Feb 5 2012

How Does a Mailing List Help My Business Grow?

Because I am that Nerdie

Hmmm, this is a tough question for me, as I sit here .. in the dark, with a sleeping baby in a quiet house. I know, right?? On Super Bowl Sunday?? How did you manage that?? I can hear people asking. LOL Actually, pretty easy. Everyone at home went somewhere else to watch it and I am home alone … with a sleeping baby! YAY But I digress! What’s that? OH yes … how does a mailing list help my business grow? Hmmm….Well, let’s explain what it is first.

A mailing list is simply a list of people’s information that you have gathered with the premise of sending them requested information. This should be an Opt-in list (they volunteer their information to you) with a very easy Opt-out (unsubscribe). If you are just putting emails on a list WITHOUT that person’s permission, and/or you do NOT have some sort of Opt-out … You are a creepy spammer, slimy salesman or dirty politician. So let’s keep this list building legal, shall we?

We all join so many mailing lists — you know, those boxes that ask for our emails and we receive ezines, newsletters, emails, PDFs, downloadables, snail mail (Holy Crap, it does still exist!!!), maybe even samples of goodies … whatever that call to action was that got you to give that person your email. That is what a mailing list is and how to build one See that box up on the top right? Yeah, that’s my easy opt-in (actually is to get my posts in your eMail box daily so you don’t miss a post LOL) and EVERY time you receive that email, there is an Opt-out (that unsubscribe at the bottom of the email, but I’d like you to just ignore it because you LOVE getting email from me, right?!?) That box will change soon, as I am currently working on an actual Newsletter

Okay, so now what? You have this list … what are you going to do with it? Um, let’s use that list to help grow our business .. you know, get your brand out there, or your product, or your service … Whatever it is you have to offer! There is an art to this and it does take time to perfect it. You don’t want to send out garbage every day. You want to send QUALITY information out to your list, add some tips and tricks, some video, an image or two … give the reader something that will keep them away from that unsubscribe link at the bottom of your email. Turn it into a campaign — a series of emails over a period of time.

Recently I signed up to get a series of emails from Christine Gallagher of She’s Got Clients. I’ve been on her email list for some time now, have attended several of her webinars and I am currently saving up for one of her amazing products. She offers some great products the she could easily sell for $97 as a gift for signing up for her ezine, which I will add, also has wonderful content. I’ve learned A LOT from her emails, webinars, videos and articles! I can’t rave enough about her!!! Shannon Cherry who owns Be Heard Solutions is another amazing woman I follow — her expertise is in a different field (public relations and marketing) than Christine so I don’t feel I am being bombarded by repeat information. But again … great information. And I love her mommy blog, too

They use their emails, ezines, campaigns, freebies, etc to earn your trust and hopefully get you to purchase one of their amazing products! And that is what builds your business … loyal readers who buy your product, your service, your brand, your name … whatever it is you are selling! And if you do it right, you won’t be that creepy spammer, that slimy salesperson or that nasty old Emperor. You will be that Master Jedi, that go-to gal or guy that people trust who are going to talk about your product or service to all their friends who will, in turn, do that same! Talk about the power of Expanding Your Reach?

So my “call to action” is two-fold … First, if you liked this post, and want to be kept in the loop, please use that “Subscribe” button up there on the top right. Second, I would love to hear your thoughts so please use the comment box below

** photo credit: Zeetz Jones via photopin cc **

By Gypsy ~ Kimberly • Business • 4 • Tags: business growth, call to action, grow your business, mailing list, networking, Tools of the Trade

4 Comments

Mary
Feb 06, 2012 @ 21:40:09

Excellent post! And I’ve subscribed. Thank you! Yours is the first Feedburner box that I’ve had work in a long time (Firefox, I heard didn’t play nicely with it.) That list is oh-so-important to have, and you made it very clear why. Great job!
Mary would like you to read..Finding Open Windows

- Gypsy ~ Kimberly
  Feb 06, 2012 @ 22:11:59
  
  YAY … my list is growing!!! I think I am up to 5 now … Woot!!!
  
  I’m guessing firefox finally fixed their issue. I am glad, too. Because I am NOT a fan of feedblitz. I also use Chrome — but that doesn’t play nice with flash
  
  I’m glad you said that, Mary, about it being clear. After a couple comments on a group I am in, I felt like I didn’t get it across well enough. I feel better knowing that I was clear … Maybe I just need to adjust the antennas and satellites a little bit up there. Off to comment on yours! <3
  Gypsy ~ Kimberly would like you to read..I’m an Angry Mother Today!
  
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