Email Marketing

[john-adams]

I was wondering what everyone thoughts are on emial marketing. I have about 100 or so business cards that I have collected at various networking events and I was thinking of sending an Enewsletter or someting else. Can anyone give me any ideas on companies that can help or what I can do.

[nexus5]

Just went thru the same thing myself. I went with AutoMark thru Emerald Publications.http://www.emeraldpublications.com/automark.asp

Good Luck

[FinPlanMike]

I would be very careful with using AutoMark from Emerald.  If you intend to use AutoMark to send only to people who have definitely opted-in to your email list, then you should be fine.  But, if you have even a handful of people who are not familiar with your email newsletter on your list, you may run into trouble!

In my case, I had a list of emails from the homeowners association of a local affluent retirement community.  I added the email addresses of the homeowners to my database.  My initial email to every homeowner was an introduction email explaining that I am an advertiser in the homeowners association print newsletter and offering them my email newsletter.  I gave them specific instructions on how to opt-out of receiving any future emails.  From what I understand, this complies with the CAN-SPAM laws.  Over the past 2 1/2 years, I had no problems.  I found on average that about 10%-15% of the people who received the initial email either hit the opt-out link, replied to the email and requested to be removed from the list, or called my office and politely asked to be removed from the list.  We complied with every single request.

Unfortunately, beginning in February of this year, it appears many ISP's have begun to blacklist ALL email messages from any source that happens to receive a handful of complaints.  According to what the technicians at AutoMark told me, a couple of people recieved my initial email and reported it as spam to Comcast.  This resulted in Comcast blocking ALL emails from my email address originating from AutoMark.

The result was that all Comcast subscribers, even people who opted-in to my email newsletter, were not receiving my newsletter.  I also had the same problem with two other smaller ISPs.  As a result, about half of my email list were not receiving my email messages - even my longtime clients!

So, as I stated earlier, unless you have a completely opt-in list, you may run into a situation where you get blocked from sending to anyone receiving email through certain ISPs - even people who have opted-in.

[Estate Marketing Guy]

A hundred business cards and leads is too small of a population.  The response rate for e-mail campaign is less than 1/10 of 1%.  You will need thousands of leads.

Do you have a compelling reason for people to do business with you?
Can you reach clients at key times like when they are inheriting money?  or when they sell a business? If not , look at some the the companies that specialize in areas like [my company - name removed by moderator]

EMG, you're not clear on the concept here...you can't post solicitations on these boards. Stop wasting our time. -Moderator

[elevatingyourbusiness]

First thing to do is get your cards into some sort of database.  A basic way is to create a file in MS Excel.  This will help you no matter what you choose to do in the future as this sort of file is usually uploadable to many contact management programs.

Newsletters you have many choices. I agree what whatever you do, get an opt-in list.   Get response is good and gives you lots of room to grow.  Many use aweber.

Free, if you have a website is a program called DADAMail.  Also free --- if you have hosting is to check in your control panel to see if you a) already have a program set up for you by your hosting company   b) see if you have an add on called Fantastico, which has two different free ezine programs.

Most of all NEVER use your own email program to send out that many emails.  Why?  way to much can happen.  Just trust me.

If you're working for a company, ask what they recommend.  There are companies on the web whose clients are 100% financial services professionals and they will create the newsletter and all that entails for you, you just supply the opt-in client list.

There are also business owners called Virtual Assistants who will take your cards, put them into a database, and send out the newsletters for you by email and mail.  Lots of choices.


That should get your started :)

[john-adams]

What are my choices for newsletters I have the database in excel and am ready to go.

Thank you,
John Adams

[estate guy]

it aint going to work... to few cards

[as123]

Of course if you are sending it to thousands of people who don't know you from the next financial spammer, then it's not going to work.

BUT 100 people who KNOW YOU, LIKE YOU, and WANT TO DO BUSINESS WITH YOU are GREAT prospects

with a MUCH HIGHER RESPONSE RATE. 

And that advice is FREE.

Not from another Sales guy selling his infamous tool that'll make you the next Top Producer.

[bobcall]

I just saw a post on this issue that may help you. http://javelinmarketing.blogspot.com/2008/07/lead-generation-how-to-build-email-list.html

[anonymous]

I had to respond since there is a link to Javelin Marketing.  Just keep in mind that the word on the street is virtually 100% negative on Javelin.

Before doing anything via e-mail, make sure to talk to your B/D.  Many will require that all people receiving your e-mails have given you advance permission to send them.

[ryanberch]

I had very good experience with Javelin Markleting's newsletter and still use it.  I know they had an ex-employee that turned competitor that spread all kinds of trash about them, Tammy something.  They also share comments from advisors: http://seniorleads.com/letters.html

[Mr.6]

Hi,

Are you still using them, I am about to start to use them as a lead basis. Did you ghet your monies worth. They aere changing 149.00 plus 18.00 a lead some said they were bad leads/stale

thanks

Paul 

[bobcall]

I use both the lead service and the newsletter from Javelin Marketing nd have been happy with results from both.

[LMCQ]

S&P has a new Newsletter on Demand product you can trial it at http://fc.standardandpoors.com We would live to have your feedback on the service

[Maria Marsala]

You mention that you have business cards; but having a business card isn't the same as having permission top put someone on your ezine (emailing list, etc). You have to get permission.


You can get permission by sending them a sample of your newsletter and asking them to join. OR sending each person a postcard (compliance OKd) type ad offering something for free, like a report, that they'd really want to read. Then to get the report, they sign up for your ezine.



But never add people to your list without their OK.



One thing I do is ask them for permission to put them on my list; telling them that they can easily unsubscribe since the directions to do so are a link a the end of the ezine. If they say yes, I have them write "yes, Ezine" on the back of their card. Then I have permission.



If you speak or hold a seminar, you can get permisison in writing on an Ezine sign-up form.

[Consumer IQ]

Email marketing is a very tricky business strategy that can lead to many problems if not coordinated in a professional and accountable way. Not only are there the issues surrounding the Can Spam Act, SEC, and ISP blocking that can occur at some point when there are a certain number of complaints. The reality is that there are no hard fast rules on this right now and companies are simply making efforts to do more to protect their users even if it causes frustration from people who have not necessarily done anything against the rules.

Consumer IQ Provides email marketing services for financial service specialists and the TOP 3 tips are:

1. Even with permission - Verify. Start every new subscription to your list with a permission email. Say, "You recently gave me permission, to verify your interest please use this "Opt In" link. Also use the opportunity to set the stage for your email distribution process, frequency, and value proposition so they don't get confused or frustrated with some sort of frequent distribution if that is what you do. This email will protect your rights as a distributor and create a very rich list that will stand the test of time.
2. Personalized, Topical and Interactive. Make sure to offer at least one high value, personally written detail, in each and every email. There are too man emails being sent these days, if you are going to distribute something to your qualified list make it count. Either as a stand alone informational email or as a newsletter, be sure that the content is fresh, topical, interactive, and driven towards the concept of providing you some value of return. These values of return should be focused around things like Clicks, Referrals, Secondary Sales, Testimonials.
3. Interactive & Optimized. One of the biggest mistakes we find people make is to assume that just because an email was sent that it will deliver on some sort of return. The two ways you can activate the email is to insert links within the text or in strategic locations that drive traffic back to the Company Website, and the other think is to make sure that you use an Email Service Provider that will provide you with statistical data about your emails that can be used for marketing or sales calls.

[ByrnesConsulting]

I did research and chose Constant Contact. Also, they have a 60-day trial free promotion that you can use if you have under 100 names. If you would like to discuss my experiences with this email vendor, feel free to reach out to me.


Mike Byrnes, President, Byrnes Consulting, LLC, www.byrnesconsulting.com

[elevatingyourbusiness]

There are two distint ways to email market.


a) Broadcast newsletter

b) Auto reponders







a) This is where you send an email newsletter out weekly, monthly etc.



b) This is where you set your system up to send a series of emails out.



I'll add a C here for a hybrid system: For example: I have an auto reponder system that sends emails out when I told it to send them. Then weekly I send out a broadcast to that same group of people.



You have many choices. Here is what I recommend:



See what program might be included in your hosting service already (usually free or low cost). Many people don't realize they have something there.



I like (but don't use) I-Contact. Mail Chimp is another service. I would stay way from AWeber as you cannot just add poeple who have already given you permission to email them to their system. If you're going to have a small list (under 500) then Bravenet might be a service for you.



There are as many services as ways to market.



So the first thing I'd do is detemine what sort of options you want.

[Dids]

I would also go with Constant Contact.

[k.anderson3454]

I think this method will work. I have don it and it worked great for me.:)

[Financialculture]

Email marketing has proven to be the most cost-effective way of advertising.There are no postage or printing expenses and it is much cheaper than advertising with other media.The only expenses you'll support with email marketing are related to the email marketing service provider or to the email marketing software if you decided to send the email campaigns by yourself.

Thanks
personal financial planning|| personal finance budgeting

[Maria Marsala]

Take a look at your hosting company. If you have a website, it's common to miss two different programs that maybe in your control pannel.

Fantastico or QuickInstall.

These are free programs that come with some hosting packages. Often they have DADA, PHP Email and maybe one other email program whose name I forget.

What makes these easy is that you click on a few links and "presto" those programs are now located on your website.

The programs I mention are free. You can upload your excel file (usually in CVS format) to the website or even better is to find an Ezine Producer or Online Business Manager to mange the list and create newsletters for you.

The big thing in finance is the approval of the content you create. So please check with your compliance department, or regulators prior to setting something up.

Additionally, some companies offer their own programs for use of their reps.

[Jack01]

Email marketing will be great tool to utilize and reliable too.It will hit the target customer and good responsive tool.
The link for using this service is also good.
Arizona Home Loans

[marketingadvisors]

Hi Everyone,
I came across this post and thought I would chime in since I do a lot of marketing online. I would definitely say that using some type of email marketing system is the best way to go to get your prospects into a data base where you can
#1 contact them all at once
#2 put them into an automated email sequence to provide them with good information and build your trust with them

If your looking to move them into being a paid customer then you really need to establish good rapport and show that your there to help them in any way possible. Email marketing will definitely give you the cheapest and easiest way to communicate.

Like other people in this post said, there is the factor of needing the person to verify their email address depending on what email platform you use. I am a fan of using Aweber however you will need to have the person verify that you want to add them to your list. One of the great things about Aweber is that they are very easy to use and have good deliverability rates.

One big thing to keep in mind about doing this type of marketing if your in the financial planning industry is compliance. I am not myself an advisor however I have helped other advisors promote their marketing programs. I have a site called Marketing For Financial Advisors where you can see the email system in action.

What I found when I worked with other financial planners is that they had very strict guidelines to what they could and could not send out in an email communication or any other type of marketing for that matter. So be sure to check with your firm's guidelines so you don't get in trouble.

Hope that helps.