Email Marketing & Opt-in Tips

Today I wanted to give you a few email marketing tips and ideas on how to capture visitor subscriptions. 

Creating an email marketing opt in list is extremely valuable for generating sales and building a successful online business in general.

A quick sidebar before we get started -

I've added some new content to the Free e-book section of my Homenotion site and I'd love to get your feedback. I'd also love to hear what you would like to see reviews on next.

Which products, programs or books would you like to hear more about? 

Tips for better email marketing and Opt-In Ideas

If you get visitors to your website you want to hang onto them.  That means you don't want them to get away without capturing the opportunity to communicate with them on a regular basis.

Creating an opt-in email list is your best chance of doing that.  But this is not a way to bombard your viewers with salesy ads and pushy opportunities just to make a sale.

Email marketing should be about how you can give your readers information, support and guidance. It's about helping them, but at the same time it's helping them come to know and trust you.  No one buys from a website or marketer they don't trust and respect.  Effective email marketing helps build that confidence and trust.  

Encourage sign-ups by giving away something free. But be careful, don't give away junk, in fact I'd recommend creating your own PDF.  It should relate to what your site is about.   Putting together a fact filled document that users will find useful is a great option.

If writing isn't your best subject, try using a site like SurefireWealth.  They have a tons e-books and audios that you can download for free.  They also have resell rights packages and PLR packages as well.

> Use an Email Autoresponder Service

Automate all your emails by using a good Autoresponder. I use and recommend Aweber.  An reliable autoresponder like does several things for you:

1. It captures, organizes and provides information on all your opt-in leads.

2.  It provides nice reports on what leads got what emails, when they opted in, opted out and processes comments for you.

3. It allows you to set up a series of emails once and sends them at intervals that suit your needs.  You can send a year’s worth of emails at once and let them go out to  your leads all through the year if you wished.  The point is, you do it once and it continues to work for you as each new member signs up.

4. An autoresponder will automatically send thank you emails when someone places an order. It will also automatically send thank you emails for subscription sign ups. You can set it up to provide Q&A information should someone send an inquiry email. You can even build a free email course or tips guide as a free gift for sign-ups. 

> Give Them a Reason to Opt In

Encourage sign-ups by giving away something of quality and value. This is usually something that your viewer might read or use to help them understand or learn something about your products or services.  I recommend creating this value package yourself, for example a PDF guide, tips or ideas that your reader will find useful. 

If writing isn't your best subject, try using a site like SurefireWealth.  They have a tons e-books and audios that you can download for free.  They also have resell rights packages and PLR packages as well.

> Developing your opt-in email list

Place your email capture form on every page of your website or blog.

Go with a permission based double opt-in email list.  Double opt-in requires your visitor to go to their email after entering their name and email address and clicking on a link that verifies their signup. This will help weed out people who are not really interested and who often forget later on that they signed-up.

Creating a web form isn't hard, in fact your autoresponder should have a tool for creating it for you, all you have to do is copy and paste it on to your site.   If you don't have an autoresponder but want to create a web form try htmlgoodies.com for how to create your own html form.  

> I don't recommend purchasing email lists.

A lot of the lists you purchase are outdated and a large portion of the addresses don't even exist any longer. But also sending email to unsolicited email addresses screams unprofessionalism. 

When getting started with email marketing many people are fooled into thinking you need a BIG list, you don't.  But you do need a targeted list, that is, people directly interested in what you have to offer.  A list of 50 targeted readers is much more valuable than a list of 500 readers that have no interest or who aren't serious.  

Create your own list from the start. It may take a little longer to build but you'll have a more valued, targeted list of readers meaning your sales will be greater.

> Build Trust & Legitimacy

Your viewers want to know that their privacy will be protected before handing your their email address.  They also want to know that you are a real business with real contacts. with real contacts.  

Therefore you should create a separate Privacy Page on your website and include a link to that privacy notice on your opt-in form.

Your privacy notice could be something like this:

     "We value your privacy and do not capture name,
     emails or any other information unless you freely
     give it to us

     Your Name,
     Business name
     Business Address or P.O. Box
     Business Phone Number.

If you use an email autoresponder service, you may want to mention that the service will capture their email information but assure them that the service will not sell or use their information.

Incidentally, it is perfectly acceptable to us a P.O. Box for your address.  Also, don't be concerned about including your business phone either.  Typically, you won't be getting many calls but having your phone number in view adds a sense of legitimacy.

> Clearly outline what a subscriber will be getting.

Once your subscribers opt in immediately send them a thank you email or send them to a thank you page on your website.  Your autoresponder will be able to handle that for you. 

In your thank  you let your subscribers know exactly what they can expect from you. Will it be an ezine, newsletter, ecourse, tips, coupons, new product information or all of the above? Will they hear from you weekly, bi-weekly, monthly?

Often times it's a good idea to provide them with a link so they can review past newsletters. 

> Increase your email open rates.

Use your email subject line wisely.  Be clear and create curiosity.  A subject line that says:

"Email #32 - New Diet Options"

will probably hit the trash bin faster than a subject line that  says:

"Lose Weight Fast Without Diet & Exercise"

Next, provide interesting and relevant copy.  Don't drone on, lecture or tell your viewers things they already know.  Give them useful facts and information they can use.

Keep your paragraphs short and to the point. Graphics add a nice touch but research has found that graphics have little impact unless the content is relative, factual and interesting.

> When to send your emails

Timing plays a key part in email delivery.  Business to Business emails fare better when sent Tuesday through Thursday just after 9:00am or after lunch, around 1:30pm. Avoid sending them after 4:00pm or on the weekends.

Sending business to consumer emails are best delivered Tuesday through Thursday from 5pm to 8pm or between Friday evening and Sunday afternoon.

It's generally best to avoid sending any emails out on holidays.  The theory behind this is that holidays generate so many emails that are promotional that they often get ignored.

> Adopt An Email Routine

Keep consistent with your emails. If someone signs up for your ezine, newsletter or tips & information, do your best to keep regular contact with informative, not salesy, information.  Keep in mind that if a subscriber doesn't hear from you for several weeks and finally gets an email from you months later, they can forget who you are and what you're about and they may opt out. 

If writing emails isn't your thing, try using a product like Instant Niche emails or get ahold of PLR content that you can load you autoresponder with.  Either way you do it, try to keep regular and consistent contact with your subscribers.

> More Email Tips:

- I recommend sending regular emails about once a week.  If you have special announcements or time sensitive offers an additional email is ok but don’t sent them more than that.

- Encourage interaction by providing contests, surveys or fun items such as jokes or funny news clips.  Freesticky.com has some excellent ideas on keeping correspondence fun and interesting.

- Don't trick your readers with irrelevant subject lines or teasers just to get them to open the email. I've opted out of many lists simply because of that.

- Don't be fearful of losing subscribers.  Remember, it's the quality of your list that counts.  If someone drops out because they aren't interested -- let them go.  Focus on those who are interested and deliver them what they are looking for.

- Don't send emails containing lots of ads.  One or two ads is ok, actually I don't like to send ads at all, but people are more tolerant of them if your email also has quality content.  

My Very Best
Elizabeth