There are few that will dispute the power of email's influence. Whether you've noticed the spam in your junk folder or the newsletter from your favorite website; email has the ability to make us act - and quickly. Wouldn't it be great if you could harness the power of email for our business website? The good news is that you can with a good mailing list. But how do you create one? Here are five steps.
Talk to Your Friends and Family
When you have a group of people that you know, it only makes sense that you might send out your business information to them first, right? Send a short paragraph about what your new business is going to do, what it's going to sell and any other pertinent information they might need. Include a link to your website and to your mailing list to help them decide whether or not to continue to receive the emails. Chances are good that your friends and family will send this email onto any friends they have that might be interested too, creating a longer email list with little work from you.
Put a Sign Up Form on Your Website
With the proper website design, you will be able to collect the information from website visitors needed to send them regular emails. Put this mailing list option at the bottom or to the side of your main email page and then make sure that it's easily navigated to. This will allow your website visitors to decide whether or not this is something they want to sign up for.
But Also Have an Opt Out Function
If you're creating the opportunity for someone to be on your mailing list, you also need to create the opportunity for them to easily opt out of it if it's not something they are enjoying. There should be a link at the bottom of each email you send to them that allows them to opt out when it seems like a good idea for them. This makes signing up something that's risk-free, which will attract more to your list. In addition, be sure to include a statement that you will not share their information with anyone - that helps people feel like they're safe from spammers.
Include a Mailing List Sign Up Option Everywhere
On every page you can, try to include methods for your site visitors to sign up for your mailing list. This will encourage people to sign up whenever the mood hits them, plus it will give them multiple reminders that you do have a mailing list that can be easily accessed. Include this reminder on the bottom of each website page as well as in various locations during the ordering process.
Make it Worthwhile to Your Site Visitors
When you want to add more people to your mailing list, it's a good idea to make it worth their while. Create a contest for those who sign up within a certain period of time or give out free reports and eBooks for those that sign up to receive mailings. You want to also make sure that each email you send out is worth their time. If you're just sending links to your site or you are only emailing about sales, you might start turning off a customer who doesn't necessary want to buy something all the time, but who may just want to learn more about the market you are working in.
The goal is to create a large mailing list that will get notified whenever something big and important happens in your business - and that this notification will drive them into action.
Related Articles
Why You Need a Business Card
By: Stephanie Ciccarelli | 11/06/2007 | Careers
Learn about the significant role that business cards play in marketing, networking, and just how vital they are when it comes to making a first impression.
7 Winning Tactics Using E-mail to Make Big Money!
By: Emily Patrick | 10/06/2008 | Email
Some tips on how to make money though emailing without the need for your own website. People will subscribe to and read a good regular e-newsletter or tips. The bigger your list, the more money these strategies can make for you. Here are seven great strategies for you, view this article to read about them.
The Seven Vital Steps You Must Know To Ensure Direct Mail
Success
By: Allan J. Katz | 12/09/2005 | Direct Mail
Plus it costs
ten times more to acquire a new customer.
When choosing a mailing list, first identify your best customer.
What is their age, income level, and geography?.
9 tips to create and manage your own mailing lists
By: Prema | 26/09/2005 | Non-Fiction
How to start your own mailing lists With personalised and permission based email service you can generate more leads and increase your response rates. If you have an internet business and looking for quick ways to reach ...
How to Make Your eZine Work for You Long After It's Published
By: Jeff Casmer | 18/09/2005 | Newsletters
I
use already archives them." you say.
That's great! That means the search engines will find that many
more links to your site online. But it is worth the effort.
Your Newsletter: The Key To Your Business Success
By: Dennis Stokes | 01/05/2007 | Online Promotion
You need to send out an ezine or newsletter so you have the means to build a subscriber or customer list. Everybody talks about this, but how many people actually implement it into his or her marketing strategy? I would have to say that the majority of business owners don't implement this strategy online or offline. Remember the success of your business depends on it.
Getting Visitors To Opt-in To Your Newsletter
By: Gary Ruplinger | 22/05/2007 | Business
Getting your visitors to opt-in to your newsletter.
So you've got a website and you've got a newsletter.
Now you want to get people to actually opt-in and subscribe to your newsletter. So how do you do that?
Well, this used to be as simple as putting a...
E-mail Writing - 'they'll Know What I Mean' Just Doesn't Cut it
By: Paul Docherty | 03/02/2007 | Email
Most businesses will admit that, while e-mail has some wonderful advantages, it isn't exactly without its pitfalls. We have a whole generation of workers coming through the ranks now who don't have the communication skills that many before us had. The art of conversation is undoubtedly dying...
Got a Question? Ask.
Ask the community a question about this article:
Q&A Powered by:
Latest Internet Articles
Affiliate Marketing Partnerships
By: Richard Legg | 21/08/2008
An affiliate marketing partnership between a publisher and affiliate can take many different forms, although only a few are genuinely popular. In all cases the affiliate receives a payment for getting a visitor to complete an action, whether that is purchasing a product, subscribing to an e-mail list or just visiting the page. Below are the four most common forms of affiliate marketing partnerships.
Tips to Promote a Website Or a Blog
By: Submit Queen | 21/08/2008
Do you want to promote your website or a blog? Do you know how to do that? If the answer is no then you are reading the right article.
Why I should promote my website? Thousands of websites are launched every day. Many of them have good content and some of...
5 Marketing Lessons From the 'king of Make-up' - Max Factor
By: Adam Urbanski | 21/08/2008
Did you know that Max Factor was a marketing genius? You won't believe the strategies he used to get the rich and famous clamor for his services and products. His strategies can be simply replicated in your business to attract all the new and repeat clients you want. Here is how...
Finding the Right Internet Home Business That is Uniquely You
By: John Baril | 20/08/2008
When you are determining what is the right Internet home business for yourself, you have an opportunity to shape that any way you want. This is especially true when you use affiliate marketing to make money on the Internet.
Top Five Reasons Why Reciprocal Link Requests Are Turned Down by Webmasters
By: Kanaga Siva | 20/08/2008
Reciprocal linking is one of the accepted methods adopted by webmasters to build traffic, increase link popularity and improve page rank. It is a known fact that in recent times search engines have begun to place more importance to one-way inbound link and consider it to be superior to a...
Using Autoresponder Software For Follow-Up Success
By: Neil R Morgan | 20/08/2008
It's well known that only a tiny percentage of your web site visitors will buy from you on their first (and possibly only) visit to your web site. The vast majority of your prospects simply forget about you and your web site and never return.
Can you imagine just how much...
Marketing Any Business on MySpace
By: Sean Dell | 20/08/2008
MySpace is now, and has been for some time, the hottest trend when it comes to social networking endeavors online for businesses. This international website plays host to millions of individuals! With that many people accessing the website, it only makes sense to take advantage of accessing those people. Best...
Why MySpace is Great For Your Business
By: Sean Dell | 20/08/2008
Are you one of the many businesses that have yet to discover the power of MySpace? If so, you could be missing on a an exciting opportunity to get your business noticed. Yes, MySpace is thought of us a "friend" type of network, however, it is also great for business...
More from Scott Oliver
Four Things You Never Want to Do When You Have an International Customer Base
By: Scott Oliver | 30/07/2008 | Internet
International customers are a benefit of running an online business, but that doesn't mean the same rules apply. There are a number of mistakes you can make on your website when you don't keep international customer needs into account.
Three Ways to Make Your Online Business Unique
By: Scott Oliver | 20/06/2008 | Internet
Being unique might be harder these days because of the overwhelming number of online businesses. However, in order to stay competitive, you want to find some way to set yourself apart.
Four Things You Need in Your Office for an Online Business
By: Scott Oliver | 08/06/2008 | Internet
Your online business needs to be taken seriously. Before you even begin, you need to have basic office equipment set up and ready to go for any transaction purpose.
Three Reasons Why Your Customer is Your Best Advertisement
By: Scott Oliver | 04/05/2008 | Business
Customers offer you many chances to spread the positive word about your business. From word of mouth advertising to testimonials, there are many reasons why you need to treat your customers well.
Three Home Based Business Marketing Secrets
By: Scott Oliver | 19/03/2008 | Internet
When you want to make your home based business a success, marketing needs to be a part of every day. But instead of fearing marketing, why not learn the three basic secrets that successful businesses keep in mind each day?
Six Unique Online Business Ideas You Can Use
By: Scott Oliver | 07/03/2008 | Internet
Unique business ideas are everywhere, if you just know where to look. Instead of doing the 'same old thing,' why not try something new and exciting?
Five Kinds of Successful Online Businesses
By: Scott Oliver | 28/02/2008 | Internet
A successful online business idea is a great way to ensure that you are not only in a thriving market, but that you will also have a good customer base to begin with. When you choose from popular site ideas, you already know that they can be success, and that you just need to make them successful for you.
Four Things to Do if your Traffic Numbers Drop
By: Scott Oliver | 20/02/2008 | Internet
When your website's traffic numbers go down suddenly, you need to look for the cause. With each drop in numbers, you could be losing sales too.
Internet 
