Email Marketing vs Social Media Marketing

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   jansharesposted 10 years ago

   Check out this link detailing the usefulness of email to get the word out about your business. I still use email to market new hubs:
   http://www.digitalinformationworld.com/ … c.html?m=1

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      Writer Foxposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      I don't use email lists to market Hubs but I use them on most of my websites.  Often, there's more money in the list than in AdSense, etc.  Here's a recent article about it:
      http://www.searchenginejournal.com/emai … ove/120885

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         Solarasposted 10 years agoin reply to this

         That is really an interesting article.  I was not sure what you were talking about when you mentioned monetizing your emails.  Do you use a service, or do you manage the emails yourself?

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            Writer Foxposted 10 years agoin reply to this

            I use an email service (ConstantContact) for distribution, but I manage the content.  (Is that what you were asking?)  Using an email service is really the only way to go because services keep you in compliance with laws in different countries, they have sophisticated software that provides valuable statistics, and they scrub the list in real time.  You'll spend a few hundred dollars a month for a moderate size list, but it is well worth the money because you could not build the software yourself for the same amount.  If you have just a small list – under 5,000 addresses – you'll spend about $50 a month.  There are some services that will let you send emails for free (up to 500 names or so) if you are just starting a list (try MailChimp).   
            
            'Monetizing a list' just means that you are going to use the list for more than keeping in touch with your customer base and/or drawing attention to new content on your website.  You can also sell the use of your list (you don't sell the names or give third parties the email addresses) to advertisers.  For instance, if you have a website about 'The Family Dog', you can post dog food coupons, sell puppy crates and feature training collars for advertisers. People love getting special deals and discounts which aren't offered to everyone just viewing your website.  I have one affiliate that pays me $1 every time someone signs up for his free service.  (It's not too difficult to get someone to sign up for something that is free!)  Most email service providers will also allow you to post videos in your emails, which allows advertisers to include an infomercial about a product. And etcetera.

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               Barbara Kayposted 10 years agoin reply to this

               Thanks Writer Fox for a new way to earn some money from my sites.

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         Marcy Goodfleischposted 10 years agoin reply to this

         As always - you have expert advice and information, and you're generous about sharing it.  Thanks!

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         TIMETRAVELER2posted 10 years agoin reply to this

         Thanks for this valuable info.

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      Marisa Wrightposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      I wonder if this article talks about and what you are doing with email are the same thing, though?
      
      I'm sure what WriterFox does with email marketing is this:  on your website, you invite people to sign up for your newsletter, and/or to be notified of new posts.  That is your email list, which consists of people who are really interested in your subject  - not just a group of tolerant friends.   
      
      Once that list grows big enough, you can make money from it.   Selling the list is an obvious option but dangerous because you could alienate your subscriber base.  It's vital to keep control of what is sent to them.  You can have advertising space in your newsletter which you can sell to suppliers, or send out a special email on behalf of a supplier with a special offer.  You can also do special promotions for affiliate products, or even partner with a supplier to promote their products. 
      
      You can't do that on HubPages effectively - I do know of one Squid who included her sign-up link in Hubs but I have a feeling it would probably count as an unrelated link, so it might be risky.

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      jansharesposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      Thanks, Writer Fox, great addition to this thread, very useful.

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   Dr Billy Kiddposted 10 years ago

   How to you purchase an email list of people interested in your writing that is not spam--meaning everyone on the list has opted-in?
   And how do you set up an opt-out on your emails? Otherwise it really is spam regardless of the opt-in done by a 3rd party.

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      Marisa Wrightposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      You don't purchase an email list, you build it yourself.  What you do is put a prominent notice on your blog or website, encouraging your readers to sign up.   That's not possible to do on HubPages, though.   
      
      I would be very doubtful about the value of any email list you could buy.   Anyone with a solid list wouldn't want to do that - they'll sell you access to the list (meaning they'll include your offer in their newsletters or send out a special offer for you), but they won't give you the names and email addresses to use yourself. 
      
      As WF says, you use an email service to manage your list.  Services like MadMimi and Mailchimp include an opt-out in your emails as standard.  They are both free for small users.

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         Dr Billy Kiddposted 10 years agoin reply to this

         Thanks!

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   favoredposted 10 years ago

   Something else to consider to increase traffic.  Always appreciate new information. Thanks Writer Fox.

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