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Email Marketing: How to build your list, quickly.

December 7, 2011 By 1 Comment 
"How do I build my list?" is always on the minds of internet marketers.
It's by far the most puzzling riddle most people fail to solve quickly.
But for me...

This is the WRONG question to ask.

You should be focussing on:
'How do I get my name out in front of more prospective buyers quickly?'

Let me explain.
List building is fine but is everyone joining your lists going to be buyers?
It really shouldn't be about attracting a herd of people but attracting
the right people to your business.  Ones that are receptive to your
offers and ones who wish to create and maintain a relationship with you.
To actively seek the right people and the right connection take a look
around you and see if there is another merchant whom your clients could
do business with.
Because...

The fastest way to jump out in front of more people is to jointly
market with another like-minded and complementary business.
That is; to be introduced by another business to their lists in a
reciprocal marketing marriage.

You do this by approaching another business who has a product or
service which your client base should be attacted to and offer to send
out an email introducing them.  In return they do the same for you.

If you are into direct mail (and you should be as well as email
marketing) this is often done with the business being introduced
'writing and paying the postage' for the privilege.

The on-line world is agast with 'affiliate programs' and they work
wonders.  But I am not suggesting this is an affiliate program.
It's an introductory program whereby you are introduced as a sound
and responsible business person who has products and services which
may be of interst to another person's lists.

You will get exposure you never had before and if your offers are
valuable, than your lists will build.
Certainly faster than many methods being touted over the internet.

Old fashioned style marketing of reciprocal introductions still works
today.

It also helps overcome the biggest fear all new prospects have; which
is TRUST.

When you are introduced by someone who is already trusted by their
crowd your introduction will be welcomed.

So get to it and start writing out a list of businesses you know who
have products and services which complement your customers' desires.
It could be businesses in the same group of shops as you.
It could be businesses who have stalls in the local market.
It could be other internet marketing friends who could introduce you
as a trusted and honest person.
It doesn't really matter - they will be there if you look.
Believe In Yourself
Kurt 
Filed Under: Business Strategy, Email Marketing Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Email Marketing: Free Recording On How To Make Money With Emails

July 28, 2011 By Leave a Comment

Hi Everyone

During the week I was fortunate to be interviewed by Krishna Everson
on my “7 Killer Tips To Get Your Emails Opened, Read and Acted Upon.”

The interview is full of my 7 proven strategies and pure gold tips and
techniques to make more money in your business using email.

It’s simple and easy and here at your fingertips.

http://instantteleseminar.​com/?eventid=21392436

Plus…

At the end of the interview there is an offer from me to help you for FR.EE.

Now, this interview does take around 60 minutes and I know you don’t have that
time alone.

So why not play it in the background whilst you are working away on something else.

You won’t be sorry and I must admit this is one of the best interviews I have
done because Krishna sucked out all my thoughts and made me tell all.

She stripped me down, extracted the best goodies and now it is all revealed in
this audio.

And…

It’s FR.EE

All my major tips and secrets to make money with emails are revealed.

So %%First Name%%, listen here Kurt’s Interview with Krishna you will not be disappointed.

And make sure you grab the fr.ee offer at the end.

Take advantage of me.

Believe in Yourself
Kurt

Filed Under: Business Strategy, Email Marketing Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , ,

lot of things wrong in my email campaigns

July 13, 2011 By Leave a Comment

Here’s what one of our very good clients says about me:

Below the video are some comments about my book.

Sam Raslan – Restaurant Owner – Adelaide South Australia

My e-book, “ Killer Tips To Get Your Emails Read” has been downloaded across Australia, Japan, USA, Canada, Europe and South America.

You can get it sent direct to your inbox by leaving your details on the right of this page.

Here’s what people are saying about the book:

“I have been doing a lot of things wrong in my email campaigns. First off, no-one know who I am and my return address was an attempt to hide from the recipients of my email It is no wonder the only response I was getting to my email campaigns was DELETE ME PLEASE. I was also using cutesey subject lines to con the recipients into opening the emails I sent them. I didn’t have an opening headline to entice the reader to continue on into the email.
I also was using the tired old Click here call to action and no PPPPPSs either. I can get better responses to my new email campaigns since reading the 7 Killer Tips To Get Your Emails Read.”
“Charlie B – Singapore”

“Hi Kurt
Thanks very much for the “Seven Killer Tips To Get My Emails Read”. I was very sceptical about the whole process, but after downloading it I decided to try it & see,& surprise, surprise, guess what? This thing actually does work. So thank you once again. ”
“Ky Khan, Director of Peak Performance Group. WA”

“Great job, Kurt. I was aware of some of these tips – but usually applied them intermittently and often in haste. Your ’7 Killer Tips To Get Your Emails Read’ makes it crystal clear just how important a methodical and consistent approach is in all your emails. And I love the examples you give from well known marketing figures demonstrating just how effective your lessons really are. As always, the best lessons come from watching what the masters do. I’ll be keeping your e-book handy for ready reference every time I go near that ‘Send’ button in future.
“Bruce Bird, Dunstable, LU6 3SH, UK”


Filed Under: Business Strategy Tagged With: , , ,

Email Marketing: They Just Don’t Get It – Part II

March 23, 2011 By Leave a Comment

Hi Everyone

Last week I wrote about two businesses who spent their marketing dollars on a Coupon site to attract customers.

They did all the hard work but blew it because they did not have a ‘backend” strategy to their marketing.

You can read that story here.

Well, I bought another coupon meal deal (I know but I am a sucker for these types of offer) and decided to put this business to the test.

Armed with my wife and a booking at 8 pm I ventured into a local café/restaurant and was eager to take advantage of our “2 courses and a bottle of wine” offer.

The first thing we noticed was the café/restaurant was empty.

I then checked the sticker on the door and saw the closing time was 9 pm.  Gosh I thought, I hope they don’t kick us out before we have finished.

Once seated, the waitress was polite and explained to us we could have two entrées, two main meals and a bottle of wine.

Great, I thought – what a bargain.  If the meal was as nice as the waitress’ manners we may have found a new dining place.

After some pleasant conversation we were ready to order.

An antipasto dish for two seemed to be the right choice with the Garlic Prawns for me and the Pepper and Salt squid for my wife.  All to be washed down with a bottle of crisp Sauvignon Blanc I thought.

But what we discovered on ordering was something quite different.

“Sorry, if you order the antipasto you can have only a serve for one and as for the wine you must choose from a Shiraz or a Rosé .  No white wine is allowed on this deal.”  Said the waitress confidently.

Now for my wife who likes a white wine but not a Red or a Rosé felt a little confused.

Was our attempt to escape from the kids going sour?

For me I was more taken aback that our entrée for two was now an entrée for one.

“Never mind” I said.  “Let’s go with the Rosé”

and…

“OK – antipasto to share will do.”

Well, the wine arrived and it was warm.

“We can’t drink this.”  I said to my wife.

I’m glad the screw top was still affixed to the Rosé as I asked if we could have a cold bottle.  After all, Rosé should be served chilled.

“Hmmm…I guess so.”  Was the answer we received.  “I’ll see what I can do.”

Both my wife and I looked at each other and raised our eyebrows.  Subconsciously we both were saying “Gosh, what’s going on here?”

We could hear bottles being rattled behind the bar and when the waitress arrived back we felt the bottle was indeed chilled and thanked her for efforts.

She smiled.

An indifferent start but at least we could now enjoy each others company.

Our entrée was a pleasant mixture of savouries and contained a sufficient quantity.  A tick to the restaurant in our minds occurred.  We were happy.

The main meals followed very quickly and because I know we were close to the closing time we accepted gleefully.

My prawn dish was fine but my wife’s dish contained a salad that was swimming in mayonnaise.  For a personal trainer, not a healthy meal.

Both meals were heavily salted and as we progressed throughout the courses we could sense our urgency to refresh with liquid.

At the end of the meals, we glared at each other and said,
“Gees, it wasn’t that great, was it.”

I said, “I wonder why businesses go to all the trouble to get you here and then blow it.”  “It doesn’t make sense.”

As we stood up from our chairs and started to exit the owner, who was sitting at a table near us, finally acknowledged our presence and said, “Thank you.  Come back soon.”

I looked at her and smiled and said, “Thank you”, knowing too well they will not see us again.

Let’s see as a consumer why I should not go back:

  • They downgraded the offer, from what our expectations were;
  • Served warm wine which should be cold;
  • Rushed our main meal to beat the closing time;
  • Added too much salt and unhealthy mayonnaise

but for me…

Anyone could have a bad night – so I can overlook these matters.
Everyone deserves a second chance.

The real problem was:

  • the owner ignored us ALL night.

We were in her premises, giving her money and she ignored us !

She was sitting within 7 feet of us at another table and never acknowledged we were there.

Remember we were the only patrons.

The sad part too was there was no attempt to capture our email address to create a “backend marketing strategy”.

Since that night I have discovered the café/restaurant is on the market for a sale.

I can see why.

No actually…

I can see a bargain with massive upside – CAN YOU ?

Believe in Yourself
Kurt

Filed Under: Business Strategy, Email Marketing Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , ,

Email Marketing: They Just Don’t Get It

March 17, 2011 By 4 Comments

Hi Everyone

In Adelaide South Australia, where I live, Living Social has grabbed a huge slice slice of the daily discount email ‘market’.

This is where you can receive an offer from them for a company allowing you buy a product or service at a heavily discounted price.

In the States this market is dominated by Groupon and other like companies as well as Living Social.

Now for the recipient of these emails it is wonderful to use and try a service at a very reasonable fee.  Supposedly at discounts which can be up to 30%-60% off depending on the company offering the service or product.

BUT and it is a big BUT…

businesses are still not using this marketing method wisely.

For instance; I bought into a local pasta meal deal a few weeks back.

When collected the owner complained about how much money they were losing on the 1000 deals they sold.

No attempt was made to get my details to keep selling to me.  Just complaints came her mouth.

In another transaction, an Indian meal (we call them takeaways here not takeouts) seemed to get it right when they asked if I would like to join their email list.

“We send out weekly specials.” I was told.

Hmmm…

“Why not?”  I replied.

That was a month ago. No emails have been forthcoming.

The fact is these discount offers do play a part in a businesses’ marketing mix

BUT…

only if they are a part of a larger marketing strategy.

Use this method of gaining new clients wisely – don’t be caught up that it is just cashflow.

Continually discounting ones goods and services is not a great business model.

Believe in Yourself
Kurt

Filed Under: Business Strategy, Email Marketing Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , ,

Email Marketing – Who Receives Your Emails?

March 15, 2011 By Leave a Comment

Hi Everyone

Who Receives Your Email ?

The topics going around the email marketing world at
the moment are about Segmentation and Relevancy.

In simple terms this means:

“Who Are You Sending Your Emails To?’

and…

“Do They Care?”

Now, before you go all, “What’s this got to do with me !”

Let me explain some important facts for you about email marketing.

Because…

When you get this, you will undoubtedly decide you must somehow
include email marketing in your marketing mix.

Fact 1:
Email Marketing is the most cost effective means for the Small-Medium
business owner to place their name, services and products in front of
their customers.

Fact 2:
Email Marketing Offers Higher Sales Per Investment Dollar than other
forms of advertising.

Fact 3:
If you are not getting the results you need maybe you have not invested
your time, energy and resources wisely.

Or maybe you do nothing?

If this is you it is OK.

It’s not your fault.

Gees, just trying to keep a business afloat these days is tough.

You may have been too busy with other matters like cashflow, reports, stock control and even staff. Yet alone worry about email marketing.

So, let me help you.

If you have a question about email marketing then send it to me.

I am going to place all the questions I receive into a Question and
Answer Fact sheet next week to give you the heads up on how to resolve those pressing issues with email marketing you might have.

Also…

When you reply, I will answer you direct

Plus…

give you the ability to have a free 30 minute consult with me about
email marketing.

Now I will shut this offer down when I have reached a certain number.

I am happy to help

but…

I can only program a few of these free 30 minute consults otherwise my
paying clients will be ropeable they can’t get through.

Clients who have taken the benefit of using my experience and skill
to drive dollars into their pockets and take the stress from their sales.

Send your questions now and avoid worrying about other people’s
problems of Segmentation and Relevancy because I do have the answers.

And you know why I know I have?

I have been hunted down from the United States to attend one of
the USA’s leading Email Marketing Summits to attend as a Special
VIP Guest for 3 days at an spectacular Florida Island B.each Resort
- all expenses PAID.

They wouldn’t do this for any person who wasn’t an expert in
the subject would they.

If you wish to fast track your email marketing – Contact me Now.

I’d be only too happy to help and program a session for you before I
head off to the sunny Florida Island B.each Resort.

Believe in Yourself
Kurt
Australia’s Leading Email Marketing Strategist
to the Small to Medium Business Owner

PS: The program I use and recommend for Email Marketing is SmartEmail. It comes with 45 minutes one-on-training with me to help get you started.
Does any other product do that?

PPS: Email Marketing is more relevant in today’s marketplace than
ever before. Get started NOW .

Filed Under: Business Strategy, Email Marketing Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Email Marketing and the Mobile Phone = A Great Marriage

March 8, 2011 By Leave a Comment

Hi Everyone

I have been keeping a close eye over the past 12 months on the regularity and increase of people reading their emails via their Mobile Phones.

It was a perplexing situation for us Email Marketers because it could mean we needed to drastically change our methods quickly.

But…

What I have discovered and researched is the Mobile Phone is not to be feared but welcomed by the Email Marketer.

Let me explain…

The age group of people who are prolific Mobile Phone users are Generation X and Y.  They need constant contact with their friends and family and rely of their phones to provide this.

When they receive any message, whether SMS or Email,  they have a built in ‘Must Read’ mentality.

This means if they are reading their emails via their phones they will read your message almost instantly.

They have to.

Their brain says, “It’s for me.”  “And I’m important”
“More important than the person I am talking to at the moment.”

But here is the good part.

All these Generation X and Y people also have Email Addresses. Don’t for one second believe they don’t.

So, if your message is really advantageous and of benefit to them they will read it again when they log onto their email at a PC.

For me though there is an even healthier sign email marketing and mobile phones are a great marriage.

This is because most people at work will have their phone on and instantly read their messages too.

If they like what they read they will flick their PC over to their personal or business email address, depending which one you sent the message to,  and read it.

Don’t believe me ?

Ask all the new coupon sites, like Groupon or Social Living how quick people respond to their daily offers.

Why?

Because they do not wish to miss out.

The mobile phone today is a godsend to email marketers.

It is a device which allows our messages to be read within a shorter time frame than ever before.

But remember the principles behind Email Marketing.

It’s all about ONE EMAIL = ONE MESSAGE.

Especially now people are reading emails quicker via their phones.  They do not wish to be tied up reading many points you might wish to cover.

Just write one message in your email.

And I am not an advocate of keeping it short.  If your topic is want they wish to read the length of the message is irrelevant.

Email Marketing continues to be about:

1. The List;

2. The Relationship you have with your list; and

3. The Offer.

Cheers and Great Selling
Kurt

Filed Under: Business Strategy, Email Marketing Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Email Marketing: Do you send in Text or HTML format?

February 28, 2011 By Leave a Comment

Hi Everyone

I have been in some interesting discussions recently over whether to send out marketing emails in HTML or TEXT.

It seems the big push these days, coming from the Internet Marketers, is to send in TEXT.

The reason behind this would be deliverability.  By sending out emails in TEXT format the belief is you have a greater chance of getting your email delivered and not caught up in Spam Filters.

My research and experience (I have sent thousands of legitimate marketing emails) reveals using only the TEXT method is fraught with danger.

Sure you could entice them direct to a web page quickly if they know you but to be really honest and upfront I have discovered 98.9%  of people (yeah OK I made that stat up) read their emails via HTML.

In fact the statistic would be even higher if I really calculated it.

You see…

I have the ability in my program I use to send email messages in TEXT and HTML at the same time and view which format a recipient opens them in.

And…

Almost everyone reads my emails in HTML.

What this allows me to do is to send emails with pictures/images inserted.

It allows me to add my face to the email in the signature line which helps build trust.

It forces me not to treat the recipient as a child because I ALLOW them to choose which format they will read their email in.

With the advent of many emails being read via mobile phones, a carefully inserted and constructed picture header can also increase the read of your email.

So my advice is not to dictate to your customer the experience in which they are about to obtain.

Allow them to choose to view your picture/images or not and send your emails in both HTML & TEXT formats.

Cheers and Great Selling
Kurt

Filed Under: Business Strategy, Email Marketing Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Email Marketing: I dont know what to say.

February 27, 2011 By Leave a Comment

Hi Everyone

I had a client tell me, “I know I should be contacting my customers but I don’t know what to say.”  “I am a retailer, not a marketer.”

I looked at her puzzled and replied, “Aren’t you both?”

You see it’s not about being one or the other.  It’s about having an ongoing conversation with your customers to enable them to understand and stay informed how you can help them.

The problem my client had was she wasn’t thinking, “How can I help my customers?”

She was thinking, “How can I sell  my products?”

But really even if your thoughts are purely into sales let me help with a method I employ to generate ideas.

The First Point is always decide what the end result is.

You need to know where you are going with your marketing.

You need to have an end point and it needs to measurable.

Let me explain.

The purpose of an email marketing campaign is to achieve something.  I mean really have an end in mind.

Stephen Covey wrote 15 years ago “Begin with the end in mind”.

Once you have decided what the end is you can work backwards.

Here’s a tool which will help.

It’s a Step Diagram.

The Step Diagram enables me to place logical and  sequential milestones in place to achieve the desired end result.

Here’s  my diagram to show you of the process to undertake.

Step Diagram

Step Diagram

Place the target you wish to achieve at the top and then place how you are going to get there on the steps.  I call these steps milestones.

Once you have completed the milestones you can complete the Actions required to get there.

I created the Step Diagram many years ago from my studies of Strategy Formulation.

It can used in everyday life or in the work place.

I use it to help my clients strategise their email marketing campaigns.

You can do this too.

You don’t need anything fancy, just a pen and blank piece of paper will suffice.

Let’s use the Step Diagram with a real campaign.  We just had Valentine’s Day so if we use this as an example.

The End In Mind would be a Valentine’s Day Offer.  It could be something on February 14th or it could a whole week of celebrations.

At the top of the Step Diagram goes “Valentine’s Day Offer”

But try to be specific.  What are you offering?

Then along the steps (milestones) you write down what you could say in say 3-5 different email messages before Valentine’s Day.

Email One could be an Introductory Email.  i.e.  Valentines day is only a month away.  Start planing a surprise for your loved one NOW.

Email Two would be on the next step moving closer towards Valentine’s Day.  It may be about, “Time to start really thinking – ONLY three weeks away.”  And offer some ideas of presents to buy; etc.

Do you get the point?

My client can do all this.  She just didn’t have a TOOL to do it with.

But now she has.

And so do you.

What is your next big day, event, moment in your business?

Start planning your email campaigns well in advance.

I like 3-5 emails in mine but have also gone as many as 7.  It just depends on the lead time and the size of the event.

Hope this helps so you never again say, “I don’t know what to say.

Cheers and Great Selling
Kurt

Filed Under: Business Strategy, Email Marketing Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Email Marketing: You are allowed to contact existing clients.

February 24, 2011 By 2 Comments

HI Everyone

There are no restrictions against a company emailing its existing customers or anyone who has inquired about its products or services, even if these individuals have not given permission, as these messages are classified as “relationship” messages under the CAN-SPAM Act.

15 U.S.C. § 7702(17)

(iii) to provide—(I) notification concerning a change in the terms or features of;
(II) notification of a change in the recipient’s standing or status with respect to; or

(III) at regular periodic intervals, account balance information or other type of account statement with respect to, a subscription, membership, account, loan, or comparable ongoing commercial relationship involving the ongoing purchase or use by the recipient of products or services offered by the sender.

In Australia we have what is know as Inferred Consent.

Which means if you have done business in the past there is reasonable expectation you will contact a customer in the future.

What this means to the email marketer is do not be afraid to contact past, existing clients with new offers on your products and services.

Cheers and Great Selling
Kurt

Filed Under: Business Strategy, Email Marketing Tagged With: , , , , , ,
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