2017: Do This One Thing

byTJ Books

13.8K followers

7 years ago

Some years ago my Number 3 Son came up to me and said, "Dad, Build me a website."

He is a veterinarian but he had been selling Irish flutes and whistles for a long time. So we put up http://www.irishflutestore.com.

I really didn't know how my son was running his flute business but the first thing he did was to tell everyone on his email list about his new website. His sales dramatically increased about four times even though he was selling to the same customers. Now he was using his website in connection with his list and his list kept growing.

My son has always had many interest. He tends to get into a new area knee deep and abandon areas to some degree that he has already exhausted. He went in to herbs and sold off his flute store. Now he trains folks about herbs, sell his books and lectures and field trip videos and also herbs and herb extracts which he manufactures. His site is http://homegrownherbalist.net.

Needless to say, my son has a large herb email list. He uses it to promote special sells and news and the iteneray for his lectures and field trips. If he is invited to speak at a convention, he always invites those on his list. He always has a booth at such conventions and sales his and other peoples products including his courses.

I know that he services his site and list often as I am on the list. He learned how to make his own websites and also farms out work to others to do such things and to manufacturer and ship his products. He has his videos make by a professional movie maker.

In other words he does things right and professionally. He has to. He needs to spend a good deal of his time taking care of dogs and cats. He use to take care of large animals too but that is very hard work and brings in less income.

My First Point Is:

From the earliest point in your business, start collecting email addresses and get them on your list. My son knows his customers by name and he sees them often. He knows what they want and what they need.

My Second Point Is:

If you don't have a list, you don't have much of a business.

Look at those going to Los Vegas. They have and work a list. They continually update their website and they keep in touch with their customers. To get new members into WA, they give them a free short course or other item of perceived value when they join the list.

Start Your List Building Activities Now!

Happy New Year!

John