| Email marketing is a huge facet of most | | | | if needed, there are many options out there |
| online marketing campaigns. It's one of the | | | | for paid email software, most notably being |
| few "low-cost" marketing methods that can | | | | AWeber, one of the most popular email list |
| drive a tremendous ROI if done properly | | | | managers around. For $20/month you can get a |
| (Marketing Sherpa claimed in 2006 that email | | | | really good email marketing solution from |
| marketing will average a return of 17 times | | | | AWeber, which has a lot of advanced features |
| your cost for email marketing). The great | | | | that the free programs don't offer. Once you |
| thing about doing email marketing is that's | | | | have a software solution chosen and setup, |
| its pretty straight forward to get started, | | | | you need to create a template for your |
| and there are a lot of software solutions | | | | emails. You can use a simple HTML editor like |
| available on the market already for any price | | | | Frontpage to make professionally looking |
| range (even free ones). Before You Start | | | | email templates (or better yet, Office 2007 |
| Email Marketing There is one very important | | | | has the feature built right into Word). So |
| thing you must do before you start an email | | | | now you've got your email software setup and |
| marketing campaign - familiarize yourself | | | | a nice template to use for your emails. The |
| with Can-Spam. Can-Spam is a law passed by | | | | next step is to start promoting your |
| the US government that places specific | | | | newsletter. Newsletter Promoting is Easy |
| requirements on anybody that is doing email | | | | Getting people to sign up to your newsletter |
| marketing. In a nutshell, it requires that | | | | is usually pretty easy - and you can do it |
| you clearly identify your email with your | | | | for free if you know what you are doing. One |
| legal business name and physical business | | | | proven method is to post on forums related to |
| address. For most commercial mailers, this is | | | | your website with a signature link back to |
| done through a small paragraph at the bottom | | | | your website, specifically the page on your |
| of their emails; however there are a few | | | | website that has the newsletter signup form. |
| companies that will include this information | | | | As long as you are posting useful content to |
| in other places side as to the side or right | | | | the forum and not just spamming them, there's |
| at the top of the email. As long as the | | | | a good chance your links will stay and people |
| address is visible then it's legal. The next | | | | will eventually click on them and come to |
| requirement is that your "from" field must be | | | | your website. Another good method is to post |
| a real email address that you own. So you | | | | comments on related blogs, as most blog |
| can't just send out an email from some random | | | | comments allow you to list your website. If |
| account, you have to own the email address. | | | | you post constructive comments on popular |
| The third requirement is that you email | | | | blogs, then chances are that it will drive |
| subject lines must be accurate. You cannot | | | | some free targeted traffic to your website. |
| legally send an email out that has a | | | | And a final tip for getting free publicity |
| misleading subject line. Lastly, and most | | | | for your newsletter is to submit your website |
| importantly, there has to be a way for people | | | | to free directories. These websites will list |
| to opt-out of your mailing list, and it has | | | | your website in a relevant category, which |
| to be clearly visible in every email you | | | | may drive some traffic. A good source is the |
| send. This can be something simple like a | | | | Yahoo Directory, which has thousands of |
| message saying "Reply to this email if you no | | | | people searching it every day. It is possible |
| longer wish to receive it", or it could be | | | | to get listed for free in the Yahoo |
| something more complex like a text link that | | | | Directory, but it's a lot faster and easier |
| takes the reader to an unsubscribe | | | | if you just pay the listing fee of $300 per |
| confirmation link on your website. Either | | | | year. Yes that is a bit steep, but it can be |
| method is acceptable as long as the reader | | | | well worth it. Besides, getting into a |
| can clearly see the method in your email (so | | | | directory like Yahoo will also help your |
| no hiding it from plain sight). Starting | | | | website rank higher in the search engines, |
| Email Marketing on a Low Budget Email | | | | which in turn will drive even more targeted |
| marketing doesn't have to cost you thousands | | | | traffic to your website! |
| of dollars to get started, in fact there are | | | | |
| several programs out there that are free and | | | | Christian Little is an internet marketing |
| fairly easy to use. Most web hosting | | | | expert based out of Vancouver, Canada. He |
| companies will even provide you with a free | | | | runs a blog that offers tips for email |
| email list manager of some sort automatically | | | | marketing and ways to make money online. |
| through your hosting control panel. However | | | | |