"Come Fly With Me!"

Here's a few great Email Marketing tips for small business owners.

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It's refreshing when a company seems to get it right, and DJ Waldow uses a post at the Bronto blog to explain why email messages from US Airways impress him on a regular basis. Why, it's like they're singing "Come Fly With Me!"

Here's what sets them apart, according to Waldow:

A healthy mix of "boring" and "fun" subject lines. Some messages come with an informational subject line like Earn more miles; others—for instance, We're bringing back free drinks—grab the reader's attention with a more lighthearted tone.

An irregular broadcast schedule. Waldow's permission-based subscriptions generate, on average, a few messages each week. There is, however, no predictable pattern. He sees this takeaway: "Vary your frequency and cadence of emails—as appropriate—to keep your readers interested."

A helpful level of personalization. Every message from the airline's Dividends program includes his member number. "This is critical to me as I never ever remember it," he says, while noting, "Who does?"

A header with links that point to correct landing pages. "In other words," he notes, "the 'Upgrades' link points to the Upgrades page." If this sounds like a no-brainer, Waldow says a surprising number of email links go to a homepage, regardless of their label.

Give your messages wings. Following a few reader-friendly practices like these may make your email campaigns—take off!

Contact The Outsource Marketing Group for more tips & info on Email Marketing, 678.495.6090.

Entrepreneurs take note; Give away the GOOD stuff!

"If you want to create something very good," says Tom Peters, "it takes time, energy, and sometimes money." That, he argues, is exactly why you should give away your finest know-how for free. Before you beg to differ, consider his ten-point business case, which includes reasons like these:

1. It increases your reach. The marketplace is flooded with mediocre ideas that don't merit discussion. Excellence, therefore, stands out and takes on a viral quality. "Giving away good stuff for free may be the fastest way to reach a lot of people," says Peters.

2. It improves future projects. When smart people notice your ideas, he notes, "They may comment on your work, enhance your work, and maybe even, challenge your work." It's the equivalent of a kitchen cabinet making pro bono intellectual contributions. It lowers the cost of sale.

If companies decide to act on the ideas you present, there's a good chance some will turn to your product or service during the implementation process.

Your Marketing Inspiration, and Peters' number-one reason to give away the best you have to offer: "They don't have to guess the quality of your work anymore," says Peters, "so they will be more open to paying a premium for additional work."

These are great tips for small business owners and entrepreneurs alike.
If you need assistance with self-promotion or sales & marketing support, contact an Outsource Marketing Group Consultant at 678-495-6090.