Spam Assassin, which is introduced by TCH, is a tool that blocks spam mail from a specific server. If you choose its default mode, it will be disabled when a particular website is setup by TCH. If you choose to install this spam mail blocker, your worries about receiving spam mail are surely reduced, if not eradicated.

If you want to block spam mail more specifically, you can just block certain mail depending on what words are stated on their subject line. It is such a simple task. You have to click on Email Filtering first, and then click Add Filter. After you have done so, the first drop down box will come out, and inside this drop down box, you click Subject.

A second drop down box will show, whereing you must click Contains. And yes, just like you have predicted, there is also a third drop down box. In the last drop down box, you should type Stop Pay, or whatever word or phrase it is or are that you want to block. When these words are in a certain mail, they will not be able to enter your inbox. This method is usually used to avoid receiving any obscene mails that are just completely adored by perverts.

However, this method must be paid attention to because it is really case sensitive. So if you type prostitute, it may not have the power to block the word prOsTiTutE. After you have finished these tasks, click Discard. After clicking Discard, click Activate. That is, however, not the last “Click” you must perform, you still have to click Go Back. It is a simple procedure. But admit it, it can get pretty lengthy.

If you want a quicker solution, you can just automatically discard the spam mail that has been posing to be quite a threat to your inbox space. Instead of saving your inbox space for those wanted messages, you end up having to delete advertisements for specific products that you did not even know existed.

Blocking spam mail is definitely the solution if you want a cessation of all those unwanted mails. There are various ways to be able to block spam mail manually. But if you want to live life the easier way, you can just download and install certain software that are experts in blocking spam email.

Just in this week, I’ve received so many emails asking me to go into greater detail about the things I’ve been covering over the last few weeks in my Private Direct Mail Newsletter, that I’ve decided to do exactly that.

So let’s get started.

Testing. If you learn to test correctly, you will be way ahead of any competitor you might have. Many businesses make the same mistakes over and over again when they test a product or service. I’m going to give you a quick and easy way to find out if your product or service is viable, and then you can begin a complete program of testing. But first you must take the following steps.

Give it your best shot on your very first test.

The first item you must consider is the list you mail to. You can’t afford anything but the best list that you have available. If it doesn’t work to the best lists, it sure won’t work for any of the others. The list you want is of multi-buyers of any product that is similar to or the same as yours. If it is available, you want to rent the hotline names. Hotline names are those who have made a purchase within the last 30 days.

Now I want you to think about price. You can offer the lowest price or the highest price on this test. But I want you to offer the lowest price possible with which you could make a decent profit. Even if it’s a small profit. Give it your best shot on the first mailing because if it works, you can raise your prices on the following mailings and see how that works. If you are doing a two step process, do not mention price until after your sales call.

Then send your sales letters or letter requesting a call or some other action via first class mail. You can always play and test with bulk mail later if this promotion works.

Let me sum it up for you. On the first mailing you are going to your hottest prospects, at the lowest price possible, and allowing them to raise their hand for your product and/or service and sending very strong copy by first class mail.

Now, when you prove your initial letter is viable, then you can begin a testing program. Test only one variable at a time. This is because if you test both a lower price and a longer guarantee at the same time, you won’t know which one brought in the extra orders you just received. You should test everything. Again, one at a time. Price, guarantee, bonuses, quantities, terms, media, headlines, benefits stressed, and anything else you can think of.

Let’s now go over testimonials in greater detail.

I’m going to give you ways of getting tons of glowing testimonials from your customers for free, and what to do with them to generate bigger profits.

The key to getting testimonials is really to ask for them. Many of your customers will be happy to give you their testimonial but you never asked them. Here are some ideas for getting them from your customers.

Include a short questionnaire when you send your product to them or at the point of sale. Be sure to ask for comments. When you communicate with your customers, tell them that you are looking for stories about your product, services, or business. When you talk to customers on the phone or face-to-face, ask them for testimonials. Do a survey of your customers and offer a free gift to anyone who helps. But, the testimonials are really worthless if you never use them. Put them to work immediately.

The best testimonials are those that are very specific. “I earned an extra $50,000 last year with your sales software system, ” is a lot better than “I earned more money last year with your system. Or, ” I increased revenue by 25%, over a 6 month period, when I used your services,” is a lot better than, “I got more business.”

Now use these testimonials liberally in all of your advertising. They are the proof of what your claiming and will establish your credibility. They also show that real people, people like them, are using your products and have great experiences with them. In your advertising use the testimonials to back up any of your claims.

For example: If you claim the software system you are selling will save the executive many hours of wasted time, back it up with a specific statement from one of your customers.

A very important point is to get permission to use the full name and city, and if possible phone number of your testimonials. Initials are better than nothing, but real names and phone numbers are more effective.

If you can, use a picture. Make sure to get written permission before using any testimonial.

Now for more ideas on using Postcards.

Again, you must start with your best mailing list. Your own customers are the best. Then get yourself a supply of small, inexpensive first class postcards. Depending on what you are selling, you may want to have a free-recorded telephone sales message to refer them to.

Your post card could say something like this:

Dear Friend,

Would you like to know the secret on how to increase your child’s chance of getting into the college of their choice?

If so, all you have to do is call 666-12324 and you will hear a free-recorded message that reveals how you can do that.

Sincerely,
Sharon Youngblood

You must now create a powerful telephone message that offers real value to your prospect. End the recording with your sales pitch and phone number that they can call for more information or ask them to leave their mailing information for a free report.

The important thing is to offer information that your prospects are interested in, and take the fear out of doing something by telling them they will get the information from a recorded message and then letting them know how you can help them and inviting them to call you, leave the information for the free report, or even to come to your place of business.

When asked what aggravates them most about modern phone communication the majority of people will say that it is voice mail. Pressed for details, they explain that it is the automated answering process that companies use to screen and direct calls that bugs them, not the basic messaging-taking function.

Companies are spending large sums of money to antagonize their customers and it only seems to get worse. When a person needs help with a problem and can’t reach another human, the situation deteriorates rapidly. Using the numbers on your touch tone pad is fine when you want to verify your bank balance, pay a bill or have a dry newspaper delivered; but when your pipes are backing up, your new computer just crashed, or a tree just fell on your brand new SUV, call processing may not be the answer.

There are advantages to an automated system. It saves money in salaries and benefits. It prevents old-fashioned phone tag by allowing people to leave detailed messages in their own voice with clear and correct information. Voice mail crosses all time zones so people can leave and retrieve messages at their convenience.

The disadvantages are that people can hide behind voice mail, often the prompts are confusing, working through the menu can be more time-consuming than speaking to a “live” person, and some people just don’t like talking to machines.

If your company uses an automated system to process calls make sure it provides the best customer service by following these suggestions:

1. Keep your greeting short and sweet. (No one cares that your menu options have changed. They only want to know what options they have now.)

2. List your menu options according to popular usage.

3. Tell callers how to reach another human early in the process.

4. Think twice before using voice mail for customer service issues.

5. Survey your customers from time to time to see how they feel about your voice mail system.

6. Try calling your own system occasionally and find out first hand what your customers are experiencing.

Voice mail can be either an incredible asset to your business or an incredible pain for your customers. Don’t force innocent people to spend their valuable time in your voice mail jail.