Global Business Strategy News

1. AUTO RESPONDERS - Work Horses of International Internet Communication

If you are unfamiliar with auto responders, the best definition can be made by splitting up the word 'auto' 'responder'. Auto meaning 'automatic' and responder meaning 'response' or in this case and automatic 'email' response.

I have suggested to people who send us emails with large attachments and picture files that they should not send these huge files, unless their potential customer has "specifically" requested it.

There are many reasons for this. The two primary reasons are:

1. In some parts of the world people pay by the minute for their Internet connection and your huge "unsolicited" emails with files or pictures attached to them could cost your potential new customer quite a bit of time and money to download. This is also considering "spamming" and could cost you much more than it will ever make.

2. Your email message will probably be automatically deleted by the receiver or NEVER opened. Because of the numerous Email Virus programs that attach themselves to your email program and mail themselves along with other 'huge' files to every person in your Address book, your message will in many cases be sent automatically to trash or be deleted outright. Most email programs have Message Filters that people (like me) have set up to automatically delete emails that meet certain criteria.

In regards to large file attachments of picture attachments to an email, you should always ask your potential customer/client if it is OK for you to email these to them. Then if they say Yes, you can be confident of two things. One that they are interested in your products and two they will definitely open your email and take a look at your product pictures or price lists or whatever it is you are sending them as an attachment.

All of this unnecessary email traffic uses "bandwidth" and slows down the entire Internet we all, including you, suffer the consequences of a slower Internet.

There is a better way.

Using a Auto responder system, you can send a short email to the prospect giving a 'brief' description of your product line and advising them that if they would like more detailed information, including a comprehensive price list to please send an email to your auto responder and it will be sent back to them immediately by return email.

When we first began marketing using the Internet, we did not have a website. We began by using an Auto responder system. We advertised our Auto responder (AR) address just like we now advertise our website address. We included our AR address in all correspondence and used multiple AR addresses to promote different products or offer various information about a product line or group.

In the case of your product, you could have a short introduction letter and include detailed price information, warranty information, company information or just about any information that would be of interest to your prospective buyer.

If this information was too lengthy, then you could put the prices on one AR, the warranty on another, etc.. You would simply refer to the particular AR address within the other AR's information.

An example would be an Apparel/Clothing manufacturer could put their prices for Men's Clothing on one AR, the prices for Women's clothing on another and Children's on another. This way the potential customer can send an Email to the auto responder(s) and receive ONLY the information they are interested in receiving.

A great thing about the newer AR's is their ability to send automatic follow up messages at intervals you can set and they allow the receiver to stop that flow of follow ups at any time.

This automatic follow up process keeps your product line in front of your potential customer and although they may not be in the market for your product right now, they may be in a month or two when one of your AR follow up messages arrives in their email.

Two common mistakes by many marketer's are: 

1) They follow up too often and end up having their emails filtered into the delete or trash bin OR
2) They do not follow up at all - they send one message and decide that if no response is received back, their potential customer is not interested

Both of these mistakes can be hazardous to your wealth, but the 2nd one is probably one of the most common. Remember that the import buyer you contact or to whom you send your initial letter, fax or email may not need a supply of your item at the present time. They may have just made a purchase.

However, they may need a new or fresh supply in the next 3 months or 6 months or year. Then they go back into their files and find your letter, fax or copy of your initial email with your auto responder address on it and send your AR a message or contact you at that time. An automatic follow up auto responder can continue to remind those buyers "who are interested" about you and your products.

This is called "planting the seeds" for a future harvest. We still receive inquiries from advertisements and press releases we posted 6, 7 and sometimes 10 years ago. Luckily we are still at the same address and have the same phone/fax numbers, which brings to light another advantage of an auto responder, which is "permanency".

Should your physical address or location change along with your phone or fax number or area code to your phone or fax, your Auto responder can continue to be a means of contacting you for a potential buyer.

If you want to skip our message and get your own auto responder(s) set up, simply use this link:  to contact us

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3. Finders Fee Program

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4. Solutions for Dealing with Fraud and Fraudulent Credit Card Orders

Here are two excellent articles with links to still more information regarding how to Avoid Fraud and What to Do When You Suspect an Order is Fraudulent. In just over 12 months we have had over $19,000 in fraudulent orders placed with us.

If you have a website or intend to market on the web, check these two articles out and remember that you, as the merchant, are responsible for making sure everything about your order and ordering customer is legitimate.

Avoiding Fraudulent Orders: http://store.yahoo.com/fraud.html

What to Do with a Suspect Order:
http://store.yahoo.com/check.html

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5. TRADE LEADS

PRODUCTS AVAILABLE OR FOR SALE

high-quality Czech products of a long-standing tradition, such as hand made crystal glass products, Christmas decorations and crystal chandeliers.

David Moravec
AssortiS, s.r.o.
tr. 17. listopadu 203
530 02 Pardubice
Czech Republic
Tel.: +420603-384356  Fax: +42040-6931372
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Please list our company as international traders in following commodities:

Livestock - Dairy Products - Frozen Meat - Cereals, oils and Seeds Fertilizers: Urea, NPK, DAP, Crude oil

Alfred Bajada Limited
International Traders
Gharix, Summer Street
Mosta MST 07 - Malta
Tel: 00356 432 237  Mob: 00356 7943 2237/0947 0342  Fax 00256 437060

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VITAMINS - HEALTH FOOD SUPPLEMENTS
A complete line of nutritional products for importers, wholesalers and store owners.  Private labeling is also available.
Vitamin Company

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PRODUCTS WANTED (TO BUY)

We are a large importer of industrial machinery and parts for North America with locations throughout. I am currently investigating International Manufacturers who are looking for an North
American Importer/Distributor and how to obtain leads.

Rob Mitchell Phone: 616-698-7500, ext. 337
Stiles Machinery, Inc. Fax 616-698-2336
3965 44th Street S.E.
Grand Rapids, MI 49512 USA
http://www.stilesmachinery.com
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LEARN HOW TO IMPORT AND EXPORT

Click Here Now:
How to Start an Import Export Business

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Global Business Strategy News Newsletter is Copyright 2001 by Coble International. All Rights Reserved. This newsletter may not be included in any compilation, electronic or printed, or as part of any commercial endeavor without written permission.

Although we believe all the information contained is legitimate, we cannot he held responsible for any dealings you have with any of the people and firms mentioned in this issue. All offers and links in this Global Business Strategy News issue were valid at the time we originally published them.

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