Weakness in using Safe List
How would you like to send your commercial emails to people you do not know, but are expecting to receive such mail from you? Wait a minute. That does not sound right. How can this be?
It is simple, if you know what is really going on. Everybody who is on these lists, also known as safe lists, knows that they will be receiving emails from other members. This is possible because that is one of the conditions of their “safe list†membership.
And those who join these lists are willing to agree to this condition because they themselves would want to send out their own commercial emails to the others on the list.
The result: everyone is sending emails to each other but no one is reading them!
It gets worse when some savvy members sign up for the membership using a free or less-frequently-used account to store the useless emails they will never bother to open and read.
Having said that, it is always wiser to start your own mailing list and build it with opt-in subscribers, no matter how tempting safe lists can be or how many members there are in a safe list.
To your continual success!
Andy Huang
Refrain from Buying Bulk Mails
I am sure that you have definitely come across advertisements that read: “1,000,000 email addresses for $29.99â€. And these bulk mail companies can even offer you these names in a CD at your doorstep.
Sure, having 1,000,000 subscribers is the best thing that could ever happen to any Internet Marketer and often sounds too good to be true. But very often, it always sound too good to be true.
What many beginning marketers do not really know is that these bulk companies harvest the email addresses using robots and other wares on the Internet. That is how the 1,000,000 email addresses come about, whatever the amount is.
Now, the really awful part is that if you purchase the so-called 1,000,000 names even at a low price, not only is it a waste of money, you are risking being accused of spamming. It is no longer a surprise how you often receive spam mails on Viagra, OEM Software and things you do not even need in your inbox.
That is so possible, because of the 1,000,000 names, no one knows you or even ask to be subscribed to your mailing list.
On top of that, not all 1,000,000 email addresses are really in use because a portion of them can either be own by the same owners (one owner can own more than 1 email accounts) or are obsolete.
When you read such ads again, tell yourself that it is a waste of money.
To your success!
Andy Huang
Building Your List with Paid eZine Advertising
Some Internet Marketers can get clueless when it comes to unleashing the full potential of paid eZine advertising. One of the most common dilemmas is that whether should the Internet Marketer advertise the product or service he is selling directly to the subscribers of the eZine he is paying advertising for?
This can be a wise method, but with ifs and buts. For one, the advertisement must be compelling and attention grabbing. Secondly, there is no telling if the eZine’s subscribers constantly practice a buying habit until you put some money to find out.
Investing even a small sum of money can be risky to a number of Internet Marketers who are on tight budgets. But in spite of the risk factors, eZine advertising can still be rewarding, if done right.
Thus the solution: the marketer would be wiser if he or she uses eZine advertising to build his or her mailing list. It makes sense, anyway. Since some eZines display more than one sponsored advertisement, you can grab the subscriber’s attention by giving a free or risk-free product or offer through your ad.
When the subscriber clicks on your ad, he or she can opt into your mailing list in exchange for the free offer, which can be a free report or even a trial service.
While you are not making a hard sell through your advertisement just yet, building your list by getting other eZine’s subscribers subscribed to your eZine allows you to follow up with them in the future, as and when you have new offers.
Andy Huang
Understanding the Ad Swap Magic
Here is a little used technique you can implement to build your mailing list for no additional cost. I call it “using subscribers to make subscribers†like much in the context of “using money to make moneyâ€.
This simple list building formula can be summed up in two words: ad swap.
Generally, you trade advertisements with other eZine publishers, preferably of the same mailing list size or bigger. You broadcast the eZine publisher’s advertisement to your mailing list while the eZine publisher endorses your ad to his list. Yes, you are actually cross endorsing or cross promoting each others offer to each of your mailing list.
Your advertisement’s goal should be to get as many subscribers possible from the other eZine publisher’s mailing list to sign up for yours.
The result: you grow your mailing list. This method does not require money, which means it can be done for free. And the return of subscribers? Infinite!
You only have to do this with one eZine publisher at least once, because his subscribers who are also your subscribers can now be followed up within the boundaries of your mailing list.
Perform ad swaps with as many eZine publishers as possible and soon, you will have a huge mailing list of your own – built free.
To your success!
Andy Huang
Building Your List with Articles Marketing
You can build your list simply by writing articles, whether you have thought of it or not.
Quite simply, you write and submit your articles on your topic of expertise or business nature to popular article directories where eZine publishers and readers are looking for the information you provide.
Leveraging your viral marketing efforts on article writing can be rewarding, if done right. In the real sense, you are actually proving your worth and demonstrating your expertise about your business through the articles you write.
So, how can this method in effect build your mailing list? The answer: the resource box you attach to your articles. In your resource box (also known as bio box), you include a brief detail about yourself and your business site together with its URL.
It is strongly suggested that your resource box URL links to your mailing list’s landing page where you can get your visitor’s name and email address, which will in turn help you build your mailing list at no cost.
If your articles are found worth sharing, eZine publishers will republish your articles together with your resource box for their readers and subscribers. The wonderful result: viral marketing without effort on your part!
You can start by writing and submitting your articles to trusted article submitter sites such as http://www.articlemarketer.com/ and begin your article marketing journey today.
To your continual success!
Andy Huang
Washington Mutual exit the wholesale mortgage business
Here is an interesting article today from NEW YORK (CNN) — Washington Mutual told employees Monday that it will exit the wholesale lending business and close home-loan centers nationwide.
Washington Mutual, the nation’s largest savings-and-loan association, is taking those steps to focus on delivering home-lending products to customers through banking stores and online, a WaMu spokesperson said.
Sara Gaugl, WaMu spokesperson, told CNN that the bank will no longer work with third party brokers. She said WaMu also will close its remaining stand-alone Home Loan Centers.
Gaugl said the company has not posted specific information about how many stores and employees will be affected.
The bank is close to a deal with private-equity firm TPG and other investors to receive a $5 billion investment, according to The Wall Street Journal.
The infusion would help WaMu meet its pressing capital requirements as the bank faces steep losses stemming from the housing crisis.
——
Would be very interesting to see how the financial market will turn out. The housing crisis is a goldmine for those who knows how to play the downside correctly.
To your continual success!
Andy Huang
Microsoft gives yahoo ultimatum on merger offer
Microsoft (MSFT) just drop a time bomb on Yahoo (YHOO). Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer on Apr. 5 sent a letter giving Yahoo’s board three weeks before it initiates a proxy fight, including nomination of a new slate of directors likely to approve the deal.
“Microsoft’s preference has always been to offer a speedy and friendly transaction,” says a person familiar with Microsoft’s thinking, reiterating the essence of the letter. “Microsoft has tried to engage, but Yahoo’s board has refused to enter into substantive negotiations. There is a difference between a meeting and a negotiation.”
The letter comes just hours after several planted leaks by Microsoft, variously claiming that it might drop the bid, lower the bid, or, most recently, would not lower it. Clearly, those leaks (BusinessWeek.com, 4/4/08) ended up confusing people more than they clarified things, so it’s not surprising that Microsoft felt the need to go public.
It will be interesting to see how the shareholder would hold up to this incredible offer from MSFT. Either way, Yahoo is still way undervalue in my opinion as Yahoo dominate the biggest growth market in China, which we will continue to see double digit growth in the next few year as the behavior continues to grow in the Chinese online user lifestyle.
Make sure you position yourself with shares of MSFT and Yhoo as this merger will benefit both struggling internet venture against the search giant Google.
To your continual Success!
Andy Huang
