Website "funnel"

OK. I've read about the value of the free report and the powerful benefit of continued contact and giving of information to prospects in the "funnel" to create an atmosphere and comfort level for buying. This makes sense to me.

I am currently selling my product in face to face presentations. Often when I am out in the field I pop into places without an appointment as the opportunity presents itself. My goal (usually) of course is to get an appointment for a presentation to make a sale (or even occasionally give a presentation if luck is smiling).

Often this turns out to mostly fact finding. Decision maker is not in, etc. Recognizing that whatever I leave behind has a 50% if being tossed in the trash before reaching the decion-maker and an even higher rate for hitting the can BY the decision maker, I still want to take my best possible crack at them.

Maybe I can peak just enough interest to get them to take the harmless step of visiting my website for more information. Here's my dilemma:

Should I try to sell them on my product by sending them to my sales page--not expecting them to buy instantly, but to warm them up for my follow-up call and face to face presenation OR...

Should I send them to website for my free report and get them into my funnel?

I have not successfully develped the "funnel" aspect of my website because I am focusing on face to face selling right now, as I have not successfully developed an effective plan for bringing in prospects and ENROLLING them in the absense of live selling. (This would be ideal, but I have not mastered it yet).

Those who effectively use the "funnel" method, please share...I would like your input. Developing the funnel is time consuming and I am hesitant to put time into it right now as it will divert me from face to face focus.

I get a lot of email because I sign up at a lot of sites. It doesn't take long before I forget what the site was even about so a lot of the mail hits the delete folder. If it were me I'd try to get the person interested enough to call and ask for more information.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Thomas

I get a lot of email because I sign up at a lot of sites. It doesn't take long before I forget what the site was even about so a lot of the mail hits the delete folder. If it were me I'd try to get the person interested enough to call and ask for more information.

Thank you, Thomas. That is feedback from a very valuable perspective. Thank you very much.

Quote:

Originally Posted by RainMaker

Thank you, Thomas. That is feedback from a very valuable perspective. Thank you very much.

Ez peezy!

Quote:

Originally Posted by Thomas

I get a lot of email because I sign up at a lot of sites. It doesn't take long before I forget what the site was even about so a lot of the mail hits the delete folder. If it were me I'd try to get the person interested enough to call and ask for more information.

I get loads of junk email so this wouldn't work too good for me either. (If I get one more email about Ferraris someone's going to get hurt.

)

Here is a blurb I read about SPAM and opt-in e-mail programs. It's short I know but you might check into it further.

Quote:

Opt-in E-Mail Trending Down but still Viable

Opt-in or permission based e-mail (meaning people give you
"permission" to market to them) response rates for
Business-to-Business and Business-to-Consumer are dropping
below where they were a year ago by 30-50% on average. What's
happening? The ever-increasing deluge of Spam is negating the
throughput (response rates, purchases, etc.) of quality
opt-in e-mail.

http://www.sitepronews.com/archives/2005/dec/9prt.html

Quote:

Originally Posted by AZBroker

I get loads of junk email so this wouldn't work too good for me either. (If I get one more email about Ferraris someone's going to get hurt.

)

Here is a blurb I read about SPAM and opt-in e-mail programs. It's short I know but you might check into it further.http://www.sitepronews.com/archives/2005/dec/9prt.html

Thank you, AZBroker. Interestingly, (I don't know how I found them originally) but sitepronews.com is an email newsletter that I already subscribe to and find their articles to often be very good. An opt-in that worked great for me although I have never purchased a product from them--so I guess not so great for them. Thank you.

Rainmaker, take your free report with you on sales calls and hand that out in exchange for contact information much like you would a website. I do this also with voice mail. Rather than just leave the standard information, leave your marketing hook:"Sorry I missed you. If you would like a free report of (insert subject/hook here) that your competition begged me not to show you, call me back or email me."

Al Lautenslager - Author, Guerrilla Marketing in 30 Days

Quote:

Originally Posted by Guerrilla Marketer

Rainmaker, take your free report with you on sales calls and hand that out in exchange for contact information much like you would a website. I do this also with voice mail.
Al Lautenslager - Author, Guerrilla Marketing in 30 Days

In so doing, I will be putting my "already presented to" people into the funnel. Is that correct? I have often wondered if further working this list would be beneficial, but have never put any system into practice to do it.

Absolutely. As you know it takes 6-8 touches to a prospects mind to get them into purchase readiness mode. That means when and if they want your service they will think of you if you have touched them enough. These touches are what marketing is all about and marketing is made up of many many many many things all working together.

Al Lautenslager - Author, Guerrilla Marketing in 30 Days

Quote:

Originally Posted by Guerrilla Marketer

These touches are what marketing is all about and marketing is made up of many many many many things all working together.

Al Lautenslager - Author, Guerrilla Marketing in 30 Days

Very well put, Al. Thank you. I will move this up on my priority list. Often after my first round of contacts, they slip away into oblivion.

Website "funnel"

Internet Forum