Email Marketing & Opt-in Tips

Today I wanted to give you a few tips and ideas on how to capture visitor subscriptions plus a few tips on email marketing that work well for online businesses. 

I want to get you thinking about how valuable subscribers can be and how important they can be to your ongoing business!

A quick sidebar before we get started -

I've added some new content to the Free e-book section of my Homenotion site and I'd love to get your feedback. I'd also love to hear what you would like to see reviews on next.

Which products, programs or books would you like to hear more about?

Let me know!  

Tips for better email marketing and Opt-In Ideas

If you get visitors to your website you want to hang onto them.  That means you don't want them to get away without capturing the opportunity to communicate with them on a regular basis.

Creating an opt-in email list is your best chance of doing that.  But don't consider it as a way to bombard your viewers with ads and opportunities to make a sale.

Look at it as a way to help your readers understand what it is you do and what you have to offer.  If you can find a way to help them know and trust you, then  you have a much better chance of having them consider you as a respected marketer and they'll look to you for guidance product ideas. 

Encourage sign-ups by giving away something free. But be careful, don't give away junk, in fact I'd recommend creating your own PDF.  It should relate to what your site is about.   Putting together a fact filled document that users will find useful is a great option.

If writing isn't your best subject, try using a site like SurefireWealth.  They have a tons e-books and audios that you can download for free.  They also have resell rights packages and PLR packages as well.

> Developing your opt-in email list

Start by creating an email capture form to place on your website or blog.

I recommend obtaining a permission based double opt-in email list. This is done by placing a name and email address form on your website. 

Double opt-in requires your visitor to go to their email after entering their name and email address and clicking on a link that verifies their signup. This often weeds out people who are really not interested and who often forget later on that they signed-up.

Creating a web form isn't hard, in fact if you have a good autoresponder it will come with a tool for setting up an email opt-in form.  If you don't have an autoresponder but want to create a web form try htmlgoodies.com for how to create your own html form.  Using an autoresponder will also aid in requiring double opt-in subscribers.
 
> I don't recommend purchasing email lists.

A lot of these lists are outdated and a large portion of the addresses you get no longer exist.

Sending email to unsolicited email addresses screams unprofessionalism.  But don't get misled by thinking you need a BIG list. NOT TRUE!  Instead work on achieving a QUALITY list. It's far better to have 10 interested, enthusiastic and receptive members than 50 email addresses who have no interest or worse yet, aren’t serious. Your time and energy is better spent on those who ARE interested.

> Build Trust & Legitimacy

Your viewers need to know that you are a real business with real contacts. Provide a privacy notice along with your contact information and post it near your web form. 

Internet surfers are more savvy today and many of them look specifically for information that shows you are a real business. In fact many surfers today won't subscribe to any offers unless they can see that the website has a privacy statement with real contact information.

Your privacy notice doesn't have to be complicated, it could be something like this:

     "We value your privacy and do not capture name,
     emails or any other information unless you freely
     give it to us

     Your Name,
     Business name
     Business Address or P.O. Box
     Business Phone Number.

If you use an email autoresponder service, you may want to mention that the service will capture their email information but assure them that the service will not sell or use their information.

Incidently, it is perfectly acceptable to us a P.O. Box for your address.  Also, don't be concerned about including your business phone either. People are not going to be calling you all hours of the day and night.  If you have an answering machine this is perfectly acceptable.  Typically, you won't be getting many calls but having your phone number in view adds a sense of legitimacy.

> Clearly outline what a subscriber will be getting.

Let your subscribers know what they can expect from you. Will it be an ezine, newsletter, tips, coupons, new product information or all of the above? Will they hear from you weekly, bi-weekly, monthly?

Often times it's a good idea to provide them with a link so they can review past newsletters. 

If you are offering something in exchange for their subscription, be sure that you let them know you willbe sending additional monthly or weekly emails. 

> Use an autoresponder

Automate all your emails by using a good Autoresponder. I use and recommend Aweber but there are several that work quite well.  An autoresponder does a few things for you.

1. It captures, organizes and provides information on all your opt-in leads.

2.  It provides nice reports on what leads got what emails, when they opted in, opted out and processes comments for you.

3. It allows you to set up a series of emails once and sends them at intervals that suit your needs.  You can send a year’s worth of emails at once and let them go out to  your leads all through the year if you wished.  The point is, you do it once and it continues to work for you as each new member signs up.

4. An autoresponder will automatically send thank you emails when someone places an order. It will also automatically send thank you emails for subscription sign ups. You can set it up to provide Q&A information should someone send an inquiry email. You can even build a free email course or tips guide as a free gift for sign-ups. 

> Increase your email open rates.

Your subject line should state clearly the point of the email but it should also create curiosity.  A subject line that says:

"Email #32 - New Diet Options"

will probably hit the trash bin faster than a subject line that  says:

"Lose Weight Fast Without Diet & Exercise"

Provide interesting and relevant copy.  Don't drone on and lecture or worse yet tell your viewers what they already know.  Give them useful facts and information they can use.

Keep your paragraphs short and to the point. Graphics add a nice touch but research has found that graphics have little impact unless the content is relative, factual and interesting.

> When to send your emails
Timing also plays a key part in email delivery. Business to Business emails fare better when sent Tuesday through Thursday just after 9:00am or after lunch, around 1:30pm. Avoid sending them after 4:00pm or on the weekends.

Sending business to consumer emails are best delivered Tuesday through Thursday from 5pm to 8pm or between Friday evening and Sunday afternoon.

It's generally best to avoid sending any emails out on holidays.  The theory behind this is that holidays generate so many emails that are promotional that they often get ignored.

> Adopt An Email Routine.

Keep consistent with your emails. If someone signs up for your ezine, newsletter or tips & information, do your best to keep regular contact.  That's because if a subscriber doesn't hear from you for several weeks they can forget who you are and what you're about.   Unless you keep in constant contact you may lose subscribers. 

> Email Tips:

- I recommend sending regular emails about once a week.  If you have special announcements or time sensitive offers an additional email is ok but don’t sent them more than that.

- Encourage interaction by providing contests, surveys or fun items such as jokes or funny news clips.  Freesticky.com has some excellent ideas on keeping correspondence fun and interesting.

- Don't trick your readers with irrelevant subject lines or teasers just to get them to open the email.

- Don't be afraid to lose members when sending emails.  Remember, the quality of your list is what counts.  If someone drops out because they aren't interested -- let them go.  Focus on those who are interested and deliver them what they are looking for.

- Don't send emails containing just ads.  Always provide useful information.  It's ok to include a call to action but only after providing a product review, comparison or practical information.

Hope that helps :-)

Best
Elizabeth