Whilst I agree with iCop’s jl scott, who opines that “so many online business people stopped sending actual information filled ezines“, I’m assuming here that yours is one of the rare exceptions.
You are also probably offering some freebies as an incentive for people to subscribe and you may (or may not) be using any of the regular freebie fest jamborees to increase your subscription rate.
Especially in those circumstances, but even when you are simply offering your free items from your own site, the new subscriber first needs the download you are offering. You put a link to the page where they can download that in your welcome email and, I’ll bet that most people (myself included) look for that link first. We might not even bother to read anything else, especially if we’re grabbing multiple gifts.
And, you’re most likely putting other offers in front of them …
… so the poor things are getting overloaded with links, downloads and too many things to pay attention to all at once. So whatever other information you have in your welcome message, is mostly ignored.
Anyway, I noticed that one participant in the Self Improvement Gifts Giveaway, The Internet Wizards Magazine, had done things a little differently.
Whilst, I got the download I was offered immediately, then, the next day, I got the “welcome message”, that began:
“I noticed you subscribed to The Internet Wizards Magazine recently and I want to personally welcome you.”
That message went on to explain a little about them and, included important links and contact email addresses. Subscribe to The Internet Wizards Magazine via the Self Improvement Gifts Giveaway here.
Because it came the next day, when I was less busy, I actually read and appreciated that information then. It’s just a simple thing, but made all the difference and, it’s not something I’ve seen anyone doing before.
This is easily set up if you use an autoresponder, such as Aweber (my only recommendation) to manage your email list. You would put a brief thanks and the link to the download in your first email, for immediate delivery, after someone subscribes. You’d then set up another email, to be delivered a day later, with the rest of your welcome spiel.
How important is this? If a subscriber actually pays attention to a well worded welcome message, they are more likely to welcome and read your issues when they arrive too. It creates a bond of loyalty and familiarity. It is going to help avoid false spam accusations too.
If you found something you like here, why not subscribe?
Sponzurz
