Email Relationship Building Actions

Do you have a list yet? If not, it's vital for your business you start to build one. Much more importantly is that you have a responsive list. That depends on the relationship you've developed with them over time. If you do have a list, are your emails just what your subscribers want to read, and that they can take action from? Or, as most are you get in your inbox, just repeated attempts to sell you something?

Any subscriber you get, have trusted you by giving you their email address - believing you'll provide relevant content. They wouldn't have bothered otherwise. Also, they'll judge any of your products you offer them, and your business, by the emails they receive. If they're not useful and relevant, have poor spelling throughout, and there's nothing original about them, then they'll presume your products are the same low quality.

Think the opposite. Create your emails packed out with useful information that can provide and spark new ideas in your subscribers. There should be something they can immediately put into action for themselves - without having to buy anything from you. When they can see that your ideas produce results, or at least make some sort of required business sense, they'll be happy enough to purchase a full product from you.

Here's how to do it.

First, write clearly, logically, and with expert intention. They want you to be that expert they can trust - otherwise they would not bother to read your emails.

Second, it has to be easy to read too. Don't come over as a pretentious expert but just tell it simply, in layman's language. Imagine talking to a friend in their home about it, giving some information and advice.

Third, avoid trying to sell in every email as people get tired of reading them one after the other and switch off. You're aiming to build a relationship. Send relevant and clear content they can use, with some offers in between them, or a link to your website.

Fourth, you have to make enough contact, especially at the start of the relationship. You might even want to send an email of some sort every day. But not an offer email or else they'll unsubscribe. Work out a pattern of content and offer emails, with more content than offer ones. You want them to look forward to your next email every time. Once they know to look for your name or business name then you might want to cut back or leave gaps in your email sequences.

Fifth, be your own tester. Read the email before you send it. If you received it from someone else, what would you do with it? Read it? Click a link? Delete it? Or unsubscribe?

Sixth, never forget that your reader is an individual person seeking solutions to their problems and needs. So, how would you prefer to be treated on someone's list? I think you know the answer.

Here's more on email marketing campaigns