Am I making a big mistake?

8 replies
I am going to launch a new site/platform in the next month that is dedicated to selling specific niche products.
I have gathered a list of individuals and companies that already sell the niche products my platform is dedicated to.
I was planning on emailing all of these people (one time only) to inform them of my new platform.

I am not trying to sell them anything, only informing them that they can sell their product through my platform.

Is this strategy wrong? As I don't have opt-in permission to contact them.

I've spent a lot of time and money developing this platform, and don't want to jeopardise it with a bad decision, but at the same time, I don't know how else to inform the service providers of my platforms existence.
#big #making #mistake
  • Profile picture of the author HCFGrizzly
    Originally Posted by mike4161 View Post

    I am going to launch a new site/platform in the next month that is dedicated to selling specific niche products.
    I have gathered a list of individuals and companies that already sell the niche products my platform is dedicated to.
    I was planning on emailing all of these people (one time only) to inform them of my new platform.

    I am not trying to sell them anything, only informing them that they can sell their product through my platform.

    Is this strategy wrong? As I don't have opt-in permission to contact them.

    I've spent a lot of time and money developing this platform, and don't want to jeopardise it with a bad decision, but at the same time, I don't know how else to inform the service providers of my platforms existence.
    If I understand it correctly, you are basically trying to find affiliates but don`t want to use an affiliate network.
    Your logic is great because by eliminating the middle man you will receive better commissions.
    I don`t think that your strategy is wrong, I have used it many times in the past and didn`t have any problems. I guess you will contact them through the contact forms or emails posted on their websites.
    As long as you are offering a business opportunity and not selling anything I don`t think that your messages will be regarded as spam.
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  • Profile picture of the author mike4161
    Thank you HFCGrizzly,

    Not trying to find affiliates exactly, I think vendors would be a better term.

    I'm a vendor myself of the same type of niche service, and wouldn't consider it as spam, but I've been reading a lot online and Im concerned about there being spam traps in the list I've created.

    I gathered most of my list using directories specific to my niche.

    Basically I don't want my IP to be blacklisted, or to gain a bad reputation.
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    • Profile picture of the author HCFGrizzly
      And what are your gains if they sell on your platform? Do you ask a fee? Or will they pay a commission of each sale?
      I don`t think you will have any problems. Create a new gmail account just to be sure and use that to contact them.
      Back in the days, I used the same method to promote a product (offer a free trial) and didn`t have any problems with the emails accounts I have used or with my IP beeing blacklisted
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      • Profile picture of the author mike4161
        Originally Posted by HCFGrizzly View Post

        And what are your gains if they sell on your platform? Do you ask a fee? Or will they pay a commission of each sale?
        I don`t think you will have any problems. Create a new gmail account just to be sure and use that to contact them.
        Back in the days, I used the same method to promote a product (offer a free trial) and didn`t have any problems with the emails accounts I have used or with my IP beeing blacklisted
        Thanks again,

        We take a commission from each sale.

        I thought that contacting them with a unique domain email would be better than a free email account?
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        • Profile picture of the author HCFGrizzly
          Originally Posted by mike4161 View Post

          Thanks again,

          We take a commission from each sale.

          I thought that contacting them with a unique domain email would be better than a free email account?
          I didn`t use a company email and I had a pretty good conversion rate. If you want to be sure I think you should try to split test it (send invites with both emails and see which one has the better response rate)

          Glad I could help.
          Good luck and keep us updated with how your campaign is going.
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          • Profile picture of the author mike4161
            Originally Posted by HCFGrizzly View Post

            I didn`t use a company email and I had a pretty good conversion rate. If you want to be sure I think you should try to split test it (send invites with both emails and see which one has the better response rate)

            Glad I could help.
            Good luck and keep us updated with how your campaign is going.
            Thanks again,

            So my next question is which mass email service provider could I use to send these emails.
            From what I've read, most reputable companies will refuse to do business with me because my list hasn't been generated with opt-ins.
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            • Profile picture of the author HCFGrizzly
              Originally Posted by mike4161 View Post

              Thanks again,

              So my next question is which mass email service provider could I use to send these emails.
              From what I've read, most reputable companies will refuse to do business with me because my list hasn't been generated with opt-ins.
              I have used mail chimp in the past. I didn`t have any problems with them, but here is their take on sending unsolicited emails: (I repeat: I didn`t have any problems)

              The Importance of Permission | MailChimp.com: KB Article
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              • Profile picture of the author mike4161
                Originally Posted by HCFGrizzly View Post

                I have used mail chimp in the past. I didn`t have any problems with them, but here is their take on sending unsolicited emails: (I repeat: I didn`t have any problems)

                The Importance of Permission | MailChimp.com: KB Article
                Thanks again.
                I read over the article.
                The blacklisting aspect concerns me.
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