Cha-Ching!!

It’s the little things that can make a difference in business. And this is a little thing that’s quite unexpected – but certainly full of impact. I recently launched a new product to be sold online. The idea for it was inspired after attending entrepreneur Ali Brown’s Online Success Blueprint Workshop in Los Angeles in November 2008.

At the workshop, Ali told a little story about how she set up her computer to make the “cha-ching” sound every time she received an online order. I must admit, when I first heard this story, I wondered if it were true. (Hey, I’m a cynical journalist!). But after getting to know Ali a little, I figured it was just the kind of quirky and fun thing she would do.

Anyhow, recently I launched a new product. It took a lot of effort and I wondered whether it was going to pay off. At this time, I happened to be playing around with the functions on my computer when I thought to myself: “I wonder if I can make my email do that cha-ching sound every time someone makes an online order … ”

It didn’t take long to figure this out at all. I’ll admit that I’ve only installed the sound on my  home computer because I think my team in the office will think I’m crazy if I make the cha-ching sound go off there!

When I finally launched by product, “Reinvent Yourself: So you want to be a writer … Your Blueprint in a Box”, it was about 6pm when I sent out the first email and let the webpage go live. Then I went home, pottered around and was kind of feeling: “Oh my God, what if no one buys it? What will people think? What if the info-product route is just not the way to go …?

I was letting this doubts creep in – even though I knew it was a great info-packed product. I begin wondering if I had made the right decision.

Then it happened. I walked by my computer when I heard: “Ker-ching! Ker-ching! Ker-ching! Ker-ching!”

I couldn’t believe it, I had to check Paypal. It was true! It sure brought a smile to my face and helped alleviate my concerns considerably. Of course, I’ve heard many “cha-chings” since. I’m loving that sound!

Valerie Khoo

I asked Valerie how she sat up her computer. Here it is in brief but you’ll have to check out how your email system works (for eg, I couldn’t get it to work with gmail)

1. Go to your email client such as outlook

2. Where it says rules / filters or similar for your email – open it up

3. Create a rule so that whenever there is an email from PayPal with the subject line “you have received a payment” it makes the sound you associate.

4. navigate to where the file for the sound is on your hard drive.

5. Here’s where you can download a Cha-Ching sound

Let me know if you get this to work for you. Something to make you smile.