I constantly get contacted by clients, subscribers and people seeking coaching who have a fear of technology and it’s preventing them from moving their business forward.If you’re under 35 this is probably not an issue, because you grew up with technology and it’s in your blood. If you’re over 35 read on.

The reason so many small business websites are not very good is not just because it may have not been designed by someone proficient in web design. It is just as likely that the business owner only put up a website because they realized they couldn’t really have a business without one. It’s like not having any business cards.

A static, boring, non productive website is just one casualty of the technophobic. The list of business building tools you’re missing out on may be daunting. Here is a random list of technology tasks and tools you may be avoiding but which may be crucial to your business growth.

• An autoresponder, with an opt-in mailing list and an opt-in form on your webpages
• A database software program to keep all of your business network contact information organized and easily accessible
• Scheduling software or an online calendar for your clients to schedule appointments with you or to share your schedule with employees
• Social networking-using the amazingly powerful, mostly free online marketing social networking websites,  groups, and tools that are a must today if you want an increasing stream of interested leads and an ever expanding network and reputation.
• A shopping cart on your website
• An understanding of how to use your website’s control panel to track and analyze traffic to your website.
• Simple time saving technical knowledge, like how to organize your e-mails in Outlook, or how to make simple changes to your business website
• How to upload and edit photos
• How to upload or even create simple videos
• How to scan and file documents to decrease paper clutter
• How to use Quickbooks
• How to convert documents to PDF format
• How to do keyword research.

These are just a few of the real life tasks that people have told me they have no idea how to do and are scared to death of learning.

Well I want you to hear this—your fear is much worse than the learning process. Mastering any technology is simply a matter of learning a series of steps. After you do it once or twice it’s a breeze. Honest. I promise. If I can learn it so can you.

Every day, think about how technology could make your life easier and your business stronger. Then take a deep breath and have the courage to find someone to teach you what you need to learn.

Lots of small business owners miss out on a highly effective, inexpensive marketing tool because they don’t know what an autoresponder is or if they do, they don’t know how to use it effectively. 

In case you’re unsure, an autoresponder is a program that lets you put your e-mail marketing on autopilot. It let’s you put a sign up form on your website so visitors can sign up for your e-mail list. You can set up as many mailing lists as you want. You can then e-mail your subscribers when you want, or you can load up a series of e-mails and tell the autoresponder when to send them out to each new subscriber. You can even tell the autoresponder to insert each person’s name and it will be done automatically. There is much more you can do, and a decent autoresponder service can cost as little as $10 a month. What an effective, inexpensive marketing tool! 

Every time a visitor comes to your website and you have no way to capture their contact information you have potentially lost money and your opportunity to add value to that person’s business.

Here are 10 ways you can use an autoresponder as a powerful marketing tool.

1.       Put an autoresponder sign up form on all the important pages of your website and ask visitors to sign up for your mailing list. This will give you an opportunity to provide them with valuable information that will lead many to see the value in purchasing your products or services. Offer them something of value for free as a sign up incentive.

2.       Create a sequence of e-mails that make up a mini e-course that you can load into your autoresponder. Schedule the series in the autoresponder to send the next e-mail in the series every XX number of days. Include links to related products and services.

3.       Use your autresponder e-mails to let subscribers know when there’s a new interesting post on your blog. This way you drive traffic to your website if your blog is hosted on your website.

4.       Use your autoresponder to send subscribers to interesting audios or videos by including the proper link to either. These could be something you’ve created or something a partner company has created.

5.       Use your autoresponder to introduce and get registrations for an upcoming tele-class or course

6.       Set up a survey that will help you know which products or services your subscribers need, then use your autoresponder to ask your subscribers to take the survey and provide a link to the survey. You can survey up to 100 people free at http://surveymonkey.com/.

7.       E-mail your subscribers to ask for referrals to find employees or joint venture partners.

8.       Use your autoresponder to recommend others’ valuable programs or products where you are an affiliate and can receive a commission on sales.’

9.       Use your autoresponder to deliver sequential lessons to people who have purchased an e-course from you.

10.    Use your autoresponder to link subscribers to an audio or video you want them to access.

This is an excellent way to build a valuable relationship with people who need your expertise and services. It is important to provide value, because we’re all overwhelmed with information these days, and your subscribers will only read what is of interest to them.

A certain percentage of your subscribers will become loyal fans and paying clients.

Here’s an inexpensive fully functional autoresponder for around $10 a month.

Norabots

To your success,

Janis