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Autoresponders and Email List Building

Everyone has received an email. Everyone has also received unsolicited emails. That makes it all the more important to build a list of subscribers who won't mind you communicating with them this way.

One of the most common ways that online business owners connect with their potential customers is through email. You can reach people easier that way than you can by ringing them up on the phone. Email can be accessed from laptops in Wi-Fi hotspots, cellular phones and WebTV to name a few. So, you could say that it is pretty important to manage this marketing tool just right.

Email Lists

Here's how it usually works, you include an opt-in page on your website. It could be for free stuff, discounted merchandise, or additional information on something they read on your site. Readers are asked to become subscribers in some way to your website by providing their name and email address.

Along with that address you also include a disclaimer to put them at ease. Anyone who signs up knows that you won't sell their information to a third party or send them unwanted spamming emails.

Your initial list will be mixed with those who are in your target market and people who are interested in more general information. If you are trying to reach people who are into dog accessories, you may reach those who are seeking information on pet accessories in general. They will soon be weeded out and hopefully they won't make up the bulk of your list.

Autoresponders

Now, it's time to contact those people. You have the list and something has to be done with it. Your subscribers are waiting.

You can use a series of emails that highlight your product offerings as a way to transition subscribers into the realm of customers. The goal of these emails is to provide additional information on the topic of your website business and not to necessarily sell a product directly.

The emails can be set up automatically to go out on a pre-set schedule using autoresponder programs and services. These services give you a way to distribute those emails. You can even add the personal touch of addressing your list by name instead of a blanket greeting with certain autoresponder services.

But, we are getting ahead of ourselves here. You need something to load into the autoresponder program. Create a series of emails that speak directly to each list member as if they were the only one on your list. You can even outsource the autoresponder emails if you need to.

Now that you have a list of subscribers, your next step is keeping them your number one priority. Use autoresponder emails to contact them on a regular basis with the purpose of building a solid relationship for future business.

Create Squeeze Pages

There are dozens of them on the Internet. We read them every day but are they effective? Do they make you want to actually do the thing they are asking you to do - which is normally to sign up for an email list? What are we talking about? Why, squeeze pages, of course.

What is a Squeeze Page?

It sounds like it has something to do with fruit. What you are squeezing is not produce but people. You want their information for your list. Whether you are looking for sales leads or subscribers, a squeeze page is an effective way to get what you seek.

A squeeze page is essentially a landing page. It can be your home page on your site, but if you are running more than one marketing campaign, it can be a separate page, the purpose of which is to get people to opt-in to your list in exchange for something.

What can they opt-in for? It can be newsletters, free reports, free analysis, catalogs and the like. You choose who you are looking for and what media will get the names and email addresses for you.

These pages are important because their sole purpose is to get the reader to perform an act that has been predetermined by you. The "act" does not involve sales directly. You want to gain the trust of your potential customer before you ask them to consider buying something from you.

One benefit you will gain here is a list of subscribers that are within your target market. Someone who is not interested will not sign up. Using a squeeze page as a sales page can draw people who are not within your target market. If you post a page that offers "get rich quick" scenarios, you are guaranteed to get lots of takers but not the ones you want.

Characteristics of a Squeeze Page

People pay a lot of money to have squeeze pages constructed for them. With this page, you want to pull out all of the stops to get noticed by your niche. So, let's start at the top, the top of the page that is.

1. Headline. People glance over pages when they read on the Internet. Your headline may be the only chance to gain their attention. Sum that up in a few words and use it as your headline: "Researchers Say it takes Two Weeks to Make or Break a Habit." Don't forget to use the same keywords you researched for your website.

2. Get personal. Share a story that is relevant to your subject matter. Maybe you had a habit you wanted to create. Give the reader insight into your issue and how you solved it.

3. Get user-friendly. Use bullet points and numbered passages to gain the reader's attention. Emboldened wording stands out and lets the reader glance to see if you have to say anything that they want to hear.

4. The action. Don't forget to include what you want them to do. If it is signing up for something, tell them how to do it and what they will gain. Have your opt-in form clearly labeled with a link to your site.  

Squeeze pages are one way of creating a targeted list of interested people who will hopefully become customers. They are a great way to not only grow your list, but potentially your profits too.

Article Marketing and List Building

Article marketing is one of the best ways to gain traffic for free. Using your expertise in the niche market, you can attract the kind of readership that would be interested in the product or service that you are marketing. Use it to build a money-making list.

The goal of business is to make money. If you aren't successful, then you won't be in business for long. The goal of list building is to create a network of people who will play into that success over and over again. The money will come if you cultivate the relationship first.

Article Marketing

Most people choose niches that appeal to them because they already know something about it. Use this to your advantage with article marketing.

Article marketing involves writing stirring content that can be highlighted on your website as well as other places. If you aren't great in the writing department you can hire a ghostwriter or a ghostwriting service to handle the hard work for you. All you need to do is provide them with the information you want included in the articles.

Don't forget to include keywords. They are still important. The fabulous things that you write won't get read if no one can find it. Using keywords relevant to your niche can assure you a place on the first page of search results (or close to it once you get the hang of it). Then, others will learn that you have something important to say.

You can market your articles in several places. In fact there are quite a few directories that are in search of good articles. Quality is still the name of the game. Once you submit your work to these sites, they are reviewed by their experts before they are accepted. Appearing on popular sites like EzineArticles.com and Buzzle can increase your visibility and credibility.

Growing Your List

What you want to build your list are subscribers - people who will opt-in for newsletters, reports, email marketing campaigns and the like. If you are bent on selling them something at every turn, then your list will remain puny and ineffective. Concentrate on giving the readers what they want before you think about making the sale.

Provide information that is relevant to the target market. For example, for someone who wants to sell fishing equipment, write content that touts the benefits of fishing (relaxation, family activities, etc.) to them. After that, you can build up to how-to articles on different types of equipment or fishing tips.

When you give your readers what they want, they will come back for more. As they become comfortable with you, you can ask for their information and they will give it freely. These readers are now ready to hear more about you and your products.

Use Newsletters to Build Your List

People want good information. If the seekers are looking for something in your niche, you want them to find you. One way to gain new leads is through newsletters.

Wouldn't it be great to get the information you need delivered right to your inbox? You can, or at least your readers can if you create a newsletter.

Your website contains content that will help draw your target market to you. You use keywords (that you carefully researched), catchy headlines and other tricks to provide interesting tidbits for your readers. But, there are more tidbits in the marketing kitchen that you can cook up. Save those for the newsletter.

Benefits of a Newsletter

What makes a newsletter so special? It gives the reader more detailed information than they can find on your website. You can upsell it as exclusively for subscribers. That alone can get your readers to opt-in for it and also tell their friends.

What are the components of a newsletter? It varies, but the more features you add, the more attractive it will be. Here are a few ideas:

- Contest entries
- Preview new products before the general public
- Discount coupons
- Letters from you
- Tips and articles
- Pictures
- New product info

Newsletters are usually delivered monthly on the same date each month. You can set your newsletters up to be delivered through your autoresponder service so your subscribers get them on time.

Newsletters can be created in a couple of different ways. Some people have their entire email be their newsletter. It is a one-page piece that includes links to areas on your website where they can find more information. If it is a contest entry, a link will bring them to the landing page where they can enter and read up on the contest particulars. That page can also link to other offers they may be interested in.

Others post emails that tell you the newest newsletter is available. Subscribers click a link that takes them to a "subscriber only" area of your website. Here they can read and download the newest newsletter. Also let them know that they can access your archive of newsletters that were created before they found your site. Creating timeless content makes these past pieces valuable months or years later.

Want to build your list? Offer newsletters to readers if they subscribe to your site. By including some of the information above, readers can stay connected in such a way that eventually leads to recurrent sales.

Autoresponders and Keeping People Subscribed to Your List

Autoresponders are a series of messages you can send to your list via email to let them know that you value their participation in your business. Autoresponder emails are not sales pitches but a way to communicate with people on your list that will hopefully lead to a sale.

If someone has signed up as a subscriber, then you know one thing already: they are interested in your niche. Your content, blog posts and other marketing tools have led them to believe that you just may have a product worth buying.

There are some people who find a site that they instantly click with and purchase right away. They are not usually the norm especially on the Internet where "sight unseen" can spell disaster and lost cash for customers. People will ask friends, visit review sites and follow you for a while before deciding to hit the checkout page.

Constructing an Autoresponder Email

Email marketing is an effective campaign when done right. Once you have someone's email address, you also have the addresses of their friends and their influence. You just have to get at it. Use targeted emails and an autoresponder service.

Autoresponder services take the guesswork out of delivering your email series. You can also deliver other products also, but that will come later.

If your emails read like a sales letter, you will probably get a lot of unsubscribe notices. Avoid this with these few tips.

1. Use keywords in your catchy headline. Headlines are going to be the first thing that your subscriber sees in their subject line. If you want them to open it, get straight to the point. Tell them exactly what they will find if they open the email. It could be the answer to a question you pose or specific information:"3 Easy Ways to Create a Family Budget."

2. Address your subscriber by name. General greetings don't let your reader know that you know them. It's a sign that you are too busy to actually be "connected" with your readership. Address each person directly in your email series.

3. Provide pertinent content. Begin with the question you posed or the statement you made in your headline. If you are focused your subscribers will be also. Give what you promise in as few words as possible - 300 to 400 words.

4. Ask them to do something. This is not a sales hook. If you are offering a free eBook with more information, this is when you discuss what they will find in it and provide a link to the landing page. If you would like them to opt-in for something else like a monthly newsletter, include that here. 

5. Salutations. Use your real signature. Let them know that you are personally involved in everything that you send out to your subscribers and customers.

An autoresponder program lets you communicate with your subscribers in a variety of ways. What is important to them is what you say and how you say it through well-constructed emails.

Building Your List through Opt-Ins

Building a list of email addresses saves time when you are trying to reach your target market. You have a dedicated group of individuals or companies that you already know are interested in your product. But, how can you get these people on your list to begin with?

What are Opt-Ins?

You have seen them before but probably didn't know that they had a specific name. When you visit a site and they offer you a reduced rate on a product or something free, they usually ask for a name and email address so that they can send it to you. When you volunteer this information, it is called "opting in."

Opt-ins is one way to build your list of targeted customers. People protect their personal information very carefully. If they decide to even give you an email address, then they have demonstrated right there a level of trust that will be the backbone characteristic of your list.

The trick is getting people to opt-in in the first place. For this, there is no trick. But, what you might want to do is to include a disclaimer link on your opt-in forms to let those who sign up know exactly how their information will be used. Without one, you will be considered a spammer if you send unsolicited information to them. With one, you assure people that you will not sell their information to others to build paid lists.

What type of opt-in offers will you promote? It all depends on your niche market and what these potential customers want. One thing that everyone wants on the Internet is information. Helpful information can take your business places that you can't reach in other ways.

Much of the info on the Internet is recycled over and over again. Offering a mix of original, up-to-date resources and content with common sense tips can be your ticket to creating a successful list of email addresses. This includes content on your website and your blog.

Types of Opt-Ins

So, what will you offer? Think free. Everyone loves free stuff. On the Internet, the free stuff shouldn't be just any stuff but relevant information that they can use.

For example, if you have a website that sells homeschooling products, consider giving away a free report on how to teach algebra to pre-teens. This is only an example. What you want to do is create a freebie that is relevant to your target audience. If they already homeschool their kids, then tips on how to do it more efficiently will most likely peak their interest.

You can also offer longer pieces like eBooks. Usually, if you offer a valuable eBook, then it is not your first opt-in offering. You are pretty sure that the ones who will sign up for it are going to buy something else. Maybe use the eBook as a freebie for customers who have bought once, to help encourage them to buy again.

Opt-in pages are a popular way to gain trust and encourage buying from your visitors. Whatever you decide to offer, be sure that you follow through on your promise. Better yet, over deliver on it!

Newsletters: Create a Feeling of Community with Your Readers

When you started your online business, you knew that you would have to have the traffic to make it a worthwhile venture. With your marketing plan, ideas were already recorded to help that become a reality. Here's one you may not have thought about: newsletters. They bring the reader into the "know" and that could mean dollars and cents to you.

A business website gives visitors the basics of your operation. You want to use your resources to tell them about what you do and why they need to get involved with you. There is not always enough space to put columns or tidbits that would be important to readers but not necessarily part of your main marketing agenda.

Newsletters are designed not only to inform but also to let readers get to know you. There can be a column written by you that thanks them for being loyal readers and customers (leading them to buy if they haven't already). You can share honest appreciation for what they do for you.

The Magic of Newsletters

When you don't have enough room for the fun things (contests, freebie offers) and the more in-depth things (affiliate program info, new products) that you want your readers to know put it in a newsletter. There are several formats for online newsletters:

- One page layout that you email to subscribers
- Multiple page PDF format they can access through a link in email
- Animated links on website

Usually, newsletters are sent to subscribers. These are readers who come to your site and opt-in for it by giving you their email address and name. Each month they get an email with your newsletter or link to the newsletter.

For longer newsletters with more information, you can create a PDF they can access, download, print and share with others. This way, your newsletter goes viral to people who know your readers.

Creating a "Subscriber Only" section on your site gives them access to newsletters that have video or animation that they won't see if they had a PDF. This makes readers feel special that they have a place just for them on your site.

Your format is up to you. Whatever you feel that will engage your readers, use it. In the beginning they may not want a lot of flash since it could be viewed as trickery. Keep it simple until they ask for more.

Customer Spotlight

Newsletters are a way to highlight those readers who want to be known. Maybe you have visitors who have joined your affiliate program or have opted in the previous month for the newsletter. Listing their names gives them a place of importance in your business.

What will you place in your newsletter? Creating one, to catch all the "tidbit" information that readers really love, helps them feel like a vital part of your enterprise.

4 Quick Tips for Creating Effective Email Subject Lines

Using subject lines the right way can greatly improve the number of people who actually open and read your emails. Unless your subscribers open the email they can’t read and act upon all the goodies inside, right? What do your subject lines say to your readers? Are they drab and make your subscribers head for the delete button or do they POP and make them want to read further?

If you’re struggling to get your emails opened, there’s no better time than now to give your prospects what they signed up for. These five quick tips will give you actionable steps you can utilize to craft email subject lines that get noticed and have your readers begging for more.

Quick Tip #1: Maintain Relevance

Make certain your subject line is appropriate for the subject of your list. A reader who signs up for your list expecting one thing, but receiving something completely out of line with what they signed up to receive will not be in the buying mood.

For instance, if you have a list about gardening – don’t send your readers an email with the subject line:

“The #1 Way to Lose Weight Fast”

No one on your gardening list wants to learn about losing weight. Granted some might be interested in weight loss, but not from the gardening expert. Remember, one goal of having a targeted list is to build expertise and trust with your readers. Sending them off topic information will accomplish the complete opposite.

Quick Tip #2: Make it Short and Sweet

Let's be honest, people get so many messages in their inbox these days it's hard to sift through the noise. If your subject line is mediocre or dull and boring the chances of your email getting opened is slim to none. A good subject line should be short and sweet. Get to the point without drawing it out.

There are many ways of accomplishing this. The one that works for your list will depend on the subject matter. For instance, some people are drawn to a shocking headline, while others prefer humor and still others just want to know exactly what they are getting. Here are just a few examples of short and sweet subject lines to help get the gears turning.

“Man Loses 17 Pounds in 5 Days”

“Yes, I’ve Officially Flipped My Lid”

“Your January Content is Ready & Waiting”

“It’s All Yours – Come & Get It”

No matter which method you use to concoct your subject line, keep it short and sweet to make it stand out from the thousands of other emails your list members receive.

Quick Tip #3: Be Informative, yet Incomplete

One sure fire way to get your readers attention and make them click their open button is to leave them wanting more. You probably already know this trick when it comes to the content within the body of your email, but did you know it works just as well with your subject line?

Get your readers’ attention then peak their inner curiosity. Yes, everyone is born with at least a bit of nosiness in their blood. Give them just enough to peak their interest without telling them too much. They’ll follow your lead to learn the rest. It’s the old bait and hook method – works great at the lake and even better with a mailing list. 

Quick Tip #4: Test & Tweak

If you want to make sure your subject lines are doing their job to the fullest, you’ll need to test and teak them a bit to get the results you’re after. Most list management systems (such as Aweber and GetResponse) allow you to break up your list and send out one version of an email to one part of your list. The other half of the list will receive a second version. This is an excellent way to track which one actually gets open and has the greatest impact on your readers.

After completing a few tests, take the results and learn from them. Make the necessary changes to get the best response from your subscribers. Remember, this works for  follow up and future broadcast messages also. Your open rates will increase dramatically once you determine what makes your readers tick.

Using subject lines effectively is a matter of compiling something attention grabbing and provoking. Don’t just throw a subject in the box and hope it works. Take the time to think it through, test it and make adjustments to future mailings. It might seem time consuming, but the payback will be more than worth your effort. Once you see the difference these small, but extremely important tweaks will make you’ll be glad you made the investment.

4 Quick Tips for Writing a Solo Mailing

Writing a solo mailing that is effective can be a daunting and sometimes frustrating task when you're first starting out. The main focus is to be so compelling to your list that they cannot help but be interested in what you are offering them. One of the main concerns marketers have with solo mailings (or any sales efforts for that matter) is to make sure their offer is a high quality one. They fear that selling to their subscribers may lead to people opting out rather than opting in.

These 4 quick tips will help you to craft a solo mailing that will be successful and still leave you with the respect of your list members.

Quick Tip #1: Write an Effective Subject Line

An effective subject line calls out to the members of your list.  It intrigues them enough to make them want to open your email when they are being bombarded with forwards, spam, and solicitations.  For your readers to want to open up your solo mailing, you need to make sure your subject line gives them a reason to stop and take notice.

Try asking a question, give a startling fact, or use their name to begin the message. These are all excellent ways to create an effective “clickable” subject line.

Quick Tip #2: Have a Hook

Once your prospect clicks on your email you want to insure that they will read all the way through till the end.  Crafting an email with a good “hook” should engage your reader enough so that they’ll take the time to read your entire message. 

Don’t ramble on with chatter and sales pitches. Give them information they can use and then offer them your sales pitch, but keep your pitch short and sweet.

Quick Tip #3: Give Them an Offer They Can’t Refuse

Having an effective subject line and engaging your reader isn’t enough.  Once you get them to open your email and read your story you need to keep them captivated with an excellent offer.

Your offer should include the product you’d like them to purchase, the price, the benefits to them and your personal recommendation. Give them a compelling reason to make a purchase. If the item is an affiliate product that a lot of other marketers are also promoting at the time, think of something of your own to offer as a bonus if your subscribers purchase through your link versus someone else’s.

You’ll also want to make sure that your offer is highly targeted to your list.  People opted in for a niche list with a purpose in mind. If they are contacted about an offer in a solo mailing it must fit in with what they are interested in.

Quick Tip #4: Test and Tweak

Putting together an effective solo mailing can be very frustrating and overwhelming if you aren’t sure what you’re doing or if you don’t get the response you were hoping for.

If your list isn’t as open and receptive as you expected them to be, take a step back to re-evaluate your email campaign.

Ask yourself:

•    Was your subject line effective enough?

•    Did you truly attempt to draw people in?

•    Was your letter too robotic, not personal enough or vice versa?

Once any problems have been deciphered, you can make the necessary tweaks and adjustments that will guarantee a more successful solo mailing the next time around.

Writing a solo mailing can seem overwhelming because most worry about offending their customers or having minimal sales for the effort. This doesn’t have to be the case if you take the time to put the tips above to use.

Creating an effective subject line, formulating a hook, learning from previous mistakes and delivering a special offer, will ensure a much more profitable turnout from your list now and in the future when it comes time to send a solo mailing.

4 Quick Tips for Developing Follow Up Messages that Get Results

You have worked hard to develop your list. You researched your market, know what they need and decided that an autoresponder series is the best way to give it to them. But, how do you give them the information they want, stay in their minds and keep them wanting more? It’s all in the follow up.

Your follow up messages are where you’ll develop a deeper, more meaningful and long lasting relationship with your readers. This is where you’ll prove everything (and more) that you promised when they signed up.

#1: Get In Good with Your Subscribers

Stop and think back to when you opened your inbox for the first time today. Which emails did you open first? More than likely it was the emails from people you are familiar with, those you know, like and trust. Next were the “Hmm That sounds kind of interesting. I’ll open and have a glance, maybe for once there’s something good from Jane’s blog.” After that it probably went something like this: “Don’t know that person…delete”, “Nope don’t want to buy that eBook from her, already went through my good buddy Joe’s affiliate link and snatched up his awesome bonuses.” …delete, “Not another forward again.”… delete.

Sound familiar?

In order to reach the goal(s) of your list you have to help your subscribers feel connected to you. They want to “know” you on a more personal level. Once that first message goes out in your series, it becomes your responsibility to get closer to the top of their “I always open their emails” list.

This will ensure that they stick around and will make them more receptive to what you are teaching or offering. Too many marketers make the mistake of sending cold, robot like emails. There is no faster way to get your readers and possible buyers disinterested than by being cold to them.

People sign up to newsletters and lists that interest them. If they see you as someone who doesn’t care in the emails you send and if they feel you are only in it for the money you get when they click your link or buy your product, you’ll be the next “Geez, I really need to unsubscribe from this list”…delete!

Sure, you might get your email opened, but only so your readers can scan to the bottom and find that nasty little unsub link.

That’s why you need to be real with your list. Share personal anecdotes, offer tips and tricks they can actually use, etc. The more they get to like, know, and trust you, the easier time you're going to have selling your products to them.

#2: Offer Content with Value

People signed up for your list for a reason, whether it is prior interest in your niche or a desire to learn more, and you should take that seriously. If after a few follow up messages they feel they are not receiving the information they are seeking, they will ultimately unsubscribe. To prevent this from happening, your follow up messages should be arranged so that people receive the value they expected and more.

One suggestion on how to give them value is to point them to great articles you’ve found online, interesting websites, your own tips and advice, etc. In fact, pointing them to helpful blog posts or website articles you have written is an excellent way to develop even more loyalty, retention and trust with your followers. Not to mention, it can increase sales too.

#3: Create a Schedule

Your main concern is to develop strong, focused, interesting follow up messages but there is something that is just as important that many list owners don’t think about. These follow up messages must be sent on a regular basis, not chaotically.

One of the best ways to have your readers forget you is to send your first message on a Monday morning and wait to send the next weeks or months later. The goal is to stay on the reader’s mind.

Especially in the beginning, your readers anxiously await your next message to see what you have to share. Consider how disappointed they will be if they wait and wait and don't receive the info they hoped for. Think about how you feel when you’re waiting for something and it doesn’t show up when expected. Don’t do that to your subscribers or they'll find the information from someone else.

The key is to keep your readers happy without overwhelming them with information. You can do that by creating and sticking to a schedule. One of the best ways to keep yourself in your reader’s mind without overly intruding on their inbox is to let them know how often you’ll be in contact. You can tell them before they sign up or, at the latest, in your very first message.

If you have a monthly newsletter let them know up front they’ll be receiving your bulletins once a month. If you’re creating a short 5 or 7-day ecourse, tell them and set your follow up messages to go out accordingly. If you have a membership site where you send members only information on a specific day of the month, tell them and stick to your word.

Also, be sure to let them know if you plan to send them extra information every once in awhile in addition to your regularly scheduled emails. Some examples of this would be members-only specials or sales, freebies you come upon from other sites, etc.

#4: Don’t Be Afraid to Sell

After you've given your list some interesting “lead in” content it’s time to get serious about making money. This of course does not mean your first, or even second, message should be an in depth sales letter. Remember you have to preserve the relationship you’re building.

Make yourself the expert in your niche and proceed carefully, but don’t be afraid to ask for a sale either.

It is completely fine, to gently point your readers to a product you know will help or interest them. You might have reviewed something on your blog you can point them to, or simply include a link directly to the product’s website. However, don’t blatantly pitch them in every single email or create an email that reads like nothing more than a sales page. Be helpful and give them quality information that is of interest to them.

Another thing to keep in mind when selling to your list is that repeated exposure produces more sales. Studies show the more times people see a certain sales message the more likely they are to purchase.

A good rule of thumb is for every link you give your reader in an email, give them plenty of quality content they can use even if they choose not to click the link.

Creating follow up messages is an excellent, hands-off, way to develop a relationship, build trust and generate more sales. Your follow up messages are going to work as your 24 hour sales person, so craft them carefully. Make them work for you rather than against you.