Do you guys know how to do this...with your list!!!

I agree you would have to offer them something free and worthwhile otherwise they are going to be hitting that spam button pretty fast.

Ease them in gently before trying to sell them anything

yeah that is something we thought about too either offer then free training based on the product they bought either through a teleseminar or webinar...

Yeah definitely don't jump straight in with a sales pitch.

Start with a nice email reminding your list who you are and why they are receiving emails from you. Remind them of the benefits of being on your list and perhaps let them know that they are free to unsubscribe if they're not interested. If you can come up with a good reason as to why you haven't emailed them in so long then hit them with that too.

Giving them a freebie is a great idea and will be sure to buy you some goodwill.

I'd then send a few more emails after this with nothing but useful content before finally getting back to promoting stuff to your list.

Jay that is some excellent advise buddy, I like the part where giving reason why they haven't been contacted for so long...

The list is probably stale and people don't know who you are or why did they sign up
in the first place, but here's what you can do:

Set up a completely new campaign, with a new squeeze page, new free gift and new
autoresponder list. Send an email to your list with a link to your new squeeze page
asking people to go and get this cool freebie. That way you'll get active people who
are interested in what you have to offer on your new list.

You can send this mail few times (I suggest three), but every other time only to the
people on your list who didn't open the previous mail, so not to bother people with
same mail over and over again.

i think you should start with a new email by clearing him of your identity and your cause of emailing him.And show him how benefits they can get by it.

A most excellent reply Shaun, that cleared up some things I was thinking also but making an apologize is a must an reasons why for staying away and why now. Good examples in your post.

Send them a funny reactivation letter by mail. John Carlton has a good one that you should take a look at. I believe it's still free on his website.

I would make sure to put who you are and how they got subsscribed to the list as well as context of the list they are one RIGHT UP FRONT as THE first thing they see.

I would steer clear of that first contact being a sale message but depends on what it is.

Have seen recently many old lists start up again and start off with sales ads and continued on just promoting things in each subsequent mailing. Some actually prevent you from unsubscribing and one actually unsubscribes you then adds you to another list so even though you unsubed you still get the damn, at this point, spam.

Depends on the list David, what was it for and why did people subscribe. See if you can get info about the type and quality of mailings prior to that year+ off.

I know one guy that only mails out once a year, actually look forward to that when it comes in. Like I said, depends on the list and what it was for.

I disagree with the need to bribe people to stick to a list. If your content sucks or is a me too IM type of list then screw it, start over. There had to be a reason they subscribed. If it was just to get a free product then I don't know, doesn't seem to me to be any reason someone would stay on it unless it is to receive free products...

When I run lists that are mine, I tend to have a pretty high retention rate without needing to bribe people. Though that is just me and the quality of content I provide/d I guess not everyone does that.

- T

Hey Terry,

That is solid advise, the key i believe is creating emotional message so the customers and the list owner can start building that bond again or renewing the bond, the message should convey empathy and actknoweledge ment that you are going to be there for them and the reasons why you and how much you are looking forward to helping and aiding them in their business or what ever it is you promise to help with.

David