Taking web orders via phone instead of via shopping cart?

Rumour has it, Gary's first piece of internet advice was something like... "To sell online, you have to get people offline."

In other words, use online as a lead generation system. To get the prospects' name, address and phone number.

Another successful marketer followed that advice. Placed a ten word ad. Ten days later they had sold $55,000.00 worth of products.

The ad was a classified ad placed in the online classifieds on AOL (I believe it was AOL). And gave a phone number to call for more information.

Those who called left their name and address and were sent a sales letter through the mail.

The year. From memory. Was 1992. Eleven years ago.

So Gary's advice was valid. Valid then and valid today. Depending on the market.

Obviously no-one is going to call LA from NY to order a $15 eBook. Might happen. Probably not likely.

So the "use online to get them offline" technique would be product/market specific. Instead of a be all and end all technique.

Michael Ross


Offline. Online. Make Money Both Ways