potential clients looking for information:

Traditionally businesses had to pay lots of money to advertise.

But when you advertise to sell your product you may be wasting your time. Why? Few people reading your advert are ready to buy. But many people reading your ad may be interested in knowing more. There’s a hunger for information. And you need to share and educate your audience.

Where do your potential clients go for information?

The internet.

Example One:

I want to buy an iPad but I prefer Android, because Apple is not open source. I am not convinced or ready to buy but I am ready to learn. Learning is normally free. Therefore I subscribe to blogs teaching me about Apple iPads and Android tablets. And may buy from the blogger I have come to know, like and trust.

Example Two:

Today I got a great newsletter from a teacher of mine. She has a website but is not aware of the tools I am discussing with you here today. She sends out an email newsletter using Outlook Express. The problem is that I cannot share her emailed wisdom with the world because I don’t have the World’s email addresses on me. I cannot share it via Twitter, Google Buzz or Facebook (the World). Sad opportunity lost.

A Second Problem:

• Depending on how tech savvy your audience is you have to find a way for them to subscribe to your information updates (via blog, Facebook, Google Buzz or other). With tech savvy clients you’ll not be reading this. But when your audience mostly use email you need an email subscription solution.
• You also want to add email address to your subscription tools because you have previous clients who have given you permission to send them information.

Why do you need a subscribe solution?

You want people, who find your blog interesting, and when they do give them a tool to stay in touch with you, so that they don’t have to go through elaborate searches to find you again; and maybe find your opposition.

As a tech shy business person you may find it difficult to integrate these subscription tools to your blog.

How did you solve this problem?

Here is my solution to group blogging and newsletter.