ARRAY Direct Sales Newsletter

Issue #5
February 2003: Prospecting Power Magnets

Direct Sales Colleagues,

Welcome to the year of the ram! Another month has passed and we are already halfway through the first quarter!

As you peruse this month's newsletter, take a minute to examine how you're doing with the topics we discuss. Are your corporate and your distributor advertising tools updated and effective? Is your corporate branding established and successful?

As always, we welcome any questions or comments you have concerning this newsletter or our services.

Best Regards,

Dave Christiansen
Sales Manager, ARRAY
david@idiglobal.com

"If you do not ask the right questions, you do not get the right answers. A question asked in the right way often points to its own answer. Asking questions is the A-B-C of diagnosis. Only the inquiring mind solves problems."

– Edward Hodnett

> News: Most sites found by direct navigation; branding is key

Graph

In cyberspace today, more and more users know exactly where they want go. Statistics released earlier this month by WebSideStory, Inc, show that almost two-thirds of websites are found by direct navigation, typing the URL directly into the browser or utilizing a bookmark. This is in contrast to using a search engine or clicking on a link from another site. Just two years ago, the statistics showed a near even split between the two methods.

"The days of Web users randomly 'surfing' to sites is ending. Now, more than ever, people know exactly where they want to go on the Web," said Geoff Johnston, a vice president at StatMarket, a web software development optimization company that collects Internet usage stats. "This does not mean search sites or other Web links are now less important, because users still have to initially find a site before they can bookmark it. However, having a site worth returning to is becoming increasingly important to businesses."

The real message here is that branding is becoming increasingly important, for your organization as a whole as well as your distributors. Putting a web address in front of customers is as important as giving them a phone number, and in some cases more so.

Source: WebSideStory, Inc

Is your company's current Internet strategy falling short? You're not the only one. That's why over a dozen major direct sales companies have turned to ARRAY to provide their sales force with a rock-solid Internet strategy.

This guide contains the information you need to understand how ARRAY can revitalize your Internet strategy. Includes client testimonials, a CD-Rom, samples of our design work, and more! Get your FREE guide now

> Feature Article: Advertise your site ... ARRAY style!

Distributors are usually taught that the first step in growing their business is to make a list and work the list. Yet, it is how they work this list and use the marketing tools made available to them that will help them achieve success in their business. Anyone who thinks that having a website automatically equates to having site visitors is dreaming. There must be some effort on the part of the site owner to generate traffic and to advertise the site.

Also, distributors can spend a lot of time and money trying to figure out search engines and directory postings, but once they figure out how to get their warm list to visit their website they can see results that are far better than the cold market approach.

Tools to Advertise Your Site

ARRAY was built with the idea in mind that most distributors work their business part time. They need to be out selling and prospecting and not worrying about managing their site. Yet, the desire is to create a constant flow of new contacts. With that in mind, ARRAY incorporates some exciting and effective marketing tools into every ARRAY site that are easy to use and will help to effortlessly advertise a website.

HTML Emails: HTML emails have been proven to generate a higher response than traditional text emails. However, most distributors don't have the skills or the time to design, write the copy and program an HTML email. Hence, they don't use this as a tool to share new products, specials, or other features. With ARRAY's HTML email feature, ResponseAccel, distributors can use pre-designed HTML emails that complement the site. Topics range from new product announcements, sales, seasonal announcements, business opportunities, invitations, and more. The process of sending an HTML email using ARRAY's built-in ResponseAccel technology is so simple that even the most novice will use this tool.

Tell a Friend: Network Marketing and Direct Sales are built on word-of-mouth advertising. A Tell a Friend link built into each website makes it easy for site visitors to refer distributors' websites to friends and family. The results can also be augmented if you educate your distributors to capitalize on this viral marketing tool by always mentioning it in their site welcome message or in emails to customers and clients — something as simple as, "If you like what you see or perhaps you think someone else you know might like it, please click Tell a Friend."

Customizable Design: ARRAY sites are flexible enough that if a distributor wants to feature just one product, he can program his site with a personal story about that product and feature that product on his website. He could also feature 2 or more products as a personalized catalog, featuring as many products as he wants. This is beneficial in advertising a site because the site owner may want to direct contacts to check out their website and find out more about XYZ Product; whereas another distributor may want to focus on just the business opportunity section of the site. ARRAY's flexibility allows every distributor to make their website an expanded business presentation for those contacts that want to read more.

As a website owner begins to leverage the advertising tools built into ARRAY, he or she will also begin to see how the calendar, auto responders, professional email and more can expand advertising efforts as well.

> Testimonial: HTML marketing emails

Distributors are discovering the power of the email tools that ARRAY provides them. Using ResponseAccel they're able to send emails that are professional and effective.

"The marketing emails are beautiful. They're eye-catching and professional. I love sending them out because they make me look so good. Thanks!"

– Michael E.

Scottsdale, AZ

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