Article by Clayton
Like many small affair owners, I work with a small marketing budget. Okay, truth be told, I despise to spend money on advertising. Especially if I can get better exposure at a very low cost, sometimes even FREE!
During the past three years online, I’ve learned some fantastic ways to do just that. Today I’d like to share them with you.
Don’t worry, I’m not going to tell you to spend days and days at free classified sites or newsgroups. The methods I’ll be sharing with you are much more powerful.
So how does the cost-conscious marketer get the best free and low-cost exposure?
Simple. By utilizing various forms of the best free marketing tool ever invented… Email!
There are many ways to utilize email marketing. For the most part, email marketing can be broken down into two distinct categories…
Targeted and Untargeted.
First I’ll upset on the untargeted, just to show you why it is a waste of time.
UNTARGETED EMAIL MARKETING
Untargeted email marketing on the internet usually takes on the form of “Unsolicited Bulk Email”. Whether you are doing it yourself or hiring one of the thousands of email blasting companies online, it makes no difference. Bulk email is NOT a smart way to market.
Let me clarify exactly why…
“Spamming” or sending mass email to “unqualified” email addresses is considered terrible “netiquette”. If you send unsolicited email to addresses that do not want commercial email, not only do you risk the reputation of your affair, you can get into more distress than you would estimate.
What kind of distress?
Well, since many ISP’s do not allow this activity, they will discontinue your account as soon as the inevitable complaints start to drop in.
If you want better results without the risk, consider the following alternatives…
TARGETED EMAIL MARKETING
Targeted email marketing works. Truly targeted email means getting your email to recipients that HAVE standard of it. Not only do your get better results, you won’t have to worry about ISP cancellation and more importantly, the reputation of your affair.
Here are the best targeted email marketing methods I’ve used. (Listed from most expensive to least expensive)
“Opt In” email list rentalEzine advertisingEzine publishingEmail Discussion assemble participation
Here are details on how I utilize each…
“Opt In” email list leasing
Did you know that you can really rent email lists of people who have standard email about certain topics?
(Just about any topic imaginable!)
This method is not the cheapest form of targeted email marketing, but it works! On average, you’ll have to spend about ten to fifteen cents per address. The companies that rent the addresses even do the mailing for you. You just sit back and wait for the instructions!
When I released my book, “Insider Internet Marketing”, I used this method and sold a few thousand dollars worth of books in a two day span. The company I used is called FXstyle.
Ezine advertising
I’m a huge fan of ezine advertising and regularly utilize this low budget technique. I’m not just saying that to drum up advertisers for my own newsletter, really I have a waiting list of about a month just to get an ad in here. Why? Quite simply, email advertising works!
Take a look at the advertising section of your favorite email ezine. The reason there are so many ads there is because the advertisers get results. Not only do you reach your butt audience, you reach them by the thousands. Of all the online marketing methods available, ezine advertising could be the most effective.
Many larger companies are just starting to realize this and are inflowing into this exciting new advertising medium. Compared with the high costs of web site banner advertising, ezine advertising is a bargain.
Ezine publishing
One step better than “advertising” in ezines, is really publishing your own. If you are not already publishing your own e-newsletter, I highly recommend you do so. It is much simpler than you force imagine.
Your customers and prospects will constantly be “in upset” and your ezine can keep them abreast of new harvest and services as you make them available. You can also generate income offering classified or sponsorship advertising if you wish.
Unlike habitual newsletters, there are no printing or postage costs. Since your own cost is zero, you can offer free subscriptions, thus insuring a steady flow of new prospects.
To get started publishing your own ezine, you use email list management software such as FXstyle or you can manage and deliver your ezine yourself with a excellent email program.
Once you have your email program installed, practice mailing to a few people at once by using the BCC (blind carbon copy) feature. It’s vital to use the BCC field when mailing to a list. This insures that everyone on the list does not see additional email addresses on the list. No one wants their email address publicized all over the net.
After you’ve perfected your emailing skills, all you need is some subscribers. That’s simple, simply post a message announcing your newsletter to the “NewList Announcement List”. Full details on posting can be found here.
Email discussion assemble participation
An email discussion assemble is delivered via email like an email newsletter. But a discussion list differs from an email newsletter in one major way – you are allowed to voice your opinion, usually through a moderator.
Discussion lists also allow you to question for help from others with similar interests. What’s more, you can help people in need while your sign file (the footer you include at the end of every email message you send) invites readers to your site. Discussion assemble marketing works because the posts are delivered directly TO a targeted audience. Once over again, push marketing at its finest! In addition to posting to discussion groups you must consider advertising if the assemble you join offers it.
No matter what you are marketing online, participating in discussion lists makes sense. Not only will you gather some valuable information, it’s is a fantastic way to soft-sell some of your wares.
Now that you are armed with the facts about email marketing, go out and start your email marketing battle today! And remember, whatever email marketing method you choose, be sure that all single email you send out includes your URL and a brief description of exactly how YOU can be of service to anyone who may be reading that email!
If you are looking to get started straight away, check out our recommended email marketing solutions – FXstyle eMail Marketing. FXstyle as an innovative company provide all you need to start your email marketing battle promptly and easily.
About the Author
Clayton, is the international author and designer who effective in FXstyle. FXstyle eMail Marketing is a Creative Internet Marketing Company in commission as a rift of FXstyle Studio, Ltd. They take pride in staying at the leading edge of innovative marketing. They offers marketing solutions to provide you with unique, innovative and cost-effective ways to boost your customer base!
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