One of the perks to marketing via email is that once you build trust, you can make suggestions about future purchases. This allows you to sell more of your own products or other people's through affiliate marketing (this is a form of marketing where you make a commission on every product you sell). With a strong list, you can generate even more sales by making simple suggestions for new or existing products.
Suggesting Products
Before sending out suggestions, make sure the products you're endorsing are of quality and value to your list. This is especially important if the products you're endorsing aren't your own. Purchase products and test them or read reviews and other reputable information to determine the best products to endorse. Remember that once you build a strong list, your opinion does matter. Make a bad recommendation and you will notice an increase in opt-out requests.
When suggesting products that aren't your own, consider the following:
- Contact the owners of products that aren't yours to get first-hand knowledge of them.
- Only sell products that are of interest to those on your list. For example, don't sell fishing gear to deer hunters.
- Sell products from reputable businesses. Make sure those on your list will benefit from quality customer service and be given fair exchange/return policies if they don't want to keep the product.
- Make it clear that while you've done your research, it's up to subscribers to make the final determination as to whether the product is of quality or not.
Doing your research is important, especially when the product isn't yours.
Making Alliances with Other Business Owners
Over time, you will meet other small business owners that sell goods and products online similar or related to those you sell. Make friends with these people and endorse each other's products. Just make sure the product is something your list will be interested in. Also, make sure other business owners are willing to sell your goods and services as well.
Sell to Multiple Segments
If you segmented your list to sell different products to a variety of people, consider whether certain segments would still benefit from other products you sell. Make suggestions about products when appropriate. This is one of the best ways to maximize profits and create long-term relationships with subscribers.
Endorsing Products - Email Content
Make product suggestions at the end of your email as you would when selling any other product. For example, 'If you liked XXXX, then you should consider trying XXXX as this product provides ADD BENEFITS HERE.'
Not only will this remind people of how satisfied they were with the first product they purchased, this will also make it easier for people to rationalize buying another product.