| If you have a business website, the information in it is free to whoever wants to come read it. Maybe you have a blog, and everyone in the world can read your blog posts for free. But it bothers you that you never know WHO is reading your site content or your blog posts. If you did know, then you could market to them. And you certainly want to build up your email list.
So, you have this great idea – you’ll come up with a document containing a generous amount of detailed, valuable and really useful information (an e-book, a whitepaper, a whatever), and you’ll give it away for free to promote yourself and your business, BUT you’ll ask for a person’s email address in exchange for letting them download the information. How logical – they get the information, you get to add a new contact to your email list. Good trade, right? Why wouldn’t everyone want to take you up on this offer? I mean, you’re just asking for their email address, not their name and phone number and detailed driving directions to their house! Well, a number of studies suggest that merely asking for someone’s email address will result in about half as many downloads as not asking for any information at all. And don’t even think about asking for MORE than an email address, as many companies still do. How good an idea is it to say, “OK, I’ll give you something, but you gotta give me something first.”? Here’s the big question: Which would you rather have – (a) a number of email addresses that you can send unsolicited/unwanted messages to, or (b) twice that many people who now have your information in their hands? If you think the most important thing is to simply “get your name and message out there”, then consider making the information really, totally free. |
Tag Archives: information
No One Knows Everything – Ask For Help
I think a lot of times people get really concerned or worried when they don’t know something. Like how to setup a Facebook page, or how to use a certain application on their computer, or how to unplug a toilet (whatever). But the truth is, no one knows everything. Even people who practice in a particular field aren’t able to know everything, especially in fields with fast-paced innovation.
When it comes to social media and the Internet, how to use them for businesses is constantly evolving. For those of us in the industry, it means constantly keeping up to date with new developments, talking to others in the field, and doing a lot of reading and listening. I’m sure that’s the case in your field as well. There probably are industry tradeshows and conferences, an industry association, industry publications, professional networks, etc. Everyone has to spend at least some time constantly learning.
My point is, that since no one knows everything, it’s ok to ask for help or ask for advice. Even in your own field. I do it all the time. It’s how we learn. It’s how we share information. It’s how we try new things. Don’t be afraid to ask for help.
What do you think?
This is a guest post by Sarah Worsham, CEO & Web Strategist at Sazbean Consulting and blogging at Sazbean.com. Sarah is passionate about creating Internet strategies to help companies reach their business goals. Sarah provides guidance through Internet Marketing, Strategy & Business consulting. Connect with her on Twitter, Facebook or the Sazbean Facebook Page.