Safelist member at her computer

Safelist Advertising & Safelist Marketing


Reprinted by permission of: www.SafeLists.us

the From Line

What's in a Username? You might be surprised!

Your username should be given first priority. A username is more than an identifier to a safelist database. It is your identity, your identity to the folks who are your potential clients! When an offer is sent, your user name occupies the From line of the email. In most cases, it is the first thing that your potential client sees! It should convey reality! It should tell who you are! Do not be afraid to use your own name. You are not a fly by night, one trick pony.... you are a real person, with a real business, offering a real opportunity!

Your username "brands" you! Do you want to be Google or do you want to be "the_spammer"? Of course you do not want to be identified as the_spammer, so choose your username wisely. If you are an individual or sole proprietor, use your name. My name is Lou Smith, username Lou_Smith, nothing fancy, just "first name underline last name". Almost always, the first letter of your first name and the first letter of your last name is capitalized; your username is no different. The underline is for natural display, because most databases require a one word username. Lou_Smith displays as Lou Smith and gives me instant From line credibility! My potential client knows who I am!

If your online business is incorporated, a proper username is your business name. My business is SafeLists, so I can use "SafeLists" as my username. It is real and it tells what I am. Note the use of capitalization. What is a safelist; it is a safe list, so capitalize S and capitalize L! SafeLists conveys what the business is and assures that the client can mail safely and spam free.

In these two examples of proper usernames, another aspect is also in play: Branding! Over time as potential clients see either username, they form the association that SafeLists is Lou_Smith! Lou_Smith is SafeLists! The two usernames are effectively interchangeable. When a client sees either one they know what it is and who it is, making for a very effective, credible and relevant From Line!

the Subject Line

The most important element of your safelist offer. Write an effective, eye catching Subject Line for your SafeLists email marketing offers.

In email marketing, especially with safelists, the subject line is of the utmost importance! If the subject line does not elicit that "Click Me" response, it matters little how important the offer is. A good subject line first of all is short. Not only is it short, it is explicit! The subject line must be a clear, concise representation of your offer. The subject line must not be hype; safelist members have seen enough of that. Make your subject line:

Now that you have a subject line that is clear, concise and 100% relevant to your offer, make it eye catching! To do this, put a little white space in front of the subject line. The white space will offset the subject line from the others and make it more likely to catch the readers eye!

Capitalizing the first letter of every word is not recommended and never, never use ALL CAPS!

the Message Body

Get to the Point! Safelist visitors are driven by a desire for useful information and they must get it easily and quickly.

With so many folks offering the same type of product or service, it's clear that writers that have compelling ways of presenting their offers will attract the most customers.

Tell the reader what they are going to get in the first few words! Don't waste their time! If they're interested, they will click right then, if not, they will remember that you don't play games and perhaps read your next offering!