| E-mail marketing can be incredibly profitable, but at | | | | see. This ties in well with the concept of educational |
| the same time relatively tricky. Internet users get | | | | based marketing. |
| hundreds upon thousands of e-mails each day and | | | | 6. Set a sending schedule and stick to it. You need to |
| yours will have to take its place in line. You will need | | | | commit to a schedule, whether you choose to send |
| to do everything possible in order to ensure that | | | | your e-mails once a month, day, or week. Do not |
| your e-mails stay out of the spam box and actually | | | | send e-mails less frequently than once per month or |
| get read. | | | | they'll be ineffective. |
| I've compiled a list of what I feel are the 10 most | | | | 7. Make it easy for your readers to unsubscribe. |
| important things you need to consider when | | | | Seriously. If a reader no longer wants to receive your |
| preparing the e-mails you're going to send during your | | | | e-mails, make sure the unsubscribe button is easy to |
| campaign.... | | | | find and use. It's better to let him go than have him |
| 1. Use an e-mail template. Most e-mail marketing | | | | submit your e-mail to a spam filter or tell all of his |
| programs will give you a myriad of colourful yet | | | | friends how unprofessional you are. |
| professional templates to choose from. If not, pick a | | | | 8. Respect holidays. Holidays are for friends, family, |
| text format and stick with it. Your readers will | | | | and celebration. You aren't going to make a sale on a |
| appreciate your uniformity. | | | | major holiday and if your e-mail arrives on a holiday it |
| 2. Address your readers by name. Many software | | | | will likely get mixed up in a jumbled backlog that |
| programs allow you to capture the first names of | | | | won't be addressed until after the holiday, if at all. |
| your subscribers. Use a template that automatically | | | | Take the day off and wait for the holiday to pass. |
| fills the first name into a greeting for a personalised | | | | 9. Read your spam e-mails and learn from them. If |
| feel. | | | | the e-mail you are getting ready to send looks like |
| 3. Use proper punctuation. The quickest way to get | | | | something you'd throw into your own spam box, do |
| your message deleted from my inbox is through the | | | | not send it. |
| use of excessive punctuation or all capital letters. | | | | 10. Avoid overly aggressive sales promotions in your |
| There is no reason to use either in a sentence. Ever. | | | | newsletters. Your readers expect quality writing and |
| 4. Offer a signup bonus or incentive. Give your | | | | educational information. Give them what they're |
| readers a reason to trust you and subscribe to your | | | | looking for and the sales will follow on their own. |
| newsletter or e-mail list. Offer a free report, e-book, | | | | These are just a handful of tips you can use as a |
| or discount to new subscribers. | | | | guide to get started. Carefully planning your e-mails |
| 5. Ask your readers to ask questions. If you readers | | | | will result in more readers and better click-through |
| are asking questions, you will always have content | | | | rates as your subscribers start visiting your website |
| for your next newsletter, and it will always be | | | | and cross-referencing information. |
| educational materials that your subscribers want to | | | | |