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Showing posts with label Email Marketing. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Email Marketing. Show all posts

Sunday, 12 June 2016

How to Get Your First 1000 Email Subscribers with a New Blog?

Email lists can be a great way to advertise your site or products. However, they are only as effective as the number of subscribers that will be receiving your emails in their inboxes. It is important that you spend time growing your subscriber list. This way you can do a better job at getting your message in front of potential customers or readers.
The more subscribers you have, the greater power you have to share your information or products. The purpose of this article is to help you get your first 1000 email subscribers so that you can promote your new site or blog.

Different Ways to Get Your First 1000 Email Subscribers
Ikeashia Barr of the SocialMouths blog has detailed some ways that she was able to get her first 1,000 email subscribers. Here are some of the tasks she mentions that will help you grow the number of subscribers to your email list.

1) Create bait targeted to your audience
It is very important that you know who your audience is and what they are interested in. You should try to discover their wants, desires, and fears. Barr mentions that you should “tap into your ideal customers overall aspirations for themselves.” This means you should try to find out how your customers ideally view themselves. How do they see themselves now? Who would they ultimately like to be? A bait involving self-image is effective because we’re all a little bit narcissistic when it comes down to it!

2) Capture your audience’s attention
It is key that you capture your audience’s attention so that they will view your content. Any potential reader must first be persuaded to click on the link leading to your post. Your readers have to wade through a lot of ads and content on a daily basis. It is important that your headlines are attention-getting enough that they stand apart from the mass of words and information on the internet. An effective headline is one that capture’s your audience’s attention and makes the want to read more.

3) Try guest posting
A new blogger typically starts out with a small audience. Guest posting is a way to gain a large audience and to gather new subscribers for your email list. It works best when you are able to secure a gig with one of the top blogs within your topic. The best blogs have readers that share their posts on social media and that comment on their articles. When you guest blog, you should make sure you are sharing some of your best content. This way you will attract new readers to your blog or email list. When guest blogging, you should absolutely make sure that your author bio noticeably shares a link to your blog.

4) Link to influencers
Your blog posts should contain a minimum of 10 links to top influencers within your field. Once you publish your post, you should send out an email to those you mentioned in your article. They might check out your post and then share it with their audience. This can be a way to get tons of new readers and email subscribers. This is also a good way to network and spread the word about your blog.

5) Using opt-in boxes
Many readers of your blog might want to view your post in PDF format so that they can more easily print it out. Many blogs provide readers with the option to download their blog posts in PDF format. In order to complete the download, some blogs require an opt-in exchange in which the reader must provide their email address. These email addresses can be added to an email list. This is a great way to get new subscribers and provide readers with a function they are looking for.

6) Utilize forum marketing
Barr notes that forum marketing is one of the best ways to begin building your email list when you are just starting out. She notes that the reason forum marketing works so well is that forums are filled with people that meet your target demographic and who are ready to buy. Hundreds to thousands of people might see your post if you add it to the right forum. Omgili is a website that you can use to find forums dealing with the topic in which you specialize.

7) Use the OPL list building method
OPL stands for “other people’s list.” This strategy involves paying an email list owner so that you can market to their established email list and gain new subscribers.

Sherice Jacob at KissMetrics has put together a great list of ways to get more email subscribers. Here are some of the methods she discusses.

1) Make your submit button interact with the user
One way to encourage readers to click on your submit button and add themselves to your email list is to make the button interactive. For example, the KissMetrics blog shows a button that will change from red to green when the user hovers over it. The color change encourages users to click on the button because it subconsciously indicates that the user is moving from “Stop” to “Go.”

2) Make it as easy as possible to enter an email address
A way to make it easier to enter an email address in your form is to make any pre-filled instructions disappear the moment someone clicks in the input field. This can lead to fewer rejected submissions.

3) Encourage people to forward your newsletter
You can encourage people to forward your newsletter by making it so they can click a link and compose their message all on your website. This is also a way to track how many people forward your newsletter.

4) Place opt-in form in the sidebar of your site
Make sure that your opt-in form is available in the sidebar of your website, no matter which page a visitor is looking at. This helps the site visitors to subscribe to your list easily.

5) Use QR codes
You can use QR (Quick Response) codes to direct visitors to your site. Many people put QR codes on their business cards or things like postcards. When the QR code is scanned, it can open up a webpage on a person’s smart phone.

6) Offer a special deal to new subscribers
On the opt-in confirmation page, you can present new subscribers with a special deal. This might encourage your new subscribers to spend more time interacting with your content.

7) Let the user be in control of what they receive (and when they receive it)
A user who is trying to unsubscribe from your list might be presented with the option to change the frequency of emails or change the type of messages they get.

8) Invite subscribers through your social networks
Reach out to your followers on social media and invite them to join your email address. You might be surprised with how many new subscribers you get!

9) Craft your subject lines like tweets
Jacob notes that those subject lines that are “short, sweet and to the point” get the user’s attention.

10) Maximize your preview pane
Remember that many email programs show the first few lines of an email as a preview before the message is opened. Try to craft an attention-getting opener to your email so that it isn’t deleted before it is even opened.

You’re on Your Way to Gaining 1000 Subscribers!
1000 subscribers may have seemed like an unwieldy and difficult number of people to attract to your email list before reading this post. If you utilize the above tips, you will gain new subscribers and be on your way to success!

10 Killer Email Subject Lines to Increase Open Rate by 200%

You’ve crafted the perfect email that is guaranteed to net you tons of sales and new visitors to your site. You hit send and your email arrives in your subscribers’ inboxes. And then it happens: the new sales and visitors to your site never materialize.
What is going on?

It may be that your email subject lines are discouraging users from opening your emails. Your subject line is your first impression on users. It can be more important than your email body. A bad initial impression might sour them on your site entirely and your email might end up in the trash folder.

Below are some tips to improve your email subject lines and encourage users to open your emails. Megan Marrs of Wordstream has put together a list of the 10 best email subject line styles to increase your open rates. Utilize some of the tips below and you may find that you generate more traffic from your email newsletter.

10 Email Subject Line Examples
#1 Simple, No-Nonsense Email Subject Lines
According to the study conducted by Mailchimp, it is observed that short and descriptive subject lines work better than more long-winded, humorous and creative subject lines. This approach applies most to notification or update emails.

Example: Your Order Has Been Shipped

#2 Funny Email Subject Lines
Humor can stick out because it is a strategy that is infrequently attempted. Most email subject lines are pretty dull and repetitive. Marrs notes that humor works best if you know your audience well and your emails are targeted.

Example: Bummed you missed out? Console yourself…

#3 Controversial/Shocking Email Subject Lines
Controversial or shocking email subject lines can steal the attention of viewers. You must be careful not to offend your customers, however, so controversial or shocking email subject lines must be crafted with care.

Example: Your Marketing Sucks: Why You Need to Think Local

#4 Single-Word Subject Lines
Single-word subject lines can catch the eye, standing out from the mass of longer subject lines in the email inbox.

Example: Panic

#5 Email Subject Lines with Numbers and Lists
Marrs notes that our brains are naturally drawn to digits and lists. They are easier to process and read. They also stand out because they are visually different from other email subject lines.

Example: 10 jaw-dropping drift videos on YouTube

#6 Personalized Subject Lines
Some examples of personalized subject lines are the use of location-specific offers and language or emails targeted to a specific demographic.

Example: Best Burgers in Boston

#7 Questions and Other Punctuation in Email Subject Lines
Question marks and unusual punctuation stand apart from the bulk of boring email subject lines. If you ask your readers a question, you will instantly involve them, making it more likely that they will open your email.

Example: What is your retirement plan?

#8 “Missing Out” and Other Scarcity Tactics
People don’t like to miss out on a deal. That is why email subject lines announcing that something is scarce or that a deal is about to expire tend to lead users to open emails.

Example: 5 Hours Only: 50% off all jeans

#9 Mysterious Email Subject Lines
People will click on mysterious email subject lines just to figure out what that weird subject line is referring to!

Example: It’s all over December 25…

10) Alliteration
Alliteration attracts readers. Make use of it to encourage users to open your emails.

Example: Bringing Back Buy One, Get One Free!

More Email Subject Line Tips
Marrs lists several tips to keep in mind when coming up with email subject lines:

She notes that one should write 10 subject lines for every email, and then choose the best to send.

She also notes that you should keep your email subject line under 50 characters because this leads to higher open and click-through rates.

She cautions against using caps lock.

She notes that the best email subject lines are geared towards the audience. You must get to know your audience in order to cater to them.

You should use a conversational tone to attract readers.

A call to action in your subject line may lead users to click through to the email. A call to action might begin with an action verb suggestion to the reader, such as “Build” or “Go.”

Marr notes that you should use “you” and “your” in email subject lines.

The “from” section of your email should include your brand name so people know you are legitimate and not spam.

You should always A/B test subject lines. An A/B test helps you figure out which version of an email subject line is more successful at getting viewers to click through.

You should also pay attention to the email preview. This should also be crafted to maximize the amount of users that click through to the message.

You should borrow from those email addresses that you like. Tweak them to make them unique and then try them out on your own users.

To Wrap Up…
Remember that the best email subject lines are usually short, describe the topic, and give the viewer a reason to open your email. You should make sure that your subject line immediately captures the attention of the viewer; otherwise they might discard your email or focus on another email in their inbox.

There are people who receive hundreds of emails a day and they can’t possibly read them all. They rely on email subject lines to guide them as to which emails to focus on and engage with further. In addition, email subject lines are especially important because they are often the first and only impression that you give a customer. Craft an email subject line with care and you may encourage click-throughs and repeat business.

Hopefully the above post has been helpful and you will put some of these tips into play the next time you write an email subject line.

Top 10 Tips for Effective Email Marketing

Email marketing is one of the most popular advertising methods on the internet, involving using email to send ads, request business, and solicit sales or donations. Since it used a pretty personal approach-utilizing the customers’ inbox-it showed to be a good way to build loyalty, trust, or brand awareness.
With abundance of new technological advances available, such as a myriad of social networking sites appearing almost every single day, writing emails, and by association, email marketing, gets the reputation of being a little outdated. However, this couldn’t be further from truth. Email marketing provides you a direct way of communicating with your potential customers, and has very high rates of turning ads into sales. However, in order to get the optimal use of email marketing, you need to employ specific strategies and know exactly what will work on your customers. In this article we have compiled several useful tips for your email marketing strategy to be as effective as possible.

1) Build your email list
You cannot advertise successfully over email if you do not have a smart email list containing those who will be interested in what you have to sell. So, the best email list is the one that has your target customers, since it increases your chances of interesting them in your content, and consequently, making sales.

2) Use transactional messages for email advertising
Transactional emails are those emails companies send to the customers after they have already completed an action by the company. Their primary purpose is to convey a message about an already completed transaction, but since their opening rates are a lot higher than other email marketing methods, they provide a good way of further advertising your business. It is a great opportunity to engage your customers. You can use these messages to include promotional content, provide useful information, or cross-sell or up-sell products or services. Transactional emails are a great venue to show your customer your appreciation, and to ensure their loyalty to the company.

3) Personalize content
People seem to respond better to content that seems to be developed to fit their specific needs and desires. Thus, personalize your email offers and ads. Depending on the type of your product or service, you can create your message in accordance to your customers’ preferences, using such tools as search engines. Make sure the wording highlights that the message in this email is intended primarily for this specific customers.

4) Catchy subject line
Your subject line is the first thing that draws your customers’ attention, and what gets your email opened or thrown into virtual trash. Thus, make sure to make your openings interesting. You could offer a piece of information that your customer might need, but in order to receive it, they need to open the email first. You can use questions, warnings, or a hint of promising content or a reward. Devise a smart marketing strategy, put good content in your email message, and give them a taste with your clever subject line. That sure is bound to get them clicking!

5) Offer promotions and discounts
Promotions and discounts are a great way to make sales. When using them in email marketing, make sure to mention in the subject line that the email contains special promotions and offers they cannot get elsewhere. This will increase your chances of the email being opened, and thus increase your chances of making a sale, and gaining a new customer.

6) Provide good content
Your subject line can be the most interesting thing in the world, but poor content will destroy all your hard work and efforts in building a good email marketing strategy. Make sure your email message is interesting, clear, and offers the customer something new and/or unique that will ensure that they will read your emails again, instead of tossing them into trash bin.

7) Show you value their time
In order to distinguish yourself from all those annoying email newsletters and/or spam your customers get from various companies, you have to make sure you include valuable information in your email pitch. This will show your subscribers that they can trust you with their time and that they can keep on maintaining a good email communication with your company.

8) Wow them with design
Humans are visual beings. Especially now, in the times of modern technology and shortened attention spam, visuals are invaluable to catching people’s attention and making them interested in your content. Make sure you have clever and clean designs that will make your potential customers want to see more of your product.

9) Keep your message short and sweet
It is very important to be clear and concise in your messages. With short attention spans and busy schedules, people do not have the time nor the will to go through long, elaborate emails from advertisers. Keep it short, simple, use lists and bullet points.

10) Use referrals
If you have a good product or a service that fulfils the needs of your target customer, included in your email list, and the customer happens to share those needs with similar population, your email messages will indubitably inspire referrals and word-of-mouth advertising. However, this is more likely to happen if you make it easier for your customers to remember their friends who share their needs by including a “Share with a friend” section, or reminding them to share the information with others who might find it useful.

To summarize, with a strong content marketing approach, your email marketing can be a great source of revenue, if you utilize the tips provided here wisely. With many claims that email marketing is dead, one could falsely assume that using this method won’t bring any benefits and turn to alternative internet marketing strategies. However, if done correctly, email marketing can indeed be very alive and bring animate and engage your subscribers, bringing in profit and new customers.

How to start email marketing

Just get started" definitely applies to email marketing as well. Even if it's just for your own blog, start building a list, creating great content, and pushing it out regularly.
That said, building an expertise in email marketing really depends on the industry. There's a huge difference between Ecommerce (where effective email marketing must consist of a combination of newsletters and triggered emails like abandoned carts, win-backs, cross-sell email, etc) vs a software business (where email marketing has much more to do with classic B2B lead nurturing).

To start to build that industry specific knowledge, I'd recommend finding companies you admire and start to pay attention to their email marketing. Supplement that with finding the email sending platforms that do best in each industry to learn what smart marketers are doing. 


1. Select email marketing service
2. Get people to subscribe
3. Make connections, build reletionship
4. Introduce promotional messages
5.Start Building Your Mailing List