Even though a new generation of services is starting to take hold, services like Twitter, Facebook, Google Wave, and countless others vying for a piece of the new communication world. E-Mail marketing is still remains a very important part of many webmaster’s and internet marketing strategies. It does not matter the size of your business. It’s a way to create a community and to keep people connected to your website’s products and services, and you!
It has gotten a bit more difficult to deliver emails with all the spam filters out there today. Well, there are things you do need to learn to make sure that you don’t get tagged as a spammer or your email actually gets delivered to the destination.
I’m going to spare you here a little because I already wrote a free report How You can Kick-Start Your OWN Email Marketing Business to Generate Huge Cash Windfalls Again and Again at my Make Money Online System, you can just go to the site and put your email address and name into the sign up box, and then you can download report instantly.
Speaking of email marketing, there are all kinds of roads you can take to communicate with your lists. You can also get into AutoResponders to help you deliver e-mails over long periods of times in intervals.
I’ve used autoresponders in the past till now for various reasons. You can just do a Google Search and find all kinds of them.
BUT! If you want something heavy-duty and loaded with all kinds of features, AWeber.com will be the best choice.
Building lists is an important tool for your business. It’s good for you and your customers and clients. Your community wants to know what’s new, they need your products. It is your duty to keep them informed!
E-mail Marketing is an easy, affordable, and effective way to market to a specific audience. By using this communication tool, it will save a company time by enabling them to send out thousands of e-mails in minutes. No stamps, no printing, and no mail service make it an attractive decision monetarily.
The recipients receive the information in minutes instead of weeks. Most people will open the e-mail within 48 hours. And using e-mail services, like AWeber to distribute your information to your list can be tracked effortlessly. You will know what’s been sent, returned, opened, clicked through and if someone has unsubscribed from your list instantly.
The most effective campaigns will have a highly targeted list and will be permission based: they want it, expect it, and welcome your e-mail!
What is “opt-in” or “permission-based” e-mail marketing?
Opt-in and permission-based means essentially the same thing. You’re marketing to people who have given you permission to send them something specific.
The only way someone gets on one of these lists is if that person specifically requests to be added. As an example, you have their permission to send them a newsletter, free information, promotions, new product launch announcement, or whatever is understood when they sign up.
The “opt in” must be adhered to. You can’t say you are going to send them a current copy of your newsletter and then continue to send them newsletters every month after that. In this case they would have to specifically ask receiving them monthly.
The usual technique is to offer a sign up form on your website for people to sign, otherwise if a person wants, he or she can give you permission through conversation, e-mail, or product sales.
Is e-mail marketing effective as a Marketing Tool?
Absolutely! Building an Opt-in email list is one of the most important things to do if you want to be successful in the long run. It may take some time to collect them, but in the result, it is an audience that gains your trust that helps you generates ongoing income.
It helps you target products and services to specific groups of people. Using newsletters, ezines etc, example. You can promote and sell to the market that is interested in what you have to offer.
Note: It’s not as productive to send a generic newsletter that talk about everything under the sun. It wastes the recipient’s time and your resources. Developing specific categories and focusing the information you are providing is the key to having an effective email marketing campaign.
Should I buy an e-mail list?
It’s better to build your own list, if you do decide to buy a list, make real sure that it is a legitimate vendor. Many lists you will find are garbage, they can be outdated, and not permission based, or passed on from other none legitimate sources.
What kind of e-mail list should I look for?
You want to make sure it’s an Opt-in or Permission Based List. Be very careful, you don’t want to be accused of spamming. Even if a person on the list opted in sometime in the past, they may have forgotten, they obviously don’t know who you are and why they are receiving something from you, or they have been so overwhelmed with e-mails that you are the last straw and become the target.
If someone promises to blast 5 million emails out for you, get ready for a large percentage of those to bounce back into your inbox. The bigger the promise the more careful you should become.
How can I insure the list is legitimate?
Research the company:
1. Address, E-Mail and Phone Number: Try calling them. If they give an address and phone number, it’s a good sign. of course the address could be fake. Or at the very least e-mail them and see what kind of response you get. Ask them a few questions about where the list comes from.
2. An important thing for me when I bump into something that I’m not sure about online, is to read their “About Page”. If they don’t have one, run! A legit business should be proud to tell you some history.
3. Check the Better Business Bureau.
4. Go to Google Groups, punch in their name and see if anyone’s talking about them. Do some searches on Google, Bing, Yahoo, MSN or other search engines, my favorite search is “company name” scam.
5. And make sure what their guarantee is. A 100% satisfaction guarantee backed up by a well-known e-commerce Solution like PayPal.com is the best case scenario.
This can be applied to any marketing solution.
What is spamming or UCE?
Spamming or UCE (Unsolicited Commercial E-Mail) is simply sending e-mails to people without their permission. It is a terrible practice that just hurts the legitimate business. Most often they are blasted out to bulk mailing lists. Obviously they work, otherwise it wouldn’t be done, but it is just plain stupid, insensitive and ruthless, they don’t care about you, just the mighty dollar.
What are the consequences of spamming?
If you are discovered to be spamming, many terrible things can happen! First, and the least damaging, you could lose credibility and develop a bad reputation with an ISP or Web Hosting Service. This could result in you essentially being shut down.
If your case is bad enough, expect legal action, fines or even imprisonment for up to 5 years!
How do I avoid spamming?
I suggest visiting SpamLaws.com. Read up on the Can-Spam Act of 2003 it will tell you everything you need to know. Here are some quick requirements to keep in mind:
1. Always have an “unsubscribe” or “opt out” link and/or instructions: the recipient must be given the opportunity to stop receiving your e-mails in every e-mail.
2. If they do unsubscribe you have 10 days to complete the request.
3. There must me a legitimate “From” address, domain name, and IP Address.
4. The subject line must be relevant and correct.
5. And one more important thing you must do is include your physical address.
In Conclusion:
E-mail marketing can be powerful if approached with the methods recommended above. This is a business. Just like any business on or offline the key to long-term success is to build a long-term relationship, take care of people, respect their time, and give them service that they need, need, or ask for.
About Ann Liu
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