Creative Opt-In Lists

E-mail is the Internet's most popular tool. It is also a terrific way to market your products and services. Since sending e-mail to people you don't know is prohibited by law in many places, businesses are getting creative with opt-in e-mail.

Opt-in lists are made up of people who asked to be on the list. Advertising sent to opt-in lists tends to be very effective and rarely causes the problems associated with spamming. There are a number of good opt-in list services such at bulletmail.com, targ-it.com, and postmasterdirect.com/. These lists can be quite expensive, running 25 cents a name with big minimum purchases.

There are low-cost opt-in lists hiding all over the Net.

Many e-zines have big lists of dedicated subscribers. Find out if the publisher will put your sales letter or press release in a special issue.

Many sites offer popular reports and courses on multi-message autoresponders. Some compile legitimate opt-in lists from the people who subscribe. You can do this yourself by advertising a hot report or e-book. Make sure the people who request it agree to let you send them more information in the future.

Above all, make sure opt-in lists really ARE opt-in. There are a lot of "safe" lists being offered that are made up of addresses found on newsgroups and in classified ads. If someone accuses you of spamming, you will want to produce proof that the person opted onto the list.

Kevin Nunley provides marketing and copy writing. Read all his free tips at http://DrNunley.com Reach Kevin at kevin@drnunley.com or 603-249-9519.

Feel free to use Kevin's articles on your website or in your newsletter or sales materials. Include contact info at the end. No spam.