Email Marketing – Use The Preview Pane

Most of us already understand the importance of creating a compelling subject line. You want the subject line to be intriguing and create interest without looking spammy. By now, this is common knowledge.

But even a solid subject line may not be enough. Most email programs today operate with what is called a “preview pane” which allows readers to see the first few lines of any email marketing message without actually opening the email all the way.

How do you take advantage of this convenient little feature in your messages? Make sure the good stuff is at the top of your message. The preview pane should contain your unique selling proposition, your discount offer, your compelling benefit, etc… This way, even if your subject line is a little weak, your preview pane may help your reader decide to open your message to get more information.

When you combine a well written subject line with good content being displayed in the preview pane, your messages will get read more and your results will increase by default!

 

Email Marketing – Get Results With a Clear Call To Action

You’ve crafted a beautifully designed email message. Your HTML is beautiful. Your images pop. Your copy is crystal clear and compelling. Your readers love what you wrote and they are ready to take action.

But nothing happens. No sales. No clicks. What’s missing?

Your reader doesn’t know what to do because you didn’t tell them what to do with a clear call to action.

Creating a clear call to action is often the difference between a successful email marketing campaign and a flat-out flop.

A Call To Action is simply a clearly written set of instructions telling your reader what to do next. It may be “click on this link” or “call this number” or “visit us at”. It needs to tell your readers exactly what to do in order to take advantage of your offer.

You can even attach an incentive to your call to action, such as:

Click Here To Receive a 20% Discount

or

Call Now To Take Advantage of a Free Trial

Don’t distract by placing a lot of links or other content around your Call To Action. Make your Call To Action stand out by doing simple things such as centering it in your message, making it bold, or even making it a different color.

Check your current ads and email marketing messages. If they are missing a Call To Action, add one, today and resend!

 

Email Marketing – Personalize For Maximum Effect

We all like to be created by name and email marketing is no exception.

When your readers see their name in the subject line, the chances of your email message being opened improves dramatically. And getting your message opened by the reader is the first step to getting your readers to take action.

We highly recommend using the personalization tokens in your autoresponder campaigns to great your readers by name and personalize your messages.

Email Marketing – Avoid $$$ to Get The Money

The Key To Making $$$ Is Avoiding “$$$” in your Email Marketing Campaigns You hate spam. Your prospects and customers hate spam.

Let’s face it: Pretty much everybody hates spam.

So it just makes sense that if you’re going to launch a successful email marketing campaign, avoid looking like a spammer. (Hopefully, we don’t actually need to tell you not to spam, right?)

Many email programs and services have filters in place. Settings are either managed by the individual recipient, an automated anti-spam tool, through their ISP, or just manually deleting anything that even looks “spammy”.

So do yourself, your subscribers, and your business a favor and avoid common gimmicky nonsense in your subject line and message body to help your messages avoid the trash bin.

Dec 2011 Top Affiliates

Congratulations to our Top 20 Earners for the month of December, 2011:

  1. Dorothy Wargo (flowerblossom)
  2. Robert Howells (roberthowells)
  3. D M Bresnahan (kdec)
  4. David Benson (dbmlm2)
  5. Pat Rogers (constant912)
  6. Lori Edwards (torenada)
  7. Scott Douglas (thedragonfly)
  8. Margaret Albright (instant)
  9. Rusty L Shelton (rustyshelton)
  10. Allen Smith (alsmith10)
  11. Mohd Darus Haron (autoresonder4u)
  12. Chase Swift (ze14361)
  13. Terry Goodmann (revelar)
  14. Joe Sansoucie (san1091)
  15. Jay Kanik (kandu)
  16. Daniel Butts (butts)
  17. Sherri Kirklin (thek4group)
  18. Mazelan Abas (katun66)
  19. Valeri Underhill (valgal)
  20. Grace Randall (homebizhelper)

This list is based on the monthly commissions paid during the month. These numbers may vary based on whether or not the Affiliate has elected to have their Weekly Fast Track Bonus held and disbursed with their monthly commissions.

While we do not share or make the dollar amounts public, we congratulate and celebrate our Top 20 Monthly Earners in TrafficWave.net.
Would you like to see your name on this list?

Quick Affiliate Promotion Tips

Ready for some quick promotion for your affiliate site? Got a few seconds? Great! Then let’s get started!

Just go to your TrafficWave.net Affiliate URL and scroll down to the bottom of the page.

There are a few things to take note of:

  1. In the list of links, you’ll see a link labeled “Sample Ads and Banners”. Click that link to see a variety of banners, buttons, and text ads you can use to promote your Affiliate URL.
  2. Further down the page, you will see “Affiliate Promotion Tools” which include a button to tweet your URL, a button to +1 your Affiliate URL, a button to bookmark and share your URL via OnlyWire.com, and a Facebook Like button.

These are a couple of really quick ways you can promote your Affiliate site and build your Affiliate income with TrafficWave.net.

We’ll be adding more tips so stay tuned!

 

Keys To AutoResponder Success

Once you begin to realize the power of AutoResponders, the next logical question becomes:

How Do I Put AutoResponders To Good Use In My Business?

There are many ways you can use AutoResponders to automate repetitive sales tasks.

Most sales people find themselves answering the same questions over and over via email. Why not create a series of commonly asked questions and answers and make this information available via an AutoResponder?

AutoResponders can be used to send price lists to perspective customers. Adding a simple form to your web site allows visitors to request pricing information by entering their name and email address.

An added benefit for you is that when a visitor enters this information, they are entered in to your AutoResponder database and you now have a targeted lead.

AutoResponders can be a great way for publishers to allow prospects to sample a new book or series of articles. The AutoResponder can send out the first few chapters and include a link that directs readers to a site where they can purchase the rest of the information online.

Sales Managers can use AutoResponders to train their sales staff, send outseasonal and promotional information, etc…

Restaurants can use AutoResponders to follow up with customers that drop their business card into the fishbowl as they cash out.

Entertainers can use AutoResponders to stay in touch with their fan base and let fans know of events, concerts, shows, promotions, etc…

Service related businesses such as auto mechanics, pest control operators, air-conditioning companies, pool companies can send timely reminders and service notifications to create repeat business.

Retailers can put AutoResponder technology to good use by letting customers know about close-outs, promotions, and coupon offers.

Keys To AutoResponder Success

Some of the keys to success when using your AutoResponder include:

  • Personalize your messages. Good AutoResponders can personalize your subject line and email text with the recipient’s name and other contact information. Recipients are much more inclined to open a message addressed to them personally.
  • Keep the content relevant. AutoResponder messages that are off-topic or irrelevant can actually do more harm than good. When the prospect gave you their contact information, there was an implied trust that you would send them information relevant to what you were offering at the time. Protect your credibility at all times by keeping your content concise and relevant.
  • Always use double opt-in subscription techniques. Double opt-in means that before someone is added to your AutoResponder, they go through a process of confirming their interest. The first opt-in happens when your information is requested. The 2nd (double) opt-in happens when your AutoResponder sends the prospect a message to confirm their interest in receiving your information.
  • Offer free relevant content. You might set your AutoResponder up to send a case study, free tips, or other information to entice your readers to purchase from you.

AutoResponders are a great way to put the power of Email Marketing in your hands.

The time and cost savings are well worth the effort to learn how to use AutoResponders effectively.

Email Marketing – Mix It Up

Email Marketing – Mix It Up for Best Results

Success in any email marketing campaign is usually a combination of art and science.

The science comes in to play when we use proven best practices such as personalizing your messages, including a clear call to action, keeping your content relevant to your subscribers’ interests, etc…

The art comes in when we use a well formatted message and write compelling informative copy.

Getting the mix between the two just right is usually a matter of testing, tweaking, and yes … a little bit of luck.

Sometimes, though, you can get some pretty strong results by just mixing things up a little bit.

As an example: Try sending a plain text message every once in a while. Why? These days, just about every ad or promotional email you receive is formatted with graphics, colors, and quite a bit of design. There is good reason for this, of course.

But sometimes, familiarity becomes a little bit boring. If your readers are always seeing the same format, the same layout, the same images, they may start ignoring your messages.

Now think about this: Personal emails from friends are usually sent as plain text. There may be a little bit of color thrown in for emphasis or to be cute but the overall message is really just plain old text.

So, every once in a while, send out your email marketing message as plain text or use just a minimum of colors. Track your open rates and click-throughs to see what effect it has.

Note: If you try this one, use it every once in a while. You do want to keep your branding in front of your readers.

Of course, if your messages are usually sent as plain text, put together a well formatted HTML version every once in a while. The idea is to simply do something that is unexpected to catch your subscribers’ attention long enough that they will read your message.

Feel free to leave your comments and share any results you’ve experienced with mixing things up in your own email marketing.

 

Email Marketing Strategies

When you see or hear the term Email Marketing chances are that you have a variety of ideas about what Email Marketing is and what it isn’t.

Email Marketing is not the sending of unsolicited commercial email. Some refer to it as unsolicited bulk email or spamming and this should not be confused with professional and ethical email marketing which can be a powerful and efficient way to get your message out to customers and prospects.

By using this strategy effectively any business, group or organization can:

  • Increase web site visits.
  • Boost repeat business.
  • Attract new clients.
  • Drive memberships.
  • Improve communications.
  • Train sales reps and affiliates.
  • and much more…

Let’s look at some of the ways that various groups and businesses can benefit by using effective Email Marketing strategies:

Restaurants and Email Marketing:

Restaurants thrive by continuing to bring customers in the door. Every restaurant has its “regulars”. Restaurants can use effective Email Marketing strategies to turn casual or walk-in customers into regulars by sending out coupons, special offers, announcements, etc… along with promoting special events.

Most of us have seen the little fish bowl at the cash register. Restaurants often offer a free lunch to be given away each week. To be considered for the drawing, patrons are asked to drop a business card in the fish bowl.

Each week, someone wins a free lunch. I’ve won a few myself. But what about all those other cards?

Restaurant owners and managers could add the information from those cards to their Email Marketing database. Just be sure to mention on the fish bowl that they will be receiving email updates from you.

When you have entered the information in to your database, you can then use Email Marketing strategies to send out coupons, special offers, an online menu, announcements about live entertainment, new menu items, and more.

Email Marketing helps restaurants stay in front of patrons and potential return customers long after they leave.

Entertainers and Email Marketing:

Most entertainers have a product table where fans can purchase CD’s, T-shirts, and other goodies to remind them of their entertainment experience.

Like restaurants, entertainers can add a fish bowl and/or a signup sheet on their product table. Maybe the prize could be a drawing for a t-shirt, tickets, or your latest CD.

The same concept applies here as with the restaurants. Entertainers can enter the data into their Email Marketing database and then send out special announcements about CD release parties, live shows, television appearances, media write-ups, upcoming performances, and more.

Send out announcements that direct fans back to your web site and get even more bang for your Email Marketing buck.

Home Based Businesses and Email Marketing:

The Internet is a competitive market. Home based businesses typically lack the resources available to larger corporations. But by leveraging effective Email Marketing strategies, home based businesses can level the playing field and even give themselves an advantage over the big stores and retailers.

By combining effective Email Marketing strategies with an online web site, home based business owners can:

  • Generate online leads
  • Follow up with prospects
  • Broadcast special offers
  • Promote back-end offers to existing customers
  • Reward customer loyalty
  • Conduct market response tests
  • and more…

Email marketing can work for a variety of industries and segments including religious groups, clubs, non-profits, affiliate marketers, retailers, and more.

The key is to use Email Marketing responsibly to get your message out and draw your market in to your message.

 

Email Marketing – Guide To Creating AutoResponder Letters

Email Marketing – Guide To Creating AutoResponder Letters

AutoResponders are powerful tools. Successful online marketers use them to automate repetitive sales tasks, build and manage multiple prospect lists, and send out regular articles, updates, and announcements.

More than providing an automated response to an inquiry, AutoResponders can be your own automated sales force working online 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Used properly, AutoResponders can automate the process of building your lists, following up with your prospects, and helping you close more sales.

Let’s look at how someone might use AutoResponders to help build a list of targeted email marketing prospects.

The first step is to create 5 to 7 messages about your offer and add them to your AutoResponder Campaign.

These messages can be set to go out every 2 days.. With 7 messages, your prospects would receive your sales messages over a 2 week period.

Here is a simple guideline you can use to create your own follow-up letters:

Message 1: Sent Out Immediately.

In this message you would thank them for requesting your information. Give them a brief history about yourself and your background to build some credibility. Your subscribers need to know you are qualified to share the information with them. Then give them an overview of the information you are offering.

In the message body, be sure to include a link to your web site so they can get further details, place an order, or contact you for more information.

It’s also a good idea to include your name and email address. Include a phone number if you want your prospects to call you.

Message 2: Sent Out 2 Days Later.

In this next message, you may want to give them a brief reminder of what you covered in your first message and focus on the benefits of your offer. The most important question your prospects want answered is: “What’s in it for me??. How is your product, service, or opportunity different from others? Use this message to let them know how you stand out from the competition.

And be sure to invite them to your web site, include the link to your site, and include your name and email address so they can contact you.

Message 3: Sent Out 2 Days Later.

This might be a good place to include some testimonials from your company or a little more of your own personal story. If you are new and haven’t quite created your own story yet, share success stories and testimonials from others that have used your products or services. Give your readers an overview of how people are using your product or service. If you are promoting an affiliate plan, explain how others are building their income with your plan.

And, as always, be sure to invite them to your web site. Include the URL and include your name and email address so prospects can contact you.

Message 4: Sent Out 2 Days Later.

In this message, pick one key feature  to focus on. Maybe it’s about how your offer can help them save money, be more productive, lose weight, make more money, start their own business, etc…

Remind them that you are available to answer questions and provide support.

And, as always, be sure to invite them to your web site. Include the URL and include your name and email address so prospects can contact you.

Message 5: Sent Out 2 Days Later.

Use this message to be a little more personal. Let your prospects know that you are available to help them in any way you can. This message could be used to simply thank them again for requesting your information and assuring them that you are a real human being and interested in helping them succeed.

And, as always, be sure to invite them to your web site. Include the URL and include your name and email address so prospects can contact you.

Message 6: Sent Out 2 Days Later.

Use this message to stress another set of features from your offer. Share a few more testimonials from others or from your own experiences with your product, service, or opportunity.

Briefly review some of the details you have shared from previous letters as a reminder.

And, as always, be sure to invite them to your web site. Include the URL and include your name and email address so prospects can contact you.

Message 7: Sent Out 2 Days Later.

This message can be used to ask for some feedback from your prospects. Tell them you have enjoyed sending the information and you hope it was helpful to them. Ask them if they have any concerns or what might be preventing them from making the decision to purchase from you or join with you.

Sometimes, you will get some good feedback from folks. They may share some concerns they have or tell you why they feel your offer may not be for them at this time.

Thank them for agreeing to receive your information and let them know you are still available to answer any questions they may have.

And, as always, be sure to invite them to your web site. Include the URL and include your name and email address so prospects can contact you.

Now That Your Email Marketing Letters Are Created And Ready To Go: 

Once the letters are loaded in to your AutoResponder Campaign, your next step is to begin getting prospects for your AutoResponder to follow up with.

The idea here is to begin advertising to attract prospects to your offer. Give people a compelling reason to request your information. This is where you want to start thinking like your prospects. You are asking them for at least a name and email address. What are you giving them in return?

Maybe your information shows them how to start and profit from their own home based business. Maybe you are offering tips on how to better protect their identity. Maybe you are offering weight loss tips or nutritional information. Maybe you are offering information on how to promote a web site.

Since I sell AutoResponders, I offer prospects free information to show them how AutoResponders and email marketing can help boost their online sales.

I have added a subscription form to my web sites.

I use lead capture pages.

I include my email subscription address in my ads.

I include my email subscription address and/or my URL in discussion forum posts.

Then I focus all of my advertising on driving traffic to my lead capture pages so that people will request more information from me. I don’t try to sell them up front. I want to capture their information first. THEN I will focus on following up to close the sale.

As people request your information by filling out your subscription forms or emailing your AutoResponder, their information is captured in your database.

Now your AutoResponder goes to work sending out your sales message.

Using the above schedule and formula, your prospects will be receiving your email marketing sales letters over the next two weeks. You don’t have to remember to send them out. You don’t have to remember which prospect has received which letter. Your AutoResponder is taking care of all that for you behind the scenes.

Now your focus should be on two things:

  1. Continuing to advertise to get more prospects in to your AutoResponder
  2. Using the feedback you get from prospects to adjust your letters.

You may need to make a few changes. Maybe you see a recurring question from prospects. That recurring question is letting you know that you may need to cover that information a little better or more in depth.

This is just a simple guideline you can use to create your own follow-up messages for your AutoResponder. You may use more letters or less. The average for successful marketers seems to be in the 5 to 9 range.

Notice that each letter ended with a “call to action” where you invite the prospect to your web site or to contact you for more information.

This “call to action” is a critical element to the success of your email marketing messages. You must use your call to action to let prospects know what to do next and how to do it.