11 Extraordinary Ways To Expand Your Subscriber List
by Catherine Franz
Here are 11 ways to expand your subscriber list:
1. Use a conversational writing tone. It makes a
connection. Yet, don't get lax on the grammar and spelling.
Use personal pronouns (I, me, you and your). Limit the
percentage of I's to half or less of the yous.
2. Spread the knowledge even further by asking your
readership to forward a copy of your ezine to family
members, friends, colleagues, or co-workers. Create a
"please forward this ezine to" line or two. Give them an
incentive, offer a free but-not-free item. This can be
challenging to design.
3. Do you give presentations with slides or a projection
system? Add a paragraph about your ezine and how to get it
on the test slide. A test slide is the slide you leave up
there when they are seating themselves. Leave it displayed
until a few minutes before your presentation and then turn
it off. By turning it off, it creates a "loss feeling" and
they will pay attention to it the next time you turn it on.
Turn the system on with the test slide displayed and then
switch to the next slide. The next slide can explain how
they can get your free but-not-for-free product and the
directions on how to receive it. Return to this same slide
at the end of your presentation.
4. At this same presentation, pass around a clipboard
asking them if they want to register for ezine. Start
passing at the beginning or even before you start. Use a
short piece, different colored paper, with a note about the
free but-not-free item. Give them three incentives to
register at that time.
5. Send out a press release every time you have a new free
but-not-free item available. Send whenever you have new
context, new article published, or whenever anything else
occurs. Since press releases require special writing, you
might want to delegate this, especially if you are
challenged with writing from another perspective. If you
choose to learn the lingo, you can learn the how-tos with a
Google search: Search example: "press release" and "how
to". Leave in the quote marks. Don't be nervous about
sending out too many, some are always missed.
http://www.prweb.com/ is a great place to post your press
releases.
6. Locate web sites that give out awards for outstanding
ezines. Apply and keep applying. Keep tweaking. Look at
previous winners and model. When you do win one, post it
everywhere on your site and on every issue of your ezine for
a year. Also, send out a press release when you do. If
they create a press release as well, ask to use that one.
Make copies of theirs and give it out at networking events.
Remember, you can't win the lotto unless you play. So, get
in the game, and apply. Try:
http://emailuniverse.com/bestezines/ or search on Google
with: "ezine award".
7. I'm frequently asked, "How much information should I ask
for?" My recommendation is to KISS your subscriber form --
"keep it short and simple." Ask for the e-mail address
and/or their first name. If you ask for their first name,
tell them why. Example: We like to personalize our
correspondence with our subscribers."
8. Set up section for past issues of your e-newsletters. I
recommend just listing their main topic or name of the
article and not by date. People don't like to read things
that they consider "old news". If you use a pdf format to
deliver past issues there are pros and cons. The pros are:
pdf files are smaller to store and send. The con is that
you loose the opportunity for tagging the item for search
engine listing.
9. After you post your articles in the ezine, expand or
submit as is to multi-media web sites. Possibility:
http://www.goarticles.com. Locations where publishers and
editors will pick up the article. Normally, there are no
fees paid, just opportunity for visibility. When published
send out a press release. Link their site, not yours, in
the press release, Send them a copy of the release.
10. Readers are tired of not getting any value and are
dropping off lists fast. faster than ever. To keep them
there you MUST provide valuable information (their
perception not yours). The 25/75% rule (you give them 25%
and sell them the remaining 75%) is acceptable. After
reading thousands of ezines, I found many publishers don't
come close to providing that percentage.
11. Add an invitation to all your automatic e-mail
signatures. Also, mention the free but-not-free item of the
month. Include an expiration date for that free but-not-
free offer. Change the e-mail signatures weekly to maintain
interest.
Copyright 2004, Catherine Franz. All rights reserved.
Catherine Franz is a Marketing & Writing Coach, niches,
product development, Internet marketing, nonfiction
writing and training. Additional Articles:
http://www.abundancecenter.com
blog: http://abundance.blogs.com
| DISCLAIMER: The content provided in this article is not warranted or guaranteed by Developer Shed, Inc. The content provided is intended for entertainment and/or educational purposes in order to introduce to the reader key ideas, concepts, and/or product reviews. As such it is incumbent upon the reader to employ real-world tactics for security and implementation of best practices. We are not liable for any negative consequences that may result from implementing any information covered in our articles or tutorials. If this is a hardware review, it is not recommended to open and/or modify your hardware. |
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