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Blogs and email marketing
By Mike | May 25, 2008
Today’s question:
From reading your blog and others, I have learned it is important to build an opt-in e-mail list to keep in contact with readers via an e-mail subscription. Can you talk about how to set up your blog to optimally to collect e-mail addresses? Also, once you have promised the reader periodic e-mails (such as tips or advice, etc), where would you start in creating these newsletters. Is there a step-by-step process you use as far as collecting e-mails for your list, sending out a regular newsletter, and automating it?? I’m sure it depends on what you’re trying to do with your blog but I’m assuming there are some basic similarities that apply to all bloggers.
First I am glad to see that you understand the need to have an opt in list. Having the ability to stay in touch with your readers and get them to return can and will drive quite a bit of traffic.
There are a few different ways and many tweaks that you can make to adjust this to your niche.
The offer…
First you need to really consider what you are going to offer to your subscriber of value for their email address. If you know who your ideal subscriber would be (and you should) this becomes relatively easy.
This is the most important piece of the puzzle. If your offer is something that a reader just has to have the structure of how you present it becomes less important.
Where and how to put it…
This is something you need to test and keep adjusting. Usually right at the top of your sidebar is best. That way it is always in view for everyone coming to your page (as long as your blog displays the side bar on all posts - The standard Kubrick does not on WordPress.)
Depending on the service you use or have access to you can also add it as a pop up, a slide in, an exit grabber or as a floating action button. It is important that you actually test all of these because in different niches you will get different results.
Now before you tell me I hate pop ups etc.and they get blocked etc. think about this. I have found that for me when IE went to automatically blocking pop ups they actually made them more effective for the targeted viewer.
Have you ever gone to a page, heard the sound from your pop up blocker and then reloaded the page to allow it so you could see what you missed?
I have but…
Only when it was a page that I had a real interest in. That is the real key. Is your reader interested or just passing through? You won’t offend the people that you are really trying to attract.
Delivering your message…
Personally I use AWeber to send out my email and because it allows me to automate things. For example on this blog I offer a series of 5 Blog Traffic Tips which are already loaded to go out automatically. Once you sign up they automatically deliver them in the sequence I set up and at the time frame I have set.
Then for continuing updates I have AWeber read my RSS feed and automatically send out a notice for me whenever I post. Love this feature.
Now I don’t have to do anything other than what I normally do - Post to the blog. They automatically let everybody that has signed up know that I have added more information. I do nothing after the initial set up.
Testing your positioning…
This will take a bit of that W word - WORK. You will need to be tracking your visitors and if you are using AWeber you will need to create a separate form for each method. Now you can see which method is getting you how many subscribers.
Check the signups versus the traffic you are getting and you will quickly see which forms are working and which ones aren’t.
As always your question and comments are welcomed and appreciated.
Mike Paetzold
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May 25th, 2008 at 7:45 am
Another well done Blog Post.
Mike, your advice has allowed my businesses to grow at very nice pace.
Thank you for being there.
Chuck