Time Is Your Enemy, Make It Your Friend!

I was recently asked by a colleague of mine Ramon Ray who runs SmallBizTechnology.com "Why aren't more small businesses using email marketing?" If you look at the stats they're staggering: over 20 million small businesses in the US alone and a small percentage of them are using one of the most affordable, easy-to-understand mediums to drive more dollars.

I thought about it for a second with Ramon and came to realize one simple reason. So many small businesses can't find the time to fit in yet another task to the daunting day.

Does This Look Like Your Schedule?

• 7:00AM - Wake Up from a not-so-restful night of sleep because you were thinking about all of the things you need to do the following day.
• 8:00AM - Make your way to the office, the store or the extra little room in your home you've decided would make a great workspace. Don't forget to get coffee, go to the bank and the post office on your way in.
• 8:30-9AM - Turn on the lights, clean the store, check your email, check your inventory, make sure your appointments are in order.
• 9:00 AM - 12:00PM -  Talk to customers, visit customers, talk to partners, vendors, your husband, your wife, meet with your employees.
• 12:00 - 1:00 - Shove a sandwich down your throat.
• 1:00 - 5:00 -  Talk to customers, visit customers, talk to partners, vendors, your husband, your wife, meet with your employees. Don't forget to update your website, check on today's product sales.
• 5:00 - 7:00 - Pay bills, do your taxes, pick-pack & ship your products, put together that last piece of office furniture you have so your new employee has a chair in the morning.
• 7:00 - 9:00 - Spend some time with your family so that they don't call the police about the stranger walking around your house...you.

Of course you don't have time! But sorry to say, you have to make it. You can't get back what you might gain today if you don't take the opportunity. It's just gone. Never to return.

I was talking to a friend of mine who has an online business that sells $16,000 worth of product each month (and that's her 2nd business!), and when she "has time" to send an email to the few thousand people on her list, she increases her sales to $24,000!!!!!

So a Few Recommendations?

1. Get a Calender Program - Block out an hour a month to get two email campaigns ready to go. Use the COPY CAMPAIGN feature in the VR Home Tab so you never have to start from scratch. It's in the "Actions" link. Then stick to your schedule! Use the VerticalResponse Calendar or the Google Calendar. They're easy and free.

2. Use Guilt! Tell your employees you're going to do this and they need to ensure you do this in order for you to be successful which means...oh right, they get a paycheck with all of that revenue you'll bring in.

3. Delegate - Enlist one of your employees to put together the campaigns. You'll be amazed at what they can come up with when challenged.

4. Let Us Do It - Use the VerticalResponse Full Service Option - We do it for you for a nominal fee!

Bottom line is that email marketing is still the most lucrative form of marketing today and small businesses now have access to the tools that are both easy-to-use and affordable so now you can look like giants...if you make time.

Comments

[Email Marketing Journal]

Great article -- reminders as to why business should definitely utilize email marketing! We are bookmarking it! No e-commerce should be too busy to earn extra!