Does emailing work?

I'm not talking spamming but targeted proper ones if you know what I mean? Does anyone actually read an email if they haven't heard of the sender before?

PS Can you tell I'm new to all this lol

 

One of the big motivators for me behind owning forums is it's a excellent way to build massive targetted mailing lists.

Also most forums have the list management software built in

The emails I send out not only earn me money from the traffic they generate to my sites but they also allow me to slip in affiliate ads for azoogle and maxbounty.

 

Targeted emails to opt-in users can work....very well.

 

They DEF. work - that is why spam is such a huge problem....because bulk email works!

 

Yes they still do ...

 

Spamming by definition is unsolcited email ads. If you don't know or have any previous dealings with the sender of the email, it is spam. Having said that, the right offer to the right list can be profitable. One way is to joint venture with someone that has the right list for your product.

 

Just don't send it to me!

 

As far as i understand, there are 2 types of 'targetted proper emails'

- One that you get from your own opt-in list of subscribers (from forums or newsletter subscribers)

- Where you can advertise with some site that has a similar theme/topic related to your industry

Buying a huge list of emails is not what I think targeted and proper.

About your second question 'Does anyone actually read an email if they haven't heard of the sender before' I'd say yes if the subject is too catchy.

But then again, as soon as I'll open the mail, and it has some junk spam in it, i'd simply hit the delete button!!!

 

Yes, it does work. Even spam works as long as what you are offering is something that people actually want (and not crap like levitra, viagra or cialis or how to enlarge ...).
In my old days, I used to send spam to advertise services offered at my websites and I actually was receiving thank you emails from people who appreciated being informed of those services.
Before you start shooting me, I don't do spam anymore

 

Surely there is nothing wrong with offering something of good value or a wanted service in an honest email - if you are able and willing to respond to any questions or response that is.

If that is considered spam then how do businesses start off? Ok there are other ways but surely email is something to be taken advantage of? At the end of the day it's business isn't it?

Now I'm an honest and ethical person so the only way to take advantage of email seems to be to have an opt-in list but you got to get people to opt-in first! I'll have a think about that one ...

 

The most successful businesses don't have to spam and probably never have.

Everyone thinks their products/services are of good value and 'wanted'.

You should focus on making your site visible to people seeking out your product/service.

 

I agree that emailing can work quite well with the proper targetting.

I've never had much success with randomly blasting out emails to free safelists, but opt-in subscribers can be very responsive to the right products. I don't know if the quality of the email lists for sale is any better than the free ones since I've never bought one.

 

Well, do newsletter and send email to your Forum members when something really good is happening, like a contest with prizes or something, people gets really insterested

 

I agree! Emails STILL works very very well...!
Opt-in list from your own website is a must for returning traffic!

 

I have never blasted e-mails or opt-in e-mails becuase I always thought it is annoying to the user and wont read the e-mails.

But having read some of the responses, I am thinking of giving it a try... do you guys know of a trusted service out there that can send e-mails ( optin and not spam ) on your behalf to sell your prodcuts or services?

thanks

 

Yup it works well, especially when you plug in some hosting affiliate ads that gives a good payout. But email those who subcribes of course.

 

spamming others through email never work

 

All this talk of joint ventures and using someone elses list etc. still seems like spamming to me. Ok maybe it's a related product etc. but that's about it. Pay some monies get a list and legally spam just because they ticked a box and said they would be happy to receive emails from partners etc.

I guess sending out decent targeted emails to those people that could potentially benefit was never a problem and was certainly ethical but then people started to send aimless rubbish out to everyone irrespective of whether them might want it or not. Plus they didn't want a reply. Spam is now a serious problem agreed but spam is now a label that's used to explain every unsolicitated email and that seems a little harsh to me.

 

spam = unsolicited bulk email.

 

I agree totally. So if we want to use the wonders of email to market our websites, a joint venture is a good idea? We can have access to their opt-in list and send out bulk solicitated emails.