September 2002

In this month's feature article, Nancy Davis talks about the advantages of using a 1-800 number. We have to agree with her. Our toll free number has been one of the best low-cost investments into our business. If you don't have one, seriously consider getting one-it' worth the investment.

Also, I just had to add the little article on how the Internet has changed our lives. It's difficult to believe sometimes that all of this has really come about in the past decade. I remember thinking that I would NEVER use email or the Internet. I personally thought computers were great for word-processing and compiling databases and little else. Boy was I wrong!

Besides operating a business based on designing websites, I research and purchase on the Internet and email my family daily. So, I can honestly say that the Internet has indeed changed the way I live my life. Anyway, We hope you enjoy this little trip down memory lane by Chris Nixon.

• Site Transfers: Transfer your existing website to our servers
• Site Redesigns: Refresh your site with a new look
• Graphic Designs: Custom graphics for all your Internet and advertising needs
• Site Critiques: Find out what the average Internet User thinks about your site

I know, you're thinking there's no way you can afford one yourself - you're not one of those esteemed "heavy-hitters" yet raking in thousands of dollars a month. In fact there may be months where you're not sure how you're going to pay your regular phone bill, much less cover the cost of a toll-free line plus the charges from hundreds of people calling you every month. I thought the same thing at first. But you know what? It hasn't cost that much!

The phone plan I signed up with charges $3 a month for the use of the toll-free number and around 7 cents a minute for calls plus a few surcharges and taxes. Now even a reasonable rate like that could add up to a large monthly bill if those hundreds of people I expected called me every month when they say a toll-free number listed on my website. Especially one that says "24 hours" next to it!

Guess what? I don't have hundreds of people calling me at all hours of the day and night. In fact, in 3 months I've only had around a dozen people a month use it and only one called in the middle of the night. And I can't be sure that was a business call as there was no message left. My average monthly bill is around $20 which includes some long-distance calls not related to my toll-free line.

• confirm that there's a live person behind the website.
• get answers to questions and share past experiences they've had. Yes, they could do that with e-mail if they wanted, but would you feel comfortable sharing past business experiences when you don't know who'll be reading your e-mail?
• assure themselves that I'm not a fast-talking con artist out to rob them of their hard earned money.

Now they could still do all of these things if you listed your regular phone number instead of a toll-free, but you won't have as many pre-qualified people calling you. And as a bonus, it gives the illusion that I must be pretty successful if I can afford an "expensive" toll-free phone number.

I bet you're thinking that once they join my program they call me all the time with the many questions most Sponsors receive from their downline and those calls rack up a big bill. Hasn't worked out that way either. After they join, they mainly use e-mail to communicate because they now know me and feel comfortable writing.

I've received a few follow-up calls from my team members but I don't mind because it means they're working the program.

I can't guarantee that if you get a toll-free phone number you'll have reasonable phone bills too, but I think it's definitely worth considering. Even if you need to shift some of your marketing budget around to cover it. It's paid off for me and may for you too.

Some things about business will never change. The age old saying of find a need and fill it will never die. No matter what direction the future takes us there will always be buyers and sellers of goods and services. And the buyer will always feel they paid too much while the seller thinks they paid too little!

Thus it has always been and thus it will always be.

But there are many important areas that are CHANGING NOW (yes, even while you read this) and these are changes that will have an impact on YOUR future. Let's look at a few.

COMMUNICATIONS

First, there was the telephone. Remember answering your own phone? That lasted for a long time. Then came Caller ID followed by voice mail. And NOW web sites are enabled so that with a click your customer can call you instantly, wherever you are. Are you keeping up?

MONEY

First there was cash. That lasted a long time. Then cheques were invented. Next, credit cards, then cheques and credit cards by phone and close behind, cheque by fax.

LOCATION

First the customer came to your store, looked you in the eye and bought what they wanted. That lasted for a long time.

Then mail order was invented and the store was less important. Next, the Internet came along and the store became VERY important again, but had changed in almost every way we could imagine. And NOW your "store" on the NET MUST have the latest ways for customers to shop and buy or you will be left behind. . . and left behind in InterNet time.

Are you keeping up?

TIME

First there was 9 to 5. The good old Monday through Friday 9 to 5. Weekends off AND two weeks a year or more for vacations. Remember them? That lasted for a long time. If someone called on Friday after 2p.m., you just called them back on Monday morning. And NOW if you don't respond in 15 minutes you are late. Late. . . and left behind. Are you keeping up?

Let's face the facts, the Internet can make you or break you.

If your product or service is not up to par you will fail much faster on the NET than on Main Street. The GOOD NEWS is that you can succeed faster now as well. You can change prices, tactics or even your entire business in a day.

The Net is wide open and resources are available. Just make sure that YOU ARE KEEPING UP.