Why Coaches Need a Blog + A Newsletter
You may have heard the term, “the money’s in the list”. Well, the list they’re referring to is an email newsletter list, which is an essential marketing tool for EVERY coach.
You may have heard that a great reason to use a blog is the ability to have RSS. RSS stands for Really Simple Syndication and someday, it will be as wonderful as you’ve heard it can be. However, for now, only a small portion of internet users even know what RSS stands for… let alone use it. So instead of relying on less than a bit of technology that less than 1 in 10 of your visitors knows exists, it’s better to build your email newsletter list.
An email newsletter can be used to stay in touch with clients/customers and potential clients/customers. However, staying in touch can be difficult these days. See, the sending of unsolicited email is a HUGE issue these days so it’s essential that your newsletter list use a special software program to deliver these emails.
When you mass email a message to people who haven’t give you PERMISSION to email them, it’s called SPAM! Amazingly, many nice, respectable coaches try to do just that every day. Some will take a stack of business cards that they’ve collected and input the information into their email program. Then, they just start adding these poor unsuspecting souls to their “list”. When you do that, it’s called SPAM or UCE (Unsolicited Commercial Email) and the consequences can be disastrous!
Sending SPAM is a HUGE no-no in the world of the internet. Not only can it hurt your credibility with your “victims,” but if they’re net savvy, they can get your IP blacklisted. If your domain name is registered with Godaddy and they complain to them, you’ll find yourself with a nice hefty fine levied by them as well.
So your job is to make sure your messages do NOT get reported as SPAM and the way to do that is through a double opt in list.
A double opt in is where a subscriber signs up for your newsletter via a form on your web site or blog. Once the subscription request is made, the system automatically sends a second message to confirm that the email address owner WANTS to be added to the list. To confirm this, the email address owner clicks on a special link which CONFIRMS that yes, he/she/it does want their email address added to this list. The email address owner is giving the list owner PERMISSION to send email to them.
You’ll need a special program to create this kind of double opt in list. One that’s not only easy to use, but also will expand as your business expands is the system offered by Marketer’s Choice. You can begin by signing up for the A/R or autoresponder package. When you’re ready to upgrade, other higher level packages can allow you to sell products or even set up an affiliate program so you can put hundreds or thousands of people to work selling your products and services FOR you!
