I could use a few tips on email copywriting.

[dpdumas642]

I am currently writing an email auto-responder series for my site so I can stay in touch with customers. I looking for a few tips on writing good copy for my emails. Is there some kind of an outline you can use? Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

[cbscreative]

Tip #1: Be real. Don't sound corporate. Make the emails from you, not "news" or other impersonal sounding email addresses. The studies I am aware of show much better response if it's personal and conversational rather than traditional business sounding.

[vangogh]

I agree with Steve about being real and not being corporate. Sorry I can't offer a lot of specific advice here, but I do know there's plenty of information online about this. I used to have a video bookmarked about this, but I can't seem to find it.

One thing you can easily do is sign up to be on a number of lists of email marketers. Set up an email account specifically for this purpose so your other email accounts don't make it on ever list out there. Observe the emails that get sent to you and how they're written. Also notice how often you get a new email. I think it's common to get one a day for a week or so and then the emails will trail off.

If you're signing up for things that get you on the typical internet marketer's list it won't be long before one or another offers you some free ebook or video on how to write better autoresponder copy too.

[dpdumas642]

Thank you for the tip Steve. I think that will be helpful.

[dpdumas642]

One thing you can easily do is sign up to be on a number of lists of email marketers.

Thanks - That's a great idea I never thought about getting on another list to see what they are doing.

[Spider]

You could hire Dan Furman. He's the Man for copywriting.

Dan! Post something to get your sig on this thread!

[vangogh]

Yep Dan should have good advice.

Dave I often sign up to receive an ebook or similar just to see how the person will market to me over time. It can be a pain clearing out my inbox, but I send all those things to an email address I never use for anything else. It's amazing what you can learn when you see all the emails together. They have similar subject lines and content and offers inside.

[KristineS]

Do what Vangogh mentions and pay attention to the e-mails you get. Really study the ones that intrigue you and try and figure out how they hook you. Also study the ones you dislike and try and figure out what makes them work less well.

Also, and I can't emphasize this enough, check your spelling, grammar and capitalization. It's such a simple thing it often gets overlooked and it can make a big difference in how your e-mails are received and perceived.

You might also check out Marketing Vox. It's a blog and also an e-mail newsletter and they often have great tips on e-mail marketing.

[dpdumas642]

Do what Vangogh mentions and pay attention to the e-mails you get. Really study the ones that intrigue you and try and figure out how they hook you. Also study the ones you dislike and try and figure out what makes them work less well.

Also, and I can't emphasize this enough, check your spelling, grammar and capitalization. It's such a simple thing it often gets overlooked and it can make a big difference in how your e-mails are received and perceived.

You might also check out Marketing Vox. It's a blog and also an e-mail newsletter and they often have great tips on e-mail marketing.

Thanks Kristine for the great tips. I definitely appreciate your help.

I notice that we are almost neighbors. I live in Manistee, MI

[Dan Furman]

For me, the biggest thing about "stay in touch" e-mail marketing is to make it interesting to read. This means both in subject and writing style. The subject should be something somewhat interesting to your clients, and the style should be as conversational as possible. In other words, when they see your e-mail, they want to read it. Almost like a blog via e-mail, really.

This doesn't mean that you always have to send something business related, or even useful. For example, there was a funny video floating around here about clients negotiating price (here it is) - you could send that with a brief note to almost any service type business.