| E-mail is the fastest and most inexpensive method of | | | | 4. Avoid Click Here (use visit, select, or go to, instead) |
| marketing, but it is often the most unreliable. One of the | | | | 5. Don't mention toll free numbers. Just use the number, |
| biggest concerns facing online business owners is how | | | | without the deadly "toll free." |
| to get legitimate e-mail past the spam filters. | | | | 6. Don't use "Register Today" (However, "Register |
| Even though people have agreed to receive your | | | | Now" seems to be OK. Spam filters are sensitive to |
| company's e-mail, it still may not reach its destination. | | | | the word "Today.") |
| The sad fact is that often over 30% of messages | | | | 7. Avoid these top ten words: diet, free, spam, income, |
| never reach recipients because they are interpreted | | | | instant(ly), profit(s), subscribe, amaz(ed)(ing), |
| as spam. | | | | guarantee(d), and $$$/money/dollar(s) |
| People are sick and tired of receiving unwanted e-mail. | | | | Along with avoiding the spam filters, business owners |
| Because of this, some Internet providers like Earthlink | | | | need to make sure that the list they use is truly a |
| and AOL are adding strong filters to their e-mail | | | | reflection of their target audience. Don't get in the habit |
| services that block e-mail it suspects might be spam. In | | | | of collecting cards at a networking meeting and then |
| other cases, individuals are downloading programs | | | | just dumping them into your e-mail database. Get |
| such as Spam Arrest, to further filter out spam. Simply | | | | permission from every person that gives you a card, |
| sending an HTML e-mail could cause your e-mail to be | | | | to allow their e-mail address to go into your database. |
| blocked. Some programs interpret any e-mail with | | | | And then make sure that every mass e-mail you send |
| images as spam. | | | | out has an unsubscribe link in it. |
| The common belief is that if you get "white listed" with | | | | To keep your e-mail list current, make sure you send |
| an Internet Service Provider and don't use spam | | | | messages to your list at least every 90 days. If you |
| triggering words or phrases, your e-mail should go | | | | wait too long, your list will have many bounces due to |
| through without problems. Unfortunately, that is not true. | | | | people changing addresses or simply forgetting who |
| Because of the many different categories of filters | | | | you are and assuming you are spam. Stay in front of |
| being used, there is no one perfect solution. | | | | your audience and keep their interest by giving them |
| Laurie Beasley, of Beasley Direct Marketing offers | | | | valuable content. Don't keep trying to sell them |
| these tips on how to avoid the spam filters and get | | | | something every time your send out an e-mail. If you |
| your e-mail delivered: | | | | do, you'll become an annoyance and people will no |
| 1. Clean up your e-mail lists by removing bounces, | | | | longer want to receive e-mail from you. |
| correct address typos, update addresses, and reduce | | | | For the small business owner, e-mail is a great choice |
| unnecessary volume demands by removing those | | | | for marketing, but it's not without challenges. Junk mail |
| who don't open your e-mails or by breaking up large | | | | delivered to your home address is simply thrown in the |
| lists. | | | | trash without much thought. However, junk e-mail has |
| 2. Avoid the use of CAPS in the subject line | | | | an emotional component. People get angry from |
| 3. Avoid the words free, promise you, no fee, no | | | | unsolicited e-mail. So make sure the e-mail you send |
| obligation, money-back guarantee, special, promotion, | | | | out is a positive reflection of your company and not |
| call now, call today. | | | | considered junk. |