Raj Technologies Pvt. Ltd. - Blog

By Niharika Ravia

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I just had another one of "those" customer experiences.

I was taking an online seminar that included a product. I went to the website to order my product using the gift certificate codes that were given to me by the seminar documents.

I was presented with the option to upgrade the product, which I selected. So I entered in my credit card information to cover the cost of the upgrade.

All went smoothly until I realized a second too late that I missed the place to enter the gift certificate numbers (it was hidden in an obscure link that had a background that almost matched the color of the link text - were they trying to cheat me?). After the next screen loaded, I used my browser's Back button to return to the previous screen.

No luck I was stuck in the "process funnel" and I couldn't get out. It kept forcing me to the next screen and there was no "Back" button on the web page. So I selected the "Cancel" button in the screen thinking I would just cancel the order and start over.

No luck again. Now I was a "registered customer" and I had to login. And the previously familiar process was no longer available. I also received an email a few minutes later that said my credit card had been billed for the product that was suppose to be free. And I didn't get the upgraded product that I was trying for either.

Oh well, I thought, I'll just try to order the upgraded product and enter the gift certificate codes so at least I will get a discount on the product I actually wanted.

No luck again. The gift certificate codes were tied to a specific product and could not be used.

Luckily they had an 800 number with actual operators. I called thinking I could easily get this mess straightened out.

After giving the operator my information and telling them what happened, I heard a pause on the line and then the worst words you can tell any customer, "There's nothing I can do."

Too bad, tough crap, we have you money and there's nothing we (or you) can do about it. No offer for a refund, no replacement gift certificate codes, no help whatsoever. And eventually after my pausing in astonishment a lame offer to send me an email.

An email!?! An email about what; "thank you for the opportunity to rip you off and frustrate you completely, we thoroughly enjoyed it."

I was sure this wasn't their intent and that they are actually an honest business. But apparently they either give their customer service reps no tools to rectify order mishaps or they really don't care.

How hard would it have been to refund the credit card or give me some new gift certificate codes to use in purchasing the product I really wanted. I do this all the time in my business. My goal is to satisfy my customer even if I have to give away the product for free.

When we make a mistake we make it up to our customers. Free products, additional products, discounts, gift certificates - something!

Even when it is not technically our fault - bungled deliveries, missing packages, damaged goods, etc. - we still try to make our customer happy. Because they are our customer, we fought long and hard for them and paid dearly in cost and effort.

We never knowingly leave a customer hanging, disappointed, or frustrated. Our reputation is on the line with every customer encounter. And every one in our organization has the ability and authority to do what is necessary to fulfill our customers needs and desires.

Within reason of course - we're not a door mat we're a WELCOME mat.

We live by the old adage that one satisfied customer tells two others and a dissatisfied customer tells 10. Excuse me while I go find 10 people to tell my story to. Thanks for reading, now I only need 9 more.

Warm regards,
Niharika Ravia
http://www.rajtechnologies.com/mymail

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By Niharika Ravia

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Press releases are one of the most cost-effective ways to get promotion for your online business. Many entrepreneurs ignore this type of promotion because they don't know how to write a press release. It's important to promote your online business with press releases because of the media all over the internet. The following is a list of some common press release writing tips:

- your press release should sound like news, not an ad

- you should only send your press release to the media related to the topic of your press release - keep your press release one page in length

- your header, contact information and release date should be at the top of your press release - use short sentences and double space in between sentences

- your header and first few sentences should capture the readers attention

- you should tell a story and briefly mention your business, product or service in the body of the press release

- proofread your press release many times. Look for grammar and spelling mistakes. Another reason entrepreneurs ignore promoting their online business with press releases is because they don't know what's newsworthy. Here are 16 online business press release ideas:

- new products or services you're offering on your web site. - the results of an online survey or poll you've completed - a virtual trade show or seminar you're hosting. - a free chat room class you're teaching

- your opening of a new web site

- an online award your business or web site has won

- a free e-mail newsletter you're publishing - new online products or services you're giving away - an online business association or club you're starting - a famous person that's endorsing your business - a major joint venture you're doing with another business - a new book or e-book you wrote - an expert or celebrity who's speaking in your chat room - a fundraising event you're doing at your web site - a new contest or sweepstakes you're having at your site - major sponsorships you're doing online You can get other press release writing tips and ideas by reading other businesses press releases, reading how to publications, talking to experts and visiting other media web sites. I hope this article persuades and helps you to promote your business through press releases.


Warm regards,
Niharika Ravia
http://www.rajtechnologies.com/mymail

P.S. Try this, Friend:
http://www.hostmepostme.com

It really works!

By Niharika Ravia

Visit our sponsor:
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1. Your press release should sound like news, not an ad.

2. You should only send your press release to the media related to the topic of your press release.

3. Keep your press release one page in length.

4. Your header, contact information and release date should be at the top of your press release.

5. Use short sentences and double space your lines.

6. Your header and first few sentences should grab the readers attention.

7. You should tell a story and mention your business, product or service in the body of the press release.

8. Proofread your press release many times. Look for grammar and spelling mistakes.

9. Write a press release about the new products or services you're offering on your web site.

10. Create a press release about the results of an online survey or poll you have completed.

11. Submit a press release about a trade show or seminar you're hosting.

12. Write a press release about no cost chat room classes you are teaching.

13. Create a press release about your opening of a new web site.

14. Submit a press release about an online award your business or web site has won.

15. Write a press release about a free e-zine you're publishing.

16. Create a press release about online products or services you're giving away.

17. Submit a press release about an online business association or club you're starting.

18. Write a press release about a famous person that's endorsing your business.

19. Create a press release about a joint venture you are doing with another business.

20. Submit a press release about a new book or e-book you wrote.

21. Write a press release about an expert who is speaking in your chat room.

22. Create a press release about a fundraising event you're doing at your web site.

23. Submit a press release about a new contest or sweepstakes you're having at your site.

24. Write a press release about major sponsorships you're doing online.


Warm regards,
Niharika Ravia
http://www.rajtechnologies.com/mymail

P.S. Try this, Friend:
http://www.hostmepostme.com

It really works!

By Niharika Ravia

Visit our sponsor:
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1. People love to get free stuff. A free eBook is perfect. They will visit your web site to get the free valuable information.

2. Give away the full version of your eBook in exchange for testimonials. You can use these customer statements to improve your ads' effectiveness.

3. When you write and give away a free eBook you will become known as an expert. This will gain people's trust and they will buy your main product or service quicker.

4. Publish your web site in eBook format. Put the eBook on a disk or CD-ROM then include it with your direct mail packages. This can increase the number of people that buy your product or service.

5. Offer your eBook as a free bonus for buying one of your main products or services. People will buy the product or service more often when you offer a free bonus.

6. Allow people to download your eBook for free, if they give the e-mail addresses of 3 to 5 friends or associates that would be interested in your eBook. This will quickly build your e-mail list.

7. Create a directory of web sites in eBook form. List peoples web sites in the directory that will agree to advertise the eBook on their web site or e-zine. This will give them an incentive to give away or advertise your eBook.

8. Allow other people to give away your free eBook. This will increase the number of people that will see your ad in the eBook. You could also include a mini catalog of all your product or services that you offer in the eBook.

9. Gain new leads by having people sign up and give you their contact information before they can download your eBook. This is a very effective way to conduct market research.

10. Make money selling advertising space in your eBook. You could charge for full page color ads, classified ads or banners ads. You could also trade advertising space in your eBook for other forms of advertising.

11. Give away the eBook as a gift to your current customers as a way of letting them know you appreciate their business. Place an ad in the eBook for a new back end product you're offering

12. Get free advertising by submitting your eBook to freebie and freeware/shareware web sites. This will increase the number of people that will down- load your eBook and see your ad.

13. Make money by selling the reprint rights to those that would like to sell the eBook. You could also make even more money by selling the master rights. This would allow other people to sell the reprint rights.

14. Hold a contest on your web site so people can win your eBook. You'll get free advertising by submitting your contest ad to free contest or sweepstakes directories.

15. You will gain valuable referrals from people telling others about your eBook. Word of mouth advertising can be very effective.

16. Make money cross promoting your eBook with other people's products or services. This technique will double your marketing effort with- out spending more time and money on your part.

17. Increase your e-zine subscribers by giving away your eBook to people that subscribe to your e-zine. This will give people an incentive to subscribe. Allow your e-zine subscribers to also give it away to multiply your subscribers.

18. Give away the eBook to people that join your affiliate program. This will increase the number of people that sign-up. You could also create an eBook for them to use that will help them promote your product or service.

19. Give away the eBook in exchange for people leaving their contact information. This will help you follow-up with the prospects who buy your main product or service.

20. Offer a free eBook that contains a couple of sample chapters. If they like it, give them the option of ordering the full version. It would work just like a software demo or shareware.


Warm regards,
Niharika Ravia
http://www.rajtechnologies.com/mymail

P.S. Try this, Friend:
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It really works!

By Niharika Ravia

Visit our sponsor:
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1. Use a "P.S." at the end of your ad copy. This is were you either want to repeat a strong benefit or use a strong close like a free bonus.

2. Publish a free ebook and give it away from your web site or in your e-zine. This will increase your traffic, sales and e-zine subscribers.

3. Create multiple streams of income with your web site. You could sell your own products, join affiliate programs, sell advertising space, etc.

4. Give your visitors compliments in your ad copy. This can earn their trust and put them in a good mood, in return they will be easier to sell too.

5. Create new products or services only if there is a strong need for them. You won't have anyone to sell them to if you don't have a market.

6. Sell your backend products to your customers right after they order. Take them to a "Thank You" web page that includes other products you sell.

7. Sell a few products on your web site instead of selling a large amount of products. To many choices can overwhelm your visitors and they won't buy.

8. Include content and free stuff on your web site that promote the products you're selling. If they don't read your ads, they may read your offerings.

9. Remind your visitors that you're human not just a web site. You could publish information on your family life, a picture of yourself , a profile, etc.

10. Provide a "Contact Page" on your web site. Give your visitors as many options to contact you as possible. This'll add credibility to your business.


Warm regards,
Niharika Ravia
http://www.rajtechnologies.com/mymail

P.S. Try this, Friend:
http://www.hostmepostme.com

It really works!