Posted on: 26 November, 2001
Author: Darryn Hayward
If you sell a product or service online, it is now entirelywithin the realm of possibility - that is, technically - torun your business while you're "catchin' some rays" somewhere.Impossible, you say?... If you sell a product or service online, it is now entirelywithin the realm of possibility - that is, technically - torun your business while you're "catchin' some rays" somewhere.Impossible, you say?Not anymore! This article will describe four simpletechniques that will allow you to run your business - andrake in the cash - without even being present.The first thing you need to do is arrange to accept creditcards on your website. Internet shoppers are impulsive, andwant everything NOW. If they have to go offline to phoneyou, or write a check, fill out a form, address an envelope,go to the post office, etc. ... many people won't bother.Make it easy for them. With a merchant account, the info isautomatically processed - and the cash can be directlydeposited into your bank account. If you sell an informationalproduct, your online customer can automatically download theproduct once their credit card information is accepted.For retail products, have a statement that says 'All orderswill be shipped within 7 - 10 days.' That's long enough fora Caribbean vacation, isn't it?If you haven't already done this, run, don't walk, to yournearest Merchant Account provider and get signed up. ExpertInternet marketers claim that you can lose up to 60% of yourpotential business without accepting credit cards - but moreimportantly, it's the first step to stepping away from allthe hard work you're doing - the first step to FREEDOM, forYOU.Still with me? Keep that Caribbean brochure handy, buthere's resource #2 that will free you up to go on thatvacation. . .Get an autoresponder. Get SEVERAL, if you need to. They'reavailable free all over the Internet, or very inexpensive.They're also easy to install on your website - and can go towork for you instantly. Start sending out newsletters, salesletters, product updates, or anything else you want yourcustomers to receive on a regular basis -- withoutpersonally sitting there staring at your computer screen forhours on end. If you really want to rub it in, you can evenhave an autoresponder attached to your email address thatwill send everyone who emails you a message that says, "Hi!I'm on a beach in the Caribbean, and won't be back in theoffice until..."But, of course, you don't necessarily want your customers,or potential customers, to know that you're not sittingright there waiting to take their order. So one more thingyou can do, if you haven't already done so, is arrange for avoice-mail message on your telephone. This is another simplebusiness tool that's readily available for free, or nearlyfree. Yet I am constantly surprised at how many home-basedbusiness owners still either just say 'Hello?' when you callthem, or even have their children answer the phone!SMART marketers have a voice-mail message set up, and smartcustomers now expect and anticipate having to leave amessage when they call. One businessman I know is sitting atanchor right now in some out-of-the-way exotic little cove -while his voice-mail system is taking care of business!So... what part of the Caribbean do you think you mightvisit first? Maybe I'll see you there - we can have a drinktogether, and toast our mutual success! Source: Free Articles from ArticlesFactory.com