Email Marketing and Web Communication: Ten Key Tips to Get Your Messages Read
There's an old saying 'Manners maketh the man (or woman)' and this still applies in the 21st Century, even though everything now seems to happen twice as fast.
Most people respond much better if you treat them respectfully. People appreciate being spoken to politely and you can definitely include consumers here. Yes, if you are into Internet marketing, it may be a hi-tech world, where bits and bytes circle the globe in the blinking of an eye, but people still respond better to being spoken to as a friendly equal. This particularly goes for language in advertisements.
Here are some important things to remember when you are emailing someone with a sales pitch.
1. DON'T YELL WITH CAPITALS: By all means use 'caps' in your message to highlight key points, but don't write whole sentences in capitals. This is the online equivalent of screaming in someone's ear. Bolding key points is a much better alternative to capitalizing.
2. Be TIDY With FORMATTING: I read a lot of sales emails every day, and it never ceases to amaze me how so many email 'salespeople' ? perhaps we can call them 'e-sellers' - don't bother to properly 'dress up' their email messages. There are many available email message formatting systems available, like Formatit.com, which you can use to make your emails presentable, and very likely, more profitable. Line breaks, you see, behave badly in cyberspace, and, although your email may look fine as you type it, the message could have line breaks all over the place, when it's received. Sloppy presentation like this, sends out a clear message that does not favour people buying from you. Any sloppy line breaks are hard to read. An ideal line length is about 50 ? 60 spaces.
3. Write Your Ads Like You're SPEAKING to an INDIVIDUAL: When you email someone you are, in effect, striking up a conversation with them. You are hoping they'll take the time to 'listen'. A little bit of humour, a little bit of your own personal style, will not go astray in your message. Be friendly and be polite. Emails that are abrupt or too direct, can be read as insulting or critical.
4. Say PLEASE and THANK You a Lot: As a web marketer, I always start my messages by thanking people for 'clicking in' to my message. After all, they have taken the trouble to open my email, ahead of possibly tens or even hundreds of others, who they have not bothered to open. I always thank them for their trouble. I know that when people are polite and thank me, I always feel better towards them and welcome the respect.
5. Keep Your email Ads PUNCHY and SHORT:Email, by nature, is a time-saving tool. It's quick and it's to the point. Keep you message to the point and don't try to cram too many 'sales pitches' in the one email. It's very unlikely that people will read the whole thing from top to bottom, so keep your selling to six paragraphs or so. This is for emails you may be sending to a safelist. If you are emailing your regular mailing list, perhaps with you newsletter, then you can afford to follow the regular format, which may be quite long. This is because you newsletter subscribers generally know what to expect because they hopefully have read more than one edition.
6. ENTICE Your Readers to READ to the BOTTOM: If you want to send a longer than usual e-mail sales pitch, it's good strategy to put a paragraph in, near the top, saying something like 'If you read to the bottom of this email, you'll find a great no cost download'. Teasers like this are very effective and may even prompt readers to immediately scroll down to the bottom to check out what they can get.
7. AVOID the Word FREE in Your Message: Why, because the spam filters will get you. While FREE might be the most attractive word in email marketing, it's also one of those that spam filters will likely detect to block your message. You need to be a bit creative. Instead of FREE, why not use words like 'no cost, 'gratis' 'give-away', 'gift' or 'bonus'.
8. AVOID Too Many SYMBOLS: Those of us old enough to remember cartoon comic strips, will remember how cartoonists often used symbols to show a character 'swearing'. Such as, 'Why You #@!*' Too many symbols in your message could have the same effect ? making your message confusing and unfriendly to readers. Use symbols sparingly and to draw attention to important points.
9. DON'T Have Too Many BLOCK Paragraphs: Although grammar purists will tell you that paragraphs can have many sentences, so long as they are on the same topic, use short paragraphs of only one or two sentences. Short is better, because these days, people do not want to read great slabs of text ? they will simply tune out. You can also highlight key points in your sales message, simply by isolating them in one lonely sentence.
10. EMAIL People As You Would Like THEM to Email YOU: This sounds a bit biblical, but really the same applies in general life. Try to put yourself in the reader's shoes after you've finished your message. Would you like to have such an email sent to your in-box. Would you find such an email polite and friendly? If anything 'jolts' as you read your own email, make sure you soften it with further friendly communication.
You will likely find that showing some 'manners' in your email communications, will translate into greater profits and more buyers. Thank you very much for reading this article and best wishes to you in your endeavors.
Ross Storey is a completely bald (it's fashionable), 52-year-old public relations and marketing consultant, writer and editor who has been involved in web marketing and design for more than a decade.
http://bestwebcopy.zapz.biz
http://www.quokkasoft.com
http://bestprographics.zapz.biz
Copyright © 2005 Ross Storey - Please feel free to publish this article, so long as you keep this resource section complete
 Google News Updated : Mon, 07 Jul 2008 00:55:50 GMT Bosox, Cubs each put 7 players on All-Star rosters - The Associated Press
The Associated Press - NEW YORK (AP) - Maybe Manny Ramirez, Alfonso Soriano and the rest of the Boston Red Sox and Chicago Cubs should just play their own All-Star game. All-Star rosters revealed Cubs win 7-1 and seven All-Stars; I'd say it was a good day Publ.Date : Mon, 07 Jul 2008 00:00:58 GMT AT&T's Odd iPhone Offer - TechNewsWorld
TechNewsWorld - By Eric Benderoff Some of the details surrounding AT&T's iPhone prices make little sense, writes Eric Benderoff. The company will sell a 3G iPhone with no contract for a $400 premium. iPhone 3G line forms in NYC for a green cause New iPhone Can Decouple From AT&T, for a Price Publ.Date : Sun, 06 Jul 2008 11:04:21 GMT 'Hancock' a signature opening for Smith - Los Angeles Times
Los Angeles Times - The offbeat superhero story brings in $66 million over the holiday weekend, marking the star's eighth straight No. 1. He's hot, but the reviews were not. ‘Hancock’ Powers to the Top of Box Office Will Smith is box office superhero with 'Hancock' Publ.Date : Mon, 07 Jul 2008 00:03:03 GMT Obama cites faith as key to change - Boston Globe Boston Globe - Barack Obama called "active faith" an obligation of religious Americans and a chief agent of societal change in a speech yesterday at the national meeting of a black church group. Veterans Group Urges Support to 'Finish the Job' Veterans’ Group Critical of Obama Plans Costly Ad Campaign Publ.Date : Sun, 06 Jul 2008 06:58:31 GMT Weather Channel Is Sold to NBC and Equity Firms - New York Times New York Times - By MICHAEL J. de la MERCED An investor group led by NBC Universal and two private equity firms clinched a deal for the Weather Channel on Sunday after three weeks of negotiations. NBC Universal, Bain, Blackstone Buy Weather Channel (Update1) NBC and its Partners Announce Deal To Buy Weather Channel and Assets Publ.Date : Sun, 06 Jul 2008 21:48:12 GMT Google, Zen Master of the Market - New York Times
New York Times - By STEVE LOHR Bill Gates, who walked away from full-time work at Microsoft last month, was perhaps the foremost applied economist of the second half of the 20th century. Why Microsoft will win Yahoo Yahoo! re-enters merger talks with Time Warner Publ.Date : Sun, 06 Jul 2008 22:57:50 GMT Obama Campaign Criticizes Rival McCain's Economic Proposals - Bloomberg
Bloomberg - By Alison Vekshin July 6 (Bloomberg) -- Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama's advisers criticized Republican rival John McCain's economic proposals as both candidates prepared to focus on the US economy this week. Obama Advisers Tout Tax Plan That topic we love to hate Publ.Date : Sun, 06 Jul 2008 19:27:55 GMT Easy Work At Home Opportunity |
PARLOT::Ebooks, Scripts,
Websites, and more... Perhaps the most critical step in guaranteeing the success of... Read More People tend to forget their subscriptions. Sometimes they don't even... Read More Email EtiquetteIn order to effeciently communicate on the Internet it... Read More The saying "Quality, not Quantity" is applicable even to the... Read More You're probably familiar with e-mail signature (or "sig") files --... Read More Have You Considered The Power Of Email MarketingOld vs. NewIf... Read More When using an email marketing tool such as Adestra's Message... Read More Need for PrivacyPeople have become hypersensitive about their privacy during... Read More If you are active on the web promoting your products,... Read More There probably isn't a business person alive who hasn't at... Read More No doubt one of the overriding concerns you have is... Read More If you've reached the point of exhaustion trying to keep... Read More At the recent Online Marketing Show, Adestra ran an email... Read More This holiday season 15 percent of consumers in the US... Read More One web advertising strategy that can help you become popular... Read More Being online for the last five or so years has... Read More If Gutenberg were alive today he would be in publishing... Read More Email is THE medium of communication for business transactions. Unfortunately,... Read More The goal of all marketing is to attract interest in,... Read More An autoresponder is an automatic or software-mailing program. Why... Read More 1. When you make your first sale, you need to... Read More Years ago, when email was just emerging as the incredible... Read More Many companies begin their online sales ventures with the wrong... Read More If you're looking for low-cost ways to promote your business... Read More 1. Ask visitors to subscribe to your e-zine. It's a... Read More
Adsense
websites
Kick-Starting E-mail Profits Growth From One Single Shot!
People Accusing You of Sending sp*am? Five Email Marketer Must Know Tips
Email and Newsgroup Etiquette
Stop Buying Email Lists
Make Your E-mail Signature File WORK for You
The Power Of Email Marketing
The Importance of a Name in the Sent from Email Address
Using Blind Carbon Copy (BCC) For Email Privacy
What Is Wrong With Email Marketing?
What Do Your E-Mail Messages Say About You?
Get More Targeted Traffic, List Subscribers and Customers; Without Paying a Cent!
Introduction to Autoresponders
Summary of Adestras Presentation on Best Practice EZines at the July NEPA Conference
Email Marketing - How Best To Manage and Distribute Your Messages
Web Advertising: How To Increase Traffic By Offering A Free Course
Click for Success!
EMail Newsletter Marketing Essentials
The Key (Board) to Success: Effective Emailing
Why Use Permission-Based Email Marketing?
Analysing Autoresponders
10 Ways To Quadruple Your Sales with 232%
Plain Jane Email Equals Flat Results
The List Is The Thing
The Ultimate Self-Promotion Tool Is Right at Your Fingertips: An E-mail Newsletter
14 Ways To Persuade Your Web Site Visitors To Give You Their Email Address
Affordable and Reliable Web Hosting Starting at $4.49/Month
Should You Be Writing A Newsletter As Part Of Your Online Business?
Let's start at the beginning - why do you need... Read More
Harnessing the Power of Email Marketing
Given the inherent problems with traditional marketing techniques, it`s important... Read More
Say More Than Thank You
Most Websites are gathering e-mail addresses. When you submit your... Read More
The Lowdown: How To Create And Send HTML Email
I am frequently asked how to create and send HTML... Read More
Just Write an Email
How did you sell your last product? Imagine that I... Read More
Are Your Subscribers Receiving Your Newsletter?
In my e-mail one day, I received the following message:... Read More
7 Key Items To Include In Your Email Signature File
One of the most important and often overlooked methods of... Read More
Autoresponder Services Improve Your Profits
Perhaps you, like me, have web hosting that includes, free... Read More
The Most Simple Way to Mask Your Email-address
We all know that spammers are looking for your email-address.... Read More
Viral Marketing - Your Key to Gaining New Clients
Email newsletters are an excellent means of promoting the products... Read More
Improve Email Deliverability: 15 Tips for Email Marketing Success
Delivering email newsletters and sales messages to opt-in subscribers and... Read More
Viral Marketing with Your Signature File
Computer viruses are usually a bad thing. They can compromise... Read More
Why Does Your Business Need An Autoresponder?
Suppose you have a website with 500 visitors a day,... Read More
Do Your Autoresponders Drive Your Customers Crazy?
A chained auto-responder is a sequence of emails that gets... Read More
Yes, Please Do Come In, But Better Watch Your Step!
This little parody, and the comments that follow, were... Read More
Lesson #3: Capitalize on Your Captures!
One of the underlying benefits of smart autoresponders is that... Read More
Protect Yourself from Being Accused of Sending SPAM
Email is a vital part of doing business online, but... Read More
7 Ways Email Can End Your Business Relationships Before They Start
Too often, people forget they're anonymous in the internet world.... Read More
How to Build Your List
Your list is your life. If you do not have... Read More
4 Steps To 1,000.. 2,000..3,000 Subscribers In Days!
Everyone who has been marketing online for sometime already know... Read More
Are You Making These Email Mistakes?
Every day, I receive at least 300 emails. I will... Read More
8 Tips to Increase Response in Email
Opt in email marketing is no different than normal direct... Read More
All I Really Needed to Know About List Building I Learned From Stephen King!
I have always been an avid reader of Stephen King's... Read More
E-Newsletter Layout: Add White Space to Improve Readability
White space in newsletters is like pausing in conversation. Take... Read More
Wise Ways To Build Your Email List
Just about every successful Internet Marketer will tell you that,... Read More
Email Marketing |