6 Email Marketing Tips that Build Trusted Relationships

If you have an email marketing opt-in list, and you should it's not just about sending subscribers your newsletters, tips, promotions and sales letters; it's really about building trusted relationships with them.

People rarely buy from those they don't trust so by striving to build trusting relationships with your subscribers you're increasing their confidence in you as a merchant and as someone knowledgeable in your niche. Trust is a huge building block in any relationship, even in sales.

Here are 6 tips that I use to build those trusted relationships with my subscribers:

Tip #1 – Set Subscriber Expectations
Don't be afraid to tell your subscribers what they are signing up for.  Tell them exactly what kind of emails you'll be sending them.  Will they be getting tips, an ecourse, a special report or all of those things? Next let them know how often they can expect to get your emails, for example, every day, once a week, a month, whatever it is, let them know.

I also like to let my subscribers know what address my emails will be coming from; it's a good recognition strategy.

Tip #2 – Help Subscribers Learn About You
Before asking for a sign-up, direct your viewers to your personal page or 'about you' page where they can learn more about who you are.  Share some personal trivia about yourself and your business, include some pictures if you have them and use a personal signature.  These will allow your visitors to see and personally relate to the real you.

Tip #3 – Respect your Subscribers Time
Your subscribers granted you permission to email them; this is a privilege, not a right so respect that.  Send them only the things that relate to what they signed up for.

Even if you're offering a free subscription, it might not be costing your subscribers money to opt in to your list but it's costing them time to open your emails, read them and take action, so keep your content relevant and to the point.  Besides sending them unrelated stuff violates their trust in you and will diminish your reputation, not to mention you'll get some fast opt-outs.  

Tip #4 – Email on a Consistent Basis
Never flood your email subscribers in box, but don't ignore them either. When you get a new subscriber send them a welcome letter but don't wait a month or more to send them their next email.  People subscribe to things all the time, so without consistent communication they often forget they signed up.  Waiting too long between emails increases the chance they'll opt-out or worse yet, hit the spam button.  
 
Tip #5 – Always provide an Unsubscribe Option
No one wants subscribers to opt-out but you must give your subscribers the option. In fact it's the law. The CAN-SPAM Act says that commercial email must provide the receiver the ability to opt-out with one single action – either by replying to the email, or clicking through to a single web page.

If you use a reputable autoresponder the opt-out feature is built in.  For example, I use Aweber and it's something I'll never have to think twice about.
 
Tip #6 – Promote Less and Help More
People don't like to be sold to; they like to buy on their own terms.  Before they buy they need reasons, benefits and most importantly, trust in who they're purchasing from.  The "buy this because I like it" approach rarely works and will annoy your readers. 

If you have a product to sell use a slow paced approach by demonstrating how your product will benefit your viewers. Show them why you love it, demonstrate.  Your subscribers have come to you as a resource for help and information so give it to them without the notion of getting something in return. 

The more you help them, the more they will see you as genuine resource, then when the time comes for them to buy; they will think of you.

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Related posts:

1. 6 Hot Tips I Use to Build My Email List – For Free!
2. Optin Email Marketing – 8 Things Creating Your Own Opt-in Email List Can do For Your Online Business
3. Create Your Own Opt In Email List
4. Create Your Own Targeted Email List
5. Affiliate Marketing Tips – Merging Your Affiliate Offers

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