28 Ways to Build Permission-Based Email Lists

Developing a cost-effective email list poses a challenge for all email marketers. Because email addresses change at a rate of 30 percent or more on most lists, marketers must adopt an aggressive approach to expand their list and yield a significant return on investment.

As you browse the list below please keep these helpful tips in mind:

Consider All Touch Points: Use every point of contact with customers and prospects.

Obtain Permission: Always obtain permission with the confirmed (double) opt-in method for online contacts. For offline contacts, update your database with when, where and how the contact was initiated. Confirm their permission in the first email.

Required Information: Obtain email address, name, format preference and logical interests/preferences.

Focus Equal Attention on Existing Lists: Implement strategies and incentives to transform inactive subscribers into active ones.

Provide Valuable Benefits: Convince potential subscribers of the valuable benefits they¡¯ll receive.

Convey Trust: Clearly state your privacy/email policies.

1. Feature a Sign-Up Form on Each Page of Your Site ¨C Be sure to remember this basic concept. Sign-up opportunities should be ubiquitous throughout your site.

2. Promote Benefits on the Sign-Up Page ¨C Enhance subscription value with sample emails, testimonials and strong call to action copy.

3. Offer Opt-In Incentives ¨C Incentives like white papers, discounts and special reports significantly increase conversion rates.

4. Optimize Your Site for Search Engine Placement ¨C Optimize current and archived newsletters for search engines to increase traffic and subscriptions.

5. Pay for Search Engine Services and Promote Your Email on the Landing Page ¨C If you pay for search services like Google AdWords be sure to include email subscription information on the landing page.

6. Add Opt-in Check Boxes on Demo Requests, White Papers and Registration Forms ¨C Well-executed forms and pages may improve conversion rates by 50 percent or more.

7. Include ¡°Send to a Friend¡± Options ¨C Generate new subscribers with minimal effort if bundled with promotional campaigns.

8. Use Direct Mail and Catalogs ¨C Encourage email subscriptions on all print ads.

9. Direct Employees to Include Messages and Links in Email Signature Lines ¨C Add ¡°Subscribe to the Company X Email Newsletter¡± to employee email signatures.

10. Direct Call Center and Sales Employees to Obtain Permission and Capture Email Addresses Over the Phone ¨C Instruct call center and sales staff to ask customers and prospects if they¡¯d like to receive newsletters or promotional email.

11. Send Post Cards to Customers Encouraging Them to Subscribe to Email ¨C If you have postal contact information for customers but not email addresses, send a post card with opt-in sign-up offer and URL.

12. Hand Out Sign-Up Forms at Public Speaking Engagements and Seminars ¨C Promote your newsletter in presentations and handouts.

13. Implement Rented List Campaigns and Subscriptions ¨C Promote your company in email campaigns and landing pages when you rent email lists.

14. Promote Sign-Ups in Confirmation/Transaction Emails ¨C Add messages and links to opt-in pages of all confirmation and transaction emails.

15. Include Opt-in Line on Credit Card Receipts ¨C Not an obvious method, but may be quite effective.

16. Add Opt-in Message to Warranty and Product Registration Cards.

17. Add Sign-Up Message to Invoices.

18. Display Opt-in Forms at the Cash Register ¨C An approach used by restaurants and retailers to advertise weekday discounts, catering services etc.

19. Promote Your Email/Newsletter in Articles and Article Attribution ¨C Include a reference and link to your newsletter after the byline on articles in trade and consumer publications.

20. Include Opt-in Message and Check Boxes on Shopping Cart Pages ¨C Remember to ask for email format and product/information preferences.

21. Promote Your Email/Newsletter in Other Company Publications ¨C Promote online newsletters in print newsletters, magazines and brochures. Add ¡°Sign up for our monthly newsletter at www.companyX.com/subscribe.html¡± after ¡°Visit www.companyX.com for more information.

22. Include Newsletter Subscriptions in Trade Show Lead Generation Forms ¨C Obtain permission to send your monthly newsletter to booth visitors.

23. Promote Your Newsletter/Promotional Emails in Industry Directories and Sites.

24. Distribute Press Releases Based on Newsletter Articles ¨C Newsletters with topical articles may warrant a press release. Make sure the press release includes links and information on how to subscribe.

25. Include Information and a Link to Your Newsletter in Press Releases ¨C A good option for smaller companies. Include your company newsletter and other resources in press release copy.

26. Include Opt-in Information on Customer Satisfaction Surveys ¨C Ask permission to communicate valuable information via email newsletters and promotions.

27. Include Opt-in Forms in Product Shipping Boxes ¨C Advertise email promotions on packing slips and direct mail cards with links to your site. Many retailers and catalogers also include promotional offers from non-competing companies.

28. Employ a Reputable Email List Service ¨C List services obtain email addresses and permission to email existing customers. Be sure you obtain permission before ¨C or as part of ¨C the first email you send.
 

How & When did the color blue become the default for jeans?

Denim cloth

Denim was produced in Nimes, France in the late 1800s.  In fact it is hard to determine when they started making it; perhaps as early as the mid-1600s?  The cloth is properly called Serge.  The Blue Serge from Nimes was called "Serge de Nimes" (pronounced SERJ de NEEM) but when it was imported into the States the anglicized pronunciation was Denim.

The real answer for "why blue" comes from the introduction of bulk Indigo dye to Europe.  The default blue colour is from the dye called Indican.  Prior to the importation of Indigo, woad leaves were the only source of blue dye in Europe and North America.  Woad gives a fainter blue and you need at least 2x the amount compared to indigo.  Then, suddenly, both cheap cotton and cheap Indigo were imported to Nimes via sea routes from India.

Indigo was imported in its processed form as a pure dye.  It looked like rock crystals and for many years people didn't even know it came from a plant.  It was listed as a "mineral".  Woad dye was supplied as rolled-up balls of composted woad leaves.  Indigo was extremely cheap, compared to woad, gave a better and darker blue, and when it hit Europe it put the entire woad industry out of business within a generation.   People who could not formerly afford blue clothes now luxuriated in the”colour of nobility".

I'm always intrigued by the trade routes implied by this simple statement.   Cotton and indigo from India.  Imported to Nimes, France.  Made into  cloth.  Imported to Italy.  Made into trousers by a Bavarian.  Imported  to the US east coast.  Shipped out west to miners and cowboys. 

Cotton serge (aka drill or twill) does not have to be blue.  It starts out white or cotton coloured.  When it is dyed beige or grey it's called Khaki. 

Khaki is dyed after the cloth is woven, but Denim is thread-dyed before weaving.  And only half the threads are dyed blue; the rest are white to save on the cost of the indigo, making this cloth a handsome blue while remaining eco

Is Facebook Crushing Email ?

In the corner of my office sits a dull dedicated technology device called a “Fax Machine”, its real name is in fact “Facsimile”. It’s presence is tolerated in case we need to communicate when Facebook fails, the SMS feature on my phone implodes or the email goes down. 

It occasionally does make whirring noises and prints off a page from a marketing company or business that hasn’t heard of email or the internet.

I am sure that if I asked my teenage children what a fax machine was I would get a quizzical look with a raised eyebrow. They were popular in the mid 1980′s and were a “must have” for every office and even came with the amazing ability to print in color. Marketers were quick to use them to bypass snail mail with calls to action and produce leads for sales teams.

Email replaced fax machines as the Internet became ubiquitous. It is still the prime communication tool for companies and Chief Marketing Officers have email marketing right at the top of their list for effective and efficient marketing. According to a Study by the Centre For Media Research CMO’s had email marketing at the top of the list in their plans for 2010.

But there is a trend emerging that should give people pause for thought to not sit on their laurels but continue to evolve their messaging habits and marketing tactics as the way we communicate continues to morph .

The Comscore  report "The 20120 Digital Year In Review" reveals that email is in decline for every age group category except  those over 55 and email usage by12-17 year olds is down by 59%.

   Zuckerberg announced a "Modern New Messaging System" that would address emerging trends in communication announcing “High school kids don’t use email, they use SMS a lot. People want lighter weight things like SMS and IM to message each other.” A comment I read on a blog recently by a university student reflects the winds of change” I’ve never sent a proper email in my life, email is too formal”

So when we are looking at how we communicate we really need to think about what our audience’s preferred channel for receiving and sending messages is and consider messaging with Twitter, Facebook or even YouTube. There is now more than one way to get your message out you just need to find the right selection of communication channels for your markets.

Don’t expect email to disappear as my 1980′s generation fax machine device still has a place in my office it’s just that it is not as relevant as it used to be.

Email is not going away any time soon but things “are a changing”

What do you think?… is your communication relevant?

Are you using the right Instagram filters ?

With more than 100 million users worldwide on both iOS and Android, Instagram’s success as a mobile platform is clear to see and now with its expanded web presence, there are now more opportunities than ever to show off your photography skills.
However, how many times do you take a photo and use a filter without really thinking about it? For many of us, we just slap on a filter because it just happens to make it look better, but what you mightn’t know is that each filter suits a certain types of image. Knowing which one to use, and what effect it will create, will go a long way to improving your photos.
Here is our guide showing you what filters are available and when you should be using them. We’ve also provided images to show you exactly what effect they have and the best places to use them.

AMARO

What it does: Adds more light to your image, but focuses it mostly towards the centre. The darker the photo, the more you will notice this effect.
Use When: You want to give your photo a somewhat aged appearance.

RISE

What it does: Gives images a nice glow and provides softer lighting on the subject.

Use When: You’re taking close-up shots of people.

HUDSON

What it does: Gives your images an icy look. The slight tint and altered lighting gives these images a colder feel.

Use When: You’re outdoors. It’s particularly effective when you’re taking photos of buildings or monuments.

 XPROII

What it does: Makes the colours in your image more vibrant, giving a warm appearance.
Use When: There are strong colours in your image, can be used both indoors and outdoors depending on the subject

SIERRA

What it does: Makes images appear softer, but unlike Rise, Sierra gives a faded look.

Use When: You want your nature and outdoor shots to appear calm and soothing

Lo-Fi

What it does: Adds rich colours and strong shadows to the image.

Use When: You want to show off what you’re eating.

Earlybird

What it does: Mostly faded and blurred colours, making an image appear older than it is.

Use When: If you want your image to look ‘cool’

SUTRO

What it does: Gives images a smoked look, with particular emphasis on purple and brown colours to achieve this effect.

Use When: You want to give images a creepier feel.

TOASTER

What it does: Gives the centre of your image a burnt look, making the image look aged.

Use When: You’re taking photos of a summer event, so nights out, BBQs, picnics, etc.

BRANNAN

What it does: Provides a greyish tint that gives images a darker, more metallic appearance.

Use When: Your image has strong shadows

INKWELL

What it does: Turns your image black and white.

Use When: Light and shadow are prominent in your image.

Hefe

What It Does: Similar to Lo-Fi, but the colours aren’t as dramatic.

Use When: Anywhere you want to enhance vibrant colours, but not to the same extent as Lo-Fi.

Valencia

What it does: Gives your image a faded quality, as if it was taken in the 1980s.

Use When: You want to give an image an antique feel.

Nashville

What it does: Gives your images a nice, warm feel. Also, includes a slightly pink tint to help achieve this effect.

Use When: You want to give your photos a nostalgic feel.

1977

What it does: As the title suggests, gives your image a brighter, faded look.

Use When: You want your image to look like it was taken in the 1970s.

Kelvin

What it does: Gives images a bright, vibrant feel and provides it with a radiant glow overall.

Use When: You want to give a photo a nice, warm feeling.

Free Advertising on Google

INTRODUCTORY

It may surprise some, but many small businesses new to inbound marketing are unaware that you can get some free advertising on Google through Google Places. And because Google is always looking to increase the value of its local search results -- as well as its Google Maps application -- the search engine giant has a simple way for you to provide them with that valuable information about your business, which it infuses it into its search engine results.

The benefit? Basically, a way to advertise your business on Google for free. And honestly, who doesn't love some free advertising? This not only helps your business get found through searches; it can also help you get more traffic, leads, and customers.

Consider this example: When you search for "hotels, Boston," the Boston Harbor Hotel ranks #1 in the Google Places search results. And to the right of the result, you can see all the information that the Boston Harbor Hotel has placed in its Google Places listing. They've included reviews, hotel information, and pictures of the hotel and its surrounding area. Not too shabby a setup, is it?

Are you ready to get some free advertising on Google? Let's get started.

What You Need to Get Your Free Google Places Advertisement

In order to set up your Google Places listing, you'll need the following information at hand:

• A description of your business
• Your phone number, address, and any other contact info you want to advertise
• A logo or image that represents your business (for example, some people use a picture of their office, store, or restaurant)
• A coupon or special offer you want to advertise (Google also lets you add a coupon for FREE if you want)

In your listing, you can include any information you think is relevant to your business and will attract people to your company. To set up a Google Place listing, follow these simple steps:

Step 1: Set Up Your Account

Visit http://www.google.com/places/. To set up your business on Google Places, click the 'Get Started Now' button below the text, “Get your business found on Google.”

Your Google Places account will be connected to your Google account. Here, you can enter the country and phone number. Keep in mind that you will need to connect this to a valid phone number, as it's important to have your business’ number in your Google Places listing. When people search for you, you'll want them to easily be able to call you, especially on mobile devices.

Once you input your phone number and country, Google will search to see if your listing already exists. Keep in mind that you can edit a current listing at any time to display new information about your business. If you don't yet have a listing, you can also create one from scratch.

Step 2: Fill in Your Information

If Google Places doesn’t identify any business information online for you, you can manually add it. After filling out your phone number, Google will prompt you to input more information. As you complete your information, Google will automatically generate what the Places advertisement will look like on the right, including the map image. Make sure you're satisfied with the appearance of your listing. Keep the description short and to the point, capturing the main concept of your business and product or service. You can add anything you want, including a coupon link for your business to attract more customers to your website.

Making sure you include a phone number and email address enables people who are interested in learning more about you to contact. The volume of people who will see this listing can be large, so make sure your contact information is both up to date and checked regularly for people inquiring about your business.

Step 3: Specify Where Your Services Are Provided

You can also set up whether or not your business provides services in a certain area or areas. This will allow your business to appear on map listings. When people search for a business similar to your listing, your business will appear on a map within a specified range.

You can then select which location(s) your services cover(s). The map will show you what

area will be covered by choosing this option:

 If you choose option #1 (“Distance from one location”), the map will show a general area that will be covered by your services. You can then choose what location will be the central point:

If you prefer to serve only certain cities or areas within a city, you can choose the second option and pick the areas you serve. This option can be helpful for companies that are only able to serve a certain area, such as a pizza delivery company, or in a very niche market, like a jet ski company on a beach.

Step 4: Indicate Your Hours of Operation

Another aspect of an effective Google Places advertisement is the hours your business operates. Often, when people are searching for your business, they're looking to see when you're open, and Google allows you to include this directly in your listing.

Step 5: Specify Payment Options

If you sell products or services directly to your customers, either online or in-store, you have the option to let customers know ahead of time what forms of payment you accept. Specify which payment options apply in this step.

Step 6: Include Engaging Visual Content

Do you have a video explaining what your business is all about? Maybe something people often associate with your brand name? Add it to your Google Place listing to make your offer even more eye-catching. People are much quicker to respond to visual content than text. In fact, according to 3M Corporation and Zabisco, 90% of information transmitted to the brain is visual, and visuals are processed 60,000X faster in the brain than text. With this in mind, marketers can benefit from visuals to attract more eyes to their listing and, thus, more traffic to their website. 

Step 7: Input Additional Information

You can include other information that may be vitally important to potential customers at your place of business or at your online retail site at the end of the listing set-up process. This information can range from details about the location if it's difficult to find, to information about the products and services your business provides. Use this as an opportunity to tell potential customers why your business is worth a second look. For example, if you're a cell phone vendor, and you have a surplus of the latest version of the iPhone when all other local businesses are sold out, let people know! You might just get more business than you think. 

Step 8: Validate Your Location

Finally, the first time you create a Google Places listing, you will need to validate your location. This helps Google avoid fake listings and advertisements. Google will send you a postcard with verification information and next steps on it. Although it may seem like a pain to wait 2-3 weeks before your listing can get verified and become live, it saves us all in the long run from a plethora of spam listings when we use Google Search to find places in the future.