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Writing Profitable Emails

by PazG
22 replies
Hey guys, I just thought that I would share a few points with you that I have found very useful in my email marketing campaigns. Following these simple principles and points has kept my open rates in the 30% - 60% open rate range.

Dont's
  • I do not do any hard teaching in my email marketing
  • I do not hard sell more than once per week, however I soft sell very often
Do's
  • Use a catchy title. Using innuendo, questions & comedy in your titles will increase the open rate of your emails. For example, one my my emails entitled "More booty than J-Lo" had an open rate of 60%, an example of innuendo in action. Another email (on a fitness list that I have) entitled "What do frogs and abs have in common" had a 40% open rate.
  • Tell a story or link the point that you are trying to make to popular culture and figures. Even though your email might contain some good info, if it is bland then your readers may not even finish reading it. Make then chuckle.
  • Drop in a golden nugget. This is a principle or a concept, this is what I prefer over hard teaching. It can be a sentence or a paragraph, very easily done. Don't forget, a concept that may seem simple to us might be a game changer for your readers.
  • Monetize each email. As stated above, I only hard sell once a week or so. However, soft selling is something that I do several times per week. At the bottom of each email i'll place a related product banner (with my affiliate link embedded) with 'proudly sponsors my newsletter' or 'we proudly recommend' and a couple of other variations. This way you're in effect selling without selling.
This format has been working very well for me and even months later, the broadcasts that I send have an open rate of at least 30%, which is not bad in my book.

Anyway, I thought that it might be of some benefit. Cheers guys.

Paz

#emails #profitable #writing
  • Profile picture of the author mcsl
    [*]Monetize each email. As stated above, I only hard sell once a week or so. However, soft selling is something that I do several times per week. At the bottom of each email i'll place a related product banner (with my affiliate link embedded) with 'proudly sponsors my newsletter'. This way you're in effect selling without selling.[/LIST]

    [/QUOTE]

    Has the sponsored selling tactic work well in monetizing your emails, how we'll does that convert on average, if you could share please?

    Thanks btw for your tips, soft selling is more more tactfull than hard selling and helps keeping your list responsive.
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    • Profile picture of the author PazG
      The conversion rate for the banners is normally between 1-3%. Bear in mind that these emails are in the autoresponder series. The hard sells that I do are normally one off broadcasts, if the broadcast makes me a nice chunk of change then I do consider adding it into the autoresponder. I have found that doing it it this way has pushed my unsubscribe rate all the way down and also keeps my subscribers happy and responsive. It's been profitable for me, so give it a go!
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      • Profile picture of the author JensSteyaert
        Always offering quality is the way to go, whether or not you sell each email depends on what you feel comfortable with i think.

        As you pointed out, adding a banner at the bottom of the mail is a very good idea if you don't want to be coming across as selling all the time.
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  • Profile picture of the author Stuart Walker
    At the bottom of each email i'll place a related product banner (with my affiliate link embedded) with 'proudly sponsors my newsletter'. This way you're in effect selling without selling.
    I don't like this. It's deceptive to me. It's like you're scared to tell your subs you are promoting this product and instead have decided to pretend someone is 'sponsoring' your newsletter when that's not the case at all, it's an advert placed in the newsletter by yourself with an affiliate link.

    I like to sell without selling too but more like in the method below...

    http://www.copyblogger.com/sell-without-selling/
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    • Profile picture of the author glowworm
      Banned
      As long as you've got quality, well written content, and a quality offer, the rest is irrelevant. They'll be interested.
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    • Profile picture of the author PazG
      @ Rockin - Fair enough, I can respect your opinion. I personally do not see a problem in it but cool

      @ James - The two lists that I have total to 8000 subs. However I feel that a fresh addition of leads is more important than list size in my case. Most of the money I make from these lists is in the first 7 - 12 days. After that I will send out a broadcast now and then, however, as my lists are in the fitness and pua niche, daily product launches do not occur like in the IM game.
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    • Profile picture of the author Jesus Perez
      Originally Posted by RockingLastsForever View Post

      I don't like this. It's deceptive to me. It's like you're scared to tell your subs you are promoting this product and instead have decided to pretend someone is 'sponsoring' your newsletter when that's not the case at all, it's an advert placed in the newsletter by yourself with an affiliate link.

      I like to sell without selling too but more like in the method below...

      http://www.copyblogger.com/sell-without-selling/
      Classic Ben.
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  • Profile picture of the author JasonJames
    30% open rate is pretty good. How many subscribers do you have?
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  • Profile picture of the author clever7
    Thank you for your tips!

    I like the idea of just one concept instead of a complex lesson. A sentence or paragraph instead of hard teaching seems to work better for email messages.

    Other warriors have mentioned that most people don't like complicated lessons in an email message, and your example is confirming this truth.

    I like to sell without selling too but more like in the method below...

    http://www.copyblogger.com/sell-without-selling/



    This was a good lesson. Thanks for sharing!
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    • Profile picture of the author PazG
      No worries bud. I think it's best to view emails as magazines. Entertain and inform your readers, but remember that you're not writing a text book. Give them a giggle and an 'aha' moment in each email and they'll keep on coming back for more.
      Originally Posted by clever7 View Post

      Thank you for your tips!

      I like the idea of just one concept instead of a complex lesson. A sentence or paragraph instead of hard teaching seems to work better for email messages.

      Other warriors have mentioned that most people don't like complicated lessons in an email message, and your example is confirming this truth.




      This was a good lesson. Thanks for sharing!
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  • Profile picture of the author celente
    I like the franky boy kern style.

    Do these things :-

    - Be unusual.

    - Be interesting.

    - Be stupid (well not too stupid but stupid)

    - Make them curious. So they have to click.

    - Use stories.

    - Use quirky quotes or saying.

    - Be entertaining or funny. Toilet humour can be good, but do not go overboard.

    - Be magical, and use video if you can. This works great.

    Here is the biggest and badest tip.

    TEST TEST TEST....different headlines, copy, ads, offers, split test if something works killer put it in your auto responder.

    Hope this helps.
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    • Profile picture of the author PazG
      Great tips there!

      Originally Posted by celente View Post

      I like the franky boy kern style.

      Do these things :-

      - Be unusual.

      - Be interesting.

      - Be stupid (well not too stupid but stupid)

      - Make them curious. So they have to click.

      - Use stories.

      - Use quirky quotes or saying.

      - Be entertaining or funny. Toilet humour can be good, but do not go overboard.

      - Be magical, and use video if you can. This works great.

      Here is the biggest and badest tip.

      TEST TEST TEST....different headlines, copy, ads, offers, split test if something works killer put it in your auto responder.

      Hope this helps.
      Signature

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  • Profile picture of the author JohnMcCabe
    Jimmy, I have to come clean...

    When I saw a username I wasn't familiar with posting a headline like yours, my first instinct was 'here's another newcomer looking to promote something'.

    Instead, I find sound advice, although I'm one who disagrees with the 'proudly sponsored by' tactic. That one does seem deceptive to me.

    Aside from that bit, well done.
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    • Profile picture of the author PazG
      I appreciate your honesty John, thanks. I understand that the 'sponsored by' tactic is not too everybody's liking, I can totally respect that. I'll normally mix that up with 'we proudly recommend' and a couple of other variations. (I'll update the OP)
      Originally Posted by JohnMcCabe View Post

      Jimmy, I have to come clean...

      When I saw a username I wasn't familiar with posting a headline like yours, my first instinct was 'here's another newcomer looking to promote something'.

      Instead, I find sound advice, although I'm one who disagrees with the 'proudly sponsored by' tactic. That one does seem deceptive to me.

      Aside from that bit, well done.
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      • Profile picture of the author JohnMcCabe
        Originally Posted by jimmyfingers View Post

        I appreciate your honesty John, thanks. I understand that the 'sponsored by' tactic is not too everybody's liking, I can totally respect that. I'll normally mix that up with 'we proudly recommend' and a couple of other variations. (I'll update the OP)
        I've used the 'we proudly recommend' variant myself, and have no qualms about it. I don't hide the fact that I'm using an affiliate link, although tracking links often take that part out of the equation.

        I've also seen negative reactions to the "sponsored by" tag in some niches. It implies 'selling out' for money, like a paid endorsement, and raises trust issues.

        Not sure if you're old enough to remember the old electric razor ad where the spokesman was also the company owner - "I liked the product so much, I bought the company." Victor Kayyam (sp?), if memory serves...
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        • Profile picture of the author PazG
          I haven't seen any type of negative reaction to the 'sponsored by' links in the non IM lists that I have. But sure, I wouldn't use that heading for an IM list, for an IM list the 'we proudly recommend' is much more appropriate.
          Originally Posted by JohnMcCabe View Post

          I've used the 'we proudly recommend' variant myself, and have no qualms about it. I don't hide the fact that I'm using an affiliate link, although tracking links often take that part out of the equation.

          I've also seen negative reactions to the "sponsored by" tag in some niches. It implies 'selling out' for money, like a paid endorsement, and raises trust issues.

          Not sure if you're old enough to remember the old electric razor ad where the spokesman was also the company owner - "I liked the product so much, I bought the company." Victor Kayyam (sp?), if memory serves...
          Signature

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          • Profile picture of the author Stuart Walker
            Originally Posted by jimmyfingers View Post

            @ Rockin - Fair enough, I can respect your opinion. I personally do not see a problem in it but cool
            The problem is that you aren't being honest with your subs.

            Originally Posted by erange View Post

            ...I like the "we proudly recommend" much better. I have gone as far as to tell readers that I'd appreciate clicking through on my affiliate link. Being open and honesty is always best. ;-)

            Eileen
            Yes I like "we proudly recommend" much better too. Honest.

            Originally Posted by RockNRolla View Post

            I like the 'this email is sponsored by' idea, have never seen that before.
            Be honest with your subs, that's hot honest unless the product really is sponsoring the email....which it isn't in this case.

            Originally Posted by jimmyfingers View Post

            I haven't seen any type of negative reaction to the 'sponsored by' links in the non IM lists that I have. But sure, I wouldn't use that heading for an IM list, for an IM list the 'we proudly recommend' is much more appropriate.
            It's probably because people don't know any differently outside the IM niche, most people don't know what affiliate marketing is or realise people can make money by simply placing a link to a product. None of my friends or family have any understanding on affiliate marketing and I imagine it's the same with most of the general public.

            Just because they don't complain or don't know doesn't mean it's not deceptive.
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  • Profile picture of the author erange
    ...I like the "we proudly recommend" much better. I have gone as far as to tell readers that I'd appreciate clicking through on my affiliate link. Being open and honesty is always best. ;-)

    Eileen
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  • Profile picture of the author RockNRolla
    I like the 'this email is sponsored by' idea, have never seen that before.
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    • Profile picture of the author PazG
      Hi mate, thanks but I can't really talk credit for it. It's a tip that I picked up from one of PPC Coach's materials. He uses a raw link, I messed around with that for a while and the click through rates were so so. I then started using 468 x 60 banners at the bottom of each email and the click through rate went right up. I use the 'sponsored by' heading with no problem, but it's up to the individual and what they're comfortable with at the end of the day.

      Paz G

      Originally Posted by RockNRolla View Post

      I like the 'this email is sponsored by' idea, have never seen that before.
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  • Profile picture of the author Evocess
    Great lists Jimmy! This thread is already bookmarked
    The open rate of your email is basically depends on how you design your words.
    Especially with the headlines it must be form by catchy words that will hook your list open and read it.

    Thanks for sharing.
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  • Profile picture of the author ryuchi
    You've mentioned good points and you actually shared golden tips. Hilarious email titles makes me click in as well, something that really catches attention is ideal. Sometimes getting a copywriter for writing a few emails works like magic too although of course the choice is still up to you.

    Cheers!
    Ryuchi
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