| xplicit Need | | | | In addition to the mistakes made when using email |
| Selling a product online is a great way to break into | | | | marketing, there are several common mistakes in |
| the world of commerce without all of the expenses | | | | other business aspects that are made by internet |
| involved in setting up a brick-and-mortar business. | | | | retailers. |
| Unfortunately, many people do not realize that selling | | | | • Poor Customer Service. Poor customer |
| a product online involves more than slapping a | | | | service includes not being available for customer |
| product description on a web page and waiting for | | | | comments, complaints and suggestions, as well as |
| the money to roll in. Selling online involves time and | | | | trying to blame product problems or order issues on |
| effort, and many internet retailers make costly | | | | the customer. This is a quick way to lose sales and |
| mistakes. | | | | prevent any repeat sales you may have had. |
| Email Marketing Mistakes | | | | • Greed. Overcharging for the product or for |
| Many people selling a product online use email | | | | shipping is seen as greedy by customers. They can |
| marketing to generate sales. The following are the | | | | pay retail anywhere, without the extra expense of |
| most common, and often most costly, mistakes that | | | | shipping, and customers will shop around for better |
| can be made when email marketing: | | | | prices. Even if your competitor only has cheaper |
| • SPAM. SPAM is one of the most costly | | | | shipping, that makes purchasing from them a better |
| mistakes you can make when marketing a product | | | | deal. |
| online. Not only does it ensure the loss of a sale, but | | | | • Amateur Site. If your site looks like a |
| also it can potentially cost your business when the | | | | twelve-year-old made it, customers will not be willing |
| recipients file complaints. While inducing people to | | | | to spend money. Errors in spelling, grammar and |
| subscribe for e-zines and e-mails are encouraged, | | | | punctuation, as well as problems with the overall look |
| unsolicited mails are to be discouraged. | | | | and feel of the site, will send customers away. |
| • Over sending. If you practice the art of | | | | • Slow Site. If your site takes too long to |
| send, send and send, the recipients of your email will | | | | load, customers will go elsewhere. Even when selling |
| end up blocking all messages from you. They could | | | | through online auctions, pictures and graphics need to |
| even end up filing SPAM complaints. Space out your | | | | load quickly. |
| emails and send only the important ones. | | | | Conclusion in a Nutshell |
| • Bad Lists. It is common for online marketers | | | | By avoiding the common mistakes, you can increase |
| to purchase email lists. These lists contain the names | | | | your chances of making sales and increase your |
| and email addresses of people who may be | | | | profits. While these mistakes are easily made, they |
| interested in purchasing their products. Unfortunately, | | | | are also easily corrected and prevented. Any of |
| not every vendor sells quality lists. A bad list is a | | | | these mistakes, even several in combination, seem |
| waste of time because the email addresses are | | | | minor, but they can be very costly when selling |
| usually bad, which means your ad will not be seen. | | | | products online. |
| Other Common Mistakes | | | | |