| Whether you've got 100 or 100,000 people on | | | | that surfers scan. By outlining your benefits in a |
| your email list, chances are you can optimize your | | | | bulleted list, you'll grab wandering eyes - and |
| web page to better feature and promote your | | | | summarize your case nicely. Here's a sample |
| ezine. Here's a few ways to capture more | | | | bulleted list for a local Italian restaurant. |
| customers and leads - without having to increase | | | | |
| your traffic.Give Something (Or a Few Things | | | | Free "Taste of Italy" cookbook, with 25 easy to |
| Away)Studies show that most people will only | | | | make recipes |
| subscribe to about a dozen email lists at a time, | | | | Membership to our birthday club. On your special |
| and given the number of lists out there, you've | | | | day, you're dinner's on us. |
| got to seriously compete for your customer's | | | | VIP coupons (free desserts, entrees, and wine) |
| email address. Giving away free bonuses is a | | | | Exclusive tasting nights. We close our doors to |
| great way to push you over the edge.A few | | | | the public - and invite you to sample our new |
| things you can give away are:Free ebooks. This is | | | | menu first. |
| a strategy many marketers use - and it's a little | | | | |
| worn out. Not just any free ebook will do | | | | Give a Bulleted List of Objection KillersWhy aren't |
| anymore. Still use it, but make sure your ebook is | | | | people signing up to your list? That little nagging |
| something your customers crave. Ebooks like "10 | | | | voice in their head wondering if you'll spam them, |
| Easy Ways to Make Your Skin Look Younger" | | | | if you'll email them to much, if the emails will be |
| and "7 Ways Moms Can Make Money On Ebay | | | | boring. A short list of objection killers can take |
| Today" will get you a ton of email sign-ups.Free | | | | care of this nicely. Here's an example. |
| courses. This is a lot like the free ebook strategy, | | | | |
| except you break up your course into a sequence | | | | You'll hear from us (and only us) once a week. If |
| using an autoresponder. This works well if you | | | | you get sick of us, you can easily say "no thanks" |
| want to be in constant contact with your | | | | We keep your email completely private - you'll |
| prospect for a few days or weeks.Exclusive | | | | only hear from us. Our privacy policy can be |
| coupons. If you're in the retail or service business, | | | | found here (link). |
| offer up a few exclusive coupons for list | | | | Make sure you do include a short version of your |
| members. Make them little bonuses (like a free | | | | privacy policy in your list, with a link to your full |
| handbag with a clothing purchase of over $100 - | | | | privacy policy on a separate page. More and more |
| or free facial with any cut and color). 10% off | | | | surfers are looking for privacy policies every |
| isn't likely to make your customer jump - but a | | | | day.Provide a Sample Email or TwoIf the emails |
| free goodie will.A birthday offer. This works | | | | you send out are content filled and well written, |
| especially well for restaurants, women's retail, and | | | | by all means show a couple of them off. A lot of |
| travel. Invite visitor's to join your birthday club - | | | | ezines are boring, poorly written, or worse, just |
| and in return give them a free meal, little gift, or | | | | blatant ads. If you show surfers that your emails |
| night at your B&B on their birthday.Write a Killer | | | | are worthwhile, they'll be much more likely to sign |
| HeadlineHaving no headline for your ezine ad is a | | | | up.Make Your Ezine Ad StandoutMany marketers |
| mistake many new marketers make - but bad | | | | take the time to set up an email list, write the |
| headlines can be almost as damaging. "Join Our | | | | issues, and then bury or hide the sign up |
| Email List" or "Get Site Updates" just doesn't cut | | | | box.Feature your sign up box as prominently as |
| it anymore. Your headline needs to have a strong | | | | possible, using bright colors (I'm partial to a yellow |
| call to action or benefit. Here's a few excellent | | | | background).Include a photo in your ad when |
| examples:Free 7 Day Course - How to Lose | | | | relevant. Diet ezine? Show a woman satisfied with |
| Weight Without Carb RestrictionWin $10,000 and | | | | her fit body. Parenting advice? Happy moms with |
| Your Dream VacationFree Google Adwords Tip of | | | | their kids.Experiment with the size and location of |
| the Day, Plus Free Top Google Strategies | | | | your sign up box. Does it work best on the side, |
| EbookHave a Compelling Name for Your Email List | | | | above the fold? Or in the middle of an article? |
| or EzineSelling discount designer handbags? Call | | | | Usually bigger is better when it comes to ads - |
| your list the "Chic Yet Cheap Club." Advertising | | | | but test unusual shapes (like a square or long |
| your day spa? Call your ezine "Ultra-Relax VIP | | | | rectangle) as well,Don't Ask Them to "Join" or |
| Circle"Most people are members of "enough" email | | | | "Subscribe"You can make your submit button say |
| lists, discussion groups, and ezines. However, they | | | | whatever you want, so why not re-enforce your |
| always seem to want to join more "clubs" and | | | | marketing message with a strong call to action? |
| "VIP" groups.Give a Bullet List of BenefitsNo | | | | "Get Your VIP Coupons" or "Download 7 Easy |
| matter how good your copy is, the fact remains | | | | Ways To Look Younger"(c) 2003 shelikesmoney. |