The
Fourth of July is the best time to show your patriotism and
wave the flag high. Show your support for the troops, the
government, or any other political cause you can name - but
please, not on your business web site.
I
have said before that your web site or newsletter should show
some of your personality, but should not confuse or offend the
reader with long paragraphs about your favorite hobby or
political views.
Remember,
not every customer thinks the same way you do. While you
might think that waving the American flag and slogans of
"support our troops" are appropriate for your business
web site, remember that you might have international visitors to
your web site that either don't understand or don't agree!
Hurricanes,
terrorism, earthquakes and other disasters happen in the world
nearly every day. You have to decide if they are relevant and
how to treat them in your web site or newsletter.
And
while everyone commiserates with the victims of Hurricane
Katrina, earthquakes in Pakistan and the war in Iraq, be careful
how you address the issue in your newsletter:
- If
you offer a donation as a premium, take care it doesn't
sound too self-serving. This will turn your customers
off more than it will result in more sales for you.
- Make
sure you can live up to the donation - "We'll
donate 25% of every sale to the Red Cross" means 25% of
your income! Can you really afford to do that?
- Follow
through with your offer! False advertising is a crime even
if it is for a non-profit!
- Be
true to yourself - don't support causes just because
they are "politically correct" or they are the
"victim of the moment". Make sure they mean
something to you - it will show and be noticed.
- Don't
make the cause you choose into the focus of your web site or
newsletter. Your site is there to sell a product or
service. Give your "cause" the same emphasis you
would a customer's testimonial - it gives you credibility
and makes you seem like "a good person I would do
business with."
If
you don't feel confident about the treatment of world events in
your web site or newsletter, leave it out. Consider donating
anonymously, or try donating your services or products to an
auction or other event. There are lots of ways you can help further
your cause without using your web site.
Call
or click on Pouncy
Designs
for quality web site assistance at 253-847-0231. If you already
have a web site, call for a FREE evaluation!
Remember, my
subscribers are very special to me and I would never rent or
sell my email list, so your email address is perfectly safe.
If you liked
this newsletter, pass it on!
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