Very few people would deny the facts of email marketing being a powerful strategy for earning profits in the internet marketing arena. The most basic of tools for an email marketer is building a targeted email list. This would be the list of people who have given you permission to send them email marketing messages and updates about your business. These list are usually developed and built using a web based subscription service.
The main reason that email marketing with targeted email lists works so well is because you are actually communicating directly with your customers. You can speak to them, through email, in a very personal way. But to get that list started you have to know some of the do’s and don’ts.
Huge Do List
Make sure you are using a opt-in form, commonly called an opt-in box, on your website right now! Even if you are not currently promoting a newsletter or update service, why not have a opt-in form on your site and see if you can get that email address. You can help that out by providing a free report or ebook to entice them.
Be sure that Optin form is prominent. You want it to be one of the first things someone will see when they come to your site. They may not be interested in signing up at first, but if they like your website and change their mind, the form will be right there for them.
Always ask for permission to send out messages. You want to be sure you have their permission to send them messages or you could get complaints that you are Spammimg them. One of the easiest ways to accomplish this is to have a double opt-in system. Then your subscribers will have to verify their email addresses before you send them any messages and will assure that you are only sending to people who actually want to be on your targeted email lists.
And don’t forget you want to send out good content. All you need is one bad message to have people start ignoring your messages and to eventually unsubscribe. People will be able to tell when you are not making an effort to give them something of value and they will unsubscribe from your list. So, be sure you are happy with what you are sending out as people will be able to tell.
Even Bigger Don’ts
Don’t make your email into one big sales letter. When someone has signed up for your list they expect to receive value from you. The first email from you should not be a straight salespage. Introduce yourself and let them know you will be sending them offers from time to time. You don’t want them to feel like you are just trying to make money from them or they will just as quickly unsubscribe.
This is your list so do not sell, lend or give away email addresses. When people sign up for your targeted email lists they are trusting you with their personal information. Be sure to not abuse that trust!
Don’t go and buy lists. There is no way of knowing whether that list was gotten through a double opt-in process. And besides that was not a targeted list for you. You could get hit with some serious SPAM complaints. Just be careful with using someone else’s list. Most subscription services will not allow you to import lists from the outside anyway.
By following these simple do’s and don’ts you might be surprised at just how big of a quality targeted email list you might acquire. If you just remember to keep working at it you will discover what a powerful tool email marketing really is.
Each separate photo would be a frame.
