Do You Like Being Called “Traffic?” Enter the Contest!
Recently I heard a major hard sell Internet marketer say:
“Traffic equals money. “
Traffic = $
That’s true of course. Without traffic (virtual or physical) no business can survive.
That means you are traffic. I am traffic. We all are traffic.
But here’s the question —
Do you like being perceived as walking money . . .
The wallet end of the transaction?
Granted, money is central to a business transaction.
But wouldn’t you rather be perceived as a human being with a need or a desire . . .
As someone whose needs are recognized and valued and treated respectfully?
“Traffic” is a shorthand term and makes thinking about potential customers easier.
But it also makes thinking about potential customers as one undifferentiated mass — kind of a commercial blob — an impersonal money hole.
Even when someone does a lot of market research and has all the numbers — demographics, psychographics, whatever-graphics — and they feel like the KNOW their customers . . . do they really?
No one person, no business can get to know it’s customers one-on-one. That’s silly to even consider.
But to lump them into the blob called ”traffic” dehumanizes them to the point of abstraction . . . i.e. reducing living human beings to a concept — and one-concepts-fits-all.
So what’s another word for “traffic?”
For example, we prefer “specific audience” to “target market.” Specific audience suggests agroup of people, and a group that would prefer not being targets.
We prefer “open the relationship” rather than “close the sale.”
What word or phrase can you come up with to replace “traffic?”
Just enter it into the comment box. We’ll choose what we think are the best three and we’ll have everybody vote.
To the person whose word or phrase is chosen we’ll send:
** MP3 audios and PDF transcripts of a two hour discussion on the basics of keyword I enjoyed with Matt Aaron, a Google Pay Per Click Pro.
So what’s your word or phrase?
Because It’s all in the Connection,
Jim
PS – I’m asking you to register for the RSS feed on the previous page where it says “Subscribe in a Reader.” That way you’ll get our blog posts whenever we post them, which will be more and more frequent now.
PSS – We’d appreciate your comments because we’d like to open this conversation as broadly as we can. Thanks.
===============================================
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Just go to:
http://www.bridgingheartandmarketing.com
Check out the Faculty and the Fun, Get Registered, and we’ll see you in Manhattan Beach.
August 18th, 2008 at 10:56 pm
I take the concept of traffic a bit further. Of course - you must create traffic but I think the next step is to turn that ‘traffic’ into readers, open the lines of communication, invite them in and they will become part of your community. So - my word is community!
August 18th, 2008 at 10:59 pm
Plus, everywhere else in the world traffic is considered a bad thing!
For traffic - guests
For the word list, another one that needs changing - community
Jeff
August 18th, 2008 at 11:00 pm
Hey, guys! Thanks for this one. Here are a few suggestions:
1 = potential clients
2 = potential customers
3 = potential buyers
4 = potential relationships
5 = potential patients
6 = we’ve all heard the suspects/prospects one, but I don’t really care for the “suspects” word = it makes me think of detectives in overcoats with a little pad and pencil
7 = MY FAVORITE = “Potential Connections”
Thanks!
Andrew
August 18th, 2008 at 11:02 pm
Instead of Traffic, I like either “touches” or “contacts” to reflect the concept of Humanness or people to people communication, or relationship!
August 18th, 2008 at 11:09 pm
Hi Folks,
I like to refer to my readers as ‘guests’. I mean in the hospitality and gracious sense of the word. One of the first things I learned in my mentor group was to provide value and a give away just as a welcome handshake and a thanks for the visit.
Being a bit of a teachers pet, I vowed to try to make the best gift in the mentorship group. I created a welcome gift that was just over the top in value, a 100+ Addiction Recovery Help Guide. Not only a give away, but it forced me to actually go through the process of writing an ebook, I learned a lot by giving.
My plan was to establish authority and name recognition in my niche for 1 year before even thinking about monetization. I had one guest say that he just didn’t get it…my information was of such high quality and he couldn’t see how I was making money (I wasn’t) He thought I must have invisible spyware or adware and spent time looking for the ‘catch’. He could not concieve of giving away info (hard sell mentality). I took it as a compliment.
Bill Urell
PS I now am moving toward generating some income.
August 18th, 2008 at 11:12 pm
Well, I think a good start would be…
TRUSTING RELATIONSHIPS = Money
That would imply that a relationship would be built on trust and require an ongoing level of integrity in order to produce “money”
I think people in general would feel more valued if they were seen as being part of a 2 sided coin with the person marketing to them.
Not only would this shift in perception attract more “trusting relationships” but I think the business owner would feel better about his or her business.
-Jae
August 18th, 2008 at 11:18 pm
Instead of “Traffic” I submit the term: “Guests.” When they visit my site, they are my guests.
August 18th, 2008 at 11:28 pm
In keeping with heart, spirituality, and recognizing potential customers as people wanting to make personal connections, I love the idea of hospitality and calling them “guests.” But I might take it a bit further and call them “invited guests.”
Signe, of the VODKAA Process
August 19th, 2008 at 12:02 am
different words for traffic:
“potential new relationship”
“visitor”
“friend”
“Patron”
“seeker” or “wisdom seeker” or “information seeker”
“consumer”
and as others have said “Guest”
August 19th, 2008 at 12:25 am
After experiencing several openings into Oneness I sometimes refer to others as “Other Selves”, as we are all One Being.
With regard to a replacement for the word traffic however, I like to use the term “friends”, so I invite friends to my site and those who resonate energetically will come.
Namaste’
John Michael Christian
August 19th, 2008 at 12:41 am
Wow! I am really impressed - not only by this article, but by the responses I have seen so far. Thanks to everyone for the inspiration you’ve just provided me. My specialty is in the realm of ethics, and one thing I take a particular interest in is determining the values behind spoken or written words and the sense underlying those values.
From an ethical standpoint, the use of the word “guest” where we unconditionally offer hospitality to someone is certainly OK. On the other hand, I certainly question using that word in any context where we expect the person to pay us for their status as a guest – as is notably the case with the hotel industry. In such instances, the guest is one who has accepted our “invitation” to purchase from us. Now, the word “community” certainly has merit - in MLM, I would certainly prefer the word “community” to “downline”.
One approach gaining popularity - and justifiably so - is the concept of “partnering” with people we are doing business with. This implies working with people, as opposed to a one-way process of simply selling them something. Another idea also gaining acceptance is that of exchanging – a person’s energy (in the form of currency) for a product or service we give in return. These terms faithfully represent an ethical business interaction as well as the intention (or so we should hope).
A customer can now be seen as a partner (that is, an exchange partner).
If “traffic” now refers to the visitors to one’s place of business – whether physical or virtual – an appropriate term would be “potential partners”.
Thanks,
Andy
August 19th, 2008 at 12:49 am
It is important to put forth a positive image on the virtual business front, in writings and when in front of individuals. By keeping thoughts and wording positive, we are more likely to be perceived as being positive business people. People respond to a positive outlook; people want hope. Terms such as “traffic” and “target market”, in my opinion, appear to be negative. Reminds me of being on a fishing trip, with the fish being the traffic and targeted market. Then, one of those fish takes a nibble and is “hooked” and reeled in. What an image. I really don’t want to think of my clients, future clients, and guests in such a negative way.
August 19th, 2008 at 1:58 am
I’m not worried if other people think of me as traffic. The labels we attach to ourselves are far more important than the labels other people may choose to give us.
However, I agree that as website owners and internet marketers we can come up with more appropriate works or phrases to describe prospective buyers of our products and services. In the past I’ve thought of them as subscribers or prospects but now you’re challenging me to improve my description.
I’ll come back if I think of anything better but for now subscribers and list members is the best I can come up with.
August 19th, 2008 at 2:05 am
I quite like guests.
My suggestion is visitors. We can encourage visitors, welcome visitors and make visitors “feel at home.”
I look forward to reading about the other suggestions
August 19th, 2008 at 2:56 am
I don’t “create traffic” - I “make connections”
August 19th, 2008 at 4:52 am
[…] “Do you like to be called traffic?” ask Judith and Jim of Bridging Heart And Marketing and they’ve even created a contest for a better word than traffic. I never resonated with “traffic” yet have been using it anyway, out of habit I guess, so I very much appreciate such impulse to create an alternative. […]
August 19th, 2008 at 4:53 am
I prefer the word “prospect”, as an apparent probability of success, a positive expectation. I like the idea of being welcomed with great anticipation.
May your vibes be high
Paul
August 19th, 2008 at 6:05 am
I always refer to the people who visit my web site as
visitors.
People from all over the world visit my web site.
I would love for you to visit as well. I hope you enjoy your visit.
Ann Bell
August 19th, 2008 at 8:20 am
I like the shift in mindset caused by by the ‘opening the relationship’ outlook.
I call my visitors/guests my ‘potential.’ After all, I want them to do more than visit or be a guest. Even if my products don’t meet a current need, there is the potential to open the relationship and have them return in the future by giving them value while they are in the potential stage.
August 19th, 2008 at 8:24 am
“Human Connection” = $
“Empathy” = $
August 19th, 2008 at 8:35 am
Traffic has such a negative connotation even beyond the concepts talked about in the blog. When you’re on the road do you really want to hear the word “trafic?” I’d rather call the people who come to my site VISITORS. They come to take a look at my site and then some stay longer to shop and purchase. And at all my presentations I encourage my customers to visit my site often if they want clearance bargains, since those selections are constantly changing.
Sharon
August 19th, 2008 at 9:09 am
How about “ideal clients”? Client implies a relationship, and ideal makes them really special.
August 19th, 2008 at 11:18 am
Great suggestions! I like the guest and visitor concepts so far, and am also impressed with flavor of the inputs. Beautiful people come through in even short posts.
I want to add, Know Thy Customer.
“Traffic” can be a Hummer or a Prius, Volvo station wagon or a truck. (I am, but have not always been, a Chrysler minivan.) Dan Kennedy says that if people believe there’s a recession, focus on the Mercedes crowd.
That’s only slicing it one way, the money dimension. But as Sen, McCain put it, rich doesn’t truly mean money; there ’s so much more of true importance.
I’m a Myers-Briggs ENFP, and see things from that orientation. We love our customers (maybe they should be “Luvees?”
Some styles would like “Buddy” (some would like “Good Buddy”; others would hate it.) Some might see “Investors” or potential investors, even if the investment is time or a piece of themselves. Some probably see “lab rats.”
Have I made you cringe? The “lab rats” people would wonder why.
The key is to explore (”explorers” or fellow explorers has an archetypal ring)
—to find something (almost) universally positive, that doesn’t turn off anyone.
To me visitor is excellent but neutral; GUEST is better in being openly welcoming from the start.
Bill
August 19th, 2008 at 2:35 pm
I say contribution= $
What are you contributing to someone’s life?
What contribution are you making that is of value to them?
August 19th, 2008 at 4:39 pm
Potential associations or associate. There is potential for a deeper association, but some where, as is with most relationships, a connection must be made, and understanding of value must be come to between the parties before that fully comes to fruition. Thinking more in terms, that a client or customer can be an Associate or you can have an association with them.
August 19th, 2008 at 7:00 pm
I like “footprint.” We reach out to people and those who are interested (at whatever level) take a step forward and leave a footprint for us. And footprints leave a trail, a path, for us to reach out to and offer direction/information/love/healing.
August 20th, 2008 at 10:30 am
I like the word ‘visitors’. This implies that they are with you for a short time and only while they enjoy the experience.
If you are providing value for them, they’ll enjoy it.
Cheers,
Linda
August 20th, 2008 at 1:44 pm
Great, great comments. Thought I’d put mine in. Long ago I came from a background of direct sales of intangible products. We had “prospects” and “clients.” Now in ministering to people’s basic needs of wanting to improve their health and live a better quality of life, I believe I’m in direct sales of tangible products. Getting healthy is something we can see, touch and feel! Just my slant on the process, but I think it makes sense. All of us have many types of people come to our websites: the looky-loos, the competition, the would-like-to-have-its (but they’re too scared to buy or they don’t think they can afford the purchase) and then the earnest seekers. Certainly we want to bring the latter two categories along to a conclusion of the actual sale, if possible. To me that’s “interest,” so my name would be “interested parties” or “interested seekers.” You and I are in business to have the answers. If we peak our prospects’ interests, if we offer heart-based and heart-felt products that meet their needs (and if the moon if just right, ha!), WE’LL GET THE SALE!
August 20th, 2008 at 8:22 pm
Thanks for the opportunity to contribute….
Raving fans = prosperity
(I like the term ‘raving fans’ because it is about connection not just a numbers game. To attract raving fans you go through a process of building a relationship which leads to prosperity through referrals and future affiliations because you have made a connection)
Terms I love:
Fans
Info seekers
Passionate prospects
Purposeful prospects
Authentic associates
To business abundance…
Krishna
http://www.healthpracticesuccess.com
August 20th, 2008 at 8:27 pm
I live in Southern California,
so I love it when there’s no traffic on the roads,
and I get to where I want to be in a short time.
As for my website.
I WANT people there, also so that they can help me get where I am going,
and also, I hope, so I can help them get where they are going.
So traffic is definitely not the word!
They may be annonymous at first (like traffic)
but I want to develop a relationship with them
So they’re people first and foremost–individuals.
Some of them will turn into customers, or students.
Some of them may even turn into friends. As with
the people in my life there’s no single word.
‘Friends ‘ would be great, but first they’re simply people.
And we learned how to treat people early in life, hopefully,
–smile, say ‘please’, ‘thank you’, ‘how are you today?’–
basic stuff that serves as well on a website as
it did in kindergarten.
August 20th, 2008 at 8:53 pm
My mother is a realtor and she holds “open houses.” Each time a potential buyer goes through the home it is called a “viewing.” I was following this train of thought and came to the conclusion that website visitors could be called “viewers.” However, it just didn’t seem right. Then I thought more about the open house idea and realized that what was missing was the sense of community and interaction that I, as a conscious entrepreneur, strive to develop on my site. With blogs, social media and other Web 2.0 forums becoming more commonplace, I suggest that we rename traffic to reflect the interaction. I suggest we call potential buyers- “participants”, and traffic- “participation.” This comes from the place of mutuality, egalitarianism, and empowerment- the “service” rather than “sales” focus.
In Abundance,
Shawna Walker, BSW
Spiritualpreneur/ Holistic Wellness Coach
Healthy Living Essentials- products and services to revitalize body, mind, soul, and spirit!
August 20th, 2008 at 9:07 pm
Hi Judith & Jim,
I like (rider or riders) some one trying to ride to the top of there hidden potential for financial freedom instead of TRAFFIC
August 20th, 2008 at 9:08 pm
When I enter a brick and mortar business - I feel like I’m a visitor. If I like what I see - I’m now a curious visitor and possible customer.
I don’t feel like a guest in a store.
To me - I’m a guest in a person’s home, usually invited to be there at their request and they aren’t going to be selling me anything.
So, my vote would be to call me a visitor. I appreciate your attempt to make internet marketing terms more heart-felt. But, it can also begin to sound like some of the silly politically correct euphemisms that occur in our vocabulary today.
August 20th, 2008 at 9:17 pm
I’m with the visitor’s camp.
People aren’t guests until there is relationship, and they’re visiting to see if they want to form relationship. What we call them once we form that relationship depends on who we are and what kind of relationship we’re going to be building with them. While I find traffic impersonal, I don’t find customer or client to be nasty words. I am a shopkeeper in my little cyber store, and they are my valued customers. I want people to find the shelves clean and dusted and full of beautiful merchandise that makes their lives better. I spend a lot of my life putting up a lot of signs (articles, podcasts, videos) out all over the Web that these visitors might notice my store and be warmly welcomed to peruse my products. When I provide ritual services, they become my couples and my families and my gathered communities.
But I don’t want to move too far away from the notion of their being people who actually purchase product and service from me. That’s exactly the thing I am having the most difficulty grasping. I provide spiritual support and guidance. For it to be ok to charge for those things I have to be willing to say I’m selling them - for a fee - to customers - who are going to use them and have their lives richly improved and their needs satisfied. They don’t teach you that in seminary, trust me. In the bridging of Heart and Marketing, I come from the side that has the heart work down pat and keeps stumbling over the wonderful reality of marketing.
So please, come by for a visit! Have a cup of tea! Hang out and look around.
Ann
August 20th, 2008 at 9:19 pm
What great comments so far. Judith and Jim, I just love your blog!
I’ve been calling those that enter my website “guests”. I like to imagine that I’m creating my “guest list” for prosperity.
Tina Jo
August 20th, 2008 at 9:39 pm
I would have to go with Friends.
Here is my reason:
1. I like to help my Friends
2. I value my friends
3. You can never have enough good friends
4. Good friends are honest- they tell when products a good and when they are not good enough- The only way to improve…..
Best regards
Paul
http://www.SEOTraininglive.com
Google Search Ranking Results
August 20th, 2008 at 9:43 pm
For me I see visitors to my site as community members even if they are there only briefly. We are all part of the global community and I love having visitors to my piece of that.
August 20th, 2008 at 10:07 pm
Instead of traffic…..interest. monitor the interest in your site
Not all traffic equals money
but people come to your site out of interest
out of those that show intereset you get sales. that is not a bad thing if you have good things to contribute.
August 20th, 2008 at 10:17 pm
Great question! Let’s see… “traffic” makes me think of headless feet passing by… “Visitors” makes me think of the opposing team…
So I like to enjoy and encourage the passing of “tourists” through my site. Tourists are paying attention and want to enjoy themselves. That helps me think about my hospitality, showing off my stuff efficiently, providing a beautiful experience, a fascinating tour, and free cocktails — I mean information…
When they opt-in they become my “fans” or my “fan base”. There’s just something they like about me, so they follow me, buy some of my little products.
Platinum-level clients become “patrons”. They pay a premium to support me and what I do and stand for, and they are 100% committed to following it.
Love,
Daria
One Butterfly LLC
Practical Spiritual Tools to Live Your Bliss
P.S. All my websites are being redone with this in mind…
August 20th, 2008 at 10:32 pm
I always think ‘visitors’ like having an open house and inviting people to come and see.
So when you come to my site, you are my visitor. When you join my ‘list’ I really need to think of something better and I may swipe some ideas from your comments Judith! Jim!
Thank you for asking,
Pam Hoffman
http://seminarlist.blogspot.com
August 21st, 2008 at 2:11 am
What about ‘people’ we want people to come to our site’s to look at our work to subscribe to our products, let make it real, we want to interact with and touch other humans………..
August 21st, 2008 at 8:40 am
Robin and I are totally new to web marketing; but very drawn to the soft sell approach. So, from our own personal perspective, our choice for “traffic” is Honored Guest.
Namaste,
Jon
August 21st, 2008 at 8:40 am
People seek the interaction of comrades and surf the net for solutions to their needs. A stranger is just a friend you have not met yet.
Comrade is a better word for traffic as it implies a strong bond of working together for a common future
August 21st, 2008 at 11:12 am
Great discussion on this topic! Love your blog, Judith and Jim!
To me, a visitor is someone who just stops by briefly for a visit. To me, a guest is someone who is less familiar, and not so comfortable in my home (on my website, blog, or in my teleseminars).
My word for ‘traffic’ is ‘Participant.’ I much prefer the idea of a collaboration, one where two parties are on equal ground. Afterall, I may be the subject matter expert in one field but everyone who visits my “home - website - blog - teleseminars” brings a wealth of info and experience too. My success is based on a collaboration with them for our mutual success. Yeah, my peeps are Participants. And that’s my final answer.
August 21st, 2008 at 11:53 am
I vote for ‘visitor’ too. It is also a term already used in internet marketing: ‘visitor value.’ I personally have no problem with ‘traffic.’ As a business person I frankly have some suspicions about simply changing the name of something that is what it is. It is kinda like a therapist I know once said about ‘making lemonade out of lemons’ life hands you… not all is made better by just pouring sugar on it, and sometimes it gets gooey and sticky and the flies come. Certainly business can be a tough game, and creating community is important. However, I believe it is creating AUTHENTIC community that is the goal. If you simply sugar coat things and change the name of want you really want - traffic to your site - how authentic is that?
Just asking.
August 21st, 2008 at 12:23 pm
The word traffic is easliy replaced with the word COMPANY. I love when company comes to visit.
Another GREAT word to replace traffic is OHANA and i think it is perfect because: ʻohana means family in an extended sense of the term including blood-related, adoptive or intentional. It emphasizes that family and friends are bound together and members cooperate and remember one another.
Don’t you agree this best fits who we want to visit a site?
August 21st, 2008 at 12:35 pm
This is a toughie. I’ve been thinking about it since I posted my “invited guest.”
But the more I think about the people who would really be the specific audience, something like “Enlightened Marketer” or “Enlightened Entrepreneur” might be better because it speaks to who they are and what they want to achieve and be as well as what you will be providing.
One could substitute “empowered” for “enlightened” to make it “Empowered Marketer” or “Empowered Entrepreneur,” BUT that doesn’t really speak to what you’re providing and how it will significanlty change their marketing approach.
Also “Marketing Relationship Visionaries” comes to mind but it’s long. Maybe “Marketing Visionaries” or “Relationship Visionaries.”
Using “soft sell,” you could call them “The Soft-Sell Vanguard,” “Soft-Sell Visionaries,” “Enlightened Soft-Sellers.”
My little gray cells are pooping out. I guess I like “The Soft-Sell Vanguard” best of my suggestions because it empowers and gives prestige to the person who receives your info and fantastic products and services.
Signe, your bartender at the VODKAA Process
August 21st, 2008 at 4:50 pm
Hi Judith and Jim,
I love that fact that you are trying come up with a more personal term for traffic. When I first started learning about internet marketing, one of the top gurus (I won’t mention any names) was basically talking about how people are suckers and how they will pay thousands of dollars for an overstuffed package delivered to their door, even if it is the same material copied in many different forms and stated in many different terms.
He went on to say some other not so flattering things about customers, and the whole time I was listening to this I was thinking, doesn’t he know that he is talking about me…his customer. This was very much a turn-off.
Thank you for taking a different approach to internet marketing. I like the idea of soft-sell very much. Obviously you are on to something because of the great turnout for your call.
I am interested to see what the winning term for traffic will be.
Thanks for taking the high road.
Jess Kennedy Williams
www.AssociationofAspiringAuthors.com
www.HowToWriteYourFirstBook.com
August 21st, 2008 at 10:56 pm
What a great idea “traffic” seems so inhuman. What about “allies”? Aren’t we all in this together?
Sandy
August 22nd, 2008 at 12:00 am
I agree with Veronica Rose that ‘company’ is a better term for traffic. I am a Rotarian and we honor people who visit our clubs from around the world by referring to them as ‘partners in fellowship’. This is a term of respect that means we include them in our meetings and projects, treating them like family. Many partners in fellowship have worked side by side with me and other Rotartians to feed the hungry in Los Angeles and to help build a medical clinic in the Philippines.
Yes, I choose partners in fellowship for people who visit my site and choose to participate in what I have to offer.
August 22nd, 2008 at 1:03 pm
I want to applaud the question. It is an example of thinking in terms of what I call alchemical business. I also want to applaud the many great answers. So many good ideas. The first thing that came to mind for me was guests as I see it was for many others. Their is a grace and simplicity to that choice. However, for the sake of offering a unique choice for the contest I pondered more.
I came up with Beneficiaries because I only want people who will benefit from what I have to offer to use their precious commodity of time at my websites.
September 19th, 2008 at 3:06 pm
I like the word participant.
There are the energies of the website and the energies of those who respond to the website.
Those energies combined have the potential to create something beyond what already exists.
So they are participating in the possibility of co- creating something better.
September 19th, 2008 at 9:32 pm
Sandra,
Yes, it’s all about co-creation. The seller and the buyer co-create the sale. It’s an improvisation between them. And when they respect each other, even if they don’t know each other, the collaboration leaves them whole with a sense of secure competence.
Jim