Why email marketing doesn’t work!

Email marketing can be a powerful tool to grow your business, however, it needs to be done with care and professionalism. In this email I discuss what you should not do when doing email marketing.

I receive emails from people (almost daily) proposing to be email marketers and website designers, and it’s pretty clear to me they don’t know what they’re doing.

Let me tell you why.

The emails always start with, “Dear Sir/Madam, I have reviewed your website and we can…”

First, my name is all over my websites. If you do not use my name you did not look at my site. Second, I have many websites. Which site did you review? Please include the website in the email. Third, because you did not use my name or reference my website, I know it’s an email template and they are sending this out to everyone with a website. Nothing professional about this email.

I delete that email.

Next, if the email captures my attention, I look at the email address. If it’s a Gmail, Outlook, Live, Yahoo or Hotmail account, I delete the email. If you don’t have a website and yet you are telling me how great you are at website design or email marketing and you do not give me the info to see if I want to talk to you, you are less than professional.

Finally, If the message is all about you and all the great things you do (Java, PHP, and all your technical jargon that I don’t understand) and you don’t speak to me in a way that makes sense to me and tell me why it is important, I’m deleting your email message.

If you send a follow-up message, please don’t assume I read your prior email. If there is no context, I will delete this email as well.

So for all those people who are sending me emails about website design, SEO, SEM, Email marketing and all kinds of great things you do, please adhere to the above and maybe you’ll get a response.

Ron Finklestein
330 990 0788
www.akris.net

 

Sales Tip # 5 – Don’t be Stupid

Sales Tip # 5  – Don’t be stupid!

Sometimes in our haste we do something stupid.

I received this email, “If you are still in business call me?” That was all there was to the email (I withheld the signature and company name – I will tell you he sold merchant services.)

No greeting.

No first name or introduction.

He did not tell what problem he was trying to solve for me. Was he trying to help me grow sales, increase revenues or reduce my expenses?

He did not tell me who he was or what he did.

No – this is how we can help you – just “are you still in business?”

Was he lazy or just stupid? I really don’t know but the impression he made was less than stellar.

If he wanted to talk to me why didn’t he ask me for a good time to call or the best phone number to reach me or ask me if I to talk to him?

My opinion of this email is that it was the most arrogant email I have ever received.

I, like most business owners, work hard. We have bills to pay, our family to feed and house payments to make. AM I STILL IN BUSINESS???? He did not research on me or my company. He had no idea of the industry I was in or if I even needed his services.

Do you think I called him back? NO!

Do you think I responded in any way? NO! (I did respond to tell him that his email as arrogant.)

Did I think he was either desperate or lazy? YES!

Did I think he had my best interest in mind? NO!

Sometimes we get careless or forgetful of proper email protocol. Sometimes we take shortcuts. Mistakes happen. I get that. But…

In today’s world of social media I could put his name and company name all over the internet as an example of what not to do. Instead I write a blog post.

We need to slow down and remember that sales is about the relationship (as short as it may be.) Basic courtesy is still necessary: Respect is still necessary and people skills are important. When the relationship is there people will buy-it all starts with respect.

When doing email marketing keep it short and to the point. Create an eye-catching subject line. Tell me what you want and WHY I SHOULD TALK TO YOU! Get me a link to learn more if I am interested.

It is about staying focused on the end results. There is only four things business owners like me want from you when you market to me: 1. How to increase revenues. 2. How to reduce expenses. 3. How to increase my productivity. 4. How to add more value to my clients. If your email does not address at least one of those issues – save time and do not sent the email.

To Your Success,

Ron Finklestein
330-990-0788
ron@ronfinklestein.com
p.s. We are launching a new web site that provide high quality training and a very low price. Check it out. WWW.MADPPV.com. We focus on sales growth, personal growth and leadership on this web site. BTW, MAD means Makie a Difference.

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