subject: Lacing Your Internet Presence With Direct Response [print this page] Lacing Your Internet Presence With Direct Response
It Isn't Toxic
Lacing your internet presence with direct response isn't like mixing poison into a batch of cookies; it's like remembering to add sugar.
Composing your online content requires many ingredients to make it effective, interesting and compelling. Not all content is created equal but unless you're using direct response you'll never know it.
Think of your internet presence like being in the same room with your visitor because you essentially are. If you were actually there in person there would be acceptable protocols involved in getting acquainted.
What Do You Expect?
If you've gone through the pains of baking homemade cookies it's ok to ask if people liked them. If you know they're great, you expect compliments. If they're the best cookies imaginable people will want the recipe.
Here are a few simple rules to follow on a blog post:
1. Ask visitors to leave comments
2. Encourage visitors to share your information
3. Invite them somewhere else
These Calls to Action' would be acceptable forms of protocol in almost any circumstance. There should always be a natural progression in the relationships you form online because the same experience is expected everywhere else.
Your Purpose or Intent
If all you want to do is sell something to somebody you'll quickly discover that no degree of subtlety will disguise your intent.
(Let me kick this metaphor one more time to see if it's still alive.)
If you invite someone into your home (website or blog) and offer them a cookie the gesture is taken as being hospitable.
You direct the conversation (content) around the experience of tasting cookies unlike anything ever tasted before. Because your visitor is intrigued you ask if they'd like to hear the story (email, article or related page) behind these cookies.
When the story ends some will be so fascinated they'll want to know about your cookbook (low cost product) your club (mid-range product) or the full course you offer (high end product) on how to make cookies just like these.
Immersed in Your Internet Presence
When direct response is done correctly the outcome isn't a sale here or there, it is a never ending stream of followers who are in love with who you are and what you offer.
They are always appreciative of what you share because the entire experience of knowing you is valuable to them.
There is a powerful reward awaiting those who manage to develop these types of relationships with thousands of people they'll never actually meet in person. It all begins if they're given a reason and the option to respond to you.
