Top 6 Ways to Grow Your Opt In Email List

Top Six Ways to Grow Your Email Subscription List


by Linda West

Email, the Internet's first killer app, remains an essential tool in the modern marketer's arsenal. Whether it's to introduce a specific product or service, burnish and validate a brand's offerings, or follow up post-purchase, email remains one of the most popular and effective channels for connecting with customers.

It's a noisy world, though. Consumers are bombarded with information at every turn. And vendors looking to reach a global audience (in today's economy, that could be any of us) have to exercise caution: Many countries have enacted stringent email-related policies to better protect their citizens' privacy. Canada's recent anti-spam law, for example, has effectively ended the longstanding practice of batch-and-blast emails, sent to prospects en masse regardless of their consent or opt-ins.

Creating lasting connections with powerful, personalized emails has never been more challenging.

Here are six tips to help you cut through the clutter while adhering to ever-changing government regulations and convincing your subscribers to stay loyal.

1. Get creative in eliciting opt-ins


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Sending one-off blast campaigns to people who have not opted in carries the potential to reach more prospects only theoretically. Because those recipients aren't expecting your message, you run the risk of getting those messages flagged as spam. And if you continue sending to unengaged, random recipients, you're asking for an abuse complaint. Plus, purchased lists often have high bounce rates. Even worse, purchased lists may contain spam traps, which could get you blacklisted.



Read more: http://www.marketingprofs.com/articles/2015/28206/top-six-ways-to-grow-your-email-subscription-list#ixzz3i2vW7zQb

Looking to Generate Sales Leads? Report says email is most effective

Marketing, sales, and business professionals say email is the most effective digital tactic they use to generate leads, according to a recent report from Ascend2.

The report was based on data from a July 2015 survey of 300 professionals from around the world (80% working at B2B-focused companies; 20%, B2C).

Some 48% of respondents say email is among the most effective tactics they use to generate sales leads; creating websites/landing pages ranked second (cited by 44% of respondents), followed by content marketing (43%) and search engine optimization (37%).



Read more: http://www.marketingprofs.com/charts/2015/28102/the-top-online-lead-generation-tactics-and-metrics#ixzz3gjBPzxIW

You Have Influencers on Your Business: Are You Influencing the Influencers?

The State of Influencer Engagement: Online Influencers Are Key to Increasing Brand Visibility—and PR Should Take the Lead
84% of Marcoms Professionals Use Influencer Engagement Strategies

The evolution of company PR outreach to online influencers such as bloggers, social media users, online journalists and other experts is showing many signs of maturity—in fact, this growing influencer engagement trend has been reaffirmed for the current year: According to new research from software provider Augure, 84% of marketing and communications professionals surveyed say they use influencer engagement in their campaigns—an increase of 24% compared to 2014.

Furthermore, 81% of those surveyed considered influencer engagement to be effective or very effective for meeting their objectives, while 74% of those surveyed want to increase (33%) or maintain (41%) the budget allocated to influencer engagement activities.

Read More: https://www.bulldogreporter.com/dailydog/article/pr-biz-update/the-state-of-influencer-engagement-online-influencers-are-key-to-incr

Social Media Important, But Almost Impossible to Measure Holistically Says Survey

Social Disruption: Social Media Data Is Not Actionable, and Can’t Be Measured Outside of its Own Silo, Top Marketing Execs Say
Marketing Leaders Also Agree With Consumers: Social Media Is Intrusive

Two nationwide surveys commissioned by the Marketing Executives Networking Group reveal consumers' and senior marketing executives' views on the digital marketing industry. The results indicate that companies' use of social media is perceived by both groups as potentially disruptive—55% of senior marketing executives and 52% of consumers perceive social media as intrusive.

In addition, the survey among senior marketing executives reveals that many believe the data generated by social media analytics is not yet actionable. More than 39% agree the information gleaned is not useful to their businesses.

Read More: https://www.bulldogreporter.com/dailydog/article/pr-biz-update/social-disruption-social-media-data-is-not-actionable-and-can-t-be-me

We'll Be Wearing, Walking & Working with our Tech

PR’s “Next Big Thing”: Nearly 70 Percent of Consumers Say They Are Ready to Engage with Brands via Wearable Technology Devices
Wearable Tech Poised to Emerge as a New Channel for Customer Engagement

Wearable technology is slowly but surely becoming a part of life for mainstream consumers, most visibly chronicled by the popular launch of the Apple Watch, and it is soon expected to revolutionize technology—and marketing communications. According to new research from ACCENT Marketing, the key to a successful customer engagement strategy via wearable technology is to first understand how consumers use wearable technology. From fitness monitors to smart watches to clothing, wearable tech is the new frontier in customer engagement. This new channel can help brands deepen their customer relationships, build brand advocates, and reach new audiences through wearable technologies, giving them access to be with the consumer as they move throughout their day.

https://www.bulldogreporter.com/dailydog/article/pr-biz-update/pr-s-next-big-thing-nearly-70-percent-of-consumers-say-they-are-ready

Why Hire a Professional Marketing Firm? Reason #17: Objectivity

In our continuing series on understanding some nuances and reasons to hire a professional marketing firm, today we're going to focus on objectivity. In the efforts of marketing, all too often businesses and organizations can get caught up in their own culture and language. And, while that is indeed important to have, what is critical from a marketing standpoint is translating your business to addressing the wants and needs of your customers or clientele.

And, oftentimes, like looking in the mirror with your nose pushed up to it, it can be very difficult to see the true picture. Having an agency can offer solid objectivity based on the simple notion of we provide "X" and these are the potential customers for "X" so here's how we should position this. Good agencies are more focused on their clients client, and will be honest when the company is saying, doing or projecting something not likely to engage or get a certain type of client to act.

This objectivity allows a good agency to take a step back, employ trusted and sound marketing principles, even test those if necessary, and provide solid strategies and recommendations that will most likely succeed. Also, if you're the owner of the business, having an objective look at internal marketing staff and practices may be quite enlightening in learning perhaps better, more efficient or smarter ways to execute a given marketing strategy.

A good agency is a must have for every business, but often is a critical partner in the SMB space where there is little margin for error and where you may not otherwise be able to afford the very best and brightest "in house." Good counsel is always a smart thing, so seek a trusted agency partner that you value for their honesty and objectivity.

So, You're Thinking of Hiring a PR Firm. Why?

So, you’re thinking it’s time to hire a PR firm?

Great, I can help! I have hired 6 or 7 (and fired a few).

While the process might seem simple, in truth it is hard to do well. By “well” I mean hiring the right firm, for the right reasons, with goals set to deliver a positive impact. The first few times I went through the process it felt overwhelming, but over the years I have built up a list of tips that help me choose the right PR firm every time. I think my tip list might help you, too!

If you made it this far into the article, congratulations, you’ve already realized the value of PR. If not, and as a refresher, think of PR as key top of funnel customer touch point. As marketers know, we must touch our prospective customers a few times before they buy and there are many ways to do that, PR being one of the most powerful. If done right, PR subtly touches prospects in the media they consume and world they live in every day.

Read More: http://www.meltwater.com/public-relations-blog/hire-pr-firm/