New FTC Rules

I haven’t read much about the new FTC rules that became law yesterday, but I thought I’d pass on a couple of good links to other blog posts talking about the subject. I’ll update this post with more links as I run across them and comment when I know more about how to deal with the rules.

http://blogs.forrester.com/marketing/2009/10/the-end-of-marketerblogger-relationships.html

http://masscontrolsite.com/blog/?p=59

Until later…

Reba

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Don’t Be Afraid To Promote To Your List

The Internet Marketing Sweetie line of fantastic products is expanding again. Just a little while back I talked about the Information Product Sweetie course and was going to get back to you with a review. Please forgive me that I never got back with the review, my daughter’s college volleyball season started and we’re so busy traveling to watch her play that I can’t see straight (she’s a senior, it’s our last year).

Since then, Melissa Ingold has taken the reigns and launched a  new product that I think is important to let you know about since it teaches something that I’m not very good at, email marketing. I thought maybe some of you might need training in that area as well and this new ‘Sweetie’ product fits the bill, it’s called Email Marketing Sweetie.

Yeah, I’m guilty. I have a list, many of you have subscribed, but other than the initial emails you get when you first signed-up, you’ve never heard from me. That’s because I prefer to post here, on my blog, it just seems easier for me. But establishing a quality, long-lasting relationship with my subscribers is important to me, so I’m going to be making some changes soon. I hope you will learn from my experience and start using email to better the relationship with your readers and customers as well as increase your revenue along the way.

For me, and maybe for many of you, establishing that relationship may seem like a daunting task, but I’m learning from Email Marketing Sweetie that it is absolutely critical in order to maintain a successful online business. Heck, I get emails from marketers all the time and they aren’t intrusive in the least, in fact, I enjoy getting most of the information that is sent out. Selling can be intimidating for many of us and selling to your list can be even harder. But if you want to have an online business, tapping into your customer-base is one of the most lucrative resources you have. Not utilizing that resource can be detrimental to your success.

Now, if you have not yet made an attempt to promote your business to your subscribers, you can’t act hastily by inundating them with an onslaught of email promotions. Start out slow and test the waters first. An initial email letting them know you will be sending them valuable offers will open the lines of communication and lessen the shock value of advertisements appearing in their in-boxes. This is an opportunity to sell yourself and your business while gaining their trust before the “sales” even begin.

I was informed of an upcoming membership launch that could prove to be very valuable to my readers. Before that launch (that I’m going to promote by email), I plan to send out an email letting my subscribers know that I’m going to start sending them emails more often. That will ease them into the fact that they will begin to hear from me on a more regular basis. That way any subscriber who truly is not interested in receiving my promotional offers will have the opportunity to unsubscribe.

Is it scary? Sure, but if I want my internet business to flourish, I will need to get over the fear. The information I plan to send is very useful and my readers will miss out if I don’t let them know about what’s happening in the internet marketing world that could help them further their businesses.

And that’s the good news, most of the people on my list, and yours too, will most likely appreciate the information. Now, this does not mean that I’ll be sending out multiple offers on a daily basis until my  address is exiled to the world of SPAM. Please, never do that to your list, I know how it feels and I usually unsubscribe, however, it does mean that I will have to stay on top of contacting my list and make a point of doing so frequently enough to stay current and fresh in their minds without filling their in-boxes with clutter.

It is also important to maintain a balance between content-driven emails and those containing promotions. That means that I’ll have to create more content so I have enough to post here on the blog as well as send out to my list. Selling to your list requires a delicate balance. I’ll need to mix it up without mixing messages. In other words, my emails will need to alternate between information and advertising without blending the two. I do not want to take the risk of my message getting lost. I want to continue to be a voice my subscribers can trust without becoming too sales-driven. I also want to make sure my promotions are clear without getting lost in content.

I’m thinking it will be good to send one promotion for every two or three information-driven emails. This way, I will not come across as overbearing but will still be taking advantage of possible revenue-building opportunities.

So join me in my new endeavor and don’t be afraid to promote to your list. It can and will prove to be a lucrative decision.

If you feel like you need help learning how to do email marketing to your list, check out the new Email Marketing Sweetie course. It’s only $27.97 until October 9th, after which it’s regular price will be $47.95. But even if you’re reading this post after October 9th, the course is well worth the regular price.

I’m going through the information now and will report back in a few days with a review.

Click Here to Learn More About
Alice Seba’s “Email Marketing Sweetie” Course

Only $27.95 through October 9th!

Until next time.

Reba

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