How Honest Are YOU?

13 years ago

This is just my opinion but i think if you were emailing them everyday they definetely would not be happy with you. As long as the content you have been sending has been of good value ,and they enjoy what you have sent them previously then I see nothing wrong with letting them know about a product they can have at a discount.

They wouldn't be on your list if there wasn't an interest in what you are promoting to them. I am currently building a list as well and will be doing the same thing. What I learned is that you need to have a relationship with your list. Have some sort of contact with them from time to time.

Thanks
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shayman

13 years ago

Originally Posted by ProsperityMarketing

This is just my opinion but i think if you were emailing them everyday they definetely would not be happy with you. As long as the content you have been sending has been of good value ,and they enjoy what you have sent them previously then I see nothing wrong with letting them know about a product they can have at a discount.

They wouldn't be on your list if there wasn't an interest in what you are promoting to them. I am currently building a list as well and will be doing the same thing. What I learned is that you need to have a relationship with your list. Have some sort of contact with them from time to time.

Hi Thanks for getting back to me but I may not have got my point across correctly.

My issue isn't with how often to send out email follow ups. I have a strong list with very few drop outs, so the information I give out is good.

It's more about how to offer a discount to people on my lis,t who to this point may not be fully aware that I sell to them as well give them info. Does that make sense?
Many thanks

Thanks

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RustyF

13 years ago

Since it sounds like you have been mailing regularly without making offers, I would say flat out I have an offer for you. I wouldn't hide it.

Do you own the product? That's the best approach if you do. It is much easier to sell something you own and believe in.

If you do own it, tell them. Tell them why you like it. Be sure to point out the "deal."

If I didn't own it, I probably wouldn't send it to the list. They are too important. I'd put it on the website and gently try to direct them too it. Review it is best but an add might work with related content.

Thanks
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Gail_Curran

13 years ago

If you have a good relationship with your list, you might take a completely transparent, nothing-to-hide approach.

"I'm recommending this product because I think it's great. Now, I think it's important for you to know that if you click that link and buy, I get paid a commission. But if you're uncomfortable with that, I'm providing another link that you can use. If you use that link, I won't get paid. And that's okay. I still think this is a great product and I'd recommend it even without a commission."

Expressed in better words, of course. Just give them the option to "pay" you or not.
.

Thanks
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shayman

13 years ago

Originally Posted by Gail_Curran

"I'm recommending this product because I think it's great. Now, I think it's important for you to know that if you click that link and buy, I get paid a commission. But if you're uncomfortable with that, I'm providing another link that you can use. If you use that link, I won't get paid. And that's okay. I still think this is a great product and I'd recommend it even without a commission."

That's an interesting approach that I hadn't considered

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shayman 13 years ago

Originally Posted by rusty@gmail.com

Do you own the product? That's the best approach if you do. It is much easier to sell something you own and believe in.

Yeah that's part of the problem. No, this isn't a product I own, otherwise I wouldn't have such an issue with it. I do use the product though so I know it's good, but it still means I either have to tell my list or not! That's what I'm struggling with.
ATB
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- Gary King 13 years ago
  
  Originally Posted by shayman
  
  I do use the product though so I know it's good, but it still means I either have to tell my list or not! That's what I'm struggling with.
  ATB
  
  There you go. If you use it and like it, tell them that and tell them why you are recommending it to them (because it's good and does x for you, right?).
  
  You can then let them know they can get it at a discount using your link.
  
  If you've never sold to the list, you may have varied results - sort of like when the very controlled Warrior Forum ads appeared recently - the community wasn't used to seeing ads, so some got ticked off when they appeared.
  
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cindybidar

13 years ago

One well-known marketer I follow has a disclaimer at the bottom of every single email. She says (paraphrasing here): You should know that from time to time I will recommend products and services to you, and I may receive a commission if you buy through the links you find here. That helps keep my website and this newsletter free. It will never cost you more to buy through my link, and in fact I am often able to negotiate a better price or offer bonuses not found anywhere else.

So yes, you are selling something, but it's a GOOD thing, not something to try to hide.

Thanks

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jasonmorgan

13 years ago

You don't need to tell your list jack squat. You're way over thinking things.

Tell them this... here is product A, I use it and I like it. I've secured a special discount for my list members if anybody is interested in this product.

If you are honest and promoting a quality product nobody is going to care if you make a commission off each sale.

Don't over complicate things.

Thanks
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shayman

13 years ago

Originally Posted by jasonmorgan

You don't need to tell your list jack squat. You're way over thinking things.

Tell them this... here is product A, I use it and I like it. I've secured a special discount for my list members if anybody is interested in this product.

This was my initial thought.

Thanks
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adenclark 13 years ago

Just tell them the truth. You use the product and think it is of value to your members so you secured a discount for them to try it out. Your list will respond to your honesty.
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- Frank Donovan 13 years ago
  
  Shayman,
  
  Firstly, I don't believe this is really a question of 'honesty'. I think you find yourself with this conundrum because you haven't trained your list to expect offers from you. I'm sure it's a fairly common mistake when building a list (I've certainly made it); you're focused on providing valuable info and you don't want to risk 'putting your subscribers off' by trying to sell them stuff too early. In reality, that just makes it harder to start the selling process a few months down the line when your list has been used to getting lots of free content with no strings attached.
  
  This 'training' needs to begin right at the outset - from the opt-in itself. Make it clear exactly why your subscribers should sign up and what they can expect from you. And don't delay putting offers in your mailings - if your info is good and your promotions are framed appropriately, the only subscribers you'll put off are those who never intended to purchase from you anyway.
  
  The other issue I'd bring up is regarding your niche. I've built a couple of lists broadly within music-related fields and I haven't found them to be the most responsive of subjects.
  
  Of course, it's a huge area and I'm not suggesting that all music-related niches are that sluggish. Yours may be very different. But I found the most profitable method for my 'music' mailings was to find a compelling reason to direct the readers to one of my related sites where I had some relevant affiliate or CPA offers in place. Just a thought.
  
  My advice to you at this stage would be to try an offer in your mailing asap - be direct and explain why you believe it's a good deal. If you don't test, you'll just end up with a list you'll find ever harder to monetize.
  
  Frank
  
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E. Brian Rose

13 years ago

Great post, Frank! Saved me a bit of typing!

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shayman

13 years ago

That is a very good post Frank and I can relate to a lot of what you are saying. Just to clear one thing up though, I have from square one introduced products to my list and made sure that the product is relevant to the theme of the letter and made a very modest amount of sales.

There is no doubt though that 'They are a tough bunch to sell to!!' However, because the subject is something that is close to my heart then it's not such a hardship for me to do..THAT SAID yes, I do at some point want to turn my efforts into some money

I know where you are coming from with 'music products' though but because I kind of 'get it' and 'speak the language as such' then I'm hoping that this will give me an advantage. We'll see!

It's very interesting though to see how other people do this kind of thing isn't it?

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nelaffiliate

13 years ago

I think it's better to be honest.... people will still buy from you. They are already on your list and know that you must be benefiting in some way from the products or services you promote.

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shayman

13 years ago

Originally Posted by nelaffiliate

I think it's better to be honest.... people will still buy from you. They are already on your list and know that you must be benefiting in some way from the products or services you promote.

I suppose it's not a question of honesty (hehe..it just made for an effective subject

) It's more a case of how much should we as marketers disclose to people about what we do.

Thanks

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drmani

13 years ago

Originally Posted by shayman

Hey all
How would you approach offering the discount to your subscribers? Is it wrong to make it blatent that if they buy something then I get paid? Would you just skim over the issue and just say 'I've managed to secure a discount for you because...'

Shayman

This is copy I use on my blog, which would serve a similar purpose when used on
an email newsletter, too.

Most links on this blog are 'affiliate links' that will earn me a referral commission if you click on them and buy the items I endorse. However, that is NOT the reason I include them. I only recommend products and services I believe are of high quality, value and will benefit you in some way.

Hope this helps.

All success
Dr.Mani

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How Honest Are YOU?

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