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Launch Date: May 23, 2001
Last # of subscribers (3 days ago): 561
Present # of subscribers: 637
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"It's common sense to take a method and try it.
If it fails, admit it frankly and try another. Above all, TRY
something!"
~ Franklin D. Roosevelt
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MAKE SURE YOUR LINKS ARE "HOT"
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by Stephan Bourget
The loss of a click-through is an amazing concept, peculiar to
the current generation, but it is SERIOUS business. Not everyone is willing to
copy and paste your URL or email address, if it isn't clickable. If they click,
but nothing happens, they may assume the link is dead and that will be the end
of it. In other words, it took you all of a fraction of a second to lose a
potential sale.
Some of the most common mistakes are caused by enthusiasm. Following an ! with
http:, etc. without first placing a space between ! and http:, etc. will leave
the link dead, because there is no internet address that begins !http.
The same is true at the end of the URL. Any additional characters will cause a
search for a non-existent directory under the domain. Make sure there is a space
preceding and following the URL you want to be clickably hot. The same holds
true for email addresses, plus, you gain more clickability with an email address
by adding mailto: in front of your email address. (You do NOT skip a space after
mailto: )
Another common mistake is forgetting to press enter on your keyboard. Without
pressing enter, your link may not go hot. You can always backspace if you need
to, so don't forget to hit enter and make your link clickably hot.
"It's the little foxes that spoil the vines."
That means, such small oversights can have devastating effects.
Finally, do take the time to check that you have remembered to include your
link! Seems obvious, but it's a common mistake everyone has made at one time or
another. You don't want people reading your ad, looking for where to click, only
to find there is no link at all!
And one last thing. If someone contacts you and tells you they can't get your
link to work, just telling them to copy and paste it into their browser
might make them angry. Better to take a few moments, make sure the correct link
is hot in a fresh email and that way they can just click through, like they've
been trying to do.
Stephan Bourget is CEO of Bourget Marketing International and editor of the
IMReporter.
While you're thinking about it, look in your address book and forward this issue now to 2 or 3 of your friends. They will thank you for it and so will I.
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Visit us at http://cc.bourget-marketing-international.com
Bourget Marketing International
Stephan Bourget, CEO
311-3414 Albert-Chretien Blvd.
Beauport, QC
Canada G1C 7M6