[Giftgirl]

Hi everyone

I NEED to up the numbers on my mailing list, and have had a look at some other threads about it, but can't find anything about whether people think it's worth spending the money? (Please don't bombard me with proof that I'm wrong here! I'm exhausted, trying to move house and run a business, and my fridge is empty, so a touch on the stressed side!) If anyone has any thoughts either way on whether it's worth it, and if not, what other effective ways there are to build up your mailing list, I'd be very grateful.
Thanks peeps.

Oh and I mean lists of customers, not other businesses. I'm looking at some of the companies mentioned on other threads, like Selectabase and LBM, and am getting very confused! Maybe I should just go to bed........

Gah, another edit. Also I'm thinking of names and emails, not postal addresses, or is that not possible?

[admagic]

Originally Posted by Giftgirl

Hi everyone

I NEED to up the numbers on my mailing list, and have had a look at some other threads about it, but can't find anything about whether people think it's worth spending the money? (Please don't bombard me with proof that I'm wrong here! I'm exhausted, trying to move house and run a business, and my fridge is empty, so a touch on the stressed side!) If anyone has any thoughts either way on whether it's worth it, and if not, what other effective ways there are to build up your mailing list, I'd be very grateful.
Thanks peeps.

Oh and I mean lists of customers, not other businesses. I'm looking at some of the companies mentioned on other threads, like Selectabase and LBM, and am getting very confused! Maybe I should just go to bed........

Gah, another edit. Also I'm thinking of names and emails, not postal addresses, or is that not possible?

It is hard to make financial sense of direct mailing unless you have a front end offer with profits in the few tens of pounds, with a back end product or lifetime value at least over a hundred,and preferably hundreds

Reason being that at say £600/1000 front end costs and (say 2-6% conversion) you need £20 profit just to break even on the front end.....typical back end /repeat percentages is where the money is made.

If you are still in the game at those figures, you want to find a list that has bought your type of product recently - that clearly depends which products you are selling........but lists like www.hilitedms.co.uk can be good if you can find what you are looking for there...for example windsor group sells a lot of different types of products, in the sunday papers, and you can rent those lists at hilite.

Lists based on demographics alone are never as good as targetted purchasers.

Many address lists from big magazines are not advertised but even still are up for rent. On a say £150/1000 basis - dont use lists from FREE magazines, they convert far less than paid.

On the email front DONT RENT EMAIL LISTS PERIOD......you have no idea who and how they were gained, and your ISP may take you offline if they get spam complaints

The way I do this, is look around for opt in lists for magazines and websites that are in my niches....some allow one time mailing of a list of anywhere up to 20000 for sums as low as £300 - can be as high as £1000 for a big list SOMETIMES IT CAN BE FREE, if you build a relationship

email list conversion tends to be lower than targetted direct mail, BUT......

If instead you do a JV and offer the list owner a % ofyour profit in return for the list owner ENDORSING the offer with what is called a lift letter, it can massively increase response.

One final way to do things is to build a list is virally, which is to offer free reports,with a back end paid upsell, and the ability to rebrand them - so that anyone whor passes the report on, is credited with the sale if any of the downline buys.

[Giftgirl]

Thanks for the comprehensive answer Admagic. I'm starting to think maybe it isn't for me; seems pretty expensive and I can't seem to find a list that fits my target market.

[Dotwhack]

From my experience, mailing lists with email addresses tend to be £200 per thousand and of dubious quality. I.e. yes these customers 'opt-ed' in to received thrid party emails but do they actually read the emails etc.

I'd say it's best to capture your own email list through your sales orders, competitions on your site (and other sites), a newsletter sign up on your website etc.

The list will gradually increase over time and with your own list, you can be sure the customers are actually interested in your brand because they've interacted previously.

Also, have you considered a joint email venture with another firm. Add your compeition to their emailn broadcast etc - that way you will have effectively emailed their list.

[OnlyFair]

Originally Posted by Dotwhack

I'd say it's best to capture your own email list through your sales orders, competitions on your site (and other sites), a newsletter sign up on your website etc.

I've been thinking about a competition to get people to sign up for my newsletter. I was googling for rules/guidelines but haven't found anything so far (knowing me I'm searching for the wrong thing!). Can anyone help me out/point me in the right direction?

Kate

[admagic]

Originally Posted by OnlyFair

I've been thinking about a competition to get people to sign up for my newsletter. I was googling for rules/guidelines but haven't found anything so far (knowing me I'm searching for the wrong thing!). Can anyone help me out/point me in the right direction?

Kate

Provided you do give the prize for free, and do not charge to enter, there are no problems.

One of the keys to using competitions or any free gift - is to ensure that the gift qualifies readers as people interested in your products.

If this is a recurring eg monthly competition, it is also worth posting a winners gallery to make the competition more real... credibility is everything on the web.

And finally preferably in a script font "we hate spam as much as you do"!


By the way.... the best way to get sign ups,( even if the thought makes you wriggle) is to use a video request in which you say please enter your name below and point down on your webcam to where the box is.

This can increase sign ups all the way from a few percent up to 25 or more.

[Giftgirl]

Originally Posted by Dotwhack

From my experience, mailing lists with email addresses tend to be £200 per thousand and of dubious quality. I.e. yes these customers 'opt-ed' in to received thrid party emails but do they actually read the emails etc.

I'd say it's best to capture your own email list through your sales orders, competitions on your site (and other sites), a newsletter sign up on your website etc.

The list will gradually increase over time and with your own list, you can be sure the customers are actually interested in your brand because they've interacted previously.

Also, have you considered a joint email venture with another firm. Add your compeition to their emailn broadcast etc - that way you will have effectively emailed their list.

Thanks Dotwhack. I did wonder if this might be the case. I like the idea of the joint venture with another business. My list is very small, although to be fair I've only been up and running a few months, two of which I was ill and couldn't work anyway. It's like running up a down escalator sometimes! Thanks for the points.

[admagic]

Originally Posted by Giftgirl

Thanks Dotwhack. I did wonder if this might be the case. I like the idea of the joint venture with another business. My list is very small, although to be fair I've only been up and running a few months, two of which I was ill and couldn't work anyway. It's like running up a down escalator sometimes! Thanks for the points.

Giftgirl,

The best way to prepare for a JV is to produce long specific copy for one of your products or offers, and test the conversion using ppc or otherwise to that specific page

That way you can approach JV partners with confidence being able to tell them what you expect them to earn by promoting your product - they listen better if you can give them an idea of "what is in it for them"

You can also ensure your copy sells, before wasting the JV traffic

A list owners endorsment always makes a big difference

A great way to do this, is to make an offer for something free that is a repeat order item, (eg skin care) then make a "FREE" offer, for something very small in which they pay the postage to get a sample...an then upsell on an offer for more

That will get you the biggest number of sign ups,and clearly if they have paid say £2 for handling and mail they are qualified - and have picked up the cost of the mailing for you

(eg a sample of your skin care product)

You will need to offer the JV partner and affiliate deal on the back end offer in that case..

[fee]

Originally Posted by OnlyFair

I've been thinking about a competition to get people to sign up for my newsletter. I was googling for rules/guidelines but haven't found anything so far (knowing me I'm searching for the wrong thing!). Can anyone help me out/point me in the right direction?

Kate

Try here kate..........

http://www.out-law.com/page-6780

[admagic]

Originally Posted by fee

Try here kate..........

http://www.out-law.com/page-6780

It confirms the main issue.

Provided it is free to enter, there is no problem