What does the 'perfect' email look like?!

Data scientist and team of email experts at AWeber set out to find the elements of "the perfect email in 2019." 

To do that, they analyzed 1,000 emails from 100 of today's top businesses and entrepreneurs (like Mark Asquith, Ann Handley, Amy Porterfield, and Lee Odden, to name a few).

 

Their research answers 4 questions that every business with an email marketing strategy wants to know:

1. How short or long should an email be?
2. How many characters are in a subject line?
3. What percentage of subject lines include emojis?
4. How do experts capitalize their email subject lines?

What exactly did they find out?!

Grow your business with email this year by taking note of their findings.

You can see the results here.

FREE email marketing course!

Everyday Email

The most fun way to learn email marketing. 30 easy-to-follow tips in 30 days!

I like fun!

Send me the FREE Everyday Email course.

Start my course now

Level:

Beginner

Time:

1 minute a day for 30 days

What you’ll need:

Nada

Question:

What happens when you strip out all the complex mumbo jumbo surrounding email marketing?

Answer:

You get Everyday Email, a fun, uncomplicated course that teaches you everything you need to know about email.

Over the next 30 days, you’ll:

• Learn how to score amazing open and click-through rates
• Discover the best ways to grow your email list
• Understand how to write awesome content that your readers will go gaga over
• Get simple persuasion tricks for turning subscribers into customers
• Master the art of personalizing your emails
• Learn how to target smaller groups of subscribers with the exact content they want (without annoying everyone else on your list)

Sign me up for the free course

Plus, get a downloadable guide at the end of the course with all 30 tips.

This course provides you with the baby steps you need to make the giant leap forward to email marketing success. Read your daily tip as you drink your coffee, stand in line at the grocery store, attend a boring meeting, or watch a commercial break.

30 easy-to-follow tips in 30 days

Here’s a flavor of the daily goodies that will hit your inbox:

Tip #3

How to get people to open your emails (That is, besides your mom, sister, and best friend.)

Tip #13

How to put your email strategy on autopilot so you have more time to do other important things (Like binge watch Netflix.)

Tip #19

How to come up with your next 10 email ideas in less time than it takes to make boxed Mac ‘n cheese (We know, because we timed it. Then we ate the Mac ‘n cheese.)

Get my first email tip today

Feel confident launching your own long-term email strategy

By the end of 30 days, you’ll have a deep understanding of how to grow your email list, write compelling emails, and convert subscribers to paying customers. You’ll be gung-ho to launch your own email strategy the very next day.

Startmy course now

Finished the course?

Go ahead: Add “email aficionado” to your email signature.

Scarcity Marketing - An Effective Way To Increase Sales

How many times have you bought something because the headline or subject line screams something like this:

“Only 5 Items Left. Get It Now!”


    “Lock In This Great Price While You Still Can”


            “Up To 50% Off Until January 31st Only”



This is known as scarcity marketing and it is extremely effective when used properly.


THE PRINCIPLE

The principle behind this is known as supply and demand. 

If your product is seen as being in limited supply more value is immediately associated with it. This gives buyers the mentality of "if everyone is snapping this up, then I should too"!

In order for this to work effectively your offer has to be positioned correctly in the marketplace. Your end goal is to boost the desire of your customer to purchase your product.

“If your product is seen as being in limited supply, more value is immediately
associated with it.”

POSITION ‘EM!

By positioning your products with scarcity you are giving it more perceived value immediately. You need to show that you had tons of this product in stock and
due to popular demand you only have X number left. This is more effective than telling customers “I only have 25 in stock so you'd better buy now before they are gone!"

Scarcity makes your audiences crave your products more. The basic instinct of humanity is to covet things that they can’t have.

In the latter example the customer doesn't feel a sense of urgency to buy. Your customers are probably of the mindset that you only ordered 25 because you
didn't think more than that would sell. Can you see the difference?

THE TACTICS

One tactic that many online marketers use for selling digital products is to use what is known as a dime sale. This is when they run a sale where the price
increases a set amount after a certain number of sales.

When visitors arrive on the sales page they will be shown a note that says "only 2 left at this price". This adds scarcity to the offer and if they are interested,
they will hit that buy button faster to get the lower price.

Another example is reminding your customers that you only have a certain number of this item left in stock. This could apply to physical items, digital
items or even to ticket sales, if you are selling tickets to an event.

Scarcity doesn’t always work, though. It’s not a silver bullet.

Basically, if people have a higher knowledge of persuasion or are more exposed to scarcity claims, they’re less likely to value a scarce product more.

A study found that “when consumers interpreted scarcity claims as a sales tactic, the positive effect of scarcity claims on product evaluation would be diluted.”

If the scarcity is nonsense and your customers are smart, it’s going to hurt more than help.

Successful marketers will often add scarcity into an offer by including a specific date. Stating that the price will increase to X amount by a certain date can be
extremely effective. This helps to get those who are borderline shoppers and helps to turn them into an actual buyer.

THE CONCLUSION

Adding scarcity is a marketing technique than can really help increase your bottom line. If you haven't tried this tactic yet maybe it is time you did.


Want to learn more about what works and what doesn't when it comes to online marketing?

Head over to the Internet Business School – the leading provider of Digital Marketing Training. They offer a range of over 30 up-to-date training courses in the Digital Marketing arena. These courses teach you everything you need to know to take your business the next level...

How to Generate Traffic Using Only Free Methods

Putting up a company would of course require a lot of things, to get straight to the point, you need capital. 

To make money requires money as well. But of course, with the versatility the Internet offers, there are many ways you could find that could help optimize the potential of your site or business in generating traffic. 

While there are ways to jump start your traffic flows, many sites don’t have the resources that others have to generate more traffic for your site. 

Well, you don’t have to spend a cent; all you need is the proper mindset and a lot of eagerness. You also must have the drive and perseverance to do hard work and research to generate more traffic for your site.

How sweet it is to have more traffic for your site without spending a single cent. 

Now it’s a sure thing that many sites have articles that offer tips and guidelines in how to generate traffic using only free methods. Because it is possible, you don’t need to speed a single cent, it may take time, to say honestly, I’m not going to beat around the bush with you. You get better chances by paying for your advertisements, but at least you get a fighting chance with some of these free methods I’m about to tell you.

Take advantage of online forums and online communities. 

The great thing about forums and online communities is that you can target a certain group that fits the certain demographic that you are looking for. You can discuss about lots of things about the niche that you represent or offer. 

Another great advantage is that you know what you are getting into and you will be prepared. With online communities and forums you can build a reputation for your company. Show them what you are made of and wow them with your range of expertise about the subject, with that you can build a reputation and build trust with the people in your expertise and knowledge.

You can also make use of newsletters. 

Provide people with a catalog of your products and interesting and entertaining articles. 

The more people who signs up for your newsletter, the more people there will be that will go to your site increasing your traffic. Here’s another method:

Another great idea is trading links with other sites. 

You don’t have to spend a cent. All you have to do is reach an agreement with another webmaster. With exchanging links, the efforts both sites do will benefit both sites. Every traffic that goes to the site could potentially click on the link of your site and visit your site as well. This works well especially when both sites feature the same niche. 

Write articles! 

And pique the attention of people that have interest in your product. Try writing articles that will provide tips and guides to other aficionados. 

Many sites offer free submission and posting of your articles. When people find interest in your articles they have a good chance of following the track by finding out where the article originated. Include a link or a brief description of your company with the article and there’s a great probability that they will go to your site. 

Write excellent content for your online sites. 

Many Search Engines track down the keywords and keyword phrases your site uses and how they are used. It is not a requirement that content should be done by a professional content writer. You could do your own but you have to make content for your site that is entertaining as well as informational. It should provide certain requirements as well as great quality.


All of these methods and more will drive more traffic to your site for free. All it takes is a bit of effort and extended man-hours. Learn all you can about the methods explained here and you will soon have a site with a great traffic flow without the usual costs that come with it!


The DIGITAL MARKETING SCHOOL offers a wide variety of online marketing training courses, as well as live events. Their 3 Day Accredited Diploma Course In Internet Marketing has proven particularly popular. It teaches everything you need to know to take a business idea from concept to creation and get it online.

Sort your financial worries now!

How To Succeed In Business By Really Trying

No sugar coating here.  Unless you’re fortunate enough to be born to take over a thriving family business or to get in on the ground floor of the next Facebook, the road to business success is seldom a simple one.

In my experience and observation, success is much less the product of one brilliant idea than of a great deal of hard work, well-executed and sustained over a long period of time.

Even in the best of times, no one will just hand you a position of great value for nothing.  If your goal is vice presidency or partner or managing director or the c-suite, or whatever role has captured your imagination, no one can guarantee you’ll attain it.  But if hard work is the currency of success, there are things you can do to make that effort work as hard as possible for your up-and-coming career.  So with a tip of the cap to one the greatest musicals ever (“How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying”), here are five activities that can be worth really trying to put extra time into.

Learn the business – If you work for a sizable organization, and perhaps if you don’t, chances are your business has considerable complexity.  Take time to learn not just your particular role (that’s “table stakes”- you have to know it), but also to gain a broader understanding of the business: the competitive environment, the market forces at play, the company’s value proposition, sales model, pricing model, etc.  No one’s expecting you to become expert in all these fields, but gaining at least a working understanding of the key macro-level issues is always helpful.   Familiarity with these larger issues senior management is grappling with will only enhance your decision-making capabilities in your own role.

Make yourself indispensable – Take time to really understand what your manager needs.  Not just what is needed from you in your current role, but what are the troubling problems that keep him or her up at night?   Is it help with PowerPoints, an upcoming presentation to a hostile audience, delicate personnel problems, or dealing with regulators… to name just a few of a thousand possibilities.  Try to see things through the eyes of others.  The more substantive assistance you can provide, the more gaps you can fill, the more valuable you’ll be to an organization.

Provide solutions, not problems – The normal state of senior management is too much to do in too little time.   When wrestling with difficult issues in your own area, naturally you can’t always solve all the problems yourself.  But it definitely can be worth the extra time to not simply make your problems your manager’s.  Instead, present your manager with a carefully thought out range of viable options – ideally including your recommended solution – rather than just posing a vexing, time-consuming problem.  This approach demonstrates your critical thinking capabilities, and can be an appreciated time saver for a person with little time to spare.

Be a great collaborator – Good team players are valued.  Large complex projects always require people with diverse skills.  Attitude matters; effective collaborators often find themselves in demand.  Consider taking the time to volunteer for a large project that may be understaffed, even in an area outside your core expertise.  This can be a way of broadening your skill set and business knowledge, plus demonstrating your motivation.  Management appreciates self starters who ‘play well with others.’

Come early, stay late – The best point I can offer here is a story of my own.  While I’m an advocate in theory for as much work-life balance as possible, the fact is, if you want to get ahead, there will be periods in a career where there are no substitutes for grindingly long hours.  There was a period in my own career where I was especially motivated by the prospect of advancement and all that went with it, and had great respect for the organization and the work we were doing.  Accordingly, I resolved to myself  that no one in the 20-person department I worked in (including the SVP who managed the operation) would come in earlier or work later than I would.  Did I always achieve that?  No.  But did my diligence catch the attention of senior management and ultimately help my career?  Yes.  (The assumption here of course is that you’re not simply sitting around long hours playing video games or writing to your aunt… but doing real work and adding value!)

In the end of course, occupational success is preordained for no one.  Many talented people compete for relatively few coveted positions.  But you can take certain actions to improve your odds. And if you do, regardless of how things turn out in a particular instance, at the very least you’ll have the benefit of broadening your skills and the satisfaction of knowing you gave your very best effort.

Source: forbes.com

The 5 Keys to Success

Someone once said, “The key to happiness is having dreams.  The key to success is making your dreams’ come true.”  

Today I want to talk about making your dreams come true.  I want to talk about five keys that will help turn your dreams into reality.

Without further adieu….

5 Must Read Keys to Success:

1. Preparation

 “The secret of success in life is for a man to be ready for his opportunity when it comes.”

~Benjamin Disraeli

 Success loves preparation.  If the perfect opportunity presented itself today, would you be ready?  It’s better to be ready and not have an opportunity, then to have an opportunity and not be ready.

To succeed, you must be ready when opportunity comes.  Spend your time preparing for success, when your opportunity comes, you’ll be glad you did.

2. Work

“Success is simply a matter of luck. Ask any failure.” ~Anonymous

 All failures know that success is simply a matter of luck, they know it’s just a matter of being at the right place at the right time, they know with assurance that success is directly linked to good ole fashion chance.

However, those who have succeeded know that success is directly and proportionally linked to work.  Even an amazing strategy can’t guarantee success.  Zig Ziglar said, “The most practical, beautiful, workable philosophy in the world won’t work – if you won’t.”

You have to put in the time.  However, when you put in the time, it makes success all the more sweet.  When you come from “behind” and do the impossible, it makes success as sweet as a honeycomb. John H. Johnson said, “I believe the greater the handicap, the greater the triumph.”

3. Remember the Golden Rule

“Success is still the constant application of the Golden Rule.” ~Anonymous

 Never forget the golden rule, “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.”  That’s the key to success.  Serve your clients as you would have them serve you.  Meet their needs as you would have them meet your needs.  Give them prices that you would want to pay, exceed their expectations in a way that you would want your expectations to be exceeded.

When you follow the golden rule, you open the door to success.

4. Confidence

“Confidence is the companion of success.” ~Anonymous

If you don’t believe in your abilities, don’t be surprised if no one else does either.  Your negative thoughts about yourself send a signal throughout the world that others pick up on and respond accordingly.  If you’re broadcasting the station “Depression 108.7” then others will treat you like you’re depressed.

But, when you believe in yourself and your potential, people pick up that signal, and they will treat you according to how they believe, you believe, you should be treated.  Did you get that?

5. Lead

“A most important key to successful leadership is your ability to direct and challenge the very best that is in those whom you lead.” ~Anonymous

 To be successful you must be a great leader.  There’s probably nothing more difficult than being a great leader.  It’s easy to be selfish, it’s easy to only be concerned with your needs, your wants and your desires.  But to succeed you have to lead!  You have to do what’s best for the people; you must bring the best out of those in whom you lead.

When you really lead, you will succeed.

 Mr. Self Development is an author who teaches a motivational and practical guide to success. Please visit him at Mr. Self Development.com.