Manage List

I used to just keep my lists in document form on my computer. I now use a service called Constant Contact and have my lists on there; this is a great program that is not very expensive. I did have to wait over a year before I could afford it, and using my documents worked for me, but was more time consuming when I did any email or postal mailings. With Constant Contact you can schedule press releases, special offers, articles anything you want to send out to one of your mailing lists and it send them automatically for you.

Using your lists to make sales

The only thing I use my mailing lists for are to make sales. I am trying to keep myself in these people’s minds, and let them know what I am working on, what I am accomplishing and what I am selling. Don’t just send your mailing list blatant sales emails but always try to sell them something, or tell them what your coming out with next and how you are giving them a special offer because they are a past customer, a member of the same group as you, a special partner etc.

Using a “Call to Action”

Never send anything out, not even an email without including a call to action. Your call to action is what you want this person you have contacted to do. Tell them what you want them to do, how to do it and when to do it. Buy my book today and save $7.50! Call this 800 number to get free shipping! Don’t just put your advertisement out there and leave them hanging, tell them exactly what to do. Buy Now! Don’t Wait!

Buying lists

I have seen advertisements in magazines for mailing lists that are interest or industry specific. I have never purchased a list and used it, since I have always thought and then found that by compiling my own lists I would be more effective. If you do decide to rent or purchase a mailing list keep these things in mind. Have someone look at the list, or look at it from a business standpoint. Is it priced reasonably as compared with other lists for our target audience? Does anyone else use this list? What has their return rate been with that list? Has everyone used this list to market their books? Make sure you are not buying a list that has been saturated or purchased by everyone. A fresh new list is always better. Maybe you will purchase a list or rent a list and modify it to better suit your target audience, make sure you are spending money wisely when you rent a list, make sure it will generate income for you based on the audience and what your marketing plan dictates. Track your mailings, if you use more than one list, use a special code or different mailing for each list so you can track your results.

About Michelle

Michelle Dunn, author of an award winning book is a writer, teacher, and consultant that has a contagious passion for her work. Michelle started, ran and successfully marketed M.A.D. Collection Agency for 8 years. Michelle has recently been named one of the Top 5 Women in Collections.

Due to her successful marketing, Michelle has been featured in Forbes.com, The Wall Street Journal, Ladies Home Journal, PC World, Home Business Magazine, Home Business Journal, Entrepreneur magazine, Professional Collector, Credit & Collections Risk, the NH Business Review, Smart Money magazine, About.com, Master Cards small business website and in many books including Home Based Business for Dummies. Michelle has been a featured guest on (NPR) National Public Radio and many other radio programs as well as published in many newspapers and magazines nationwide. She has been a repeat guest on television shows such as the CBS Early Show, The Book Authority and Process for Profit. She has many published articles and 7 published books to add to her list of accomplishments.

Michelle is originally from RI and now lives in NH. Visit www.michelledunn.com for more information on her “Mosquito Marketing Series”.