One thing I've noticed in various junk marketing emails I've received lately is that email marketers have started using tiny URLs in their email messages. A tiny URL is basically a URL that is routed through another service that knows what the actual URL is supposed to be and directs the visitor to the right page. The reason for the service is that it can take a URL that is very long and complex and transform it into something MUCH shorter in terms of total characters.

Now, tiny URLs have value when doing something like micro-blogging, where the total number of characters you have to convey your message is very limited. For instance, if you are using Twitter, where you are limited to 140 characters, it is not practical to place a long link in your message because it will take up so much room. So you can use a tiny URL and leave yourself with many more characters.

The downside of tiny URLs is that they mask where the links actually go. In today's dangerous Internet world, where criminal robots, spyware and viruses abound, you just can't go around clicking on strange links when you don't know where you might end up. So why, when character limitation is not an issue, would you HIDE where you are linking to? In my opinion, this is very suspicious. Personally, I will NEVER click on a link in an email if I can't see where the link goes, unless it is from a very trustworthy source who I know personally. Otherwise...forget about it.

I'm probably not the only person who feels this way. So...if you are doing email marketing, my advice is to make your links transparent. Otherwise, it seems like you are trying to hide something. and I would just bet that your email marketing performance will suffer.

Labels: email, email marketing, internet marketing, online marketing, tiny urls

It is possible to weld the core business motive of generating profit with virtues such as charity and environmentalism. Not only is it possible, it is advisable.

If you incorporate an element of charity into a marketing campaign, such as giving a percentage of earnings to a particular charity, it gives you the opportunity to tap into a whole new network. It also gives you a hook for public relations purposes. It goes without saying that the charity should be one that you have researched and want to be associated with.

Having an environmental element to your marketing is another great way to gain the participation of socially aware prospects. People who are devoted to a particular cause are aggressive about dissiminating information in support thereof. So if you associate your marketing campaign with that cause, then you will win the loyalty of and help from the people who believe in the cause.

If you can combine the above elements with a discount or money-saving offer, then you compound the effectiveness of the offer. You will also have all of the makings of a strong press release campaign. Online PR can be used to distribute your message to thousands of web sites. If you push the right buttons, you can generate a ton of traffic from environmentally-conscious individuals who will be receptive to your offer.

If you need help crafting a socially responsible marketing campaign and message for your business, give Work Media a call at 888-299-4837 or email Info@WorkMedia.net.

Labels: advertising, charity, email marketing, environmentalism, internet marketing, marketing, pr, publicity, social media

Work Media has begun using the services of GetResponse.com, and so far we are highly impressed with the service. We don't do much product recommending, but we're going to make an exception. We did our research before signing up with an autoresponder provider. We wanted a company that specialized in autoresponders, had a strong track record, and that was reasonably priced. GetResponse won out.

The service has a very nice control panel that gives the user a lot of flexibility with regards to setting up campaigns, doing email broadcasts, managing subscribers, etc. The first step in configuring the system is setting up a campaign. A campaign is basically a container for a set of messages, with its own campaign name, reply email address, etc.

As you add messages to a campaign, you specify when each message should be sent. For instance, you might specify that the first message is sent instantly, the second is sent two days later, and the third message is sent two days after the second message.

Each message can be in plain text format, HTML format, or both, in which case the system will send the HTML message if the client receiving the message can accept it - otherwise, it will send the text message.

You can also track click-throughs of your emails and sales generated by each email. This tracking component is one of the most powerful features of the system. You can actually determine the exact email that triggers the most sales - powerful information to have.

At any time, you can also do a one-shot broadcast email to the subscribers of any of your campaigns, so you can continue the sales process even after the autoresponder series of emails is finished.

If you would like help setting up an autoresponder for your business using GetReponse.com (or another autoresponder service of your choice), contact Work Media at 888-299-4837 or email Info@WorkMedia.net.

Labels: autoresponder, email marketing, GetResponse, internet marketing

You need to face facts - only a very small percentage of people who visit your web site are going to do business with you initially. You need to get that email address. The approach that Work Media has taken (and that probably many of you have taken) is to use a newsletter signup form to try and gather email addresses. We get some email addresses that way, but not enough. It's just too passive an approach.

To counter this, we are working on a free Internet marketing course that will be served via an autoresponder. An autoresponder is software that sends out a series of emails at intervals that you specify to anyone who provides contact information. This is extremely valuable because it allows you to contact prospective customers on a regular basis automatically, without you having to actually send out the messages yourself.

It has been shown in marketing studies that it often takes 5 or more contacts with a prospect before a sale is made. By automating the process, you get those 5 or more messages sent out regardless of what's going on in your life. Autoresponders have been used by Internet marketing experts for years, but they are still underused by many other types of businesses that could benefit.

For instance, let's say you own an automobile dealership. You could create a series of emails related to car maintenance (each email touching on one particular area), and then set up an autoresponder to send the emails to anyone who signs up. In this way, you keep your name in your prospects' minds.

Granted, you still have to get the traffic there to start with (we spend most of our time in this blog talking about ways to do that), but once you do, you need to MAXIMIZE the opportunity.

If you would like help automating your online marketing with use of autoresponder, contact Work Media at 888-299-4837 or email Info@WorkMedia.net.

Labels: autoresponder, email marketing, internet marketing

An email I got this morning reminded me of a couple of good Internet marketing principles, so I thought I would talk about it.

Not too long ago, I owned an old Dodge Ram truck. I bought a part for it that I had not been able to find from a web site called AutoPartsWarehouse.com. Since then, I have received emails from them fairly regularly. Most of the emails are general in nature.

Today I got one with the following headline:

Get 5% OFF on all DODGE RAMCHARGER parts for 5 Days only + FREE Shipping

This email and headline illustrate a couple of important points about successful marketing:

1. They are using segmentation to send me emails based specifically on my past purchases. They know I have bought parts for a Dodge Ram, so they are sending me messages about Dodge Ram parts.
2. The offer is specific and contains a deadline. Deadlines are important because without them your prospects will delay on making a decision. I only have 5 days to save 5% and get free shipping.
   
3. It contains the word "FREE", which is one of the most powerful words you can use in your marketing.

How could you apply these principles to your own marketing? Do you segment your customers and send them specific messages based on their past purchases? You should.

Do you carefully craft your marketing messages to get your prospects' attention? And do you place time limits on your special offer?

Do you email past customers on a regular basis?

These are all very basic principles of modern marketing, but if you just master the basics, you will be VERY successful.

If you need some help crafting a thorough Internet marketing plan, contact Work Media at 888-299-4837 or email Info@WorkMedia.net.

Labels: ad writing, advertising, copywriting, email marketing, internet marketing, marketing