List Building Using the P.E.P. System; How to P.E.P. Your Online Sales
Once you have come up with a terrific product, your job is to convince as many people as possible, just how good it is. We have been learning about list building, which simply is creating a database of email addresses of potential customers. Sounds easy enough, but like anything worthwhile, it takes some work and forethought.
When it comes to your customer list, just think of a word that conveys energy and vitality…PEP! This simple tool could revolutionize your business, by increasing the size of your footprint, to shine in the clutter of online sales.
P Stands for Preparation. There is no substitute for doing your homework in creating a product, whether electronic or physical that will appeal to customers. If it is training, make it easy to understand, filled with detailed information and systematic instructions. If it is a product, make sure it works, is packaged attractively and competitively priced. In the early days of the home computer, Apple came out with the “Lisa”. It had a mouse and a GUI interface, pretty good for the time, but it cost $10,000. No product will sell if the price is too high. Do research on other similar products. Does yours do something better than your competition or for a lower price? Preparation is the key in all stages of your internet sales business. Simply put, you can never know too much about your business.
E Stands for Educate. The best product in the world will not sell if you are not able to articulate why a customer needs your product. Your job is to create convincing ad copy that will entice your viewers to seek more information by entering their email address. It is also important to educate your existing customer base with free insights that will keep your emails from becoming annoying spam to those who receive it.
Finally, the last letter, P stands for Promote. Getting your site at the top of the list in search engines requires knowledge on how to use keywords and make sure you have substantial content to merit notice. Make sure the keywords you are trying to promote are written in normal text, not pictures or html code. Avoid trying to “stuff” your web page with hidden text in an attempt to show up on more searches. Today’s search engines are sophisticated enough to detect and ignore such tactics.
Next time you are trying new ways to increase sales…PEP up your business by using these simple, but profoundly important hints. Remember though, ultimately there is no hint or trick that will substitute for hard work, determination and the willingness to learn new ways of doing business.


