What is opt-in email marketing? Is it hard to do? They say I need a list to make money – do I?
Here is an explanation of opt-in email marketing from About.com:
In the context of email marketing, it never takes long for catchwords like "opt-in" or "permission-based" to appear. But what exactly is opt-in email marketing?
I find it easiest to think in terms of mailing lists when it comes to email marketing. Email marketing is nothing else but mailing lists in the end. The mailing list of an opt-in marketing campaign starts empty. The only way for an email address to get onto the list is by its owner explicitly requesting it.
The request must always be for a specific list. If a customer submits a form that says "Yes, send me a copy of your current catalogue" you can add them to the list of customers who will receive a copy of the current catalogue, use the list one time and then throw it away. To continue sending them your latest catalogue, you need the explicit permission to do so (along the lines of "Yes, keep me up to date by subscribing me to your list of catalogue recipients").
"Permission-based" means essentially the same. Marketing material is sent only with permission, and often personalized.
If you have your own list, you can market to your mailing list over and over. Most affiliate commission programs provide you with sample emails to use, or sig files to use when sending to your list. Do not spam, whatever you do!
Use the opt-in method described above to build your list. If you are careful, you will not have to worry about spam issues. If I had no email list I would not hesitate to rework one of the provided emails and send it to my family and friends, but that would be a one-time, “look what I’m doing” message. This is simple but not always easy. The particulars of setting up a list building program will come in the next article.
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