Have you ever done something and then instantly regretted it? Sure, we all have from time to time, but in most cases, what we've done usually doesn't mean fewer sales or a sudden increase in opt-out requests. And while we can all learn from our mistakes, sometimes it's best to learn the mistakes first to avoid making them at all.
Never Make a Promise You Can't Keep
What if you came up with the world's greatest sales pitch, but you had to make a few promises that weren't exactly true, what should you do? Go with the world's second greatest sales pitch - always tell the truth. Making promises you can't keep is a huge mistake that many rookie Internet marketers make - in many cases, without even knowing it.
Telling a little white lie about a product, even if it's mostly true, is a slippery slope you can't afford to ride. For example, listing the benefits of a product is important and meaningful to those reading your email content. Listing outrageous ways a product can make people richer, more popular, sexy, or healthier without backing up those claims, on the other hand, is a lie.
And even though you may make a few sales initially, keep in mind that anyone can write a product review and post it on the Internet these days. Once people figure out that a product cannot do what you've promised, sales will drop - and fast. It's always best to be honest by promoting products in fun and interesting ways without overstating the truth. This way, not only will more people be satisfied with their purchase, they will trust your opinion the next time you try to sell them something.
Don't Switch from Personal Name to Business Name in "From" Lines
This is a common mistake that can be easily remedied - pick a name and stick with it. When sending high volume email, it's best to choose a name, your name or business name, and use this name each time you send an email. This is important so subscribers will know the message is from you.
Also, let subscribers know after they sign up which name you will be using. Encourage subscribers to add your name to their contact list so future emails don't end up in the Spam folder.
Don't Forget Your 'Call to Action'
Even though it may be lots of fun to craft interesting and memorable messages, remember that your main goal is to sell products and services. Even when sending informational email, add a small 'call to action' paragraph (one or two sentences) at the bottom to encourage sales. Subscribers expect to be sold something or they would not have signed up in the first place. They realize what's going on: To maintain a steady flow of valuable information, you must make sales. So keep on dazzling subscribers but mention your products and services at least once in your messages.