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Question on segmenting your list

by Kenneth Holland
4 replies
Good Morning Everyone,

I'm am struggling a bit here on what to do regarding segmenting my list and thought I would throw this out there for some input...

I am steadily building my list in the IM niche (mostly blogging) and now I am about to promote a new course as an incentive to opt-in to a new list that is a sub-niche of IM (list building).

Here are my issues:

1. I'm worried about my list getting too many emails. In other words, they opt-in to the new list/promotion but are still on the original list.

2. I know I can set up automation rules to take them off of the first list when they get on the new list but...

3. Now they won't get the original promotions (blogging).

4. Do I now weave both topics into the new list so they are on just one list but getting info on both topics (since both topics are IM) or......

5. or? Not sure how to proceed. This is my first foray into real segmenting so any help and ideas would be appreciated.

Ken
#list #question #segmenting
  • Profile picture of the author JohnMcCabe
    Put an identifier in your emails so your readers can tell multiple messages come from two separate lists. If you do want to broadcast a single message to both lists, you want to 'de-dupe' the list so people don't get multiple copies of the same message. How you do that will depend on your mailing software or provider.

    Keep each list on-topic as much as you can. If I sign up for your blogging list and choose not to join the list-building list, it's a deliberate choice. I'm telling you that I don't want the list-building info, at least not now and not from you.

    Some people have arbitrary limits on what they consider "too many messages", but I wouldn't worry about it. There's no way you can make them all happy. On the other hand, if you send out quality information and offers that your readers want to receive, you may actually not be able to keep up with the demand.

    Even if they fail to join your new list right away, you should still try to build in some cross-promotion so people are reminded that the other list exists. This could be as simple as a link in the email 'signature' area.
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    • Profile picture of the author Kenneth Holland
      John,

      Great tips...thank you so much. very helpful!

      One question: When you refer to 'identifier', do you mean, for example, the 'from' line in the email would be different than my original list or are you ferring to something specific?

      Thanks again!

      Ken

      Originally Posted by JohnMcCabe View Post

      Put an identifier in your emails so your readers can tell multiple messages come from two separate lists. If you do want to broadcast a single message to both lists, you want to 'de-dupe' the list so people don't get multiple copies of the same message. How you do that will depend on your mailing software or provider.

      Keep each list on-topic as much as you can. If I sign up for your blogging list and choose not to join the list-building list, it's a deliberate choice. I'm telling you that I don't want the list-building info, at least not now and not from you.

      Some people have arbitrary limits on what they consider "too many messages", but I wouldn't worry about it. There's no way you can make them all happy. On the other hand, if you send out quality information and offers that your readers want to receive, you may actually not be able to keep up with the demand.

      Even if they fail to join your new list right away, you should still try to build in some cross-promotion so people are reminded that the other list exists. This could be as simple as a link in the email 'signature' area.
      Signature

      'A real friend will stab you in the front'

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      • Profile picture of the author JohnMcCabe
        Originally Posted by Kenneth Holland View Post

        John,

        Great tips...thank you so much. very helpful!

        One question: When you refer to 'identifier', do you mean, for example, the 'from' line in the email would be different than my original list or are you referring to something specific?

        Thanks again!

        Ken
        The two easiest ways are the from: line and the subject line.

        As a quickie example of using the From: field, one list could show from "Listbuilder Ken" and the other from "Blogger Ken".

        In your case, though, people know both lists are yours, so you might be better served putting the identifier in the subject line.

        [List-Building] Here's a subject line for the list building people

        vs.

        [Blogging] Here's a subject line for the bloggers.

        The From: field would be the same, showing that you sent it.
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        • Profile picture of the author Kenneth Holland
          Awesome John! I can't thank you enough for your tips...you've made this alot clearer for me!

          Ken
          Signature

          'A real friend will stab you in the front'

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