Assure Yourself A Steady Stream of Revenue

Are you looking for cost effective strategies to reach your market and build credibility within that market? Most people would answer with a resounding, “YES!” Read on, the answer is as close as the next sentence.

As any of my longtime readers know, I am an advocate of email marketing. A method of marketing that allows me to keep in touch with people for a very reasonable cost and generate substantial amounts of revenue. Revenue not just for me, but also for clients and business associates.

I am not talking about a get rich quick scheme. I am talking about a system that has been invaluable over the last several years.

Although I have sold product directly from my web site to people who are on my list, it is the backend use of the names that has created the most value. By backend, I mean other products and services I make available to readers. Things such as free events where I have sold product and services back of the room; paid events, keynote speaking, training and consulting.

Granted, email marketing is not for everyone. I will be the first to admit this. Utilizing your email list in an effective way requires a commitment to a system to make it work effectively. For some the thought of having to have a consistent system is beyond what they want to do. No problem. However, if you want to learn how to utilize a valuable asset of your business this article will be of particular interest to you. 

When deciding to do email marketing, it is essential to keep in mind netiquette. What this simply means is there are certain courtesies in utilizing an email list. One is to avoid, at all costs, spamming. Do not send something to someone who didn’t request to be on your list. Additionally, avoid renting or selling your list to anyone unless people who are on your list are fully aware you are doing this.

Although I will promote events and products for others, no one, absolutely no one outside my company, has access to my email list. Granted, if there is a cross promotion that I do with others, all parties involved in the promotion will have access to the list of people who signed up for a specific promotion. What this means is people will sign up for an event and be put on a separate list. This in and of itself is a great way to continue to build your list.

Another part of netiquette is to not send a mass email out to people where everyone’s address is showing. This can be one of the worst offenses to people on your list. One, depending on how long your list is, it can take a considerable amount of time to scroll through the masses of names. Two, others now have full access to your email list. The best approach when managing a large list is to utilize a good software program that will allow you to effectively manage your list.

As with any form of marketing there are pros and cons. The advantages of email marketing are ease of use; inexpensive when compared to postal mailings, time effective and with the press of a button you can reach literally thousands of readers.

On the other hand, it is easy for people to delete your messages or save them for a “later read” and never get around to it. Or, if you are not clear in your subject line, people may assume it is spam and may delete it accidentally.

You will want to periodically clean out your database. People move, change providers, or they get too much mail at one address so they change the address. With programs such as Get Response (www.getresponse.com) a lot of the maintenance will be taken care of for you.

So how does one build a list? There are a number of effective ways. One, you can buy a list that promises thousands, and even millions, of “good” addresses. My advise – don’t do it. You will be wasting money.

Better than that is to find ways for people to request to be on your list. The first is to have a form that can be filled in on your web site. Depending on the software you use, the name and contact information will be put right into your database. This requires very low maintenance and is extremely efficient with the right software. The challenge here is how do you direct people to your site to sign up.

You can have a contest and invite people currently on the list to enter and to invite their friends and colleagues to enter. Great way to build a list, but unfortunately it may be with people who only want something for nothing.

Another way is to offer free reports, e-books, or articles. Again, invite others to tell people about your site.

If you are new to all of this, the best place to start is with your current client list. Develop something of interest to them, such as a special report. If you don’t have their email addresses you can either call or mail them a letter letting them know the report is available at your site and all they have to do is visit it.

If you have not gotten to the point of getting a web site yet all I can say is you should seriously consider what this might be doing to the image of your business. Can you afford not to have a site and stay competitive? I think not. However, make sure that your site runs smoothly and is professional looking. A bad site can hurt you more than no site.

Another option is to conduct a survey with your current client list. Simply send a message via email with a link to your site and the survey. You can promise to send the results of the survey to anyone who responds. Again, ask people to send the survey to others who would have an interest. Surveys work well because people want to be kept abreast of what other people in their line of work and industry are doing and thinking.

Beyond your customers, you have prospects that may be interested in being on your list. Once you are clear on whom your market is, it is easy to know who a prospect is. And prospects are literally everywhere.

Recently, I was in the grocery store buying some seafood. The woman who was helping me asked what I did. I told her I am a marketing and promotions advisor to small businesses who need to market efficiently and cost effectively. She mentioned her brother having a business and asked if I had a card. Of course I gladly gave her my card, but I also asked for her email address and her brother’s. I told her I would be happy to send her some articles that may be of interest to her brother. She agreed and presto, another name and address in my database. Of course, if I didn’t follow up – shame on me. But of course, I did follow up.

Other people’s customers are also a possibility. You can offer to write an article that can be sent to someone else’s list. The other person does the sending and at the end of your article you simply include a short byline with contact information on how to get more information. If the sender won’t let you include a byline with contact information you may want to reconsider writing for them. The idea here is to not only provide great information; it is to build you database.

Another valuable strategy is to do presentations tied into your primary product or service. I have been building my list with this strategy for years. It has been extremely effective and has been the foundation of so much of what I do in my local market. Activities that generate a continued stream of income.

These are just a few ways you can build your email list. A list, that if properly cultivated, can be worth untold revenues to you. As simple as it may seem, the best way to get people to want to be on your list and stay on your list is to create so much value for them, they wouldn’t even consider not being there.

Street Smarts Marketing and Promotions® Success Strategies for Marketing a Small Business on a Limited Budget

Learn How to Make Money with Over 20 Years of Proven Formulas by Kathleen Gage -Are you struggling to make your business work? -Are you ready to take control of the success of your business once and for all? -Are you sick and tired of throwing money away with no result? If you answered YES! then you need to get Street Smarts! Discover secrets of how to quickly and easily promote your business, gain visibility, define your target market, and quit wasting money once and for all!

Street Smarts Marketing and Promotions® is multi-media program designed to substantially increase your sales, profits, and visibility to your market. You will learn specific, usable marketing strategies that apply to any product, service, business or sales career.

Regardless of whether you are in retail, provide a product or service, do online business, sell low price items or big ticket items, the information you will learn will give you incredible results.

When you apply what you learn Street Smarts Marketing and Promotions you will achieve results … guaranteed. I give you easy to apply strategies that you can use exactly as I describe that will give you dramatic results. The ideas and concept you will learn are real and very practical. They are not pie in the sky get rich quick schemes. And they work! I guarantee they will work for anyone who applies them. My goal and my responsibility is to help you succeed and make more money.

For more information – click here

Your information is SAFE!

This newsletter is sent by subscription only! As a Valued Subscriber your name and email address will NEVER be sold, rented or given to any other person or business entity.