Outside the Box

Comment

Comment by Aprilee/ OSM Admin on May 9, 2009 at 6:23pm

Maybe I shouls convo her at least! Melanie, I don't OWN the site, it's etsy & they have such things in their TOS, a buyer has to agree & regester with etsy to purchase anything! Also, I have many repeat customers! 75% of my page views are from loyal customers! I will NEVER email a customer unless it opertains to an active order! They stop in my shops often, as they know trhat I'm always adding new items!

Comment by Melanie Edman-Osmer on May 9, 2009 at 5:40pm

Was a payment taken? Have you tried contacting them? Sounds almost as though there might have been a hiccup in the system somewhere and the order was not received...or perhaps there was a transposed character in your email address. If it has been over a week (even a couple of days with not even a system-generated response) it is always best to contact the company.

It is actually a requirement to have some type of privacy policy on your site, It is best to supply a link at the bottom of all pages of your site, and another link to that policy at the bottom of your receipt, with a short synopsis of that policy on the receipt. Adding a lot of extra, unnecessary verbiage on a receipt page often can be a source of annoyance if it causes a second page to print when the customer goes to print out their receipt.

Regarding emails. You are allowed by law to email anyone who has placed an order with you....as long as said e-mails have a method to opt out at the bottom. It is also best not to email from your main email account. Get yourself signed up with an email marketing company such as Constant Contact or Vertical Response (pay as you go). You have complete control of your email campaigns, and you are also completely compliant with all rules and regulations or the email cannot be sent.

Comment by Cindy Powers on May 9, 2009 at 8:45am

Thanks for sharing! I do many of these things, as well - but you go above and beyond the call of duty. I think it's wise to have the privacy policy stated.

Comment by Aprilee/ OSM Admin on May 9, 2009 at 8:36am

I just recently made a purchase, It's been almost a week & I have not gotten as much as one email! No order conformation, nothing! As a customer, I feel unimportant & "abandoned"! When I get an order notification, I IMMEDIATELY email the buyer thanking them & mentioning the item by name! I tell them when I will be shipping it & that they will receive a confirmation email after I do ship! In my shipping confirmation email I tell them that I NEVER share my customer's information & that I NEVER email my customers unless it pertains to an order! I tell them that they are welcome to email me anytime they would like, but I respect their privacy! (my customers LOVE that)!

Comment by Glenda Cates on March 20, 2009 at 12:35pm

Thanks for the invite I look forward to being here.

Comment by Nanc Johnson on March 20, 2009 at 12:16pm

Get new ideas on how to grow more business with online parties and events. Our Blog Talk Radio show this week was called Online Events Unleashed. Learn how to use this shows to grow a great referral base. There is a player on my page or go too www.blogtalkradio.com/HomeBizTalkRadio
It doesn't cost anything to listen and learn ;-)
Nanc Johnson

Comment by Kathy Adams, OSM Admin. on February 11, 2009 at 9:26am

I want to comment on what Melanie is saying about saying "thank you" to your customers. I made a small purchase at our last vendor party. Nothing much, but I knew it was this person's first party and I wanted to help a little. Now, I don't expect lavish praise for doing that, but a simple thank you would've been wonderful. I never heard a word from this person, not in email or when the package arrived. All that was in the package, besides my purchase, was a business card. Needless to say, I didn't keep the card.

It's not hard to say "thank you" and believe me, it goes a long way in building a relationship with your customer.

By the way, Malanie, I love that little card!!!

Kathy

Comment by Kathy Adams, OSM Admin. on February 9, 2009 at 8:58am

Great idea for a group, Melanie. I'll put my thinking cap on!!!

Kathy

Comment by Melanie Edman-Osmer on February 6, 2009 at 9:26pm

Viral Marketing...

What is viral marketing? It is something which is shared and forwarded to people which contains your business name as well as some fun "attraction". There is a jigsaw program I have used in the past as a weekly challenge, and then rewarded everyone who completed the puzzle with a discount code. I also did a drawing each week from everyone who completed the puzzle and then filled out a drawing slip.

The program is completely customizable...you can direct it back to a page on your website. Currently I am not offering prizes for the puzzles, but do have a few up you can see as samples at www.thetreasurebox.net/puzzles.php.

These are executable files, so not every hosting plan will allow them. But they are safe and the company has a more robust program which is TuCows approved. The Jigsaw Puzzle Promo Creator is Freeware and can be found at http://www.tibosoftware.com/

Comment by Melanie Edman-Osmer on February 6, 2009 at 9:17pm

I only had to go as far as my computer for this first idea...

Always thank your customers. They are your backbone.

Several years ago, I started adding a little piece of candy to every order. One of my vendors was also doing the same thing, so I borrowed their poem. The card has been changed throughout the years, but the poem has remained the same. For a long time, I used Nestle Treasures during cooler months, but cannot seem to find those any longer. Now, I often use bubble gum or other wrapped candies.

I also have been using a sucker card. I found little lollypops at a local grocery store sold in one of the candy barrels. For pennies a candy, and pennies a card, you can add a thoughtful thank you to all of your orders.

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