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Can
Knowing The Basics of HTML Boost Your Email
Advertising?
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by:
Treci Cauthen
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Thousands
of Internet marketers are using email as a major part of their
advertising campaign. This is not the most effective form of
advertisement due to the fact that there are lots of websites that
offer online email software that allows promoters to reach thousands to
millions of prospects using their safelist programs. Due to
overwhelming response from promoters to use their lists we now face the
issue of Spamming (emailing in bulk or by single mailing, about a
product/service to anyone who has not specifically requested the
information directly from you or flooding the Internet with many copies
of the same message, in an attempt to force the message on people who
would not otherwise choose to receive it).
But no need to fear their is a proper way to reach lots of interested
buyers and co-afiliates without becoming black listed as a spammer. You
need to deal with companies that will sell you fresh email lists that
haven't been sold to hundreds or thousands of people.
Email list websites
http://www.email-lists.biz/
http://www.thetrafficstream.com/?source=k
Now stands the battle between Text vs HTML email formatting tactics for
the fall 2004. Tests have been conducted and Ross-Simons' Internet
Marketing Director Anne Driscoll said "We tested HTML when years ago
just like everybody else, and it was four-times as effective as text.
However now we're testing to see if text can convey an urgency that's
not necessarily there in HTML."
Turns out it's "as effective or even more effective than standard HTML"
for an urgent reminder that a sale is about to end. "It's less to do
with deliverability and more to do with the way a customer interprets a
message," notes Anne.1
What's the difference?
When you see colored text, graphics, words that are underlined (besides
hyperlinks), bold text, etc., in an email, you are looking at an HTML
email message. HTML allows you a variety of ways to format your message
text, graphics and color.
A plain text message looks like something written in a basic text
editor. Notepad, which comes loaded with your PC’s operating system, is
a great editor for sending text messages. Most professionals who send
text messages use Notepad to edit their copy.
"Both formats can work very well in email marketing. A well-written
text message without any graphics can perform very well and deliver
results. Text messages are easy to create and closely follow the format
of a professional sales letter which many marketers are already
familiar with. HTML campaigns can capture their audience with a few
well-placed visual focus points."
"Well-written copy sells better than weaker copy with fancy graphics.
If you’re new to online marketing, my suggestion is to start with text.
If you really want to use HTML, you need a good designer. Collect some
examples of HTML email advertisements you have responded to and model
your campaign after them."2
Where to learn the basics of HTML websites:
http://www.htmlbasix/. com/
http://www.geocities.com/Athens/4204/html.htm
You also need to have a few sales letters ready to get the ball
rolling.
Sample letters
Sample #1
[Date]
[Mr./Mrs./Ms./Dr.] [Customer's Full Name]
[Title]
[Company Name]
[Address] [City], [State] [Zip/Postal Code]
Dear [Mr./Mrs./Ms./Dr.] [Customer's Last Name]:
Don't lose this letter, or you'll lose your free gift!
[Name of Your Store] is having our [Name of the Sale] Sale, and we want
you to be there, for outstanding savings on everything in the store.
And a FREE gift everyone will love.
Beginning [First Day of the Sale, Including Month, Day and Year] and
Ending [Customer's Last Day of the Sale, Including Month, Day and
Year], [Name of Your Store] will have huge discounts, up to [Highest
Percentage Customer Can Save During Sale]% on items like these:
[Highest Percentage Customer Can Save During Sale]% off all [First Type
of Product On Sale at the Highest Discount]. or [Highest Percentage
Customer Can Save During Sale]% off all [Second Type of Product On Sale
at the Highest Discount]. or [Highest Percentage Customer Can Save
During Sale]% off all [Third Type of Product On Sale at the Highest
Discount].
And not only will you save, but if you bring in this letter during the
[Name of the Sale] Sale, we'll also give you a [Name of the Free Gift],
absolutely free.
Mark your calendar now for the [Name of the Sale] Sale: [First Day of
the Sale, Including Month, Day and Year] - [Customer's Last Day of the
Sale, Including Month, Day and Year]. Come to the sale early, and don't
forget to bring this letter, because our [Name of the Free Gift]
supplies are limited.
And there's no telling when we'll run out.
Sincerely,
[Your Name]
[Your Title]
[Your Company Name]
P.S. Tape this letter to your door--mail it to yourself--put it in the
glove compartment of your car--just don't lose it or you won't get
[Name of the Free Gift] for free.
Sample #2
[Date]
[Mr./Mrs./Ms./Dr.] [Customer's Full Name]
[Title]
[Company Name]
[Address] [City], [State] [Zip/Postal Code]
Dear [Mr./Mrs./Ms./Dr.] [Customer's Last Name]:
NEW! We've just received a shipment of thousands of new [Name of the
Product] and we need to get them moving!
So we've knocked off the price about [Percentage Customer Can Save By
Ordering the Product from You]%--you can get your [Name of the Product]
right now for just $[Price of Product].
We've never offered [Name of the Product] before, and we don't know
exactly how you will respond to them. That's why we're offering them at
such a low price.
We'll keep this low price for as long as we can, but if the demand is
high, we'll be forced to raise our prices.
Sorry, but those are the laws of supply and demand.
So order yours now, while we're still offering this incredible
introductory price--just $[Price of Product]. Call [Phone Number
Customers Call to Place Orders, Preferably a Toll-free or 800 Number]
right now, and give our brand new [Name of the Product] a try.
Sincerely,
[Your Name]
[Your Title]
[Your Company Name]
P.S. Don't forget about our return policy. Return any product to us
within [Number of Days the Guarantee Lasts] days, and we'll refund your
purchase price.3
Finally you need to decide which method works best for you.
Getting The Big Picture?
reference
1. Anne Holland
http://www.marketingsherpa.com/sample.cfm?contentID=2848
2. Jason Lexell
http://www.businessemaillists.com/articles/text-vs-html.asp
3. Sandi Stevens http://www.bizine.com/salesltr.htm
Copyright © 2004
About the Author
Treci Cauthen is a Writer/Internet Marketing
Coach.
Natural-Cures-Info
webvillage.bravehost.com
naturalcures.bravehost.com
Kevin
Trudeau
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