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Deflated...Can you help me with what I'm doing wrong re. Email Marketing

by Phobia
8 replies
Ok, I've built up a good list- so I thought through WF WSO's, paid solos and organic targeted traffic...(obviously I'm in the IM niche)

I have mixed single and double optin lists, and I don't promote to them very often, in fact, in the last 4 months since starting, all I've done is given them GREAT tools and content, shown myself in front of the camera to give them advice and built alot of trust through conversation on comments.

I have had GREAT feedback personally from alot of subscribers and alot of them see me as a great motivator, which is what I pride myself on.

So this morning I sent out a broadcast with a totally free irresistible offer with the incentive that they do something in return (to leave comments on one of my niche pages) - but I only got a measly 6 out of 832 people sent to actual follow through and receive the offer. I'm totally deflated because I was expecting ALOT more to follow through.

On top of that, I open up my aweber stats, and see the 'Complaints' with a highlight - what does this mean? and is 115 opens normal (13.8%) ?! I don't understand 1 Clicks either (maybe because I used another URL tracker and not thier?!)

HELP with what I'm doing wrong

#deflatedcan #email #marketing #wrong
  • Profile picture of the author Matthew Iannotti
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    • Profile picture of the author Phobia
      Originally Posted by Matthew Iannotti View Post

      Hmm was most of that list built from WSO's?
      No, only about 1/3 out of the whole list are WSO subscribers.

      Is it a bad thing to have WSO subscribers? What I was giving away was basically a WSO in itself in exchange for a small comment - and I explained everything very clearly in a video

      Also, I sent this at about 10am EST, could that have been a poor time to broadcast?
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      • Profile picture of the author Matthew Iannotti
        Originally Posted by Phobia View Post

        No, only about 1/3 out of the whole list are WSO subscribers.

        Is it a bad thing to have WSO subscribers? What I was giving away was basically a WSO in itself in exchange for a small comment - and I explained everything very clearly in a video

        Also, I sent this at about 10am EST, could that have been a poor time to broadcast?
        Sorry removed comment because I have to run and can't continue the convo now!

        To answer your question .. yes and no. It depends on how it was built, will explain more later if I'm back early!
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  • Profile picture of the author Phobia
    Ta. Well, everything I've done is 100% proper and I always treat my list with respect, as said, I haven't promoted anything to them, (maybe that's a bad thing?!)...

    I'm just wondering what the complaint rate is more importantly!...
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  • Profile picture of the author Bill Hugall
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    • Profile picture of the author Alexa Smith
      Banned
      Originally Posted by bilkat19 View Post

      13% is a decent number.
      This sentiment takes my breath away.

      You regard it as "decent" to build lists, nurture them, build relationships, establish credibility and trust, communicate with them, become a valued and respected provider of information to them ... and then have 87 out of every 100 of those people not even open your email?!

      I don't mean it rudely, I promise, but to me that would feel like an unmitigated disaster.

      Originally Posted by bilkat19 View Post

      You can't really expect too much out of them.
      I see ... ok ...
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      • Profile picture of the author Phobia
        Originally Posted by Alexa Smith View Post

        I don't mean it rudely, I promise, but to me that would feel like an unmitigated disaster.
        I feel awesome right about now!

        I have read that 20% is the average open rate? As we type, it has climbed up to 14.2% and I sent the broadcast out about 12 hours ago, so perhaps I'm jumping the gun abit maybe...as I guess the majority of my market is US based and people are just finishing work etc

        Originally Posted by phil.wheatley View Post

        A quick tip, try doing a second mail out of the same promotion, you'll be amazed how many extra people read it the second time around. Remember, sometimes, you just catch people at the wrong time, maybe they didn't click through as they were at work. Or, they opened the email, decided to come back to it later, but then forgot about it.

        Sometimes, when I do this, I mail it out again but just change the email subject matter. With all that said, need to make sure your offer is matching your market. Failing alllllll that, have you emailed yoiur list to simply ask them what they want?

        Cheers
        Phil
        Cheers Phil, I'm actually doing that right now as we speak, but probably will hold off for another hour or two seeing as the previous open rate is still climbing. I liked your suggestion about the subject matter and saw your other thread, and already my headline reads much better

        Any ideas about the complaint rate? The last thing I need is my account to be in a bad light...
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        • Profile picture of the author JohnMcCabe
          Originally Posted by Phobia View Post

          Any ideas about the complaint rate? The last thing I need is my account to be in a bad light...
          Hate to say it, but this might be part of your problem:

          in the last 4 months since starting, all I've done is given them GREAT tools and content, shown myself in front of the camera to give them advice and built alot of trust through conversation on comments.
          You've managed to build the wrong relationship. They see you as a giver and motivator, never asking anything in return. Suddenly you ask them to do something to get something you've led them to expect without cost (money, time or effort).

          There's now a disconnect.

          Given that the complaint rate is just over 1/10 of 1%, I wouldn't worry too much. For a list the size of yours, that's ONE complaint. Keep an eye on it, and if it gets over about 1-2%, you can start wondering again.

          In the meantime, think about how you can start weaning them and getting them started on solid food...
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        • Profile picture of the author phil.wheatley
          Originally Posted by Phobia View Post

          I feel awesome right about now!

          I have read that 20% is the average open rate? As we type, it has climbed up to 14.2% and I sent the broadcast out about 12 hours ago, so perhaps I'm jumping the gun abit maybe...as I guess the majority of my market is US based and people are just finishing work etc



          Cheers Phil, I'm actually doing that right now as we speak, but probably will hold off for another hour or two seeing as the previous open rate is still climbing. I liked your suggestion about the subject matter and saw your other thread, and already my headline reads much better

          Any ideas about the complaint rate? The last thing I need is my account to be in a bad light...
          Yeah, I wouldn't email again for maybe a few hours, I normally do it the next day or two.

          As John said above(and you can't argue with a man who catches fish like he does), don't worry about the complaint thing. Some people forget they've even opted into your list, then wonder who the hell you are. You have to be a bit thick skinned. You could give people a million dollars, but some people still wouldn't like you, as they will say "why not give 2 million" lol. Really, don't worry about it ok. It would be a problem of course if you had 20% complaints.

          Also, listen to what Alexa had to say, don't take her the wrong way, she's cool and trying to help. You see, lotsof people go the wrong way about building a list. I saw somebody saying they have a list for the purpose of getting a quick cash boost. (Ahem), when you see people say "building a list doesn't work any more...or....people don't open their emails anymore, that's because they talk to their list as a 'thing', as a 'list', not as individual people. I always imagine I'm sending a single email to ONE of my friends, and actually pretend I'm sending it to him (my mate Darren). I did this yesterday to my heavy metal guitar list, and got sh1t loads of opens and replies. Actually, I spent most of last night replying to them, out of 900 people, 400 open and clicked through to what I sent, which was actually just a youtube video I found of a dude playing guitar (devin townsend).

          In short, I have a relationship with these guys. About a year ago, I wanted to create some small $7 video products for them. Rather than guess, or figure out what they wanted, I sent a questionaire to them asking how old they were, what sites they visit, what bands they are into, and what songs do they want to learn. About 40% siad they wanted to learn Motley Crue songs. SO.....what do you do??? :-) Easy right.

          Anyway, I'm rambling, but do you see the difference bewteen that and doing what most people do, and just blast an email out doing promotions all the time, and talking to them like you're doing a public service announcement.

          Cheers
          Phil
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  • Profile picture of the author phil.wheatley
    A quick tip, try doing a second mail out of the same promotion, you'll be amazed how many extra people read it the second time around. Remember, sometimes, you just catch people at the wrong time, maybe they didn't click through as they were at work. Or, they opened the email, decided to come back to it later, but then forgot about it.

    Sometimes, when I do this, I mail it out again but just change the email subject matter. With all that said, need to make sure your offer is matching your market. Failing alllllll that, have you emailed yoiur list to simply ask them what they want?

    Cheers
    Phil
    Signature



    It's still not working for you??? Need direction?...
    ---->>>> BrainDirection.com <<<<----
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