You don’t want to lose out on a cheap and effective way to manage your affiliate marketing campaigns, right? Email marketing allows you to create messages for specific niches, track interest by looking at open and click rates, and build relationships with your subscribers. While it is effective, there are also common email marketing mistakes that you need to be aware of that could prevent you from reaping the benefits. Here’s a list of things to avoid from the Folks at AWEBER.
1. Do Not Purchase Email Lists.
Effective email marketing campaigns cater to specific demographics, tastes and interests, and aren’t just blasting emails out to random groups of people. When you buy an email list, there’s no way to guarantee that those people are really interested in your messages or the business you’re advertising for, so you must avoid purchased lists. Another thing to keep in mind is that most email marketing software providers prohibit the use of purchased lists.
2. Don’t Use a “From” Name or Subject Line They Won’t Recognize.
You want to make sure subscribers recognize who the emails are coming from. Be consistent, and make sure your email campaigns use information that matches what subscribers saw when they originally signed up. Make sure your subject line clearly explains the value of the message and that you deliver what’s promised. Transparency will give you more credibility, and people will be more likely to listen to what you’re saying.
3. Don’t Forget the CAN-SPAM Act.
The CAN-SPAM Act is a U.S. law requiring that all marketing emails contain the sender’s valid physical postal address. This might sound scary if you’re operating your affiliate marketing business from home, but a post office box will work just as well, so get one and use it as the postal address in your emails. You’ll be compliant with the law and subscribers will know there is a real person they can contact with any questions.
4. Don’t Send Irrelevant or Infrequent Emails.
You might have a number of affiliate campaigns you’re running, but make sure you’re only sending each subscriber information about all the campaigns and products they specifically requested. For example, subscribers who sign up for information on weight loss programs might not want to be added to a campaign that receives tips for cooking. Sending information on other irrelevant products or services can irritate subscribers and cause them to unsubscribe or mark your emails as spam.
Also remember to keep in contact with the subscribers you have. Revisit your landing page from time to time to assess your email content and make sure it matches up with your original offer. Set expectations so that subscribers know what you’ll be sending and when they’ll be receiving it.
5. Don’t Leave Out a Call To Action.
In order to get credit for your affiliate marketing, you’re going to need the subscriber to take action. This most likely involves purchasing something or at least visiting a particular website. Remember to answer the question “What do I do next?” for your subscribers and provide clear instructions.
6. Don’t Send Without Testing.
You don’t want to send your carefully planned message with affiliate links that aren’t working. This is why you need to test messages. Make sure links are working, images can be seen, and that the message is readable. You’ll want to test the message in different email clients such as Yahoo, Gmail, AOL, Outlook, etc. to ensure it’s consistent with all programs.
If you’re already using email with your affiliate marketing, be sure you aren’t making any of these mistakes. No email campaign is perfect, but avoiding these major mistakes will get you one step closer to that goal.
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As a member of AWeber’s Education Marketing team, Crystal Gouldey teaches marketers how to use email to increase sales and profits. See AWeber’s blog for more email marketing tips from Crystal.
Pace Lattin Interview
right?
Email marketing allows you to create messages for specific niches, track interest by looking at open and click rates, and build relationships with your subscribers.
While it is effective, there are also common email marketing mistakes that you need to be aware of that could prevent you from reaping the benefits. Here’s a list of things to avoid:
1. Do Not Purchase Email Lists.
Effective email marketing campaigns cater to specific demographics, tastes and interests, and aren’t just blasting emails out to random groups of people. When you buy an email list, there’s no way to guarantee that those people are really interested in your messages or the business you’re advertising for, so you must avoid purchased lists. Another thing to keep in mind is that most email marketing software providers prohibit the use of purchased lists.
2. Don’t Use a “From” Name or Subject Line They Won’t Recognize.
You want to make sure subscribers recognize who the emails are coming from. Be consistent, and make sure your email campaigns use information that matches what subscribers saw when they originally signed up. Make sure your subject line clearly explains the value of the message and that you deliver what’s promised. Transparency will give you more credibility, and people will be more likely to listen to what you’re saying.
3. Don’t Forget the CAN-SPAM Act.
The CAN-SPAM Act is a U.S. law requiring that all marketing emails contain the sender’s valid physical postal address. This might sound scary if you’re operating your affiliate marketing business from home, but a post office box will work just as well, so get one and use it as the postal address in your emails. You’ll be compliant with the law and subscribers will know there is a real person they can contact with any questions.
4. Don’t Send Irrelevant or Infrequent Emails.
You might have a number of affiliate campaigns you’re running, but make sure you’re only sending each subscriber information about all the campaigns and products they specifically requested. For example, subscribers who sign up for information on weight loss programs might not want to be added to a campaign that receives tips for cooking. Sending information on other irrelevant products or services can irritate subscribers and cause them to unsubscribe or mark your emails as spam.
Also remember to keep in contact with the subscribers you have. Revisit your landing page from time to time to assess your email content and make sure it matches up with your original offer. Set expectations so that subscribers know what you’ll be sending and when they’ll be receiving it.
5. Don’t Leave Out a Call To Action.
In order to get credit for your affiliate marketing, you’re going to need the subscriber to take action. This most likely involves purchasing something or at least visiting a particular website. Remember to answer the question “What do I do next?” for your subscribers and provide clear instructions.
6. Don’t Send Without Testing.
You don’t want to send your carefully planned message with affiliate links that aren’t working. This is why you need to test messages. Make sure links are working, images can be seen, and that the message is readable. You’ll want to test the message in different email clients such as Yahoo, Gmail, AOL, Outlook, etc. to ensure it’s consistent with all programs.
If you’re already using email with your affiliate marketing, be sure you aren’t making any of these mistakes. No email campaign is perfect, but avoiding these major mistakes will get you one step closer to that goal.
About the Author
As a member of AWeber’s Education Marketing team, Crystal Gouldey teaches marketers how to use email to increase sales and profits. See AWeber’s blog for more email marketing tips from Crystal
