Hey everybody, I've recently begun building an opt-in email list for a pretty specific purpose (sending out a sample high paying keyword daily). Would it be considered "bad etiquette" to add an advertisement below the sample in each email, or is that an acceptable practice?
advertisements are usually acceptable by users, but you should watch the techniques. For example, Flash and Java(script) usually are blocked by virusscanners. Images are often blocked by Windows XP2, adsense is not allowed in e-mail..... any other questions? (some experience with e-mail marketing and tried various tests with e-mailing)
Make sure the subscribers are targeted. It's no use getting tons of subscribers if they're just freeloaders. (I am speaking from experience here). A small banner ad wouldn't be a problem imho.
Ads in newsletters should be ok. If you subscribe to those 'joke of the day' issues, they also come with ads. That's how the owners make money. However, do try to keep ads relevant to your target audience. Keep them catchy but not pushy. If you are putting up your own ads, try to throw in some offer to make your subscribers feel special.
No it's not bad ettiquette at all. You could either use a signature file to provide a link to products your are selling (at the bottom) and mix in content with email recommendations of different products. Try to create good content and sell to your list 1-2 times a month doing a pure hard sell.
Assuming it is not HTML!!! and not blown out of proportion. A simpley, "Click here for blah, get your FREE blah now". Something below or above the removal instructions is usually quite acceptable. The ISP-LIST lists I have been on for years do that, but it is usually not too invasive. One last thing, on your mailing list, it is not unheard of to have a subject that says "SPONSOR" then the sponsors subject line, and a sponsored post/thread. Assuming the sponsor pays you and the list gets something that says "Sponsor" in the subject, again, is quite acceptable. Hell we all have to pay for this stuff. Things are not free!
Here are some good reasons to put as few advertisements into your mailings as possible: 1) The obvious, less chance of that dreaded "Unsubscribe Me!". 2) The fewer the advertisements, the more valuable your advertisement space becomes. Too many mailing list owners get too greedy, thinking more ads = more money. It just isn't true in a well targeted double-opt in list. More ads also means fewer clicks per advertiser, which means lower returns for your advertisers, which means lower prices for your ads. 3) Credibility. The more ads you place in your mailings, the less credibility you will have with your readership/subscribers. They like to believe you are "pure" (for the most part, at least) and are genuinely interested in their needs (which let's face it, you should be... they pay your bills). They want to believe you are their long lost family member that is looking out for them, not feeding them to the wolves. My first sales trainer taught me... "Good news travels fast, and bad news travels faster." ResidualGuy