So you’ve started out and the cash ain’t exactly flowing yet… So how do you get the message out about the best new business since sliced bread?
Well in part 1 I told you about phantom sponsorships as well as actual ones…in this part I’m going to tell you about the obvious but often over looked tool of the email.
That’s right the humble old email. It’s a lovely part of the internet as it allows you to instantly get your message across to a group of willing readers and all for the princely sum of £big fat zero!! (Or $big fat zero for those of us who don’t have the *ahem* good fortune to live on these green and pleasant shores!)
Now as you know cheap is good but free is always better and if you can stick to this maximum I promise you you’ll not go far wrong in business when it comes to spending on your marketing budget. So with this in mind how can you get the most out of your emails?
Well firstly, look at your actual email as it goes out. The first thing you must do is place your website details into the signature at the bottom of your email. You’ll be able to set this so it comes up automatically when you send out an email.
Also use this facility if you have something you want to announce. We do it to announce road shows we are doing or exhibitions we are attending. We encourage people to book or get tickets for the event from us.
Now in order to do this effectively you are going to need to have an email list and don’t worry if you don’t have a massive one – you will build it over a period of time. If you go to a networking event, swap business cards and then send an initial “nice to meet you†email – from there you can then ask if a new contact would like to receive further occasional information about you and your company via email. Once you get their permission, send them regular email communication – keep in touch and let them know what you are doing as a company. You now have their permission to talk to them and who knows how many people they have in their network? They may decide to forward your email on to their contacts if it’s interesting enough. From there you’ll find that your email list will start to grow – especially if in your emails you actively encourage people to forward on your emails.
Ok, so what else must you know about emails and using them effectively? Well there is a whole etiquette that involves spamming. Basically if you don’t know someone then generally it’s poor form to send them a cold email. I stick to the rule of thumb that if you haven’t met them or been introduced to them either on or off line, then do not add them to your active email list (That is the list that you regularly send emails to). If you have been conversing for a while then what I tend to do is ask if they’d like to join the list. If they say yes, then add them in. If it’s a no then respect that decision. Do not place them onto your list.
Finally if you are sending out a regular email communication, does it have to be an all singing all dancing designed newsletter? Nope (and don’t let any marketer tell you that you do need this – they’re probably just trying to get their hands on your budget!!) Some of the best email newsletters that I get are so simple in their lay out but it’s the content that’s really important – that and the regularity of the email. Don’t do it too often, but then again don’t make it too hit and miss. If it’s going to be once a month make sure it get’s sent once a month, if it’s bi monthly then do it on time. Weekly, however is just too often. Find your balance and then get your newsletter rolling – all the while knowing it’s for free!
Happy bootstrapping!
Hello, I have seen this method over and over and over on the internet. All the marketing gurus preach the list building necessities. I have built my list to about 800 and still haven’t been able to monetize the list! I see that all the gurus send out emails over and over again and wonder if they use an automated process? I have been sending broadcasts along with my newsletters but haven’t really cashed in on any of them and I don’t seem to have the time to duplicate what I see in my email. I try to duplicate what I respond to but, nada! Does this mean that my list is dead and not the proper market? Why would they sign up and then not participate? I do and spend a fortune on new IM products! I also see that IM theories abound but step by step instructions are few. What does a newbie (for more than two years!) have to do?
Hi Butch,
Thanks for your comments and I’ve had a quick wander over to your site to see if anything was really standing out to me as a first time viewer as being a problem…and I’ve noticed a couple of things about your site.
1) you state right at the top that you “stole” a rediculously stupid trick from one of your own affiliates.
2) you use swearing in your copy.
So my advice is this…
Change your copy immediately. Change the bit where you say you “stole” the idea from your own affiliate. It makes you seem as if you have no morals if you openly admit to stealing something from someone else…especially when that someone is one of your own affiliates – that’s some one who is working for you on your behalf…why on earth would you want to steal something (anything) from one one who is working for your benefit…be it an idea or anything else. No one likes a thief let alone someone who admits to it!!! Look also at your use of the very negative word “stupid” try to switch that word out of there – this is after all your sales pitch – you want it to be positive, not negative.
Point number 2 ties in with my last sentance…don’t swear in this pitch. It makes it sound unprofessional and you want your readership to look to you as a professional in your field…this way they will have confindence in you enough to buy your product. Don’t swear…it just creates the wrong impression.
Apart form this it’s not actually a bad sales letter at all, but is this all you are sending to your list? If so my suggestion would be that you “give a little to get a lot”…send out something to them for free – be that an article, an ebook, anything so long as it has real value…that way you audience won’t feel constantly “sold to” and this little bit of effort on your part will build their confidence in you and you abilities.
If you want to know more about monetizing your blogs etc then check out Yaro’s site and have a look at signing up for his blog mastermind course…it’s a great source of information and will send you well on your way to monetizing success. Also have a look at Darren Prowse’s “problogger” website to pick up more hints and tips.
But that is in my humble opinon the major problems with your current sales letter…try the changes and see if it makes a difference…sometime just a slight tweek can make a big difference.
Good luck Butch. 🙂
Excellent advice, Freya. Why would anyone want a stupid idea from a thief? Also, the price of the program is too low. If the information is so valuable, why is it only $6.97?
Additionally, these sales letter websites are past their prime. They scream, “I just want your money.” Perhaps the 800 people on Butch’s email list know that.
Email is one of the best method to be in touch with our potential or regular customer
Freya is at least 100% correct.
Find, if you can, a sales pitch from IBM, Sony, Boeing or whoever of similar size and reputation. Use every single cuss word they do. Twice.
I’d like to suggest that he drop ANY hint of ethical impropriety. The internet relies on trust between strangers FAR more than a face-to-face transaction does. One teeny-tiny taint of unethical behavior could be a death stroke for your nascent business. I am not going to give you $6.97 for your product because I don’t have money to waste testing your honesty. And I am going to NEED your honesty when I give you my credit card numbers.