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Part One - No More Ads
Part Two - Reaching Today's Shopping Mom
Part Three - How Mom Shops
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The days of the door-to-door salesman - you know, that pushy guy at your door who just won't go away - aren't just numbered, they're over. No more pushy vacuum cleaner salesmen. No more all-talk-and-no-walk used car salesmen. No more manipulative insurance salesmen. Banging on your door. Interrupting your coffee and the web article you're trying to read with some obnoxious-annoying flashing banner ad or in-your-face popup.
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The Internet has made sure that their days are over, while at the same time empowering today's shopper with the ability to literally "click" anything we don't want right out of existence, and you and your message as well, if you're even slightly annoying. People are looking for something more than just some in-your-face ad that over-promises and under-delivers ...
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If you want to be what the consumer is looking for, rather than what they "click" right off their screen, then here's your check-list for what will make you and your message different:
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• No Ads - advertising no longer works; it's annoying; it's disruptive; it sends the exact opposite message that you want (you don't want to be telling potential customers: I'm rude and don't care if you want to hear me or not; you will listen; you will do what I want; you will buy from me; I don't care if you're busy or if I'm interrupting you; all I care about is making a sale) - that's not the message you want to be sending and not how you want people to see you, especially on the Internet where today's shopper has been empowered (at the tip of their fingers) with the ability to "click" you into the land-of-the-ignored.
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Important Point: the buyer has all the power, not you - the only power you have is to find ways to "serve" your potential customer in as friendly a way as you can. Therefore ...
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• Be Attractive, Instead of Annoying - invest your ad dollars in finding ways to position your business as more valuable, an information resource they come to depend on, and an entertaining escape from the routine and drain of daily life; put your money and your time into better graphics, make you and your site a resource your potential customers come to count on by providing potential customers with helpful informative articles that assist both you and your customers, that focus on customer service instead of making the sale, that align you and your site with services that help you help your potential new customers (even before the sale - because that's what will lead to the sales); make yourself more attractive by joining forces with other merchants that are working together to help consumers; look for services that assist you in making your business an attractive valuable resource.
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• Make Your Message Friendly & Fun - first impressions count; make your potential customer feel relaxed and safe by creating an environment where they don't have to worry about being pushed into something, a place where they can temporarily escape from all the demands of the world and be themselves if only for a few minutes. A place where they can relax and have the freedom to make their own choices. It's only in a place like this that they will feel safe enough, confident enough, relaxed enough to make a purchase (if they're going to make a purchase at all).
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• Create a Sense of Community - provide your potential customers with an intimate, quaint, relaxed place to escape to; connect with your customers by recognizing that they not only need solutions to the problems they face every day, but also a break from the stress and demands of their hectic world. By introducing yourself in a place where they don't have to worry about being pressured into buying, where they can relax, where they can have a cup of coffee, peruse art galleries, peek in little shoppe windows, meet interesting musicians and creative artisans while enjoying gourmet treats, you let your potential customers know that they are no longer alone.
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Below you'll discover more of our thoughts on how to reach potential new customers in the fast-paced, click-happy world of Internet Marketing ...
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Scroll down to read Part 2 & 3 of this article OR click a link ...
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Part Two - Reaching Today's Shopping Mom >
Part Three - How Mom Shops >
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Sounds Good ... Tell Me More >
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I'm Interested ... What's the Cost? >
... How Do I Get Started? >
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Have a Question? Ask Us ...
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But first, you must log-in ...
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...if you are not a member, click here then log-in >
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... if you are already a member, click here to log in >
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... After logging into the Cafe, Join our Topic Group
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Harnessing the Power of the Internet By
Helping Today's Shopping Mom Take a Break
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Michael's thoughts:
Behind you somewhere is the interstate, cars whizzing by, the fast-paced, high-pressure, hi-tech, cell-phone, palm pilot, microwave, keep-up-with-the-joneses so-called world of progress.
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Back there ... somewhere …
Ahead are lush green rolling hills, dotted with tall majestic cottonwood and oak trees standing guard over winding creeks and picturesque dirt roads lined with split rail and barbed wire fences. A trail of dust follows like a kite on a lazy afternoon. Out the driver’s window, you spot cows and horses grazing on the hills, wind mills gently turning in the breeze, sunflowers gazing toward the sun. Your car crosses over an ancient stone bridge from a long ago forgotten time.
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You "click" your mouse and bounce to another site. This one's a site about an Alaskan train trip. So far, you've been to a site about windmills, stone bridges, ghost towns and how to become a real cowboy (or cowgirl), ride the range and take an actual journey across the prairie like they did in the old west. You've been to parenting sites, alternative health sites, beauty and fashion and jewelry sites, decorating, organizing and even patriotism sites.
And to a bunch of sites that had nothing to do with the keywords and phrases you entered. Most of the sites you found that were of value were stumbled upon after visiting six or seven sites and clicking on links found on those pages.
That’s the beauty of the Internet at its best. More information than anyone can possibly imagine at the tip of their fingers, only a few clicks away ...
Unfortunately, the Internet is also guilty of information overload with a lot of information you really don't need or want to find and what you want is usually almost impossible to find.
That’s where we come in.
Our Digital Divas dive deep into the Internet, searching on the backroads of the web for unique and valuable sites that we believe our readers will want to discover …
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We’re in essence your and their personal guide to some really cool discoveries, truly amazing talent and some very gifted people. Browsing through the pages of My Guide to the Backroads of America and then going backstage in the Café to meet our Featured Members is very much like taking a daytrip to a small town and window-shopping.
It’s like veering off the main highway and onto the less crowded backroads, sometimes even getting lost along the way, but discovering some truly wonderful places.
It’s kind of like finding buried treasure. And just when you think it can't get much better, we'll guide you to yet another treasure to unearth ...
Even now, there are undiscovered places calling you ...
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Can you hear them?
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Scroll down to read Part 3 of this article OR click a link ...
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Part Three - How Mom Shops >
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Sounds Good ... Tell Me More >
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I'm Interested ... What's the Cost? >
... How Do I Get Started? >
*
*
Have a Question? Ask Us ...
*
But first, you must log-in ...
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...if you are not a member, click here then log-in >
*
... if you are already a member, click here to log in >
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... After logging into the Cafe, Join our Topic Group
(the Digital Frontier) for free >
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I’m a mom, and if you zoom in on where I’m sitting with my baby, it almost seems a peaceful scene. It’s the bigger picture; the ever constant flow of laundry, cooking, bills, and muddy footprints that can sometimes be overwhelming. I’ve accepted that no matter what career I may be doing, parenting will always be a full time job.
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Even so, it took an attempt to change a dirty diaper in a crowded superstore, as my sons alternated crawling under the stalls in the womens dressing room with practicing their Jedi skills in the lamp department, and my daughter argued at length why the glitter encrusted flip flops in her hand were different from the three pairs she already owns, for me to fully realize that my approach to shopping needed a drastic makeover.
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In uncertain economic times, it is even more important to understand and meet the needs of customers whose shopping habits have been formed under the pressures of work, home, and family. As a mother, choosing where and when to make a purchase is neither leisurely nor impulsive, saving time and money is an absolute imperative. The Internet has proven to be an invaluable resource for this busy mom who no longer has time to casually window-shop. I often depend on sites where I can ask experts for advice, read blogs, and view pictures and video of how to use items.
There are only a few simple reasons a person juggling a baby in one arm, a mouse in the other while talking on the phone chooses to take the time to select a small business and possibly spend more on their product than I would if shopping at Walmart.
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The first is a desire for my purchases to be of good quality. Mass-produced items that do not last are not in this mom’s opinion worth their weight in savings.
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The second is good old-fashioned customer service. Knowing a person with expertise will be available to provide assistance if needed is a breath of fresh air in a world of blank-expressioned employees and automated service departments.
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Thirdly, I seek out products and services that are unique and innovative, and I’m happy to support creative and resourceful businesses.
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Recently, I met a woman who sold honey and preserves. She took the time to meet me on a personal level and to explain the benefits and uses of natural foods. Not only did she inspire a purchase that day, but by having a website, she ensured that I stay connected with her in the future.
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So how do I discover these unique businesses, when in the course of a hectic day, it is unlikely that I would visit a boutique or specialty store?
As I run from the doctors office, to the library, or to get my children’s hair cut, I pick up newsletters and magazines that keep me in touch with my community and provide me with valuable web addresses.
And as I surf the web to do some banking or check the weather, I save informative articles that draw my attention. My goal in collecting articles is to gather even more addresses I need to find businesses online. Plus, reading a brief story online or in a newsletter I picked up gives me a momentary reprieve and helps me rediscover my own interests.
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There are two different ways in which an article might appeal to me and ultimately influence my purchases. It will either offer practical knowledge and advice to help me deal with everyday issues more efficiently, or speak to my more romantic nature by suggesting ways in which I can slow down and bring back the beauty and tranquility that may be missing from my hectic life.
That is why Michael and I designed My Guide and the Café as a beautiful, fun, romantic and informative place to escape from the demands of everyday life.
So, whether I’m doing home improvements, traveling with my children, or planning an intimate dinner, the ability to purchase products online helps me create the life I want within the time that I have.
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Sounds Good ... Tell Me More >
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I'm Interested ... What's the Cost? >
... How Do I Get Started? >
*
*
Have a Question? Ask Us ...
*
But first, you must log-in ...
*
...if you are not a member, click here then log-in >
*
... if you are already a member, click here to log in >
*
... After logging into the Cafe, Join our Topic Group
(the Digital Frontier) for free >
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