Power Prospecting How would you like to start closing 75% of the Web site walkthroughs you conduct? Sounds too good to be true, right? The truth is, several of our WebCenter owners do close a majority of their Web site presentations. Some of them use Sales Support, some don't; others have experience in sales, but most do not. One thing they do have in common: they are all exceptional prospectors. For many people, prospecting is a stressful, frustrating process where they hope to convince business owners to agree to a Web site presentation. This approach typically results in reluctant prospects that may feel pushed into an appointment for a product they do not need or want. It does not build any value into the Web site management platform, nor does it create an interest to learn more about how a Web site can drastically improve their business. Prospecting like this seldom results in a sale. Remember, prospecting is about being selective. There are literally millions of businesses out there, and you cannot afford to waste your time with people who are not serious about the growth and success of their business. The main objective in prospecting is to find a business or individual likely to buy a Web site. You are not trying to push the prospective customer into a sale; you are trying to determine if the business is a suitable match for your Web site design and hosting services, and whether or not you want to move on to the next stage in the sales process. Every business on the planet needs a Web site. This is a fact that will become increasingly obvious to struggling businesses without a Web site in the coming years. As a WebCenter owner, you have millions of dollars in cutting-edge Web site development technology at your disposal; you have the power to transform your prospects' existing operations and help them maximize their chances of long-term success. Whether or not they realize it, you are presenting them with one of the most important business tools they will ever encounter. If you take the time to thoroughly interview and qualify each one of your prospects, you will start to notice an improvement in the quality of your appointments, and, hopefully, a big increase in the number of Web sites you are selling!     New Industry-Specific Templates Over the past six months, we have added over 150 new industry-specific templates to the Web site building form. Each one of these new layouts have been designed with a particular business in mind, so as we create new templates, we're also replacing some of the more general industry names (Real Estate, Real Estate 2, Real Estate 3) with more specific sub-categories, like Real Estate Agents, Real Estate Appraisers, and Real Estate Loans. Last month, we added 40 new industry-specific templates to the system, including layouts for businesses in: *Amusement & Recreation *Assisted Living *Banks & Banking Services *Barber Shop *Bars & Pubs *Boat Dealers *Civic & Social Associations *Computer Programming *Consulting *Cosmetic Sales & Supplies *Dental Laboratories *Dog Breeders *Electronics *Employment Services *Equine Services *Excavation Services *Furniture Manufacturing & Supplies *Gasoline Service Stations *Grocery Stores *Household Appliances *Information Systems & Services *Liquor Stores *Misc. Personal Services *Music - Retail *Music Management Consultants *Optometrists *Paint & Wallpaper Services & Supplies *Party Supplies & Services *Photographers - Commercial *Pool Services & Supplies *Restaurants *RV Parks *Sign Manufacturers *Software - Retail *Swimming Pool Dealers/Manufacturers *Tattoo & Body Piercing *Timeshare & Vacation Rental *Tobacco Stores *Toys & Hobbies *Welding Repair Services We're going to keep adding new industry-specific templates to the system on a regular basis, so be sure to check back with us in coming months! If you have any other questions about the industry-specific templates or any other features in Version 3.0, please call Customer Care Monday through Friday from 7am to 7pm Pacific Standard Time at (866) 932-4357.

The Contact Manager Tool If you have ever used Sales Support to help you with a Web site presentation, you've probably heard the Product Specialist emphasize how important the Contact Manager tool will be to your prospect's online business. But do you know exactly how your Web site customers can use this feature to increase sales and decrease advertising expenses? Are you able to explain the impact it can have on their relationship with customers? Like most of the other features in our software, the Contact Manager tool is designed to help your customers use technology to streamline and improve existing business processes. Many of your prospects probably manage data and information vital to the company's success—like customers' names and suppliers' phone numbers—using outdated, inefficient tools like a Rolodex or an address book and organizer. With the Contact Manager, your customers have access to a Web-based information management system that stores all of their contact data in a secure, centralized location, and allows them to send out hundreds of sales and marketing e-mails to prospects and customers. Web site owners will be able to use the Contact Manager tool for a wide variety of functions, including: Organize Information and Appointments · Store thousands of names, phone   numbers, and addresses in a   searchable, electronic format · Retrieve and update information from   any computer connected to the Internet · Upload and download contact data and   mailing lists from information   management applications like   Microsoft Outlook · Use Feedback forms on the Web site   to automatically add prospective   customers' contact information to your   database · Check all contact e-mail addresses to   ensure they are active and accurate · Create To Do lists for meetings and   appointments · Schedule follow ups and call backs at   appropriate times to move prospects   through the sales process · Create mailing lists to send out   important notices, announcements, and   reminders to   customers, prospects, or   business   associates Enhance Marketing and Communication · Send up to 250 e-mails at one time   (adhering to all guidelines prohibiting   unsolicited commercial mass e-mail) · Deliver highly targeted sales messages   to your existing and prospective   customers · Notify customers of new products or   upcoming promotions · Encourage customers to make   additional purchases by sending a   special discount code or coupon · Create mailing lists to automatically   follow up with after-sale service · Remain in contact with new customers   to cultivate a profitable long-term   relationship · Send customers requests and special   incentives for providing referrals These are just some of the ways your customers will be able to leverage the Contact Manager tool to improve their business. If you understand the goals your prospect has for his or her business, it will be easier for you to help them think of new and innovative ways to use the tools and features in the software—including additional uses for the Contact Manager tool. If you have any questions about using the Contact Manager or any of the other tools or features in our Web site-building software, schedule an appointment with Sales Support, and ask a few questions while the Product Specialist helps you sell a site!     Did you know that almost 52 million Americans filed their taxes online this year? That's a 12% increase from the 2003 tax year. SOURCE: IRS Website 4/14/04     As always, if you have any topics you would like to see covered in upcoming newsletters, or if you have any good sales or marketing tips you would like to share with us, please contact us at newsletter@mawebcenters.com, and let us know how we can help make your WebCenter business more successful!