The message below has been arriving in my in-box every day - several times a day - for about the past week.

I should pay attention and see if it's coming from different senders or if the same one person just can't get over the fact that I'm NOT going to click on their link.

Attention:girl warding off danger
 
I really was surprised when I
saw the Testimonial of a 24 year old
Kid from England who told me that he
made over $23,000 Dollar with my method.

These messages have no unsubscribe link, but even if they did, I think I'd be afraid to click it. What if it was a trick, and the whole thing really is an invitation to a virus? 

This is just one of many - and if you're like me, you do think of the possibility of a virus and delete them immediately.

This is the reason why you have to create some kind of relationship with people before you start mailing to them.

It's why purchasing mailing lists is probably not the way to reach your audience if you're marketing online.

When you write people out of the blue, they have no idea who you are and no reason to trust you. In postal mail, they might read your message anyway, but in email, almost all of us are aware that danger exists.

So what can you do instead?

  • Offer incentives on your website - invite visitors to sign up in exchange for a market report or other information they can use.
  • Offer the same incentives on both your own blog posts and in guest posts on other people's blogs.
  • Mail to people you know and people you've met who give you permission.
  • Ask those folks to forward your message on to others who will be interested, and include an invitation and a subscription link in the email.
  • Always use your name in the from line - not "customer service" or some other generic term.
  • When you do write, send good information - not just advertising and a link to somewhere else.
  • If your subject line promises information - be sure that information is in the email.

It takes time to build trust - and it will only happen when you're genuine.


marte@copybymarte.com
www.copybymarte.com

Priest River, Idaho
208-448-1479

 

Call on Copy by Marte for:

Custom Web Copy....Agent Bios....E-mail Campaigns
Newsletters....Postcards....Custom Prospecting Letters
Articles....Blog Posts....Print Ads

PLUS

Pre-written real estate letters that save you time and money -
and keep you in touch with your prospects.

 

 
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6 Comments on How many times have YOU gotten this message in the last week?

APR
10
2012
580,366 Points 17 Featured Posts Called Shot Master

Marte - I just read the other day about spam texts, which they state replying to may well just verify a valid phone number for future spam texts and clicking unsubscribe on these may do the same darn thing...
2:22am • #1
1,250,525 Points 81 Featured Posts Localism Sponsor Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master

Good morning Marte,

Very good post..how many of these kinds of email do we get every day..a lot!! I know I hit the delete button when I see these come my way..you offer good common sense about building trust and relationships and it does only happen when you are genuine.
4:21am • #2
1,166,599 Points 158 Featured Posts Outside Blog Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master

I have not gotten those messages...at least not yet.

Yes, you are so right about building trust.  I would not click on those links if I didn't trust the person.  Great tips here.
4:29am • #3
365,140 Points 29 Featured Posts Outside Blog Called Shot Master

Email campaigns should look like spam - they should be directed to people you actually have a relationship with, at least in my opinion!
4:43am • #4
1,542,273 Points 116 Featured Posts Localism Sponsor Outside Blog Called Shot Master

Given the amount of pure junk that I delete from my inbox every day, I can not imagne email being an effective way to get anyone's attention.  If I send something out, like a new listing, I do it as a mail merge to active agents in the market, making it look like a personal email.  And they are agents that KNOW me.  It's not just a mass mailed hunk of junk.
9:05am • #5
597,083 Points 110 Featured Posts Outside Blog Called Shot Master

Carol - Years ago, when I was just starting to use email, a computer guru told me never to use "block sender" because it was the same as sending back a message saying "Yes, this is a valid email address. Sell it to someone."

Dorie - What irritates me is that I have to look at many of them to make sure they aren't something I really do need - such as an inquiry from a potential client.

Debbie - You're lucky that you don't get them. Years ago, when my younger son was living at home, he and a friend used my computer to look at mail order brides. They were having a great time, laughing at what these gals were saying to entice American men into bringing them here to marry. The result: I got a whole lot of really "yucky" spam mail.

Wayne and Jean - and even then, much of what you send will go unopened. I send a weekly marketing ezine and on a given week, only 1/4 to 1/3 will actually open it, even though they have opted in to get it. At the same time, I don't always take time to read the messages that I have requested. There are not enough hours in a day.

Chris Ann - Mailing only to people who know and trust you and making sure your name is in the from line is one of those "best practices" of email marketing.

At the same time, I feel a little sorry for those uninformed people who are buying the lists and the scripts in an attempt to make money on lilne. This is the Internet version of the old "stuffing envelopes" to make millions scam. (I once knew a man who sent his last $200 to buy into that one and was expecting to make enough to come back and buy a house.)

 

 
9:46am • #6


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Marte Cliff (Marte Cliff Copywriting) Rainmaker_large

Marte Cliff

Priest River, ID

More about me…

Marte Cliff Copywriting

Address: 1794 Blue Lake Road, Priest River, ID, 83856

Office Phone: (208) 448-1479

Email Me

Author Bio: Marte Cliff is a freelance copywriter who specializes in writing for the real estate profession.

Thoughts, ideas, insights, and tips on real estate copywriting and real estate marketing.
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