I’ve been running out of post ideas so wanting to give people on this blog posts that they actually find useful, so my posts over the last few days have been ideas taken from conversations had over instant messenger programs.

You see, I could spend all day talking to you guys and explaining the same thing multiple times (I do this anyways :razz: ) but if someone asks me something that could benefit you guys, I’ve decided that I’ll write a short post on here with basics (and then you guys can ask questions in the comments section). If you’ve got anything more you’d like to see me cover on here, just hit me on instant messenger. :)

Today I’m going to talk about email marketing… that is, sending emails to people you have gotten to opt in to a list. I have a few lists, ranging from the internet marketing niche to weight loss (hehe…) and am looking to increase my list numbers slowly over the course of the next few month - I see my email list for IM surpass the amount of subscribers to this blog pretty soon, and it’s far easier to grow an email list (that’s what I feel personally) than a blog.

An email list is far more personal than your average blog - on TUK, for example you guys are just reading words on a website (apart from the subscribers, of course) but with an email list, you’re getting advice no one else sees unless they subscribe delivered to their inbox every day. I’ve had length conversations via email with subscribers and have built quite a few relationships, including profitable ones for things like joint ventures.

I haven’t sold a thing to my subscribers so far apart from my ‘coaching class’ (which cost $0.01 …) - don’t think I will be doing so too soon as I think people are tired of being sold to; I subscribed to a few big name marketers when I started out and got pissed off seeing an email about a different product every day, each promising me millions if I ‘acted now’. I have however sold things via email to subscribers in other niches - however, building a relationship should be your first goal and making money a distant second. If you follow the former, you’ll find the latter fairly easy.

When building a list, there’s only one option for me - Aweber. There are plenty of other options, and I’ve tried a few of them - including Email Aces (which is utter sh*t) and the one that comes with hosting free, but Aweber is miles better than anything other I’ve used; it only costs $19/month and I recommend it to anyone that is looking to get into email marketing. The price is incremental but as your subscriber list increases you’ll find it very easy to cover that amount; I paid for a year up front.

What I like about email marketing is that if you work it right, every email you send makes you money (or gears you up to make money). There are some people that make a full time living off email marketing, and no - not just in the internet marketing niche. All you have to do is build a few reasonably sized lists in different niches and you’re set.

The common thought is that you need seven emails to convert a prospect into a buyer; good emails, that is. I’m not going to cover writing emails as that is a long subject, all I’m going to say is be personal, be friendly and don’t only try to sell.

Building a list is easy if you put the right amount of work in; some of the best ways to build a list are:

  • Commenting on blogs with a link to your squeeze page
  • Posting on forums with a well advertised signature link
  • Pay per click like Adwords, YSM etc
  • Youtube marketing with video
  • Article marketing
  • Joint ventures
  • Marketing giveaways

There are a few more but the above should be enough to get you started. You can see an example of my IM squeeze page at Earners Guide - it brings me a few subscribers a day with no work on my part.

The best thing about email marketing is that you can send ‘broadcasts’ - basically an instant email to all at a time you specify, to notify them about a product launch or give them any other news. Something I’ve done in the past. You can also setup emails to go out at set intervals, so no matter when someone signs up they get the same series as others.

You need to offer an incentive for people to signup to your list; most will not without one. What you can do is offer information products - be it your own (like I have done) or even private label right stuff like scripts, eBooks or templates. Remember to offer good, useful content or else people will just unsubscribe.

Although you can’t answer every single email (I definitely can’t!) try and answer the ones where people need help; remember, the penniless guy that you spoke to yesterday may be the millionaire that’s hitting serious bank tomorrow, and he’ll remember you if you offered him some good advice to get you started.

Feel free to ask any questions you may have; if you want to start out with this, make sure you sign up with a good service.

Sign Up For Aweber

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