- Image by Cornell University Library via Flickr
You’ve decided to start a newsletter, you’ve got all sorts of interesting advice and information planned, you’ve picked your target audience, but you’ve got nobody to send it to.
It’s tempting to go out and buy a list from InfoUSA or other vendors that promise thousands or millions (!) of addresses at low rates — (and you own the list).
Too good to be true
Sounds good, right? It’s a mistake. The list is likely to be compiled, the permission to contact is questionable, and the data is probably old.
Renting a list
This can work under certain conditions, but rented email lists (particularly business to business lists) tend to be very expensive (up to $300 per thousand names).
Build your own
Add the link to your e-zine or newsletter subscription to your email signature line.
Send an email to people you already know (friends, current clients, prospects you’ve been talking to you) and tell them about your new newsletter. Talk about all the great information they’ll get, the kinds of topics you are going to cover, and include a link to sign up.
Add an “ethical bribe.” Offer a report, an analysis or some other valuable information in return for signing up.
Once you have subscribers, include a forwarding request at the bottom of each newsletter.
Add a sign-up form to your Web site or blog
If you’re on twitter or facebook or other social networking sites, tell your friends and followers about your new newsletter. Don’t spam them with continuous tweets, but share tidbits, relevant quotes, or other information that will raise their interest.
Offer an e-mail course on a topic that’s relevant to your blog’s readers. Once you set it up, an autoresponder (automated message system) will send out each class to anyone who signs up.
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