What are "ad swaps" and "solo mailings"?

4 replies
I'm new to IM. Can someone help me understand the terms: "ad swaps" and "solo mailings"? I am hoping an experience internet marketer is willing to help a newbie. Thanks in advance.
#ad swaps #solo mailings
  • Profile picture of the author jbode
    Ad Swap - 2 different list owners cross promote each others offers

    Solo Mail - 1 person pays to send an email on someone else's list
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  • Profile picture of the author Amber Jalink
    Originally Posted by Seth M. View Post

    I'm new to IM. Can someone help me understand the terms: "ad swaps" and "solo mailings"? I am hoping an experience internet marketer is willing to help a newbie. Thanks in advance.
    Hi Seth, I hope I can help (I'll expand just a little on jbode's answer):

    Ad swaps are what jbode said, but another term used could be "cross promotion". More detail/scenario:

    You own a newsletter list. I own a newsletter list.
    You come to me and ask me to "swap ads". When we first started out doing it (back in like 1997!), we would initially swap ads to gain subscribers. (Example: Jim Daniels and I did it a few times, and many other marketers).

    Back then, I would put an ad in my newsletter telling people to subscribe to Jim's newsletter, and he would put an ad in his newsletter telling his subscribers to come subscribe to my newsletter.

    Gradually people switched what they wanted to promote... they then did an "exchange" of ads, where you could promote whatever offer you wanted, not necessarily seeking new subscribers. (It could have been directly to a sales letter).

    Ad swaps still work that way, basically you're exchanging ads with another newsletter owner. Not all lists are created equal though. You could have a huge list or a small list... either one could be incredible or lousy... and the same goes for the person you swap with.... and it of course depends on the offer, which goes for whether you swap ads or pay for them.

    Solo Mail - 1 person pays to send an email on someone else's list
    Yes... sort of.

    The purpose of a solo mailing means that there is NOTHING else in the newsletter... no other ads, no other content (hence the word "solo").

    The "sort of" comes in, where you "could" potentially implement the Ad Swap tactic here, where you "swap" the solo ads, you don't necessarily have to pay for it. (Although, usually people do).

    When a person buys a solo mailing, they have the 'exclusivity' for that issue, and usually it generates a half decent response if the list is targeted and the offer is good. (Anything that generates MORE money than you spent, is a decent response... unless you're going for new subscribers only of course, then the income comes down the road).

    Hope this helps.

    Feel free to ask other questions

    Amber
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  • Profile picture of the author AHartzell
    Question - why would I need to pay someone with a list to send a promotional email to my site? Especially if they're going to be making commission? Seems like paying someone to make money...
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    • Profile picture of the author Rob Howard
      Originally Posted by AHartzell View Post

      Question - why would I need to pay someone with a list to send a promotional email to my site? Especially if they're going to be making commission? Seems like paying someone to make money...
      I think you are getting affiliate mixed up with adswap and solo mail.

      Solo mail is non commission. You pay them to mail and that is it.

      The upside to them is that they are guaranteed to get paid. The upside to you is that you can end up making more money because you don't split payment.

      The downside for them - they could be losing money. The downside for you - upfront payment.

      Rob
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      • Profile picture of the author DEPUTY2014
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