Previously Entitled: “Yet another over looked profit center”

I’m going through one of my e-mail Inboxes today. I probably put it off because it’s gotta so big and out of control, starting to look like one of my Kids bedroom if we don’t stay on top of them.

I was originally looking for a couple e-mails, but quickly realized I was on way to many mailing lists! Sounds funny coming from a marketer, but there are some lists that are really just time suckers and inbox multipliers.

I’m not saying they are all junk and not worth the internet postage, I am saying they are not adding enough value to my business. i don’t mind getting offers from those that are teaching something, growing my business or helping me expand into other income streams. It’s the very least I could do for them, is to check out what they are selling from time to time, and some times I do make a purchase.

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As I go through my inbox today, once again thinking I am on too many lists, many that bring me no value.

Don’t get me wrong, you, I and them are all here to make money. Not dogging any one.

Today though I got to thinking, what happened to originality?

As I am going through the messages, once again for the umpteenth time I get one that Urgently tells me not to buy from so and so marketer.

“Important: Do NOT Buy Joe’s Big Marketing Package”

You know how many times I’ve seen that subject line used? How about you? From just about evern Tom, Dick and Harry, every one and their brother. Okay I think you get my point.

Thing is I know exactly what they message is all about, I know the drill.

In reality they do want me to buy Joe’s big Deal Thingy, but of course they want me to buy it from them and they are going to make it worth my while by piling on all kinds of bonuses I can only get from them! If I don’t buy the deal of the century from only them, I am going to miss out, Big-Time! (okay).

Now I realize they are using this tactic because it works, or it use to? I doesn’t work on me any more, maybe I am an odd duck. I doubt it, I’m sure I am not the only one that is tired of see it. I am not likely to open it and read it either.

All goes back to my question, what happened to originality? Seems marketers are using the same lines over and over, they are going to die sooner or later, they are going to lose their effectiveness at some point in time, if they haven’t already.

The question to you is, do you want to be the a part of the herd, using the same old tired headlines and watch your response rate drop like a lead balloon?

Having a hard time coming up with interesting Subject lines? Try Traffic Sucking Headlines, plenty of ideas to get your juices going and your subscribers opening your mails.

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A short list, but tons of goodies. From e-books to PLR or software.

Check it out:

Impact Giveaway
Marks Christmas Giveaway
JV Giveaway
Viral Marketing Giveaway 7
Traffic Secrets 2 Gonna Be A Big One
Christmas Giveaway
Merry Christmas from CjN

If your looking to build your list, submit a gift here:

Impact Giveaway Contributors
The Giveaway Code
CjN Contributor Link
JV Giveaway Contributor Link

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Recently, on one of the forums I read, one of the members who builds lists,  posted a question that got me to thinking. She had what she thought was a problem with spam complaints. In reality it was a very low number. There are always going to be people that are just well, pissed off at life. Think we’ve all been there at some time in our lives.  No matter how well you run your business, there will always be certain people who will never be pleased or happy. Thats life, let them go and move on.

I am by no means a list building expert, but the first thought that came to my mind was, did she create an impression? If your reading this, I am guessing you are on at least one list, if not many. Is it not true that there are certain marketers that have created an impression, that you not only know who they are, but even look forward to their e-mails? Then again there are yet others that you have to scratch your head and wonder why they are sending you e-mails?

There’s the problem. The solution?

From my own take. The marketers that created an impression on me, have been those that added personality to their marketing. Not just personality, there has to be more, I don’t know about you, but I’m not looking to buy personality, I have my own. These marketers also provide valuable and usable content. They did’nt give away the store, but they did give me something I could use.

Will your subscribers remember you?

Next time you go to copy and paste a pre-made affiliate auto-responder message, maybe you’ll stop and create your own impression?

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The other day I received an email from a marketer, on who’s list I am a current subscriber. What surprised me was the fact that the one sales link in the mail, did not work, it took me to a 404 page. Of course things happen, I make mistakes every day, no one is perfect. I know I am a terrible speller, thats why I double check my writing and use spell check before publishing.

I see many mails with grammer and spelling mistakes, more often than I would have guessed.

Still others place their “ads” far below the content, what if the reader does’nt scroll down?

Another marketer sends me emails where the links in the copy are not active, how are readers going to click? How many will go to the trouble of copy and paste?

Do you have a procedure for creating your mailings? Maybe a procedure like the following:

1).  Re-read

2).  Spell-check

3). Verify Links

Just a general procedure list, sure you can create one for your own system or how you work. Maybe write it or print it up and post it where you can see it all the time.

Or you could take the chance of sending out mails that don’t produce?

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When your mail your list, how many end up in the spam or trash folder of your readers email in-box? Do you even have a clue? If you have no idea, your only doing half the job. To make the most profit from your list, you know you need as many eyeballs checking out your copy as possible. Only make sense. How many will never see your prized piece of writing if it ends up in the spam folder?

Here’s an easy solution, test. How? If you don’t already have, create email accounts at the major email services such as Yahoo, Google or Hotmail. Create a test list on your auto responder with the the email accounts from above. Before blasting your mails to your list, send them to the test accounts and find out if they end up tagged as spam or trash. Often it can be just a a word that gets you nailed. Other marketers have found just their url in the emails set off the filters, you may need to use a url forwarder or link mask script.

Another good reason to test your emails, I’ve mentioned before but in case you did’nt read it, is to  check the links in your mailings. One list I “use to” be on sent me emails where the links where not active. Did I go through the trouble of copy and paste? Nope.

You can have the best copy and product in the world but if your list does’nt see the mail, how much are you losing?

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I opted out of yet another list today.

I originally subscribed to this list because it was suppose to be geared toward list building, a favorite subject of mine lately. It was titled, list building ideas. I just went though all the e-mails I recieved from this marketer, to double check, and not one related to the subject I signed up for. In reality every e-mail was just to sell me something, every one of them. To top it all off this marketer did’nt even try selling me anything that was related to my interest.

After I unsubscribed I ended up on their website, and it was not even remotely related.

I not bashing any one here, this person looks like they really work hard and put some effort into their mails. Right off the bat they are doing more than 98% of the population becasuse they are taking action.

This person could very well be making money off this list.

But..

What if all I recieved was information about list building? What if I recieved information on the subject I was interested in that I could use or even learn from? What if they tried selling me services and products targeted to my interest? At the very least I would have stayed on their list and a good chance I would have bought something.

I’ve spent many years pushing affiliate programs, to many it seems at times. One train of thought has always done well for me and made me money…

Targeting.

I target the traffic coming in with ads and copy focused on their interest and as narrow as I possibly can get. Same holds true for a mailing list. It’s worked for me, for over 8 years.

Now it’s your turn.

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Being on a number of lists, obviously I see quite a few mails from those building and running lists. A couple things in particular I’ve been seeing lately that inspired me to write this post.

You should always be reminding your subscribors, that they opted in to your list and where they signed-up. Right up top so it’s the first thing they see. Often I need to double check the entire e-mail to figure out where it come from.

Not only reminding them they signed up, but also branding your name in every mail. On a side note, using your name in the subject can also make a big difference as to wheither or not they even open your mails.

Branding yourself or your service can make a huge impact. Not only getting your name out there in the public, but building trust as you go. We can never get enough trust can we?

The quicker a subscriber realizes who you are and remember they did indeed sign up for your list, the less chance you’ll get spam compliants. These points are even more important if you do not mail very often.

Part 2 coming soon..

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