Do you want to start an email list or newsletter to take your business online? Or maybe you're already online and looking for a better way to connect with your customers.
Whatever your reason - starting an email list is a great way to do it.
Here are some helpful tips to get you started on your first email list.
Start with a Purpose "All communication must lead to change" - Aristotle.
When starting an email list, the first task you should perform is asking yourself: "What is the purpose of my email list?" If you can't answer this question, the success of your business is in serious jeopardy.
Think about it.
Know why you're talking to your customers.
If you can't help them in some way, you probably won't make money.
Gather Your Supplies There are several basic items you need to start an email list.
While it's possible to send a basic newsletter with little more than a list of email addresses, automation is the key to success in today's fast paced marketing world.
Get an Auto-Responder This is an essential component of any email newsletter.
An 'auto-responder' let's you automatically respond to any email by sending a message (or series of messages) of your choice.
If you want to automatically send a digest of weekly blog posts, an auto-responder can do this.
Many autoresponder services now offer a combination of basic automation combined with email list management software - making adding, deleting, or changing emails and messages on your list easier than ever.
Give Something of Value After setting up your auto-responder, it's time to recall your purpose and think: Why would people want to subscribe to your newsletter? What do you have to offer them in exchange for their time and email address? It could be anything - information, discounts, free products, etc.
But it has to be worth subscribing to - on a regular basis.
Find Traffic The next item on our list should be obvious.
You need traffic to start any kind of email list, no matter how valuable your offering.
This can be free or purchased traffic.
But be sure to consider the quality of your source - especially when it's free.
Many people don't and they end up with empty or unresponsive email lists.
There are many possible sources - Pay Per Click (PPC) advertising traffic, article marketing, joint ventures with other list owners, and organic search engine traffic from blogs and websites.
Capture Your Visitor When you've set up your auto responder, created a value proposition in exchange for their email, and identified a quality source of traffic, it's time for the capture mechanism.
This could be anything from a simple sidebar form on your blog with a name and email field, to a well written squeeze page dedicated to the purpose.
The exact mechanism you use depends partially upon your source of traffic.
Obviously websites with search engine traffic would benefit from a capture form on every page.
Whereas PPC traffic for a specific 'buying keyphrase' may convert better at a single landing page.
When it's all said and done, you'll have a happy, responsive email based audience that will provide you an income based on the quality of your solutions for years to come.