|
Mailing list management mechanics
Obviously, having an Internet presence is important for
doing business online. But it doesn't mean simply being a mere silent
billboard in cyberspace. In addition to online (and offline) promotional
activities, one has to maintain a consistent contact with web site visitors
who, in most part, are potential customers. And one must interact with
them as well.
Simply put, it is more important that your Internet presence "communicates"
with your visitors where you build a long term relationship with them.
With scams rampant online, people are understandably cautious. Thus, maintaining
an "opt-in" mailing list not only helps to build trust but at
the same time persuades those who need to see your message more than once.
Once you've set up a web site, optimized it, and submitted it to search
engines, one of the next steps is to start building your own in-house
mailing list. You should invariably offer visitors the ability to subscribe
themselves to it and they must be able to do so at least on the front
page of your site. More important, they should be made aware of your mailing
list if not have the ability to subscribe to it on the front page's top
section or "above the fold."
"Above the fold" is the top portion of your front page that
people see in their browsers when they first hit your site, without any
scrolling. It's really the most important part of your site. Like a newspaper
for instance, the most read part is not only the front page but also the
headlines and stories that appear above the newspaper's front page fold.
Your mailing list should therefore be mentioned if not made available
to potential subscribers at the very top.
Mailing List Management
Next, in order to properly maintain your list you will need a system
that will help you compile and properly manage subscriptions. If you're
using a simple email program or address book, they can become bulky and
cumbersome after a certain period of time. Of course, there are also Perl
(or CGI) and Microsoft NT (or ASP) mailing list management scripts available
for the more technically inclined. These scripts offer webmasters the
ability to maintain their own mailing lists directly onsite. For example,
some can be found at:
However, most Internet marketers are business owners and, if they're
anything like me, they more than likely do not have the time to implement
and manage their lists themselves. If this applies to you, a tool you
will therefore need is what is called a mailing list server.
There are many server-based or web-based list servers (also known as
email list managers) available on the Internet. With these programs, you
can simply mail your message once and it will be distributed to an entire
list (even a segment of your list in some cases) in just one easy step.
List servers are useful for discussions and particularly ezines.
Newsletter Management
- If you publish an ezine on a regular basis or plan to make announcements
about updates to your website (you definitely should maintain a certain
contact with visitors), a list server will definitely become handy if
not necessary. Some web hosts offer list servers as part of their hosting
packages while other sites provide the necessary scripts to configure
your own list server.
- For starters, there are several elements that you must take into account
when asking for your visitor's email address, especially on your site.
They include:
- A privacy policy on the website or in the very least a mention (such
as a notice) that the subscriber's personal information will remain
private and confidential (this will start the process of building trust
with them);
- A form where visitors can enter their email address instead of a mere
link, unless the link leads to another page with a form (forms have
higher response rates over "mailto:" links for a variety of
reasons);
- An action word or phrase, especially on or near the submit button,
such as "subscribe," "enter," "join,"
"enroll" and so on (in other words, tell the visitor exactly
what to do, i.e., take them "by the hand");
- And simple, clear removal instructions (on the website, on the privacy
policy, in your welcome message and in every communication you make)
so recipients can easily unsubscribe from your list at any time.
- Mailing lists are not limited to email addresses that you've personally
captured. They can certainly be leased or bought from a reputable, responsible,
and ethical list broker. Keep in mind that bulk email (or "spam")
is not the same thing as bulk (or "junk") mail. Unsolicited
email uses a lot more resources and can be construed as an invasion
of one's privacy.
Furthermore, the cost of spam is ultimately conferred onto the recipient
(be it directly or indirectly, such as higher ISP costs), which in essence
may cause more damage to the business in the end and especially to the
trust-building process. While unsolicited bulk emailing may produce good
results, they will be short-lived and cause more harm than good. But on
the other hand, if the broker offers mailing lists to which people have
voluntarily subscribed (and especially if they are targeted), you can
achieve far better results.
However, there is no better way to bulk email safely and ethically than
to do so to your own list of subscribers who have joined your list of
their own volition. So start building one now if you haven't already.
Even if your list is simply used to make special announcements or to inform
your visitors of site updates, having an Internet presence is not as important
as maintaining one in front of your prospects and prospect referral-sources.
List Management Programs
While you should start building your own list with the use of the following
list management sites, many of them also list other mailing lists to which
you can subscribe and submit your ads or articles, depending on their
guidelines. When doing so, you should somehow invite people to subscribe
to your list as well, such as with your email signature or article byline.
These sites include, among others:
Nevertheless, one of the most powerful marketing tools for online businesses
(and even offline ones) are "opt-in" mailing lists. Use a list
server or list management program to start publishing a newsletter, to
interact with your subscribers through a discussion list, or at least
to announce important updates in order to keep in touch with your prospects.
About the author
Michel Fortin is a direct response copywriter and consultant dedicated
to turning sales messages into powerful magnets. Get a free copy of
his book, "The 10 Commandments of Power Positioning," when
you subscribe to his free monthly ezine, "The Profit Pill."
See http://SuccessDoctor.com/
now! |
» Change
your mind about an eBay bid?
We have all made choices in life that two seconds later
we know we should take back. Especially when there is money involved
this can become a problem.
» A
simple way to create 7 effective autoresponder messages
Email is the Net's most powerful marketing tool. And autoresponders
are the best idea yet for marketing with email.
» 7
ways to drive laser-targeted traffic to your website
Getting people who matter to see one’s website
is a difficult undertaking if he tries to consider the fact that
there are rivals everywhere waiting to pin him down.
» Website
valuation: Why standard website pricing methods will emerge
The market of buying and selling developed websites is
becoming more and more liquid each day.
» One
way links are better than reciprocal links
You probably know by now that where your website ranks in
the search engine rankings dramatically affects how many visitors you
have to your site. Did you also know that you can change where your
site is ranked by being proactive and getting as many one way links
to your site as possible?
» How
to make visitors stay at your website
The very first thing which you should provide the visitors
with is some free interesting reading material.
» How
to make your visitors click your ads
Here is a simple solution; Convert your banner advertisement
to look like a text advertisement!
» Offline
advertising should be a part of your online strategy
Day by day, online business has become more & more
complicated and competitive.
» How
to sell traffic
Selling the traffic arriving at your site is a good method
to increase profits from your portal.
» Make
money from online auctions
Online auctions have the best benefit of a vast platform.
Your product is viewed by loads of people & hence there is
more possibility of finding a suitable bidder.
» Groupware
explained in easy terms
Groupware is a term used frequently to describe collaborative
software. Groupware is application software that integrates work
on a single project by several concurrent users at separated random
workstations.
» Timely
back up can save you from disasters
Few things which people often back up are e-mail addresses,
bank records, photographs, personal records, software’s,
music etc.
» Why
should one go for autoresponders
Autoresponders are programs which get automatically
executed in particular situations.
» Become
your own boss - Start your own online business today
A survey conducted by SBA states that two third of new
business survives at least two year and about forty four percent
survives at least four year.
» Express
your thoughts - Creating your own blog!
What exactly is a blog? Technically speaking it is a
journal or a newsletter which is regularly updated and can be used
by any one.
» Pop-up
ads - To be or not to be?
According to a study conducted by the Bunnyfoot University, “The
Efficacy of Pop-ups and the Resulting Effect on Brands” Internet
users feel harangues and harassed by pop-up ads.
» Why
content is king on the Internet
The advantages that Internet holds over the rest of
the other communication mediums should not wasted because of
the inability to find a comprehensive plan that will bind all
these faculties together.
» 10
niche marketing tips
In our increasingly driven consumer economies, the average
customer is bombarded by choices. With increased saturation of the
market, companies look towards niche marketing to search new, ever-evolving
and sophisticated consumers.
» Using
free traffic exchange
These days internet has emerged as both, a market and
hub for marketing. Unlike the ‘brick and mortar’ world
where large manufacturers manage to squeeze out the market bases
of smaller companies, the internet provides haven like the free
traffic exchange.
» Ten
ways to drive traffic to your website
Developing a web site and then letting it grow is
like planting a tree and then nurturing it.
» Marketing
through keyword articles
One of the most effective tools of Internet marketing
is the use of keyword articles.
» Want
to make money online? Market a service to businesses
Don walked across the street from his house to mine to
announce he had finally retired. "But I'm not ready for the
golf course," he said. "I want to make a living on the
Internet. What can I sell?"
» Web
site design mistakes - Database parameters in URLs
Creating a web site takes thought, planning and execution.
Unfortunately, many designs are dead in the water before they are
even published as far as search engine optimization is concerned.
Whatever you do, avoid these critical mistakes.
» Alexa
Toolbar - The ultimate internet tool
There are numerous tools available on the Internet to
assist online businesses. A valuable tool that you should use is
the Alexa Toolbar. Even better, this tool is free.
» Web
site design mistakes
Some wise human once said "Learn from the mistakes
of others. There isn't nearly enough time to make them all yourself."
Hence this article. Here are five of the most annoying and common
web design mistakes.
» Abandonment
- Why visitors don't turn into customers
Every good Internet business understands the value of
conversions versus hits received. Far too often, businesses become
fixated on the hits they are receiving instead of monitoring their
hit to sale conversion rate.
» Creative
search engine optimization - A case study
Search engine optimization this and search engine optimization
that. You read and hear about it all day, but what about your site?
|
|
Tools & services to enhance your online
business |
|
» Site
Build It!
Over 100,000 small businesses of all kinds outperform
larger, well-financed competitors. Read about this all-in-one site-building-hosting-marketing
system of tools that delivers results.
» Secrets
To Their Success
Take a private tour of two "Mom & Pop"
web sites every month that earn $100,000+ a year... and discover
the exact step-by-step strategies they have personally used to generate
these massive profits. |
|
|
|