If your Ezine response rates are low there could be several reasons for this. You may not be keeping up with current subscribers and readers the way you need to. The material you present may have become stale and boring. Or perhaps you’re just not reaching the right kind of readers, even through the marketing and advertising techniques you’ve been currently taking advantage of.
Here are seven ideas to jump start your Ezine response rate back to, and maybe even above, where it was before.
1. Try new techniques for advertising and marketing online. This should be especially effective if you’ve only been using one kind of advertising campaign. Instead of just using only pop ups or only banner ads, try using two or more kinds of online advertising. For example, try using popunders because they are cheap and work in a way that seems to get more page views. Add onto that banner ads targeted to websites that market products and/or services discussed in your Ezine. Also, consider creating a website and, if you have already accomplished this, making it something new and fresh for visitors.
2. Use online networking sites such as Myspace, facebook, friendster, cafemom and many, many more. Create a site in each networking site dedicated solely to your Ezine. You can then go through each networking site’s search engine to find members of that site who may be interested in what your Ezine has to offer. For example, if you’re Ezine has to do with quilting, then look up men and women who are part of quilting groups online. You can post an announcement or send personal messages to members of those groups to let them know about your Ezine. Search their personal sites as sometimes they will list other groups on other websites that deal with the same topic. You can then go to those websites and see if you can advertise there as well.
3. Try targeted emails. There are some companies that offer email lists of people who are interested in the very topic your Ezine covers. Like any form of advertising however, it does cost some money. You may want to research a few companies and find out how well their targeted email campaign has worked for others that have used their services.
4. Advertise offline. Print some out flyers and business cards to distribute at welcoming stores and offices for their clients to see. Hit the college campuses where the bulletin boards are read quite often. Don’t forget to use your word of mouth. Word of mouth can sometimes be the largest generator of business you’ll ever see. Begin with friends and family who you know you can count on to subscribe. Ask them to pass on the news of your Ezine to those they think might be even remotely interested.
5. Ask your current subscribers and clients to pass the word about your Ezine. Again it is a great way to watch your response rate grow. If you find things are not moving along the way you plan, throw a little money or reward the reader’s way with bonuses for referrals. When people see they could get rewarded, even in a small way, for bringing more business your way they are more likely to participate.
6. If all the above still isn’t raising the response rates for you, then perhaps it is time for a brand new look for your Ezine. Bring in some new content producers. They can bring a fresh taste to any stale content you are currently sending out to subscribers. Also consider a fresh new look and tactics. Maybe a new name for your Ezine would do the trick and get more readers curious about what they see in their inbox. Keep up with the latest Ezine trends and try to out do them by a mile.
7. If all else fails then it is time for the dreaded client satisfaction survey. It may take some time to get all the data you need to figure out what you need to change in order to get a higher response rate, but it will pay off in the end. Ask your current subscribers how they feel about the content, advertising methods, look of the Ezine and what would make them read more and open that email every time they see it.
While there are for certain more ideas out there than just these seven for increasing your Ezine response rate, these are a good start. Just remember that what you want for your Ezine is never as important as what the client is looking for. You may enjoy what you have created, but if you can’t get a good subscriber base, then it is all for not.
