Remember to Sign Your Email

When you finish typing an email message, don’t forget to sign it. In email language, that doesn’t mean simply typing your name. The “signature block” contains a great deal more information.

An email is a blank screen. It contains none of the contact information found on traditional company letterhead or stationery. So, you need to provide this information in the form of a signature block.

Avoid the temptation to create a fancy banner with lots of symbols at the top of your email message. Most of that fancy schmancy stuff doesn’t translate well from one email system to another. It also creates huge files, which means the message takes forever to open. Locking up a client’s email is not the best way to make a positive impression on him/her.

The best position for the signature block is at the end. When creating your block, try to keep it to four lines. In some cases, you may need more space. Use caution, though, or the contact information may end up being longer than the body of the message. To solve this, try putting multiple pieces of information on a line. For example: Marketing Director, ABC Meeting Planners.

In determining what to include—again think of your letterhead. Provide your full name, title, company name, phone number, and email address. You may also want to give your mailing address and fax number. If you have a website, list that address, too. Don’t miss an advertising opportunity.

Why include all this contact information? Maybe an important client wants to call you instead of replying via email. Don’t make it difficult for him/her to find you. Including your email address is not redundant. Messages get forwarded, edited, etc. The ultimate receiver may not have a clue who the original sender was.

Almost daily, I receive requests from people for information, and they don’t tell me who they are or where they are. Even after requesting a mailing address, the response often comes back with no company name. Can you imagine mailing something to a 40-story office building that contains 150 businesses with the envelope addressed only to an individual?

If you work for a large company, such as a hotel or convention center, consider using a separate signature for internal messages, since your coworkers don’t need all those details. You might provide your phone extension, in case there isn’t a company directory handy, and your department, if the receiver doesn’t know you.

To keep you from having to re-type all this information with every message, newer email programs allow you to create standard signature blocks. This feature is usually found under the “Options” or “Preferences” heading. It automatically inserts the block at the bottom of your message. You can create numerous signatures and use them for different types of emails. If you use the same closing (Sincerely; Warmly; Regards) for all correspondence, you can save even more time by including it in your signature block.

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Keeping your eye on the Big Picture

We are constantly bombarded by sales messages every second of the day. Buy this. Do that. And quite often the next thing that comes around looks like the next big thing. It's so easy to get distracted off what you were doing and never quite finish it.

The only real method of preventing this is self-discipline. Make it a rule to complete what you started before going on to the next thing. If you are working in a day job, then this is even more vital, since your time is even more precious. I have tons of projects I am working on at any one time, so I'm not just talking out my hat.

I have adwords, web site development. I also do real live sales. It's a juggling act and sometimes it's so easy to just flit about and apparently do nothing. The only time I manage to get something done, is when I say to myself - right - that's it - I'm going to finish that now.

Keeping your eye on the big picture is key. What is your goal? The goal will align everything and all your activities should fall into place around it. It is like the guide to your daily life. When you wander off. Remember the goal you can get yourself on track again.

This is what I do and it helps me. So I hope it helps you too.

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The Truth About Mailing List Advertising

Are you fond of lists or not? I think that I am. It hasn’t been anything that I’ve been explicitly fostering or anything. I can think back about some pretty about solid lists that I made in detention with friends, like “13 Ways to Squash Pete Gomash”. To this day it’s not unlike me to call up a friend and initially bullet a list of “important” subjects to be discussed and the order that I’d prefer they were taken up. I do the same thing with emails. And scribbling down my name on the mailing lists for CalSurf and 7th St. Entry virtually changed my life in 8th grade.

But they were the type of mailing list advertisements that necessitated self initiated action by the consumer. Mailing lists, especially online, and my unwanted participation has multiplied themselves like the rats my sister used to keep in our backyard. When I find it considerate for a company to offer me an opt-out choice in the small print, I know that something has gone awry. But what is it that is at the root of mailing list advertising’s current problematic nature?

I think it all started in 1789 with a kindly chap by the name of Adam Smith. I believe Mr. Smith’s ideas on human nature and utilizing those inherent urges in the form of competition in order to raise the general well-being of society, really were intended with good intentions. However, unintended consequences have resulted from the laissez-faire approach to markets that Mr. Smith proposed.

My intention here isn’t to consider the economic implications of a liberalized market economy, but rather the socio-psychological. What effects are brought upon a community that has from birth the invaluable merits of competition thrust upon them? It is my contention that the results are an extreme difficulty in combining the actions of community mindedness with personal gain at any cost.

I can’t blame a single person of firm for behaving in exactly the manner in which the system that they operate has taught them, but I feel that a re-examination of our system is much over due. Mailing list advertising that gives not an iota of consideration to the unwelcoming client is simply a product of its environment and I think the environment needs to change.

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The Power of Local Email Marketing

Image by websuccessdiva via Flickr

As a local business owner you realize the opportunities available on the Web, but you probably do not have the time or money to invest into a full blown web presence. The obstacles and costs in building a web site keep many local businesses on the sideline.

But as a local business there is an opportunity to exploit the marketing power of the Internet at little or no cost, and it does not require a web presence.

Through email marketing you can have a direct conduit to both your customers and prospects. You may think email marketing is complicated, but that is a misconception. If you are already using email to correspond, then you are quite capable of advertising through virtual mail. In fact, if you are communicating to your customers through email, in a sense you are already marketing online. You are probably aware that a small amount of customer communication can be very profitable, and email can generate considerable income.

All you need to do is start collecting customer emails, and send them occasional promotions or sale updates. The email advertisements do not need to be coded in html, plain text messages are quite acceptable.

So how do you start down the road to Internet marketing success? You begin by simply collecting customer email addresses, with their permission. Permission email marketing is a requirement. It is referred to as opt-in marketing. At all stages of email marketing you MUST respect your customers and their privacy. Only when they have accepted your request to send information, should you forward email promotions.

How do You Collect Customer Emails?

You simply ask! As a local business owner you are constantly in touch with customers and prospects, either in person or on the phone. As a retail business you could have a clipboard by your register or pre-printed index cards that your customers can fill-out. As a service business you just ask for their email address when you make contact.

What's in it for Your Customers?

The opportunity to save money or be notified of special offers. People are always looking for a bargain, and through email you can keep them informed on the latest deals, in addition you can alert them to new services or products. This is very appealing. And customers will perceive this as a value added service, that makes doing business with you more appealing.

How Difficult is Email Marketing?

It is quite simple. If you email friends or family, you are quite capable of marketing through email. Initially your list will be small so you can manage it through the use of your current email client like MicroSoft Outlook. You place your customer emails in a "group," compose a message, and hit the send button. Not exactly rocket science. (Note: Make sure you use the "blind box" feature.)

But from the start, you may want to consider using a professional email management service like ConstantContact.com. They have a service that is free for lists that are under 50. Their next level handles up to 500, and cost only $15 per month. A service like Constant Contact simplifies the management of your list. These types of services offer features like tracking, reporting, templates and customer support. In addition, they automate the process of people opting out of your list. An important factor with permission email marketing.

What Results Can You Expect?

Think about the potential profit from simply keeping your customers informed. This is not invasive advertising, but permission marketing, where your customers have willingly given their consent to receive your advertisements. It is like they are saying, "Please allow me to spend more money with your business."

If you already have a web site then you will also want to add an opt-in box. Give your site visitors an opportunity to join your promotional list. Many will.

From a marketing perspective it doesn't get anymore targeted then this. And your advertising costs are insignificant. A perfect example is a local wine store owner who works her list twice a week with special promotions. She makes a killing, and often sells out her promotional inventory through email alone.

As a local business owner there are opportunities and there are golden opportunities. This one is solid 24 karat. It's simple, direct and very profitable. And yet few local businesses are taking advantage of email marketing. Why not lead the pack.

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