Email Ethics : The Basics of Permission Marketing

Our spam-ridden online world has spurred a lot of talk about permission-based email lists or opt-in email lists. What does the term “ permission-based ” really mean? How can you build a permission-based email list? How do you use email to communicate with your subscribers respectfully?

What is a Permission-Based Email List?

The answer to this question might sound obvious. You might even be able to guess what it means.

You Might Be a Spammer If…

It’s funny to me how so many spammers are in denial and don’t actually think of themselves as spammers. So I thought I’d put together a little list of activities to help determine if you are a spammer.

Before I start, I will say there are shades of grey in the world of email marketing. Sometimes, what is spam to one person might be seen as convenient and appropriate by another.

What Happens to Spammers? [ A Look Inside Spam Penalties ]

Here’s a question I wondered about for a long time. Many of us have become familiar with the oodles of spam that makes its way to our inbox on a daily basis. The inconvenience of deleting each and every irrelevant and sometimes crude offer is a major annoyance. It’s enough to make you wonder…

“Do spammers ever get punished?”

I’m happy to report that they do.

Text or HTML : How to Pick the Best Email Format for You

When you send out an email, you are delivering it to people with a number of different computer systems, networks and email browser configurations. You want to ensure that your email piece is selected so it can be viewed properly by your target. This is why formatting your message properly is so important.

Your recipients might see your email message differently on their computers than you do.

How to Create an Email Link That Automatically Adds a Subject

I’m always surprised at the subject lines people come up with when asked to send a blank email to an autoresponder. Why not save them the trouble? This HTML script will automatically complete the subject line for the respondent as soon as they click on it:

mailto:infopack@xyzcorp.com?subject=Please_Send_Info_Pack

The email address at the beginning of the string is the autoresponder’s address. The string that begins “subject=” is the subject line that the message will automatically address itself with.

Ask Jason: Email List Marketing FAQ

“What’s the first step in planning an email campaign?”

Define your target audience. “Who is your ideal target audience?” A good way to answer this is to think about your current clients and what is similar about them. With this information and a target budget a representative will provide you with some detailed list recommendations for your review.

“Can I take possession of the data in the opt-in email lists?”

Tips and Techniques for Advertising in Email Newsletters and eZines

I’m a huge fan of email newsletters as an advertising medium. I subscribe to a number of newsletters to stay current with industry trends, and think they are an ideal way for companies to distribute information and build an online audience.

In general, there are two different types of email newsletter publishers. There are newsletters distributed by companies to keep in touch with their prospects and customers by providing periodic updates and information.

Finding the Right Email Newsletter

Picking the right audience for your company’s offerings is very important. Your objective should be to find a newsletter sent to individuals that have the need for your services and the power to buy them.

Here are a few questions to ask prior to doing a placement in a newsletter:

Who are the subscribers?

You’ll want to know where the subscribers to the newsletter came from.