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Hall of Shame - The Bad Boys of UCE
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Ensure Open Communication Without Relying On E-Mail
Ensure Open Communication Without Relying On E-Mail (c)2003 Ginger Geracitano
In these days of E-Mail filtering, we small business owners are hard pressed for effective ways to keep our clients and prospects informed. While an Opt-In list is still the best Marketing tool you can have working for your business, there are other ways to keep your offers in front of 'the eyes that buy'. I've outlined four of my favorite methods below, but encourage creativity.
My premise is simply this; develop a relationship with your clients and/or prospects, and you will see success. I've successfully used all of the tactics outlined below to do just that, develop trusting relationships.
I know that this may seem a little out of the mainstream of what other Marketers are saying, but I've personally become tired of 'wondering' if my e-mails are getting through, or how many important mails are NOT being delivered to me because my ISP decided that I didn't need to see that mail. Filtering is way out of hand, and rather than sitting and complaining about it, I've decided to think outside the box, and come up with viable alternatives. :o)
Online Messenger Services:
Free services, such as AIM (AOL Instant Messenger), Yahoo Messenger, ICQ, Windows Messenger and PalTalk are easy to install and operate. I've found that I have to limit my time on each of these services, otherwise my days tend to slip away from me! Regardless, my clients know where to find me.
Services like Yahoo and ICQ allow offline messages too. This means that even if I'm not online, my clients can send me a message that I will see as soon as I do login. Even if their mail isn't working, we can still communicate!
Easy Downloads Available Here:
AIM: http://www.aim.com/ AIM Add on for easier communication: http://www.jdennis.net/
Yahoo: http://messenger.yahoo.com/ Windows and Mac versions available, includes voice and camera viewing capabilities.
ICQ: http://www.icq.com/download
Windows Messenger: http://messenger.microsoft.com/ Windows XP and MAC versions available.
PalTalk: http://www.paltalk.com/paltalk10/index.htm Windows Operating Systems only.
Chat Rooms (Voice OR Text):
I sometimes get the urge to meet new people, and talk about web design or graphics, so I go to the different Messenger services I use, and check out the listed chat rooms. Sometimes, I use the chat rooms on PalTalk for training purposes, and live events. Voice chat rooms are my favorite, because I can listen and participate without having to type! (This means I can multi-task)
The PalTalk and Yahoo messenger services above are the best I've used for voice chat.
Message Boards (Forums)
I participate in many forums, and haven't found a better way to mingle with people of like minds and interest. Some of my long term web design clients have found me through my posts in various
forums!
Participating in other's forums is a great way to network, and establish yourself as an expert in your field, but looking at this means of communication from another angle, as the owner, it's also a great way to keep in touch with your clients!
If a client's e-mail goes down, they can simply sign into my forum from any web browser, and send me a private message, or post a message to the board. The online advantage is great, because there is no mail filtering involved, and if I'm not around, other forum members may be able to help you too!
There are many free forum scripts out there, but some are just ridiculously difficult to install yourself. If you're lucky, your web host may offer a plug-in that allows you to simply click a button and have your forum instantly installed.
If you're not that lucky, however, there is a very easy to install forum that doesn't even require the use of a database system! CuteCast forums operate completely through CGI/Perl code, and I was able to install one within minutes! I love it, and it runs so smoothly! I'm very impressed with this script, and recommend it whole heartedly. http://www.artscore.net/cutecast/
CuteCast forums are VERY customizable, check mine out here: http:/ heportaltosuccess.com/community
Online Journals (Blogs)
For those clients that may not be as 'chatty' as others, I use my Blog (short for WebLog) to keep them informed on my activities, affiliations, and current events.
Again, similar to the forums, this method is totally online/browser based, and I'm able to update on a whim from any computer with an Internet connection.
A time tested success theory states that it is advisable to keep a journal of your activities so that you can better plan and track your goals. I find journals very useful in keeping myself focused, which is NOT an easy thing to do!
Many of my clients have told me that they enjoy getting to know me through my journal entries. Once again, this all works towards building those relationships! http:/ pts.blogspot.com
WebLogs: http://www.blogger.com/ Posting software for serious bloggers: http://wbloggar.com/
Making yourself available to those that want to contact you regarding your business is an essential part of operating a business on the Internet. The four methods names here are all free, and only require your time.
We shouldn't feel imprisoned by our E-Mail boxes, and we shouldn't feel as though we're shut off from the rest of the world due to the mail filters imposed on us without our permission by ISP's.
My clients can reach me without E-Mail. Can you say the same?
About the Author
About The Author: Ginger Geracitano offers her experience as a Web Designer and Business & Marketing Coach through her weekly E-Zine, The Portal To Success. Subscribers receive tips, strategies, and her product reviews every Friday. http://theportaltosuccess.com
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Tucows Downloads - Download Freeware and Shareware Software |
Download freeware, shareware, and demos. Maintains over 45000 software titles that are tested, rated, reviewed and ready to download. |
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Download shareware, freeware and Demo software for PC, Mac, Linux, and Handhelds categorized into categories, plus software reviews. |
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This includes application software such as a word processor, which enables a ... Application software is often purchased separately from computer hardware. ... |
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Search for shareware programs from more than a dozen downloadable software directories. |
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dir.yahoo.com |
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www.computer.org |
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downloads.zdnet.com |
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Apple - Software |
Software products for your digital life. ... The perfect addition for professional review. QuickTime Broadcaster. Encoding software for live events. ... |
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Open Directory - Computers: Software |
In Partnership with AOL Search. about dmoz | report abuse/spam | help. the entire directory, only in Computers/Software. Top: Computers: Software (38471) ... |
dmoz.org |
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freshmeat.net: Welcome to freshmeat.net |
About: The Web browser is probably the most frequently used software today, ... Web professionals can use the software for functional testing and regression ... |
freshmeat.net |
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Software - GNU Project - Free Software Foundation (FSF) |
Listing of the GNU software packages. |
www.gnu.org |
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Sun Software |
Get enterprise-class software--Solaris 10 OS, the Java Enterprise System, ... Sun Java StorageTek Software reduces cost and complexity with a single, ... |
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Internet Real Estate.com -- owns and operates a portfolio of the ... |
SOFTWARE.COM · SWEEPSTAKES.COM · PHONE.COM PODCAST.COM ... Software.com | Sweepstakes.com | Phone.com | Podcast.com | Shop.com | Safety.com ... |
www.internetrealestate.com |
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Joel on Software |
A weblog by Joel Spolsky, a programmer working in New York City, about software and software companies. |
www.joelonsoftware.com |
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Amazon.com Software: Computer & video games, business, accounting ... |
Online shopping for computer & video games, business & office productivity software, software from Microsoft, Apple, Adobe & more; accounting, antivirus, ... |
www.amazon.com |
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IBM Software - Home Page |
IBM home page for all of its software products, including Lotus and Tivoli, with keyword search, category browse and AZ product names. |
www.ibm.com |
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Opera web browser: Homepage |
Copyright © 2006 Opera Software ASA. All rights reserved. Skip navigation. Opera Software ... Copyright Opera Software ASA . All rights reserved. ... |
www.opera.com |
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Google Directory - Computers > Software |
Search only in Software Search the Web ... Software Categorized by Letter: A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z ... |
www.google.com |
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