In this article I want to share with you my super successful formula for creating and running a successful email marketing campaign. This works just as well for affiliate campaigns as it does if you’re selling your own products or services.
There are several steps that I go through when sending out an email marketing campaign, seven to be exact. These steps are the best sequence of steps that have produced the best results for me (and I’ve tested lots of different sequence options).
First, you need a list that you send email to frequently so that they know who you are and are familiar with you. If you don’t produce your own ezine (about whatever it is you sell online) or blog you really need to start one immediately. This may be a stupidly obvious step, but many people overlook it. Some people want to rent a list, which is usually a terrible idea. Other people try to JV with other people who already have a list. That can work in some circumstances, but nothing pulls better than your own house list that is familiar with you and used to getting email from you.
Second, I always send out a pre-email. It states that I will be sending out a special message on Wednesday (or whatever day) and tells everyone to look out for it. This is an important step. Why? I don’t know really. You warm up your car in the winter, you warm up your body before exercising, and equally you must warm up your list before sending a major email campaign.
Third, I create the sales letter. Again, this may be obvious, but many people rush through this step. The art of copywriting is an important part of any email campaign.
Fourth, I send out the letter to my email list when I said I would…trivial but important enough to list as a step. Email marketing is about trust, and being sloppy, telling people on your list that you will contact them on Wednesday and not getting around to it till Thursday sends a negative message that people will definitely pick up on.
Fifth, I wait 2 days and sent out a follow-up email. Most people leave out this step. My follow-up letters have pulled in an extra 15% more sales at a time…that’s 15% more sales that I wouldn’t have had if I didn’t send out a simple follow-up. The follow-up just reminds people of the offer and extends it for 2 days.
Sixth…this is a new step, I send another follow-up (in the form of a newsletter usually) recapping the offer and extending it for two more days… In the old days I was afraid of offending people by sending out too much email. I don’t worry about this any more because the numbers don’t lie, you will make more money the more you times you send your message (obviously if you send 20,000 emails to each person they’ll get mad…just be reasonable).
Seventh, I follow-up via postal mail with all the people who purchased your product thanking them for taking advantage of the special offer and giving them some sort of unexpected free gift.
These are my basic 7 steps to successful email marketing, I recommend you use them every time you create an email marketing campaign.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jason_Markum
