|
|
|
|
Creating the right ‘Viral Reputation’. |
Creating the right ‘Viral Reputation’.
By Gary Durkin
© 2005
Unless you are brand new to business, or have been under a rock for quite some time - one key marketing technique (which isn’t new) - is called ‘Viral’.
Based on the word ‘virus’ - viral marketing or viral business simply means it ‘spreads’ like a virus.
The roots of online viral marketing really took off when Microsoft gave away free email accounts - and advertised this at the end of emails. ‘Get your own free HOTMAIL account’.
This spread like wild-fire - like a viral infection. Thus, Viral Marketing was truly born.
But this article isn’t about viral marketing, but rather about how to effectively contain or cure a particularly bad outbreak of ‘viral reputation’.
What is a viral reputation?……
Virus…… an infection that spreads rapidly.
Reputation….. what others think about you.
This can either be positive or more often, negative.
If you are a regular reader of my articles, you will know that I encourage the use of ‘phrases’ and ‘sayings’ to support or reinforce my point. Not one to disappoint my readers… so here is another classic example.
‘Prevention is better than cure’.
In the most simple terms, this means it’s better to avoid it - than go through the long, drawn out problems associated with finding the cure to the virus, In this case - YOUR specific virus.
In business, both online and off (or what I call ‘real-world’ business) - this can be categorised as follows:-
1. Product (or service)
2. Sales pitch.
3. Customer Relations.
1. Product (or service)
Whatever business you are in - you are selling something. An idea, a concept, a product, a service, a package, a solution….. it doesn’t really matter what it is.
However, two key principles are vital to ensure that you ‘prevent’ a negative viral reputation.
a) Ensure your product isn’t rubbish. HA! Sounds like common-sense? Take a look around you in the world and see just how much trosh is for sale - and compare it with something better that does the same or similar, for a similar price. Sell rubbish at your peril. People (just like you and me) HATE IT. And that’s how a ‘negative’ viral reputation begins.
b) Can your product / service prove that…. “it does exactly what it says on the tin”? The ‘tin’ is proverbial - meaning that a tins of beans, really is a tin of beans. If you get peas instead….. you won’t be happy. Don’t claim (or over-claim / over-promote / over-market / overemphasise / over-sell) your product can do something it really can’t stand up to. If you do - then you start a ‘negative’ viral reputation.
2. Sales Pitch.
Or how you sell, market or promote your product. This is linked to (b) above - but can be a totally separate and deadly area, if you aren’t careful.
If you are selling your product / service etc., you need to put yourself in the shoes of your potential customers. How would you react to YOUR sales pitch - advertising, marketing, and copy? Yes - it’s all about persuasion… but gentle and soft persuasion. Get the customer to ‘buy-in’ - and don’t strong-arm them or force them.
The ‘Hard-Sell’ can often backfire on you, and can have long-lasting consequences - especially your reputation.
Don’t oversell…. You must over-deliver.
Don’t over-deliver to the extent that your product is lost in an exuberance of discounts, special offers, bonuses and freebies.
If your product is tried and tested, and really is worth the price you are asking - why must you feel obliged to add extra freebies worth 100 times more?
And yes - that really does happen every day - especially online.
“But my product for just $47 - and get £4,995 worth of freebies”.
Oh please.
Freebies, extras and bonuses are great - but to THAT extent?
If you buy a car worth $25,000 - do you expect the dealer to give you extras worth $250,000? Of course not. You’ll be lucky to get a free tank of gas.
If your product really is good, don’t bow to the freebie-hunters. Go for the real customers - and give them a genuine sales pitch. Unfortunately for internet marketing business, it seems this has gone out the window, and the bonus package is simply belittling the true worth and value of the main product.
3. Customer Service
The BIG ONE.
This is where MANY businesses and business people fall flat on their face.
Poor customer service, especially AFTER the sale, is deadly.
Positive, active, effective customer service is VITAL both before and after the sale.
Many concentrate on it before the sale…. Just to make that sale…. Then it all dies off.
Pre-sale service is a must. It helps retain the customer and is important to get the sale.
But ignore the POST-SALE service at your peril.
Once you have the customer…. It’s much easier to up-sell, re-sell, get referrals…..
But if you end up losing that customer because you simply don’t look after them AFTER you have their money…. Do you really think they are going to spend any more of their cash with you?
Poor after-sales customer service is also one major factor of refunds.
Keep up good customer service - reduce your refunds (and complaints).
It’s all about ‘damage limitation’.
The key focus of this report is about your Viral Reputation.
It’s very easy to catch a ‘negative’ viral reputation. And it spreads without mercy.
Before you know - the first person to become infected (usually because you have failed in one or more of the above categories) - has ‘infected’ many, many others.
Just by telling their friends, family, colleagues, associates…. Then they in turn tell others what they know…. Then the others tell more………
Do you see my point?
A ‘positive’ viral reputation is far less contagious and not very virulent… it’s much harder to catch.
FACT - People simply spread bad news at a rate ten times faster that good news.
Once the damage is done, once the negative virus begins to spread - finding the cure (stopping it or repairing the damage) will be incredibly difficult.
So, prevention is better than cure.
Prevent the negative viral reputation, with good service or products, honest sales pitch and most of all, rock-solid customer service. Slowly but surely you will benefit from the positive.
*****************************************
An article by Gary Durkin
Founder of the Internet Advice Center®
http://www.InternetAdviceCenter.com
Gary has more than a decade of offline international business success behind him - each day controlling millions of dollars of investments world-wide, and has been doing business online for 6 years.
If you would like to join thousands of subscribers to his newsletter ‘Delivering Success’ - send a blank email to deliveringsuccess@kioskcities.ws
© Copyright 2005 - All Rights Reserved worldwide.
You are free to distribute this article, providing it remains unchanged and with the resource / bio box attached.
********************************************* | | Author Info: Gary Durkin is Founder of the Internet Advice Center®
http://www.InternetAdviceCenter.com
Gary has more than a decade of offline international business success behind him - each day controlling millions of dollars of investments world-wide, and has been doing business online for 6 years. |
|
| 30 Most Recent
Articles : |
 artistic girl model artistic girl model or muscle nude video or femdom bdsm femdom or gay escort services, 803972, compaq c714nr, 65986, algebra graph systems of inequalities, kkialz, beryllium bohr model, ovlycl, lewisto[ Read Article] aKICPGsQsh Your site is very interesting and usefuls., naked man pictures, 72711, national lotto, cmzxe, naked pregnant women gall, %PPP, shemales xxx, kwrqgz, virgin male free porn, 854089, gilliam center columbia sc, 8[[, nelson county times va, 752, mandy saxo rapidshare, >:-[ Read Article] oRkHfYXCCTqplyzuoZu comment2, Free Naked Women Picture
, 003, Free Nude Girl Pics
, 6124, Free Naked Girls Movies
, qqy, Free Horse Sex Vids, qorqc, Free Kama Sutra Videos, :((, Gay Black Men Gallery, esyqf, harcourt realestate southport, tyw, family nude beach photos, 5834, in[ Read Article] aeXsXSWL Excellent site, added to favorites!, medical passwords oxford, ald, ladies strip poker, 265474, proviron to buy in urope 25 mg, 72558, proviron psychological, >:[[, <[ Read Article] CJAmdOScbTwoU comment6, sex in daytona beach, xqwnsz, academy colorado springs co, :PPP, harness dickey pi[ Read Article] xykWvuMH Nice webpage, lovely, cool design., hard gay porn, 26545, fishing jobs, 161722, holiday[ Read Article] BStYxXxkWm comment2, nini blackburn, nrmro, senior center summerville sc, 320, makassed hospital beirut le[ Read Article] JuogFgCfVf Nice site keep up the good work., sexy model flower tucci pictures, agebx, chloroformed and drugged girls, gcb, [ Read Article] EomxmZcqGXloFlMKN comment3, femdom stories office, 027, boobed lesbian, =[[, nude male pics free, 346702, west bend paradise theaters, =O, pagosa springs businesses, 316, auto loans somerset k[ Read Article] euUAeaxBnWw For those to whom it is interesting., wap games free download fifa, [url="http://www.google.ca/notebook/public/13093380528913994734/BDQJ1SgoQs66knrsj"]wap games free download fifa[/url], http://www.google.ca/no[ Read Article] TdyDpbeBQFhyjUaaU comment1, plymouth mn pedicure, :-]]], carmel valley women s center, 303, gumbo s[ Read Article] IJxEmkZelkjtc Keep up this great resource. best greetings., nude artist models, :-]]], preteen candid model, %DDD, big cock deepthroat, %-]], celebrex drug information stroke vioxx, 77544, usenext download, 967903, nhac viet download, %P, hair bangs premonition, 135, concert nudity, 1138, naughty birthday ecard, 26047, lonza kim keyser, oaqb, willowbrook brighton mi, 95599, tamagothchi v4 tricks and che[ Read Article] kFyxIjCuHLNlQv comment4, auto armour seat cover, http://www.radioum.com.br/img/7/blog.php?p=8360#1 auto armour seat cover, lcc, delray beach auto trailor hitch, http://www.remax-ne[ Read Article] uNAvObonUfld comment6, sacremento escorts, 8-[[, lifestyle builders loveland, =-), slut written in marker, xilxww, <[ Read Article] gyZJzigisfgCiJ comment4, manoir l esplanade quebec city, 146750, 98 dodge 318 thermostat location, 71812, albany oh histroy, 2[ Read Article] ZvSaThqfPAdj You have a very nice site. Other interesting resources, average size penis, :-), nude singles, dqi, World Top
Stories : |
Back on Capitol Hill, Auto Executives Still Find SkepticsSenator Christopher J. Dodd, who heads the banking committee, suggested that it would be difficult for lawmakers to approve a financial lifeline for the three companies.<br/><br/><span class="advertisement"> <a href="http://www.pheedo.com/click.phdo?x=ba6699eca028480181189b6a17db1074&u=http://www.nytimes.com/2008/12/05/business/05auto.html"><img src="http://www.pheedo.com/img.phdo?x=ba6699eca028480181189b6a17db1074&u=http://www.nytimes.com/2008/12/05/business/05auto.html" border="0"/></a></span>
Bernanke Calls for More Help for HomeownersForeclosures remain ?too high,? hurting not only homeowners but lenders and the broader economy, the Fed chief said.<br/><br/><span class="advertisement"> <a href="http://www.pheedo.com/click.phdo?x=ba6699eca028480181189b6a17db1074&u=http://www.nytimes.com/2008/12/05/business/economy/05fed.html"><img src="http://www.pheedo.com/img.phdo?x=ba6699eca028480181189b6a17db1074&u=http://www.nytimes.com/2008/12/05/business/economy/05fed.html" border="0"/></a></span>
|
|
|
|
|
