The foundation of any business strategy online should
be done using email.
Email is the most effective and cost efficient manner
in which to communicate with potential customers on
and off the Internet.
And according to a recent report, released by the
Department of Commerce entitled, "A Nation Online:
How Americans Are Expanding Their Use of the Internet" ,
84% of ALL Americans make use of email to communicate.
This report contains an invaluable WEALTH of information
regarding the numbers of American households connected
to the Internet, details how, where and why people surf the
Internet, provides demographic details on income, employment
status, age groups, gender, levels of education, urban or
rural locations, race and a great deal more.
For those of us doing and wishing to do business online
it is filled with nothing but encouraging good news.
You may access details for receiving a FREE copy of
the report, via auto-responder, at:
mailto:govreport@emailexchange.org
Here are a few strategies to sharpen your skills and your
ability to succeed with your online business:
1. Learn Before or Burn.
BEFORE you attempt to send out anything, make certain
you know HOW to properly use your email program.
Whether you use a web-based email service like Microsoft's
Hotmail, http://www.hotmail.com or your own mail program
like Window's Outlook Express, Eudora, Pegasus, Netscape,
etc., and test, test, test it out by sending yourself a message.
In my eight years of being online, I am personally aware of several
popular newsletters that lost virtually all of their hard earned
subscribers when they accidentally sent out their newsletter with
the entire subscription list exposed after switching to a new email
program.
2. NEVER Ever SPAM!
NEVER ever use a mailing list that you receive by email as
doing so will constitute SPAM. You again risk losing valuable
momentum if all your previous efforts are erased when you lose
your email account.
3. BUILD Your Own Opt-In Mailing List.
It takes time, but it is well worth the effort to build a 100%
safe email list. If you have a web site, add a "Subscribe"
feature that will bring you a steady flow of new email
addresses to which you can safely email.
Creating and managing your own list is difficult but possible.
If you want to save some time, subscribe yourself to one of the many
FREE mailing list services like Yahoo, http://www.groups.yahoo.com.
They handle everything for you. And they are not the only FREE
list host available.
For a FREE copy of our "FREE Mailing List Host Providers",
mailto: freemaillists@emailexchange.org
4. USE A Clear and Distinct Subject Line.
If the person you are sending your message just reads the
Subject line and finds it wanting, you will probably get deleted
BEFORE you get read. Try to make your Subject line a complete
and interesting idea.
5. KEEP Your First Message Short.
If someone is responding to an online ad or posting in a
discussion group, give them just enough to inform and excite.
Too much info sent out in your first communication might also
make them delete before reading your message in its entirety.
If they are truly interested, they WILL request more information.
Once they request a follow-up, you can send them a more detailed
email. Therefore, do use: Short paragraphs, Lines under sixty-five
characters and Email under twenty-five lines total.
6. TARGET Your Response and Keep In Focus.
Nobody likes an email that starts in one direction and
then loses the point mid-email.
7. CREATE A File To Your Most FAQ.
Have email responses to your most frequently asked questions,
FAQ. For example, if you run an ad featuring your business
Opportunity, you will need to customize those response emails to
that particular situation. Then keep them handy, like in your
email inbox, so you can "Cut and Paste" your responses.
You should have on file a short, first response email, a longer,
more detailed follow-up as well as a third short reminder message.
The reminder is used about a week or two after sending the detailed
response to keep your message fresh in the mind of your prospect.
It does pay to follow-up.
8. ALWAYS Use A Signature File.
Your signature is very much like an electronic business card
for the Internet. Keep it short, about 4 or 5 lines is considered
appropriate.
Again, it is always wise to send yourself an email to SEE how it
will look to those to which you email. More on Signatures at:
http://emailexchange.org/sig.html
9. TEST Your Messages.
Send out two or three versions of the same basic message so
That you can evaluate which gives you a better response rate.
10. FOLLOW-UP!
Keep those on your list well informed by updating any changes,
notices of specials, limited time offers, etc.
Invest some time when you first start your email campaign and
it will save you countless hours down the road when you need it
the most to answer those responses and fill those orders.
About the Author
A.T.Rendon is an entrepreneur and published writer.
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