Why email marketing?

“…email is still one of the most effective ways to attract and build customer relationships. Most marketers will tell you that their email subscribers are more engaged and more likely to convert to transactions than their Facebook fans or Twitter followers. Billions of dollars of transactions and value flow through email.” James Slavet.

What is email marketing?

AWeber, the world’s leading provider of hosted email auto responders, have just released more free email marketing guides. Why I prefer and recommend AWeber is that they use a double opt-in system, protecting both you and your subscriber from complaints about spam. If you are new to email marketing you will discover an abundance of rich resources that demonstrate how get started on email marketing.

The biggest mistake most business owners make with email marketing

Most business owners are pretty excited about their own products, services and programs, and are keen to get their website visitors to sign up to their email list so they can sell their wares… BIG MISTAKE!

Getting a sale from a website is usually a gradual process, characterised by these 3 steps:

1. Attract - the content of your blog posts or website pages should be so helpful and attractive to your prospective customers that they want to keep hearing from you – by opting in to your email list. That’s why you need email opt-in forms in many places on your website – to make it easy for your visitors to opt-in.
2. Connect – it’s a well known marketing maxim that people buy from people they know, like and trust. That’s why it’s completely unrealistic to send 1 or 2 emails and expect someone who does not feel they know you, let alone trust you, to spend their money on your products, or their time on your FREE services. An auto-responder email service allows you to stay in regular touch with your customers and prospects, giving them the opportunity to get to know, like and trust you - over time.
3. Convert - of course the end purpose of your website and your emails is to convert your visitors and readers into customers. A well structured email campaign will support this goal – provided you build your conversion goals on attraction and connection principles.

How to write emails your customers will actually read

James Slavet, on a Forbes blog, identifies 3 key tactics for getting attention in your customer’s crowded in-box.

1. Headlines matter
2. Have a voice
3. Be timely

Click here for the full article where James Slavet reveals how to write emails that your prospects will actually look forward to reading.

How To Turn Your Blog Visitors Into Subscribers – Video

In this video Derek Halpern’s cutting edge critique of Chris Ducker’s virtual business lifestyle website reveals where to place your opt-in  forms for turning blog visitors into subscribers. His recommendations make a lot of sense and I will be applying some of them to the HubSite Builder blog, so look out for changes soon.

Have your say about email marketing

Found these resources useful? Let us know by leaving a comment below…

Here’s To Getting YOUR Business Found Online!
Kayn Clarke

Get your business found online quiz…

Take this quick quiz to identify for yourself how easily your prospective customers are likely to find your website before they find your competition.

Rate each aspect of your website from 1 to 4, with 1 being the lowest performance and 4 being the highest:

1. I have a website
2. My website has an integrated  business booster blog where I can easily update content via a content management system
3. My website is optimised for high organic search ranking
   
4. My website pages have only one purpose per page
5. My website automates and leverages my social media activity to boost my site’s search engine ranking
6. My website saves me several hours every month by automating many of its most valuable functions
7. My website easily hosts and auto distributes videos (Video pages have 50 times more chance of top rank)
8. My website is a system that is interactive and is structured from a marketing perspective
9. My website developers give me easy access at no extra cost to education that boosts my online presence
10. My website is on the first page of Google for my industry search words without paying for expensive ads
11. My website has and integrated ‘customer catcher’ to capture the names and e-mail addresses of visitors
12. My website saves me money every month by avoiding expensive programming costs every time I want a new type of page
    

Rate your website’s effectiveness

Add your scores from 1 to 4 for each of the 12 questions, with 1 being the least effective and 4 being the most effective.

TOTAL SCORE 36 or less?

Contact us now to discover how a HubSite B.O.O.S.T.S. your chances of getting found before your competition!

Here’s To Getting Found On Google!
Karyn Clarke

Welcome to the first weekend wrap up…

Each Friday or Saturday I plan to publish a list of 3 to 5 articles, tips or resources that my clients or I have found useful for getting your business found online.

Core topics will cover:

• Blogging for business
• Optimising your website for search engines
• Landing page tips
• Using social media to develop and maintain relationships online
• Time management tips to maximise the time you spend working ON your business, rather than IN it
• Tips and tools to strengthen communication with your tribe

This Weekend’s Wrap Up Focuses on Blogging For Business

Google Panda: Demanding Quality Content For Your Business Blog

The success of your business blog depends on you creating great content for your readers. Not only do your readers expect quality content, so do Google’s search engines – to the extent that Google is now demoting sites that do not meet their standards of quality content. Read tips from Small Biz Trends for managing Panda

How To Make Money From Your Business Blog

Anna Hoffman bares all in her comprehensive article on the truth about making money with blogging. She shares what has worked and what hasn’t worked for her. I especially appreciated her tip about the Tools page on her blog and plan to implement that right away on Hubsite Builder’s site. See what Anna shares about making money with your business blog.

What If You Feel Really Challenged To Write Quality Content For Your Blog Even Though You’re An Expert In Your Field?

I’ve just enjoyed reading Content Rules: How to Create Killer Blogs, Podcasts, Videos, Ebooks, Webinars (and More) That Engage Customers and Ignite Your Business (New Rules Social Media Series) by Ann Handley and C.C. Chapman with David Meerman Scott writing the forward.

A very easy to read resource (I’m into Kindle versions these days), this book gives great encouragement and practical tips to new business bloggers plus more advanced strategies for the old hands.

If you want help with a blogging as marketing strategy, this book is a great place to start.

What tips and tools have you found helpful for business blogging?
Share your wisdom – post your comments and suggestions in the comments box below.

Here’s To Getting YOUR Business Found In Google,
Karyn Clarke