Subscriber Attraction

Let’s talk about how to attract more newsletter subscribers. We’ve covered the mechanics of publishing an e-newsletter or e-zine. You may have a few hundred subscribers, but how do you expand that base to thousands of subscribers?

• Offer a free article or audio file
• Advertise you newsletter online and offline
• Write for other e-mail newsletters
• Promote a contest
• Encourage existing subscribers to refer their associates and friends
• Develop a co-registration deal with other websites

Offer a free article or audio file: Understand the importance of offering a premium or incentive. Basically, give website visitors a reason to subscribe. Make sure that it is of interested and value to your prospects.

Advertise your newsletter online and offline: Advertise your free report or newsletter in every blog posting, every forum, and every article should have a sentence about how signing up for your free newsletter.

Write for other email newsletters: How would you like to get many viewers for free? You just need to write articles for other email newsletters and websites. Just make sure that at the end of the article you have a three-sentence bio that directs the reader to subscribe to your newsletter or special report.

Promote a contest: Upon entering your contest or sweepstakes, the user will receive your free newsletter subscription. See where I am going with this. No matter what your reader does or where you are posted your warm leads will be funneled into your system one way or another. Sweepstakes can include a makeover for their database, a power point design, a system set up or research. Offer something that you know would appeal to your reader and would not cause you to lose sleep over your offering.

Encourage existing clients and subscribers to refer their friends. A client of mine told me that I should write an email letter to a few of my clients and tell them what state my business was currently in and that I am looking to build my business and need their support by providing me with a testimonial and 3 referrals who can benefit from my services. Well guess what I did that and by the end of 2 weeks I had 8 new paying clients and even better I raised my prices.

Develop a co-registration deal with other websites and blogs: When someone purchases a product or joins an email list to your partner’s website, your publication could be listed as another resource or premium. They would simply “click here” and the subscription is automatic. This is my favorite because it builds my list with little to no effort.

A Few Do’s and Don’ts
• Don’t send large files over (100k)
• Do commit to a regular publishing cycle
• Do get an editor or VA buddy and triple check for typos
• DO limit the use of graphic images
• Don’t just pitch and sound salesy
• DO be current. Don’t discuss Fall fashion trends in the spring
• Do get feedback by emailing your first issue to a few friends

Lets’ discuss the DO’s and Don’ts

Don’t send a large file over 100k: Try your best to maintain a fairly small file size. Your subscribers who have slow internet connection or dial up may be annoyed or disappointment with the slow downloads time. You don’t want to freeze anyone’s computer.

Commit to a regular publishing cycle:

Don’t promote a weekly e-mail newsletter if you can’t deliver on a regular basis.

Don’t over promise and under deliver.

Work with a VA Buddy who is an editor and triple check for typos: Nothing ruins your reputation than an email filled with grammatical errors.

Limit the use of graphic images:

DO not use a great deal of graphic files. It may look nice and pretty on paper, but firewall often strip away the images and distorts your email.

Don’t just pitch your company:

Nobody wants to be sold to. People make their own buying decisions: the purpose of your newsletter is to offer useful information.

Keep it short and conversational:

No one wants to read a long article. It should be content rich filled with keywords. It should take less than 3 minute to read. No more than 5 minutes, but 3 minutes keeps the attention.

Be current: Make sure your newsletter speaks to the current needs of your prospects.