Why do you use e-mail marketing?

Because it works.

 

• It allows targeting
• It is data driven
• It drives direct sales
• It builds relationships, loyalty, and trust
• It supports sales through other channels

Most coaches, internet marketers, and other small business owners know the importance of keeping in contact with not only their customers, but reaching out to people who may be interested in the products they offer. E-mail is an affordable and effective way to reach customers and/or clients and establish a list of contacts who may not need you today but may need you in the future.

Keeping your name and services or products in front of these people on a consistent basis builds that personal contact that is needed in any business relationship. It encourages trust and cements loyalty. It provides a way for you to impart information, give advice, share knowledge, inform your readers about specials and promotions, and keep in touch.

Now comes the hard part -- how to manage the beast! E-mail marketing programs require expertise to set up the opt-in messages, follow-up messages, welcome notes, and broadcasts. Most of these programs can also accommodate a newsletter, which may require HTML coding to make it look just right. And how about trying to convert and import that huge customer list? This is where I can help you; I have the expertise to quickly and efficiently set up your e-mail marketing system.

One of the more popular techniques to build your e-mail list is to provide something for free in exchange for the person signing up for your newsletter. Andrea Lee calls this a "pink spoon" product (ala Baskin Robbins' pink spoon concept). This could be a free e-book or a multi-part telecourse. I can help set up your campaign so that delivery is automated, seamless, and professional.

eMail Marketing is my specialty, so contact me today!

How can you get started with your own ezine / newsletter?

First, select an e-mail marketing service. There are many to choose from. Constant Contact is a great 'newsletter' only program. It offers very stylish newsletter templates, but it does not offer autoresponders (which you will need if you want to set up automatic response messages, teleseminars, or workgroup programs - must have's for coaches).

Aweber is one of the more popular autoresponders programs. Aweber provides unlimited autoresponders and eNewsletter/ezine delivery. It is very user friendly and is relatively inexpensive. It is also easy to integrate with Paypal so you can take payments as well as add subscribers to your list at the same time. Great for those workgroups or coaching programs!

For a program that includes a lot more, 1ShoppingCart offers a shopping cart, newsletter/ezine distribution, e-book digital delivery, unlimited autoresponders, affiliate program, coupon and upsell features - - everything you need for your marketing program.  Of course, 1ShoppingCart is more pricey than Aweber or other autoresponder programs, but if your immediate business plan includes selling products, it may make more sense to purchase this program from the beginning. As anyone who has changed their list program can tell you, it's not a happy day when you switch your list manager program - it could result in an 80% loss of your subscribers.

Second, define your message and your format. Creating a newsletter is not very hard, take a look at the current ezines you now receive. They usually contain a brief introduction, feature article, maybe a section for ads or new products and/or services.  The GOAL of your newsletter is to provide your subscribers with relevant content, inviting them to get to know and like you. One thing you do not want to do is send one broadcast after another advertising your own products or promotions, it will hurt your credibility and drive them away.

Third, select a name for your publication. There are a few places I recommend you visit while you are hitting your head against the wall trying to come up with a name. Visit Ali Brown's Ezine Queen site. She has tons of articles, books, and products that will help you to formulate your signature, what should be on the subject line, which day of the week to send out your e-mails, etc. The other site is Wordlab. These folks can help you with a name and slogan for free, just sign up in their forum and post your question.

Not ready to sign up for a partnership or just don't know where to begin? Sign up for my "Ask the e-Marketing Expert" one-on-one service for just-in-time answers to your questions!