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So many times I have given ideas and advice to clients about steps they can take to to increase the number of leads or improve their conversion rates from prospect to customer, yet rarely do I see those ideas put into action.

Doing nothing never has a positive effect on a business.  Absolutely anything you do can have an impact, so chose an action and just do it!
Often times our marketing and relationship building efforts are cumulative so each step you take builds on your previous steps, bringing greater results.

Here are my top five suggestions I give customers for bringing in more prospects- pick one and try it TODAY.

1. Contact your current customers.
2. Send a press release and post it under “News” on your website.
3. Get out and introduce yourself.
4. Follow-up with a past business contact.
5. Write an article in your area of expertise.

Choose one of these action items to do today. Then tomorrow, pick one again, and so on and so forth.  Watch for the immediate effects and keep in mind the cumulative results.

So many times I have given ideas and advice to clients about steps they can take to to increase the number of leads or improve their conversion rates from prospect to customer, yet rarely do I see those ideas put into action.

Lately I have been receiving a huge amount of spam- not those normal levels of annoying amounts that get stuck in my spam filter anyway- but a noticable influx alot of which is getting through my spam filters with business-like topics such as “RE: Our meeting” and “Nice to meet you”.

So I started to investigate and fortunately for me, MOST this new spam is coming through one particular address.  See, I set up addresses just for this purpose- spam avoidance.  Not only can I change this address, I can set up “spam catchers” to discover who may have leaked my address to spammers.  Let me explain.

The address I am getting this huge new amount of spam is one I use for ‘art’ related services- stock photography, icons, images, etc. that I use in the course of my business.  I have used this address for three companies.  Suspiciously, I recently cancelled my membership with one of these companies… so I have my main suspect.  Often companies will sell or give your contact information to 3rd parties which is why you MUST read their privacy policies.

So to prove where these spam may have originated from (in case the two companies I continue to work with are not honoring their privacy policy), I just added two addresses- one for each of these companies and updated my profile with each.  My previous email address no longer exists and I will be instantly alleviated of the spam.  If either of my current art contacts sells or shares my address, I will know exactly who the problem-child is and end my business-relationship with them.

Forwarding email addresses are great for this purpose– check your domain registrar or web host. Most of them (including YNot Web) include Free Unlimited forwarding or “alias” email addresses. Try it out -especially when you are unsure of who you are dealing with on the internet.

Well, its been a while and you may have wondered why I’ve been so quiet on the blog for the last couple of weeks. Simply busy. In addition to the Fair Oaks Dog Walk that I coordinated this year, I had a rather large launch occur recently: Sports411 Fantasy Sports site. Now that the site is launched, my schedule will allow me to add my regular comments and followup on that How-to create a PDF article I promised.

Thanks for your patience!

Sports411 Enterprises

YNot Web is sponsoring the Fair Oaks Dog Walk which takes place Saturday October 7, 2006.  This is a great event for families with dogs to get together, get a little exercise and have fun.  This event is put on by the Fair Oaks Chamber of Commerce and sponsored by many great local businesses.  Check it out at http://www.fairoaksdogwalk.com.