Help needed re emailing a big list!

We've found that short emails and even shorter subject lines get the best response rates.

All you want the email to do is get them to click.

By sending long emails, you give them an opportunity to "decide" whether or not to click - with super-short they really don't have a choice.

So many people try to sell in their emails, but really they are losing conversions because less people go to the sales page.

Yes - the people who do will be "warmer" but i'd rather get the most clicks possible to the offer and let the vendor do their job once I get them there

A short email with only one call to action (link to click) repeated several times, once near the top.

Make the call to action very specific--tell them what to do--"CLICK HERE TO..........."

I find the word "Free" in the subject line boosts open rates.

Be careful using free in the subj line. it's a good way NOT to get inboxed. We still do it, but very sparingly

You really are going to have to come up with a catchy subject line to get your subscribers attention again. It is possible to revive a list, but as you probably know sometimes difficult and definately time-consuming unless you have something great to give them. The best strategy I have ever used is to make a statement subject line and add a question mark at the end where it doesn't make since (i.e. Apples?) for computers. It makes them think what in the world and if it is catchy enough to spark interest they will click. The idea is mystery - What is behind door #1. Then in your email make sure you keep it short, simple, and to the point with only 1 call to action. I do this most often with my blog where I will normally write something like:

Hey ----,

My nephew was playing on my netbook the other day
and somehow found this website that kept him busy
for hours. What was really interesting is that the reason
he wouldn't let me have my computer back for almost
3 hours was because of...

This - Click here to find out what it was! <-- make this a link

That's just a simple example off the top of my head, but with a little thought and relevancy you can come up with something for your slowly reviving site.

Make sure it is relevant and use this type of email. I believe you will find it works quiet well. For me these types of broadcast normally convert between 50-80%. A list of 30,000 emailed with a open rate of 50%, well you figure out the traffic.

Hope this helps! Remember short subject line, short email, and call to action.

Johnathan Hayes

I disagree. That's too long. If you make it blind you'll get way more clicks.

subj: Re: Your Band

body:


You'll definitely want to see this:
LINK

It's about your band.

Talk Soon,
YOURNAME


Day 2

subj: make it big.

body:

You won't ever make it
big with your band if the
right people don't hear
your music.

Don't miss your shot:
LINK

Talk soon,
YOURNAME



And mail them OFTEN.

You need a short punchy subject line. I have found words like "shocking" work for getting people to open the email.
Then you need them to click through to the website. Offer something for free that is related to your niche. Or a catchy video can work.

Michael,

Those emails work well also. I tend to sometimes keep them extremely short as you have suggested and to the point. In reality, it will come down to testing the emails. Every demographic is different and every niche as well. People respond differently to every email they receive. I remember at one time I had a list that I hadn't broadcast to in around 8 months, then sent an email telling them what had happened and where things had changed. Guess the honesty was better than the blindness. And I absolutely agree that at times, short is sometimes better, but it is all about what got them on the list in the first place.

Johnathan Hayes

I agree every market is different, so it's best if you know what they're likely to respond to.