A LOW-COST MARKETING SYSTEM USING YOUR MODEM
E-Marketing (or Electronic Marketing) has come to light with our growing acceptance to technology. The affordable prices and the accessibility of fax machines, voice mail systems, CDs and desktop computers make this technological advancements key to new ways entrepreneurs can communicate to and market products to their customers.
In this report, we look at the modem, a small inexpensive gadget that when installed into a desktop computer, will enable you to set-up an electronic bulletin board, send faxes with your computer, enable you to get on the Internet, send and receive e-mail, and more...
The computer is now viewed as the most essential business tool available. The only problem is, many businesses buy a computer just for the sake of having one, with no plans as to how the computer will be used. Sure, they start to type letters on it, maybe a few marketing documents, and the customer list goes on it, but that's the extent of computer use for many businesses. Some don't even get that far. Well, those businesses are missing out on a valuable low-cost marketing opportunity open to computer users who have access to any type of on-line service, using what is called the MODEM.
WHAT IS A MODEM?
The word MODEM stands for MOdulator DEModulator, and it's just a fancy name for that small gadget that allows your computer to "hook-up" with the other computers, using the telephone.
Modems can either be a card that is easily installed inside your computer, or it can be an external unit. Basically, the only difference among modems that you need to worry about is the speed. Modem speed is indicated by what is called the BAUD Rate, which indicates the amount of "data" your modem can receive or send per second. The most common baud rates for modems are 300, 1200, 2400, 4800, 9600, and 14,400. This report you are reading is approximately 25,000 bits. If you are using a 1200 baud modem, it will take you more than 20 seconds to send or receive this file via the telephone line. With a 14,400 baud, it will take you less than 2 seconds.
With a modem and a "communications" program you can call up other computers and communicate with them, including transferring programs and files. You can communicate with individual computer users, or through BULLETIN BOARD SYSTEMS, or BBS's, which are services run by entrepreneurs.
ELECTRONIC MARKETING MARKETING WITH MODEMS....
With a modem, you will also have the ability send and receive what are called email or electronic mail - that is mail sent and received electronically, using the computer. With a modem, you can also "access" large ON-LINE services such as Prodigy, CompuServe, Genie , America On-Line, and others. These are basically huge bulletin board services with enormous libraries of information materials which are made available to you when you subscribe to their service. With a modem, you can also access the Internet to do research, send information (business) materials to other computers, play games, or even go shopping.
Used effectively, modems can be a formidable marketing tool which can be employed to send product and business information to large numbers of prospects quickly (no real lead-time, other than message transfer) and inexpensively.
If you don't have a modem, by all means go out and get one! You can get a modem card for your computer for as little as $50. You can even get one that can also function as a fax for around $100 or less. Considering the benefits you'll get from having one, a modem is wide investment in this age of computer telecommunications. If you already have a modem, but never put it to use, now is the time to get started!
RESOURCES
Here's a short list of computer services and BBS's you should try with your modem. You should be able to get phone numbers of BBS's in your area by consulting computer user groups.
America On-Line (703) 893-6288
CompuServe (800) 848-8990 (800) 695-4005
AUTOMATED E-MAIL AUTO-RESPONDER
You can rent an automated e-mail responder to send sales messages, ads, and all types of business information to anyone with an e-mail address. For more information, send at email to:
TO: infobox@gate.net
SUBJECT: box 100001
Or write to: INTERNET ADS
1859 N. Pine Island Road
Plantation , FL 33322
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