The right way to email market

Lately I have been spending a lot of time on some small business forums. I noticed several people have been posting questions wondering how they can buy email lists to mass email their products and services. Is this really the best way to reach new customers?

Lets face it, buying emails can be expensive and usually results in very small dividends. I am not saying that the right targeted list couldn't boost sales, but purchased email lists are not the magic bullet that they used to be. By using a purchased list, most of the people on it will not know your company from a hole in the ground. So why would they open your email? The truth is that customers are getting smarter when it comes to the email marketing game and so should you as the email marketer. Start using TARGETED opt-in lists.

The most successful email marketing lists are not purchased, they are created from the very people who want to receive your emails. People who opt-in to receive information about your products or services. What better person to receive your emails than someone who told you to send them an email.

The hard part is getting the list put together. However, all it takes is a little time and creativity. The sooner you start the faster you can be on your way to having a great targeted list. Below are some helpful tips to create a successful email list.

The idea of the following techniques are based on getting the customers permission to market to them. Before you can market to anyone, you must get them to permit you to do so. For Example: Offer something of value to your customers in exchange for their email. By accepting the offer, they are giving you permission to move to the next step. In this case that step is to email them.

• Set up a booth at a local mall or trade show and offer free products in return for people signing up for your email list.
• Do a survey on your website and offer them a chance to win a free prize. Make sure they have to enter their email.
• Offer bonus bucks for people to get a discount on future purchases. Send them their bucks via email. If they want the discounts they will give you their email. If you provide bonus bucks in each of your emails, you can be sure your customers will read it.
• Offer a trial of your product or service. Make sure that their email is a requirement in order for them to try it.
• Provide useful information on your website that people can subscribe to. Example: Blog or forum.
• Do a contest based on your industry and make it so people have to give their email to enter.
• Have your sales people pitching great things about your newsletters. In other words, have your sales people start getting emails before they make the sale.

By utilizing these techniques you are getting the customers permission to market to them. Without this you are just shooting in the dark. Great marketers know that getting the customers permission is the best way to get the final sale. Seth Godin wrote a book called Permission Marketing. I would suggest reading this book.

Happy emailing.