To Email or not to Email
Email marketing is not spam. Beginning marketers often confuse the two, because spam deservedly has a bad reputation. Make no mistake, a good mailing list and effective communication via email can make all the difference in your success as an internet marketer. By now, you’ve probable heard “It’s all in the list” about a million times. It not hype; it’s absolutely true. What better pool of prospects is there than the people who have already purchased from you? Think about it. They already know you and trust you.
So, get over any problem you have with email marketing. It works. It’s legal. If done right, your customers will thank you for it. If you are a beginning marketer, you may be considering purchasing or renting an email distribution list. If so, forget about it. You have no way of knowing the quality of the list, if it’s a true double opt-in list, or whether or not it is current. Building your own list may be slower, and even frustrating at times, but the rewards are well worth it.
The best way to create your own list is to contact current customers. If you have no list, the best way to get started is with an opt-in page. Often called squeeze pages, they usually offer some kind of reward, a free report or ebook, in exchange for your future customer’s email address. That way, you know they have a genuine interest in your product because your giveaway is directly related to your product. Remember, most people on the net are looking for information. When you provide information of value, you gain trust.
There are a number of excellent services to handle your email list, among them Chimpmail, a newer service that will let you get started with your first 500 opt-ins for free, Aweber, probably the most popular service, and Constant Contact, another popular provider. Look them over thoroughly, and don’t be afraid to ask questions.
Once you’ve begun to build your list, make sure that you provide them with timely information related to your product. The rule of thumb in the industry is that you need to contact a prospect at least seven times to turn her into a customer. Always end each of your letters with a direct call to action to visit your product site. Provide useful links to pertinent information for your prospects, and soon you will have a responsive list that will provide you with a solid income from customers who know and trust you to provide quality products and useful information.
