Email Marketing: 5 Reasons You Must Start Doing It Today

Do you want to market your business for fractions of a penny per message?

Email marketing is one of the most powerful marketing tools available to your small business. You can achieve outstanding results with email marketing, while investing only a small amount of time and money. Combine that with the potential to target more precisely than direct mailings, that's a real win for the small business owner.

In tough economic times, it is crucial to continue marketing your business, and maximize the marketing dollars you're spending. Email marketing is a perfect way to keep your business in front of your customers' and prospects eyes!

Sometimes, people unfamiliar with email marketing get nervous about it because the first thing they think about is spam, or they've heard that most people don't open their email, right?

Wrong.

Targeted mailings that pique interest result in high email open rates, and an opportunity to build relationships with your customers and make some sales. As for the spam issue, mailing only to people who have given you permission to do so minimizes the risk of being labeled a "spammer". Using myself as an example, I have mailed thousands of emails to my clients, and prospective clients, and have not had one spam complaint.

Following is a list of five reasons you must start email marketing now!

1. Email marketing is inexpensive.

Email marketing is an affordable way to stretch a tight marketing budget. Unlike direct mail, there is virtually no production, materials or postage expense. Email marketing can cost as little as fractions of a penny per email.

The expenses involved in email marketing involve having a hosted website with email capacity. You may also want to consider subscribing to a list management service, such as Constant Contact or aWeber, to help manage your email campaigns. The fees for this service range from about $15 to $20 per month, which includes unlimited emails.

2. Email marketing is highly targeted.

You can easily segment your email database into different groups, so that your promotions go to individuals most likely to respond to your offer. For example, you may send one offer to existing clients, and send a different one to prospects who've expressed interest in your products or services.

3. Email marketing is proactive.

Email marketing enables you to proactively communicate with your existing customers and prospects, instead of passively waiting for them to return to your website or storefront.

It is a highly effective way to communicate promotional offers, news, seminars, which may result in an increase in sales, drive traffic to your website or store, and develop customer trust and loyalty through relationship building.

Sending out a monthly email campaign will keep your business in front of your customers' and prospects eyes.

4. Email marketing generates an immediate response.

Promotional emails include a call to action that can result in immediate responses. Initial campaign responses generally occur within 48 hours of the time the email campaign is sent; testing and refining your campaigns is immediate. If you use a list management service, you can gauge the open rates of your email campaigns, which provides useful and immediate information you can use to tweak your campaign messages.

5. Email marketing is easy.

The Web-based email marketing products available to small businesses are easy to use. The services available through Constant Contact and aWeber, as well as others, include professional HTML templates, list segmentation and targeting capabilities, as well as automatic tracking and reporting of your email campaign effectiveness, such as for open rates, bounces, and spam reports.

If you're not a "techie", have no fear. You don't need a Webmaster or technical person on staff to handle the development and distribution of your email campaigns.

Email marketing works because it allows precise targeting of your marketing message, it builds loyalty and trust with your customers, it is inexpensive, and best of all, it drives sales. Include email marketing in your arsenal of marketing tools!

Copyright 2008, Bonita L. Richter

The Benefits Of Optimizing A Weblog

In today's age of internet connectivity, for any business to be successful it needs to have a web presence. And for any website or blog to be successful, it is important that search engine optimization strategies are applied to it. What is the point of having a great website or blog if it doesn't attract visitors who are interested in its content?

Search engines are a great way to attract interested visitors. If your website or blog is optimized using SEO strategies, it will show up in the early listings of search results of those keywords that are most important and relevant to you. This is bound to lead a lot of visitors to your website or blog and will help increase its profitability.

In many ways, blogs are a lot easier to optimize compared to websites because it is a lot easier to update blogs regularly with fresh content, whereas the information on a website, especially a business website, tends to remain static. On the other hand, the website address is likely to be the company name, which will not attract a lot of visitors unless it is very famous. On the other hand, the title of your blog can accurately reflect the content on your blog. This not only encourages readers to read the blog, it also leads them to it.

While you can always consult and hire an SEO expert to help optimize your blog for you, here are some tips to help you optimize your own blog and see the effectiveness of SEO strategies for your self:

As mentioned earlier, get a domain name that contains your most important keyword.

Ensure that your blog has its own unique and distinct look and is differentiated from the others.

Ensure that you are always updating your list of highly searched keywords that are relevant to you.

There are a number of blogging tools you can use. Create tabs with keywords in it, add plug in that are relevant to you, allow RSS subscription on your site and get a sitemap for your blog.

For a site map, all you have to do is sign up with Google sitemaps and feed in the relevant information.

Ensure that all your feeds are being tracked.

Look for other high ranking blogs that are related to your subject and get them to link to your blog. Provide links for their blogs on yours.

Ensure that you submit your blog URL and RSS feeds to various online blog directories.

Create a highly optimized press release and use it to announce your blog.

Also visit other forums and add comments regularly. You can then lead readers to your blog by asking for their comments on the content of your blog.

It is crucial that every incoming link, visitor and comment is faithfully tracked by you. Also it is important that all the comments on your blog are responded to in a timely fashion.

Most importantly, ensure that you are updating your blog with unique, original and keyword rich content on a regular basis.

Zrii Opportunity: “will You Shy Away”

"If you treat it like a hobby, it will cost you like a hobby. If you treat it like a business, it will reward you like a business!" coming from the mouth of the number six distributor in the Zrii company, this is a compelling statement.

Now the background on this product is that is endorsed by the Chopra Center for Welbeing. In the history of this industry, Multi-Level Marketing, this can easily be the most sound endorsement ever, due to the simple fact that the Center is a world renowned health and wellness center that has never before endorsed a third-party product... until now. The Chopra Center for Welbeing is led by one of the world's greatest leaders in the field of mind and body medicine, Deepak Chopra, M.D. As an author of more than 50 books (30 of those being New York Times bestsellers and 35 translated into different languages), Deepak definitely has some impressive credentials supporting the endorsement.

Zrii was started by the "billion dollar brander" Bill Farley. Just as famous as Deepak but in the world of business. He has created six individual billion dollar brands such as BVD, Lucchese, Gitano, Munsingwear, and the mega-billion dollar brand, Fruit of the Loom. Farley has recently come out of retirement to make this nutritional drink company his seventh billion-dollar company.

If you know a little bit about MLM, or business for that matter, you know that timing is everything. Just about a year into this company, Zrii has already crushed nearly every possible record setting up to be the next billion-dollar brand. Now look at it this way, if you would have invested in Microsoft 20 years ago... where would you be? Zrii is THE RIGHT COMPANY at the RIGHT TIME!!

Zrii offers the most generous compensation plans ever introduced to MLM. With hard work one can earn a six-figure income in approximately six months. This man i am under, to this day, has only personally enrolled One person, yet he is on the path to become a millionaire just for enrolling early. There are ruffly 50,000 people in Zrii now and expected to grow well over 1 million people with in just a few years. Where would this put you if you joined now?

"Has opportunity ever knocked on your door? if so did you seize the moment? or did you shy away" -Farley

Zrii, The Original Amalaki drink, is endorsed by the Chopra Center for Welbeing and offers and amazing opportunity!! Will you Join??

How Will An Email Marketing Company Improve My Productivity?

One thing that people can be aware of is that in order to be successful in an email marketing company, they do not need a specialist to assist them. Although a professional can be a great asset to your business should that be the route you decide to go down. If you are on a budget you may find it beneficial to involve an industry professional. They are here to ensure you that the message you are trying to convey is seen clearly and that it is delivered to your sources the right way. It is definitely advisable to use a professional, but it can still be beneficial even if you do not. You will improve the running of your business tenfold.

By using an email marketing company you are putting your online marketing worries into someone elses hands. There are many things that they are able to assist you with, that you may not have such knowledge of. The may be able to develop your marketing further and provide you with a personalization strategy for you email marketing campaign. All of your emails are capable of containing specific graphics, information, and offers that are based on demographics. You will now be capable of storing information on individual customers as well. If you want your online marketing to be successful then it is strongly recommended that you hire a professional because even if you do have some know how it will be nothing compared to their knowledge and skill.

There is a multitude of people who have the knowledge to run their own email marketing. This is certainly ok. There will be little techniques you can pick up. It is just dependant on your objectives. Many people feel that they do not need a specialist, but others feel the opposite. Once again, it is not imperative that you have one but you will experience benefits if you do. They can help you out with some ideas that you may have never been aware of. It goes without saying that an industry professional would be advantageous, however it is not obligatory. Every company has different goals and desires that they are trying to achieve.

Email marketing has shot to success over the last few years. By having a professional to help you, you can almost guarantee that all your email marketing campaigns will be executed in a reasonable time frame. This will also reduce the possibility that your ads are marked by the internet as spam.

Give Your Business A Boost With Free Email Marketing Packages

Sending your offer by email is fast and easy and allows reaching a wide audience at the click of a mouse. With free email marketing packages you don't need to spend a fortune to launch a marketing campaign on the Internet. The article explores a few benefits of free Internet marketing packages.

Sending to hundreds of contacts

One of the main advantages of email marketing is that you can deliver your offer to a great number of recipients at once. If you are a beginner in the business world and your contact list doesn't have thousands of entries, you can benefit from free Internet marketing packages which allow sending messages up to 500 contacts. When your contact lists expands, you can easily switch to packages with more advanced options.

Tracking emails

Having sent emails, it's important to keep track of them which can also be done with free email marketing packages. They enable automatic bounce handling to avoid sending to the bounced address in future. There are also enhanced tracking systems which allow checking whether emails have been opened and whether recipients have clicked on the links attached. All results are delivered as a graphical representation.

Easy email building

Using email templates is a good solution for those who need to send repetitive emails on a constant basis. Instead of spending hours tailoring each email and personalising your message for each respondent, you can build a template in a couple of clicks. With special Drag-&-drop Editor tools email building and editing becomes a piece of cake. You can take advantage of this tool having applied for a free email marketing package. Besides, an additional benefit is that handling this template building tool doesn't require HTML or coding skills and allows personalising your emails.

Efficient spam checking

Lots of Internet users receive unsolicited emails; a number of them are blocked by email filters. When launching an email marketing campaign, you need to take measures to prevent your emails from being classified as spam. Spam messages are those which can be sent to a great number of recipients as they don't feature any personalisation. There are a few ways how to make your email pass through filters safely: using meaningful subjects, writing quality content and checking the final result with a spam checker. Applying for a free email marketing package, you receive a standard in-built spam checking program which allows you to see whether your message can be delivered to its addressee.

Easy campaign management

Your email marketing campaign can be managed at the touch of a button if you are using best-of-breed software. Having prepared your campaign, you don't necessarily have to launch it straightaway as it can be scheduled to be started in the future. If you want to pause your campaign, you can do it with the help of special button. Email marketing campaign management is as easy as ever but if you still have any questions you can find the answers in online FAQ and help sections. If you are new to email marketing, free email marketing packages may come in handy giving you an understanding about how things work.

Send Thoughtful Mothers Day Gifts To India To Your Mom

Mother?s Day is a perfect occasion to shower our lovely mom with lovely gifts and love. In fact choosing an ideal gift for your mother is not-too-daunting task today, thanks to the thriving online gift space with a dream assembly of tempting gifts.

So, this Mother?s day go ahead and thank all the women in your life who have been the pillar of support all through your growing years, your grandmother, mother, aunt, sister, and your mother-in-law for that matter. For a change, say it with gifts this time.

Here we present some wonderful Mother?s Day Gifts to India 2010 ideas for first time mothers, single moms, homemaker moms, working moms, mother-in-laws and for our grandmothers.

Expectant moms

Truly, even a mother-to-be is excited about mother?s Day. Friends, family members and especially the husband should join in the enthusiasm and make the day special for her. In fact all ideal mothers? day gifts ideas are at hand?s reach. So just simply go exploring the online world and shop for some books and CDs on motherhood. Even loose fitting apparels, and other personal care items make for great gifts. Check out some dry fruits, namkeens, chocolates, cakes etc too.

First Time Mothers

Even first time mother's keenly look forward to this day. So husbands chip in and send mothers day flowers to India and give her a big surprise. Check out a piece of gold or diamond jewelry for your wife as well.

Homemaker Moms

Homemaker moms should be pampered a lot more on mother?s day, for many of them have sacrificed the best things in life, especially their careers to give comfort and care to their loved ones. So go ahead and give her a day off in the kitchen by taking her out for dinner. You could even think of presenting her with home furnishing items.

Working Moms

Working moms truly face a tough time juggling responsibilities of home and office. Overwhelm the special women in your life by presenting her some wonderful mother?s day gifts. It could be perfumes, well-designed hand bags, office accessories etc.

Single Moms

Life for a single mom is a bitter pill to swallow. And since her life is centered on her kids, the children should take the initiative to celebrate this occasion with loads of fun and excitement. Even ex-husband?s can chip in and make the day special for her. The idea behind is to make her feel happy and loved.

Mother-in-Law

Indians are basically family oriented people and all Indians know a trick or two as to how to be in the good books of their in-laws. Send mothers day gifts to India by checking out some on-line stores. Opt for something that suits your mother-in-law?s sensibility, like jewelry, hand bags or home furnishings.

Grandmothers

Those living in joint families should make it point to honor their grandmother?s on mother?s day for they are the shining light of our families. Check out some personal care products. You could even think of buying her some spiritual books, idols or puja materials.

Is Adsense The Right Choice For You?

Adsense is not some make money overnight scheme , it?s does not take you a lot of money investment, maybe a lot of time if you are really new, but what business doesn?t take you time. Now notice I said business because if you don?t want to treat this like a business then you will never have a shot.

AdSense is great because it links together buyers and sellers. Yes, you have to thank Google for a brilliant idea. They know there are people out there that want to buy stuff and people who want to sell them what they?re interested in. And Google AdSense helps members of the two categories find each what things you should consider before you start your adsense business ?

1. Are you willing to dedicate time to produce content , and not just whatever is on your mind, top quality content that will bring you visitors ?

2. You must be willing to invest money into this after your first check , because no business is going to last without investing time and money . You can invest in a new design, in tracking tools , in traffic . Traffic no matter how you will try to bring it , seo, ppc, banner ads, other payed advertising.

3. Track every little thing you do . If something gets you results, then by all means keep doing it.

4. You don?t want to try and cheat the system ever , even if someday the system is going to cheat you . More on that later.

Now you should a little about pros and cons of Adsense.

Let?s start with the good things first :

AdSense allows webmasters to forget about those worries and concentrate on creating good content for their sites. In fact, the emphasis is now on creating quality content (often associated with the top-paying words) which will bring you many visitors.

It is easily integrated with your website and you don?t need to be a highly skilled webmaster to understand how to insert the code. It can be very easily customized in terms of color, size, position.

You can start and be online by tomorrow if you decide today that adsense is right for you. You just need a hosting account, you take wordpress or whatever cms you want out there , but wordpress is very good , you don?t need to know any html coding, or anything, and there are thousands of themes out there for you to choose.

Now a few things about the CONS of adsense
Well the worst thing it could happen is to have your account closed. It can be closed for a number of reasons : You tried to cheat the system by clicking on your ads , or maybe your competitors are trying to put you out of business. There is another reason why you could get multiple clicks on your ads and that is because the competitor of whoever is advertising on your page,is looking to drive their marketing costs up.

Now the final reason why your account may be closed , is because you really have multiple clicks in your ads, legitimate searches but educated searcher who click more then once because your content is really good and they are genuanly looking for more information. In some markets there really IS so much demand in information that they would click on different ads on different advertisers. But Adsense team won?t understand that no matter how much proof you have. They will ban your account even if the money you earned without frauding them will cost someones life .

They don?t care about that , they don?t look for further proof. SO please be careful what type of niches you put your adsense because some niches will get your account banned because of the high demand in information. The internet users are every day becoming more and more educated , and you can?t stop multiple clicking with any script out there . So there is a risk right here.

But like in any business you will have to choose what type of risk you are willing to take. If you notice multiple clicking on your ads , remove them a day or maybe two, replace them with something else and see if there is multiple clicking there too. But for the most of the times you will find out that the clicks are real users who just want more information , but you will have to find another way to monetize that niche because adsense will ban you without warning and without asking any proof.

So before you try adsense you should choose your market very careful, and if you are willing to put in the effort for a decent website , you will get very nice returns.

Measuring Roi On Social Network

Measuring ROI on social networking channels may seem a bit difficult, especially if you define the current economic return of your activities on social in terms of sales completed.

The truth is that it's very rare to have purchases directly from social media, their current role from a marketing point of view it is not to sell directly to the customer, but to strengthen the corporate brand and increase what in jargon is called Brand reputation.

The best way to measure the success of your brand on social media is through monitoring the number and type of visitors (or followers).

People who usually visit your pages on social media indicators are safer and more useful because they tell you the exact number and the interest there is in the arguments you're dealing with.

Here are the indicators to be monitored in the various Social Media:

Facebook / MySpace: Number of fans / friends, number of comments a day / week / month, number of threads started by fans.

Twitter: Number of Followers qualified, skilled I mean real people and not automated software ..., number of re-tweets.

Blogging: Number of comments, number of users who are registered to your RSS feed, number of incoming links, number of re-tweets.

Forum: Number of new members, number of posts per day, number of new topics per week, number of active members each month.

Video / Photo: Number of visits, number of comments, the indices of display, number of friends or new entries.

All these kinds of interactions can reveal much, not only in terms of numbers. For example, through the comments to your posts in the various channels you can tell if your audience is really interested in what you write.

Moreover, your visitors can provide the necessary feedback to strengthen your brand and build your own personality online. Such information is invaluable for your business and in most cases it may be useful to increase your ROI.

The ultimate goal obviously is to convert your visitors into paying customers. This can only achieve by cultivating relations of trust, respect and admiration with a persuasive communication and "magnetic".

An effective social media strategy to attract, qualify and condition your visitors through the publication of high-quality content. Do not just send a message to the event on twitter, tried to be as original and make a real contribution to the site letting them know that you have something important to say.

You can tell if your content is of quality by the number of your followers or your contacts on Facebook. If you do not leave the field with time you will notice that an increase of these will be followed by an increase in sales conversions.

I really hope that this will serve to grow more and more your business.