Once you have your marketing machine in gear, you'll be marketing with email in multiple ways. Included are autoresponders, opt-in email to your own growing list, replies to web site inquiries, and maybe even rented opt-in list services. Email will always be the most effective marketing tool on the Internet. It's fast, it's cheap, and it's very very effective ... If you do it right.

But not surprisingly, too many Internet marketers are making fatal mistakes with their email these days. Of the literally thousands of email messages we receive every week, there are a few glaring mistakes that are being repeated over and over. We want to share these mistakes with you so you can avoid them like the plague -- and hopefully get your emails read.

--- Mistake #1 ---

Using unbelievable or just plain boring subject lines.

The first thing a recipient of your email is going to see is the subject line. If you want them to open your message, write something that YOU would open. This means that your subject line MUST pique their interest or even their curiosity. Invite them to read your message. Let them know you are about to share important news, help them to solve their problem(s), offer something of value, etc. You need to grab their attention quickly.

When you are mailing your opt-in newsletter, instead of using "Jim's newsletter: Issue number X" each week, use the subject line to tell them what is inside each issue. Always remember to keep your subject lines believable, but interesting.

Examples of bad subject lines we've received recently:

• "Make $800,000 in less than 3 months!"
• "$ Income Opportunities $"
• "###$ CASH '4' SALE $###"

How many of those would YOU open? Enough said.

--- Mistake #2 ---

The "disclaimer label."

Too many marketers are shooting themselves in the foot with this one. Of the few email messages that pass the subject line test, many fail the next crucial test by "labeling" their email messages with disclaimers right at the very top of the text.

Here are common labels being placed at the top of email messages:

• "This is not spam ..."
• "ADV:" (advertisement)
• "We are sorry if you received this email in error ..."
• "This message is sent in compliance with the new bill ..."

Here's the plain truth of the matter -- messages with these headers get deleted! So why do people put them in? There are only two reasons that I really can think of ...

1. They are afraid of complaints, lawsuits, and the like. Why?
   
   
2. They do not have the permission of the recipient to send them email. In other words, the message is SPAM.

If you are webmarketing correctly, there's no need whatsoever to include headers like the above in your email messages. Doing so basically tells the recipient that you are NOT webmarketing properly. It also motivates them to reach for that "delete" key.

Proper webmarketing is permission marketing. Get their permission beforehand and you will never need disclaimers like these. Your messages will be more inviting, more effective, and more personal. And that's what sells on the Internet!

Email Marketing - Fatal Mistakes