Things are constantly changing, business models evolve, new ones are created, existing ones get less profitable, etc.
A website dedicated to profitability in the (near and far) future. Articles about what is currently changing, new research, new trends, etc., all about maximizing profitability in the future. Where will the highest profits come from? What tools will enable new models? How to convert old models that do not produce much profit anymore to new ones that do, etc.
See if and how well you can predict the future.
A website where people can write their view on how the future will be and in what time frame. It’s like a public reversed time capsule. Each user will get an alert from time to time (they can decide the frequency, but maximum once a year) to check their prediction and add to it their new thoughts. Others can comment on their prediction and discuss it, and anyone can share them.
As a marketer trying to sell something, making people think ahead and then back gives them a new perspective that can help you both.
While visiting you website, at some point after they had time and already consumed at least the main points you want to convey about what you are selling, they are already dealing with a decision – to do what you ask them or not, to buy or not – you can ask the following question: “many years from now, when you look back, what would you regret more, saying yes now or saying no?” Measure the conversion rate when using this question and compare to the conversion rate when not using it.
Most people who show interest in what you are selling won’t buy from you right now. Some of them, however, might in the future.
When their behavior indicates they are not going to buy from you now, get them to commit to doing it in the future. They are more likely to think about such a future commitment in abstract terms such as “I should do this” (if they are convinced they should, because of their views about themselves), and would commit more quickly. When you ask them to commit now, they will approach it in a more practical way like “I can’t buy this now, I don’t have time for it.” This is especially true if they know that what you are selling is good for them but for some reason, it is difficult for them to do it (like eating healthy or exercising.)
One of the biggest problems in selling a product – especially one that needs some commitment like physical training or adult education – is getting them to use the product they bought. If they don’t, it decreases the chance of a repeat purchase in the future.
When they buy the product (online or offline), ask them four questions. The first is to elicit a commitment to use the product – you need them to say yes. It might go like this: “Will you start doing the first exercise immediately when you get the product delivered?” The next three questions are to force them now to make and commit to a future plan. These might be something similar to these: “Where at home will you exercise with this product? At what time will you exercise daily? What will you wear?” These will make them make a plan now, and commit to doing it in the future (when they receive the product), and increase the chances they’ll do it.