Unless you use the Internet only for surfing and never use your email address you've probably received something that is called spam.
There are different definitions for spam but I will say that spam is unsolicited email commercial. Many people harvest other people's email addresses on email and web forums and send them info that they didn't request. This is very frustrating because you loose your precious time deleting those unwanted messages. In this article I will explain how NOT to appear like a spammer.
Opt-in
If you have an email newsletter it is very important that you don't appear like a spammer. If you want to stay long in email publishing business your newsletters have to be based on opt-in method. It means that a subscriber chose to receive your newsletter and that you have their permission to send them your newsletter. It is called Permission Marketing. I would suggest that your list be double opt-in. Now what is double opt-in? Double opt-in means that your subscribers have to confirm their request to join your list. Confirmation is done by replying to the message that you send to everyone who had initiated subscription. Beside replying, people can confirm their request by clicking on a certain link. This ensures that one person can't subscribe another person against his or her will. Also, never buy so called opt-in lists and also never sell or rent your members base.
Welcome message
I would suggest you that you ask your new subscribers to save your welcome message. There you can put the necessary info about your list and list management: list description, subscribe/unsubscribe address, digest address, owner's email address, list rules...
This is important because of the following. Many people promote their newsletter for some time, until they get enough subscribers and then publish the first issue. However, it is most likely that someone who had subscribed to your list several months ago forgot that he or she actually requested to be a member of your list. And then, they can accuse you that you are a spammer. If they save a welcome message they can see that they required to be your subscribers.
Subject line
Subject line is very important in email newsletters. Beside, From field it is the most important thing for someone to decide whether to open your newsletter or not. I would suggest that your subject line consists a title of your article, issue number and date. If your From or To field doesn't consist your list name than you should put your list name in Subject line, too. Preferably in brackets. If you have your subscriber's first name in your database you should definitely put their name as the first thing in the Subject line. Then it is more likely that they will open your newsletter. Never use spam techniques like putting Re: at the beginning of your Subject line so that people think that they sent you an email and you are sending them your reply. Nobody is fool.
Filtration
Many people use email programs with powerful email filter options. Many people set their filters to delete messages with get-rich-quick-schemes, porn and similar content so it is wise that you don't put that kind of text in your messages if you want that people read it. Also, don't capitalize your words like FREE, MAKE MONEY, GUARANTEED... I wouldn't suggest that you use this or similar words in the first place beacuse these words are often used by spammers.
If you have an option that in To field be your subscriber's email address and not, for example your list name, that would be ideal because some mail washer programs automatically flag messages which don't have a recipient email address as possible SPAM.
List management
Always provide very clear information regarding list management in your newsletter. Very important thing is that your list management provides very easy way of unsubscribing. For example, some email newsletters have at the very bottom an unique unsubscribe address for every subscriber. It can be something like leave-yourlistname-111327893L@yourlistserver.com This way, your subscribers can unsubscribe only with one click and they don't have to worry if they sent unsubscription request from address which is in your subscriber list. Good list management is, also, useful because you won't loose your time explaining to your subscribers how to do something, for example unsubscribe or set receiving messages in digest mode.
Also, it is wise that if you use advanced email marketing software like Group Mail to include important information about your subscribers in every issue of your email newsletter. In other words, to personalize your newsletter.
For example, you can make a section at the beginning of your email newsletter where you will write several text lines so that your subscriber see that he or she really chose to be your subscriber. Many email marketing software have an option to include a code in your issue that will be automatically parsed after sending so the subscriber will see his or her info.
Something like this:
_____________________
MEMBERS SECTION
Your name: !*COMPLETE_NAME*!
Member since: !*MEMBER_SINCE*!
From IP address: !*IP_ADDRESS*!
_____________________
And in your Editor's Section you can start your writing with:
Dear, !*COMPLETE_NAME*!?
That's why personalization is very important.
At the end, you can read several spam messages and - do the opposite in your email newsletter.
______________________________
Dejan Bizinger is a Contributing Editor for Infacta. Infacta is email messaging services company providing powerful, yet easy-to-use award-winning Group Mail, software for sending highly-personalized email messages and Group Metrics, software for email tracking. For more information visit: http://www.infacta.com ______________________________
![]() |
|
![]() |
|
![]() |
|
![]() |
1. Ask visitors to subscribe to your e-zine. It's a... Read More
Everyone at some point in their Internet experience has received... Read More
Some time ago I was thinking about the best and... Read More
I think first of all, everybody deserves to have a... Read More
Email is a wonderful thing. It costs next to nothing... Read More
Too often, people forget they're anonymous in the internet world.... Read More
Don't be insulted. Don't take it as a personal rejection.... Read More
I love the Internet! Information about any topic that piques... Read More
Need a fresh idea for your e-zine content? Do an... Read More
Most email marketers know that it is important spam-check email... Read More
Email EtiquetteIn order to effeciently communicate on the Internet it... Read More
Ever wondered what it would be like to have a... Read More
Have you noticed the marketing frenzy? Have you felt the... Read More
A few months into the job and Sabrina's cold calling... Read More
Which email format is more effective to use, Text or... Read More
Before you start an e-mail marketing campaign it is important... Read More
As an Online Home Based busy owner you will reach... Read More
If you want an email campaign to succeed, you don`t... Read More
Imagine going to bed and waking up in the morning... Read More
This is a little "beauty" of an idea if you... Read More
Hey, using eBooks, eReports and eCourses is a fantastic way... Read More
1. Ask visitors to subscribe to your e-zine. It's a... Read More
Keeping your email lists fresh is critical to the success... Read More
One of the things that the introduction of blogs has... Read More
I remember reading time and time again when I first... Read More
Email - today's preferred business communication tool - provides you... Read More
We all know that spammers are looking for your email-address.... Read More
-- Email Appending and ECOA Match Rates Revealed --NEWTON, MA,... Read More
Perhaps the most important component in turning visitors to your... Read More
Have you ever wondered how some websites get so many... Read More
Don't overlook your current customers. After all, they're the ones... Read More
Everyone who has been marketing online for sometime already know... Read More
A strange thing has been happening to newsletters online. They... Read More
No doubt one of the overriding concerns you have is... Read More
I think first of all, everybody deserves to have a... Read More
Most people now know the official definition of spam- Unsolicited... Read More
Here are 11 ways to expand your subscriber list: 1.... Read More
If you're a small business owner you definitely need promotion.... Read More
An autoresponder is a very powerful tool for any online... Read More
As I logged into my e-mail account, I clicked on... Read More
Everyone at some point in their Internet experience has received... Read More
We all know that spammers are looking for your email-address.... Read More
When it comes to your business e-mail communications, you need... Read More
Every business needs a low cost way to reach targeted... Read More
I have a special new email address. It's in addition... Read More
Another powerful reason for making the switch from using the... Read More
Writing and publishing a successful newsletter is perhaps the most... Read More
The internet seems to be full of hyped up business... Read More
If you want an email campaign to succeed, you don`t... Read More
1. Collect leads with your autoresponder. You will get an... Read More
Did you know that one of the major purposes of... Read More
After endless hours of writing, designing and programming your brand... Read More
Let's give a definition to autoresponder first. So, what is... Read More
Even though many people have been writing e-mails for a... Read More
Just because you can communicate with hundreds of people virtually... Read More
These days email is taken for granted and used perhaps... Read More
E-mail promotion Internet marketing can help your home-based business expand... Read More
Whether a company sells light fixtures to large corporations or... Read More
In this article I will give you several tips that... Read More
Coming as I do from a direct response and direct... Read More
Your newsletter's success depends on its design. An attractive, easy... Read More
Email AestheticsIt`s an old, old saying, but it`s true: you... Read More
One of the things that the introduction of blogs has... Read More
Now that we've explored the importance of sending permission-based email,... Read More
It is just amazing. Power right at your fingertips. It... Read More
Need a fresh idea for your e-zine content? Do an... Read More
Email Marketing |