New to Email Marketing - Have a List of 5k Subscribers - What to Do?

by AZJ0SH
17 replies
I used to help a friend run a pet website, in exchange for my services he supplied me with a list of all his newsletter subscribers. The list contains about 5,000 subscribers currently, no duplicates and they have all been checked. He has has really good open rates on his newsletters with this list.

I have absolutely zero experience when it comes to email marketing. From the research I have done my plan initially is to promote a pet related clickbank product via email marketing, but I don't really know where to go from there or if that is even the best idea?

How would I go about emailing 5,000 people? Would it be worth it to sign up for something like ConstantContact?

Realistically, could I make some decent money with this list if I do it right?

Thanks in advance for any help and advice!
#email #list #marketing #subscribers
  • Profile picture of the author davidkings
    You can make some very good money with a list of 5000. Build some trust with them, don't shove offers down their throat, provide value.

    I would listen to what Shaun O Riley says,
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    • Profile picture of the author AZJ0SH
      Originally Posted by davidkings View Post

      You can make some very good money with a list of 5000. Build some trust with them, don't shove offers down their throat, provide value.

      I would listen to what Shaun O Riley says,
      Who is Shaun O Riley? Should I start off with more informational type newsletters before promoting products?
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  • Profile picture of the author Raydal
    Originally Posted by AZJ0SH View Post

    The list contains about 5,000 subscribers currently, no duplicates and they have all been checked. He has has really good open rates on his newsletters with this list.
    ...
    How would I go about emailing 5,000 people? Would it be worth it to sign up for something like ConstantContact?
    Is your friend giving you the list that he would continue to email as well?
    The reason I asked this is because you mention that he had very good
    open rates so I assume that he emails them already, so why would
    you need to get a email service provider?

    If he is simply giving you the list that BOTH of you can now email them this
    may cause some confusion and may even break (typical) subscriber
    agreement that email addresses would not be shared with a third
    party.

    If he is handing over the list for you to manage then all you need to do
    is continue sending the (same) newsletter and include promotions
    every now and then for pet related products--ClickBank, Amazon
    and other affiliate networks.

    -Ray Edwards
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    • Profile picture of the author AZJ0SH
      Originally Posted by Raydal View Post

      Is your friend giving you the list that he would continue to email as well?
      The reason I asked this is because you mention that he had very good
      open rates so I assume that he emails them already, so why would
      you need to get a email service provider?

      If he is simply giving you the list that BOTH of you can now email this
      may cause some confusion and may even break (typical) subscriber
      agreement that email addresses would not be shared with a third
      party.

      If he is handing over the list for you to manage then all you need to do
      is continue sending the (same) newsletter and include promotions
      every now and then for pet related products--ClickBank, Amazon
      and other affiliate networks.

      -Ray Edwards
      He shut the site down and sold all the content except for the subscribers, the site was dying off because he never updated it in over a year. The list is from 2010 to 2013, the most recent newsletter was sent in March 2013 and had about 75% open rate.

      Whatever I end up sending out will not be coming from his site, his email address, or anything related to him or his old website. I was techincally co-owner of the website so I am not a third party it's just being "re-branded" to a new owner.
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  • Profile picture of the author oWriter
    Banned
    When I receive emails from marketers, I only open those that are from people whom I trust, and I trust those who don't just sell me stuff, but also provide me personalized (or seemingly personalized) emails that help me and provide value to me. I appreciate a small report/ebook here and there, as well as updates on their lives. The funny ones are my favorite.

    You have a treasure trove there, that 5k list you have.
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    • Profile picture of the author AZJ0SH
      Originally Posted by oWriter View Post

      When I receive emails from marketers, I only open those that are from people whom I trust, and I trust those who don't just sell me stuff, but also provide me personalized (or seemingly personalized) emails that help me and provide value to me. I appreciate a small report/ebook here and there, as well as updates on their lives. The funny ones are my favorite.

      You have a treasure trove there, that 5k list you have.
      He had great open rates, but the only issue I have is I cannot send anything from his site/email since he shut it all down. I might send out a newsletter, all informational no sales, telling the customers about the rebranding and how they will continue to receive the monthly newsletters from me. Then in my 2nd email promote a product or offer something free as well.
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  • Profile picture of the author Zeus66
    If those people didn't subscribe to get emails from you or a business you bought or are working for, then technically it'll be spam if you email them at all.

    I would ease into it if you use the list. Mail a portion, sit back and see if there's any blowback (spam complaints), then do a bit more, etc.

    Also, you'd be wise to email them something without asking them to buy anything the first time you send anything to them. A nice free offer related to that niche would be an excellent choice.
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    • Profile picture of the author AZJ0SH
      Originally Posted by Zeus66 View Post

      If those people didn't subscribe to get emails from you or a business you bought or are working for, then technically it'll be spam if you email them at all.

      I would ease into it if you use the list. Mail a portion, sit back and see if there's any blowback (spam complaints), then do a bit more, etc.

      Also, you'd be wise to email them something without asking them to buy anything the first time you send anything to them. A nice free offer related to that niche would be an excellent choice.
      What should I use to email them? Can I send them directly from my hostgator inbox and do 50-100 at a time?
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      • Profile picture of the author Zeus66
        Originally Posted by AZJ0SH View Post

        What should I use to email them? Can I send them directly from my hostgator inbox and do 50-100 at a time?
        Wow, that would take you a LONG time. No, I'd use an autoresponder service that allows importation of lists without forcing each recipient to confirm. Constant Contact does that, but they'll cancel your account if the spam complaints start coming in at more than a very low level.
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  • Profile picture of the author DWaters
    It sounds like this list is not currently with an autoresponder company. That makes it tough. The manual email method yu mention may work a bit but will involve a lot of work and the open rate will not be nearly as good as his was. It you go that route try to make the subject heading and email from field something that the customer will recognize. Also this may technically be spam, i am not sure.
    You may be able to import the loist into an autorepsonder and then see if they will opt in to your "new list".
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    • Profile picture of the author AZJ0SH
      Originally Posted by DWaters View Post

      It sounds like this list is not currently with an autoresponder company. That makes it tough. The manual email method yu mention may work a bit but will involve a lot of work and the open rate will not be nearly as good as his was. It you go that route try to make the subject heading and email from field something that the customer will recognize. Also this may technically be spam, i am not sure.
      You may be able to import the loist into an autorepsonder and then see if they will opt in to your "new list".
      He did have it in iContact, but he closed his account after exporting the list. Right now I just have an excel spreadsheet with 5,235 email addresses, no dupes.

      Are they foreced to opt-in before I can email them a newsletter?
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      • Profile picture of the author Steve Waller
        Originally Posted by AZJ0SH View Post

        He did have it in iContact, but he closed his account after exporting the list. Right now I just have an excel spreadsheet with 5,235 email addresses, no dupes.

        Are they foreced to opt-in before I can email them a newsletter?
        Like someone already said above, Constant Contact allow you to import contacts from spreadsheet without the need to have them opt in again.

        With regards to being spam, since he did not sell the email list with the website, you/he still technically own it. Whether this gives you the right to mail to the subscribers is another matter since they signed up to receive the email from the now sold website and not you as a person.

        At least, that is how I see it but then I'm no expert in email law.

        If the website still exists with the new owner, how are you going to sell the "rebrand" idea anyway?
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        • Profile picture of the author AZJ0SH
          Originally Posted by Steve Waller View Post

          Like someone already said above, Constant Contact allow you to import contacts from spreadsheet without the need to have them opt in again.

          With regards to being spam, since he did not sell the email list with the website, you/he still technically own it. Whether this gives you the right to mail to the subscribers is another matter since they signed up to receive the email from the now sold website and not you as a person.

          At least, that is how I see it but then I'm no expert in email law.

          If the website still exists with the new owner, how are you going to sell the "rebrand" idea anyway?
          Thanks, I thought the other person was saying they would have to opt-in again.

          The website does not exist anymore, he sold all the content and took the site down, my part of the deal was in exchance for making the site for him he would hand over the email subscribers if he ever shut the site down.

          I don't want to come off as a spammer to his list, I think my plan is to send out a newsletter in the same format he used to, let them know about the website being gone but how we are still going to provide monthly newsletters with info.
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  • Profile picture of the author KyleMallory
    First you need to consider that these subscribers haven't received an email from you or your friend in about 10 months. They've likely forgotten all about the newsletter so if you start emailing them again they're not going to remember why they're getting emails from you. If you do decide to email them again, your first email should be describing why you're emailing them instead of your friend. Then you need to tell them how to unsubscribe.

    This is going to shrink your list considerably, but you can use the email to sell them on why they should remain on the list. If you don't do something like this, your spam complaints are likely to be through the roof.
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  • Profile picture of the author onSubie
    The existing customers are the value of the business.

    If he sold off the site and assets but kept the list, you can build a new site and direct the readers to it.

    Your idea about explaining things to the members is a good idea. In fact you could spin it to a marketing angle. It has been nearly a year since the last newsletter so a reintroduction would be a good idea.

    Somethings along the lines of what you suggested:

    - the site is sold but we would never sell you, our customers, off to another company. We value our relationship with you and we'll continue to provide our newsletter to you, our dear and loyal subscribers.

    - due to many requests we have decided to launch a new web site! This will be slightly different than oldsite.com that we sold. Look for big announcements soon!

    You can use the rebranding/relaunching to rebuild interest and keep people opening emails after the long break. All the while emphasizing it is still the same "people" behind the newsletter.

    Of course, you don't need to build a new site if you want the list only, but you would have built in traffic and interest for a web site "launch".

    As for the changing 'from' email/identity you could explain that the domain and assets were sold and this is your new newsletter address. Explain it as part of the transition and new branding.

    You want to engage the list while minimizing their fears and build excitement for coming 'relaunch' events so they will be excited and pay attention.

    This assumes overcoming any mechanics of importing the list to a new email manager.
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    • Profile picture of the author AZJ0SH
      Originally Posted by onSubie View Post

      The existing customers are the value of the business.

      If he sold off the site and assets but kept the list, you can build a new site and direct the readers to it.

      Your idea about explaining things to the members is a good idea. In fact you could spin it to a marketing angle. It has been nearly a year since the last newsletter so a reintroduction would be a good idea.

      Somethings along the lines of what you suggested:

      - the site is sold but we would never sell you, our customers, off to another company. We value our relationship with you and we'll continue to provide our newsletter to you, our dear and loyal subscribers.

      - due to many requests we have decided to launch a new web site! This will be slightly different than oldsite.com that we sold. Look for big announcements soon!

      You can use the rebranding/relaunching to rebuild interest and keep people opening emails after the long break. All the while emphasizing it is still the same "people" behind the newsletter.

      Of course, you don't need to build a new site if you want the list only, but you would have built in traffic and interest for a web site "launch".

      As for the changing 'from' email/identity you could explain that the domain and assets were sold and this is your new newsletter address. Explain it as part of the transition and new branding.

      You want to engage the list while minimizing their fears and build excitement for coming 'relaunch' events so they will be excited and pay attention.

      This assumes overcoming any mechanics of importing the list to a new email manager.
      Thanks onSubie for the reply, glad to see more Subaru owners around here.

      This is some great info and it's going to help me in the transition, I like your idea of putting the marketing spin on it.

      The site I am putting together is going to be very similar to the original site, but is also goign to offer an e-commerce side of it drop-shipping pet products but that is something that is going to be done later this year after I reestablish the site and the customer/client base.
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  • Profile picture of the author onlineleben
    Don't forget to collect email-addreses on the new site
    Also when you direct your old list to the new site, offer a freebe to them for signing up with the Newsletter on the new site. when they do that, delete the email from your old list, so they don't get two emails (with different from: addresses).
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