Opt-in Email Marketing Tips... How to "Keep in Touch" By Jim Daniels
Do you regularly contact people who have shown an interest in your
products, services or opportunities?
It is a fact of business that most people need to see your offer up
to seven times or more before they take action. Regular contact establishes both your
reputation and your marketing expertise. It is a must for every business, especially in
cyberspace.
In the real world, a "quarterly mailing" of a newsletter
or postcard was probably about all you could afford. After all, mailing to a few hundred
or thousand prospects can generate a significant expense, especially for small
or home business owners like ourselves.
But now.... You have no excuse.
Keeping in touch with your prospects in cyberspace is virtually
free. It costs nothing but time and a little expertise.
Time is one commodity I cannot provide for you. (If I could, I'd
brew up a batch for myself!) What I CAN share is my expertise - after all, that's what
this space is all about!
So, exactly HOW does one keep in regular contact with their
prospects on the internet.
Simple: Innovative email contact.
Now I'm not talking about looking through your AOL address book and
manually sending messages to everyone lucky enough to still be there. I'm talking about
utilizing real software and web resources that automate and professionalize what can be a
very tedious task.
What are the best methods of regular contact?
As I've mentioned many times in the past, an ezine, or electronic
magazine is an excellent way to establish regular contact. I publish mine weekly, but you
can choose bi-weekly or monthly. An ezine is simply an electronic newsletter that shares
information about the things you are marketing.
If you'd prefer not to publish an ezine, consider a tip sheet. This
is similar to an ezine but smaller. In it you can offer a weekly tip about your area of
expertise.
Other forms of regular contact include web surfing guides (a regular
email referral to the best sites about your business) and moderated discussion groups. A
moderated email discussion group is a forum you deliver by email that allows participants
to post messages while you decide which posts are published in each issue.
All of the above are acceptable and effective methods of regular
business contact online. They generate interest in your business and, in turn, income.
This is why they are so popular! Perhaps you have an idea for a similar weekly or monthly
mailing. Hey, use your imagination - you do not have to do what others are doing.
Once you decide on a format that fits your style, all that's left is
to implement it. Here's a list of best online resources to aide you with this task:
1.
UltraEdit-32
A good ascii based word processing program is a must for anyone running a list. This
program offers "must" features for anyone publishing email newsletters or
discussion groups. These include a spell-checker and the ability to set line width for
easy message reading in all email programs.
2.
WebBusinessWizard Web Business Wizard is JDD Publishing's e-commerce/opt-in email interface. Grab a
free demo account there and you'll have a powerful shopping cart, an opt-in email list
signup form and a web interface where you can contact all who opt-in to your lists,
anytime you want. Also includes autoresponders that handle all your email follow-up
automatically.
3.
The New-List
Announcement List
This address will help kick your new list off with a flurry of participants. You simply
post a message telling people about your newsletter to this "NewList Announcement
List" address.
Do you have a favorite resource you rely on to get your
marketing message out...?
Don't keep it to yourself - come tell your peers at our
cybermarketing "hot spot".
The
CyberMarketing InfoBoard -- Where the real internet marketing experts converge!
