If you want your email marketing to get off to a good start, it helps to think like the pros. There are not many rules with email marketing and it is important to find your earned focus. That said, if you start with these ideas in mind, you will skip a lot of pain.
Habit 1: Always add value
Suppose your reader is busy. Also assume that they are upset and looking to take it out on someone. If you do this, you will write emails the right way.
You will be entertained.
You will be useful.
What you will not be is annoying, long winded for no reason, insulting or a waste of time.
Every email you send should be valuable. It should offer a unique insight or provide something useful.
I know a marketer who hadn’t realized this. She would send out a weekly email talking about what she’s up to and the latest deals. The problem was, this only changed roughly every month, meaning you sent the same email, word for word, three times in a row.
Sometimes it is necessary to say the same thing more than once. That doesn’t mean you have to say it the same way. Keep it up to date and reward the reader for opening your email.
Habit 2: Focus on success and forget about losers
Let’s say you create an incredible bribe to attract subscribers to your list.
Then you see someone subscribe, download your bribe, and unsubscribe 20 minutes later.
You may be tempted to get angry and start rethinking things.
Whose. You can forget about people like that. Gift seekers won’t buy from you anyway, so who cares?
Focus on making sales. If a group of subscribers opts out of your list, but scores a sales record, it’s a win.
Focus on building the relationship. Someone might be undecided now and that’s okay. Give them time, keep offering value, and they’ll probably buy later. And if not, who cares, right?
If your readers trust you more and more, email marketing is working. If you are making sales, then it is working. Forget the people who just want your free kickbacks, they’re not worth thinking about.
Habit 3: Learn from the best
Who are the best email marketers in your niche?
Who are the best on the planet?
Read your emails. Subscribe to their list. Watch what they say and how they say it. Compare your excerpt with yours.
what can you learn from them?
What shouldn’t you learn from them, because it won’t work for you?
Believe me, the best marketers wonder this too. Marketing is always changing, so even the best of them know they need to keep learning.
Habit 4: Find your unique voice
I said learn from the best. I did not say that I imitated them.
When you study the best marketers, you will notice that many amateurs imitate their style. I do not recommend it.
For one thing, it doesn’t work.
On the other hand, it is more difficult than deciphering your own voice.
Pay attention to how you speak in person. How is your energy? Are you optimistic or curmudgeonly? What weird phrases do you like to use?
Write your emails this way.
Yes, you want to give the impression of being a professional. Definitely do that. However, you also want to appear human.
Habit 5: Be Reliable and Consistent
If you say you will send an email five times a week, send an email five times a week.
If you are hinting that you will add value with every email, go for it.
Consistency is key. Is it the most important thing? I don’t know, but if you are consistent and live long enough, success is guaranteed.
Habit 6: Sell
Your email marketing exists to sell. This is part of the value you add to the world. If your product or service helps people, then you need to convince them to buy.
Yes, you get some of that.
But they too. If there is a mutual benefit and you are transparent about it, then it is the most ethical thing to do.
Some people sell with every email they send. Others like to divide it up with useful content. It is up to you to find out, although you will notice that I sell with each of these. However, no matter what you choose, don’t let a week go by without selling something to your list.
If they don’t like it, they can leave. Say goodbye, per Habit 2.
Habit 7: keep growing your list
Over time, people will choose not to participate. It doesn’t matter how good you are or how awesome your emails are. Happens.
This means that you still need new subscribers, even if you want to keep your numbers stable.
You need to keep growing just to stay in the same place.
A part of your marketing efforts should be dedicated to attracting subscribers. Between writing sales letters and emailing your list, you must go out into the world to find new readers.
Put your ethical bribery in front of them. Move it tantalizingly until they can’t resist anymore.
But remember, not all subscribers are the same. Go where your ideal customers live – frequent their Facebook forums and groups, and if it doesn’t go against the group’s terms, invite people to subscribe.