We’re Sorry, but no one is here to take your message right now……

I’ve been visiting a lot of web sites lately seeking some product information for a hospitality client.  3 out of 4 of the web sites I hit were using the live chat feature on their web sites.  When I’m in a hurry and just want some basic questions answered, I’ll hit the ole’ live chat and hopefully discuss my needs with a real human being via chat.  Not so. All three of the sites that actually were featuring live chat at 3:00 p.m. in the afternoon were not available to chat with me.

Here’s the point.  Don’t even bother putting this on your web site if you are not going to commit to using it.  This sends a strong signal to prospects that I’m clearly not important enough for your team to respond to.  If you can actually have someone fielding questions between 9-5 then by all means, fire it up, otherwise, you are sending mixed customer service signals.

I overheard (without a choice) a guys cell phone conversation while in line at the grocery store tonight.  The long and short of it, he is getting Internet leads from his web site but just doesn’t have the time to talk to these people, he is just ‘too damn busy’ to connect with his prospects.  So, he’s obviously pondering some solutions to this problem (of having too many leads….) out-loud and comes up with the following brain child….”Here’s what I’m gonna do, I’ll just get a new phone line and send it straight to voicemail. That way, the leads can just leave a message.” This managed to dig deep into my soul and stab me repeatedly, I was horrified at what I heard.  So, let me get this straight, you are getting too many leads and just don’t have the time to get new business, so the solution, completely take any human interaction out of the sales process and just let people leave a voice mail. Wow.  <sarcasm>He’s going to be a millionaire someday! </sarcasm>

Anyway you cut the cake, marketing is about human interaction, people are in the equation (hopefully) and people DO at some point want to make sure that you are a real live human being.  True Internet marketing is about the true human relationship. The Internet should NOT be used as a substitute for good ole’ fashioned conversation, so sending all of those hungry prospects to talk to a digital voice answering machine, after they have surfed your web site is for sure a one way ticket to lost revenue, sales, credibility, relationships and opportunities.

For the last few months I’ve been receiving emails from Jennifer.  Jennifer sells photocopiers. Jennifer LOVES photocopiers.  I have NEVER asked about a photocopier, have NEVER indicated even a remote interest in a photocopier, but Jennifer got my email address from the Chamber of Commerce, so obviously (in her mind), I’m a logical prospect for her to annoy on a daily basis.

Jennifer has recently caught onto IContact.  She decided to just go ahead and add me to her Daily photocopier newsletter. So, now I get even more special offers from Jennifer. More offers I don’t want, more garbage to clutter my inbox, more photocopier specials I’ll never pay attention to.  Sorry Jennifer, I just opted out, thanks for the memories.

Just because Jennifer found my name and email address on another list does not entitle her to communicate or rudely interrupt my inbox with email specials.  If I’m ever in the market for a copier, do you think I’ll call Jennifer for one? Nope. Negative. Ain’t Gonna Happen. The bottom line is this: if you wish to spread your message and communicate with prospects, get their permission to do so first. Once you have their permission, you have an in, you have an interest and hopefully, you’ll have a relationship.

When it comes to your web site copy, please remember this quick tip: Not many people read all of it. I’ve seen clients labor meticulously over every single word on every single page for months. Granted, you do need to sound like you have a grasp of the vernacular and granted, it needs to convert prospects into sales, but there is no need to recompose War & Peace on your web site. Ask yourself how much time you actually spend reading other people’s web site copy, you probably, like most of the world SKIM the page quickly. If it’s a sea of copy, you are lost, and you quickly hit the back button and on to the next.

Quick Copy Tips:

• Use Bullets: using bullets helps focus skimmers on key elements.
• Be Concise. There is no need to list the ENTIRE three page testimonial from a client, give the highlights.
• Research keywords before you start composing. What keywords would help this article get found in Google?
• Don’t be afraid to send people to another page to ‘read more’ if it is a longer piece.

Business is all about battle.  We compete, we devise and execute strategy, we fine tune our weapons and armor and deploy our troops where they are hopefully needed most.  The Internet and your marketing plan is no different.  Each and every day, more and more competition moves to the field for battle.  They are there to outsmart you, to out web design you, to out tweet you and to out Google you.

Do you have a web commander in the line of fire? Is your commander calling the right shots?

So many companies tend to forget that success on the Internet is truly a battle.  A battle that changes daily by so many outside enemy forces.  You need a commander in the field on a daily basis.  Your web commander needs to know the threats, needs to strategize and deploy rapidly, needs to know which Internet marketing weapon to deploy and which armor needs to be affixed at just the right time.  Your company needs an Internet marketing Battle Cry.

If you are ready to do battle, call the most aggressive and most strategic Internet marketing firm in Orlando. Call me at On Target Web Solutions: 407-830-4550 or Nationwide: 866-998-6886.

If you liked this blog, be sure to check out my other Internet Marketing blog: TheSEOCEO.com