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How do you approach EMAIL copy? Whats your best techniques...

by Daniel Vaughan
8 replies
Hi Warriors,

Are you more of a "Filsaime" type email marketer (you know where almost every word he writes is in a new paragraph!) or are you more of a Rasmussen, perhaps you're a Cheney (where you add the reader into a story by using {fix_name} tags)?


Lets share the best techniques for:

1. Avoiding the spam filters
2. Getting an email opened
3. Getting the links clicked

What's your best subject lines?

How do you avoid the spam filters picking up words like money, free, dollars, affiliates etc?

Do you use long email copy or short?

Wide or thin?


Simply put... whats your best way to approach email marketing?
#approach #copy #email #techniques
  • Profile picture of the author erinwrites
    For me it really depends on what, exactly, you are trying to get the reader to do. Obviously you want them to click through to a site, but once they are at the site, what is the goal? Do you want them to buy something? Sign up for something?

    I try to take on the most natural tone I can while still sounding professional. I want the reader to forget that they are reading something because they are part of a list and, instead, feel like they are the only person to be contacted. This means my e-mails usually have a slightly more conversational tone. I also try to stay away from adding in the recipients name in the body of the e-mail. This is mostly because when *I* get an e-mail that does that it just screams "BUY SOMETHING" to me which is a huge turn off. Think about it, sure adding the person's name is supposed to be effective when having a marketing conversation in person, but in an e-mail it feels spammy. When you write an e-mail directly to someone, do you usually include their name in the body of the e-mail?

    Of course, all of this might just be me.
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    • Profile picture of the author Daniel Vaughan
      Some interesing points.

      I would agree about the TONE of the email. You want to make it as personal as possible.

      We also have to remember that many of those on your list (especially in the IM niche) will probably be on many other lists and therefore get the same type of hype..

      We as humans aren't stupid and I believe we can see a "BUY FROM ME" or "SIGN UP TO MY SITE" plea from miles off.

      Im going to start going down the track of total honesty.. if they wanna buy after that, then they will respect me more. If they dont, they probably weren't going to anyway.

      I also like to think that my offer is good enough (its free to join my site) I shouldn't feel scared to tell them about it.. I mean if you had a great offer and you wanted to tell your friend about it... how would you word it.. surely you would just come out with it!

      As for the Hi {NAME}...

      Personally, I always address people by there names when I email them.


      HOWEVER what really bugs me is having to alter the way I write words like FREE, AFFILIATE, EARN, MONEY etc,etc,

      It comes across so spammy when I recieve emails that say f.ree or f'ree or m0ney.. but there's no avoiding it. Or is there?
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  • Profile picture of the author erinwrites
    I agree that the salutation of Hi {NAME} is good... my point was more about when you're reading along and come across something like this:

    "Hi {NAME},

    {NAME}, I just wanted to write to tell you about this product, text text text text text read read read read

    Really, {NAME}, don't you wish you could... text text textity text because trust me {NAME} you don't want to miss this opportunity!

    Thanks for reading {NAME}!"

    That is a huge turnoff--at least for me
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    • Profile picture of the author Daniel Vaughan
      Oh writing their name like that is a DEFINATE NO for me too.

      It's funny, because when I first started out, I thought "WOW! this is going to make it sound REAAAAALLLY personal!" Boy was I wrong!

      HOWEVER... it CAN work...

      If you did it TONGUE in cheek and deliberatly put them into a kind of story.. it could work...

      For example:

      Once upon a time there was an aspiring
      internet marketer called [NAME]

      All [NAME] wanted to do was make
      a nice living online and if things went
      really well maybe pay off the mortgage
      or buy a nice car but..

      It wasn't going so well despite all
      [NAME]'s efforts the money just
      wasn't coming in.

      and then ( enter stage left)..

      Something came out and supplied all the
      answers for [NAME] and provided everything
      anyone needs to make money online;

      - The mathematical formula that can earn
      you $300 TONIGHT
      - A method which has multi-Billion companies
      shaking in their boots!
      - All the tools to generate a semi-automatic
      $72 per hour income from the comfort of your
      own home!
      - A one-off way where you can click 3 basic
      links and earn over $200 instantly!
      - Your own personal coach to assist you on
      your path to riches!
      - 24/7 Around the clock support from a
      team of experts dedicated *only* to this
      task
      - List building machine complete with
      freebies to give away as bait
      - 14-Day Free look for you to try it out

      BUT something terrible happened..

      [NAME] got caught up doing something
      when this program went live and the boat
      began sailing away (forever).

      [NAME] leapt from the land stretching
      out a leg to desperately reach the departing
      boat but it was too late.

      It had gone forever...

      The MORAL of the story?

      Don't hang around - I've been told The
      site is nearly full and once it is, it is CLOSED
      forever - unless you're lucky enough to get
      invited by an affiliate! (I'm SO glad I joined!)

      FAST SUMMARY (you gotta move quick)

      - There are many smart people (like me) already
      in the members area earning money

      - This will NOT be released again

      - Once it's closed it's CLOSED

      Go here now before you miss out;

      YOURWEBSITE
      (PS. It's TOTALLY F-R-E-E for 2 whole weeks and
      TRUST me.. you WILL stay on after the trial!)

      You *can* make TODAY the start of your
      happily ever after [NAME] but you
      must be FAST, the boat is sailing away
      right now..

      YOURWEBSITE

      Enjoy!

      YOURNAME

      PS - You can change your life *today* and
      start to see some BIG money coming in
      using the simple tactics found in the
      members area BUT be quick, not many spots
      left;

      YOURWEBSITE
      ----------------------------------------

      Like I said... it CAN work. But I would only ever use it in the above way, once in a blue moon
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  • Profile picture of the author AnarchyAds
    Banned
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    • Profile picture of the author Loren Woirhaye
      I write in an idiosynchratic style that seems to work to built
      rapport. I don't promote very many IM launches either.

      Some of my most successful emails have been ones
      that followed a confessional line or were cajolling.

      I use the "scrolling" technique often to emphasize certain
      concepts.

      Sometimes my writing is stream of conciousness, sometimes
      it is more calculated.

      I avoid certain words or write them thus: f.r.e.e. mo.ney
      financ!al do!!ars.

      "frequently putting up-going and down-going letters"

      ...in subject lines will improve response. I learned this from
      Derek Gehl.
      The letters to use often are : l j p t y f h & k.


      Oh . BTW - I unsubscribed from Frank Kern. Perhaps it
      is because so many people try to copy him that I lost
      interest.
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      • Profile picture of the author Cherilyn Woodhouse
        1. Avoiding the spam filters - Screen words, get the subscriber to whitelist you when they subscribe, avoid talking about them in the plural sense (i.e. "all you subscribers" instead of just "you".) And above all else, write personally so they don't label you as spam.

        2. Getting an email opened - Tell them to watch for the next email at the end of every email. Improves open rates by 10%+ every time.

        3. Getting the links clicked - Use the link 3 times in the email. Johnson boxes can help with this. So can your signature. Try not to go more than 4 or 5, but aim for repeating the link 3 times.

        Do you use long email copy or short? - Depends on the subject matter, how much content is included, how much rapport has been built with the subscriber, and how much I have to say.

        Wide or thin? Thin. Even fits in "side-by-side" view in Outlook.


        Simply put... whats your best way to approach email marketing?

        Like you're emailing a friend. Do that, and you'll do fine.

        - Cherilyn
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        Take your product from idea to profit in less than 90 days! Work with me to develop and implement a step-by-step plan for success!
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        • Profile picture of the author Matt James
          I've said this to you already Dan but for those who haven't discovered this guy yet...

          Sign up to Matt Furey's list.

          When you actually look forward to receiving his emails because they're so well written, you know you have something to model!
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  • Profile picture of the author Mark Hendricks
    I have found that the email is best to create curiosity to get them to click to go to the salespage, rather try to sell in the email.

    Think of it as a "postcard" you get in the mail, there's just not enough room on that card most of the time to tell your complete sales message, the card is used as a response mechanism to get people to take an action to learn more.

    Try that with you emails, and your results will increase.

    -- Mark Hendricks

    PS - see grandmaster site in the sig box below
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    Get great gifts during December at the original internet giveaway promotion, The 12 Days of Christmas ... enjoy! --- And if you want to learn the art of doing Joint Ventures see JVdealmaker
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