1 -- Set up an Online Diary

Usually an online diary is a fun way to keep friends and family up to date on what is going on in your life. Online diaries can also be used for testimonial submissions with conversational style recommendations about your product/service. Online diaries are offered on many web sites, even famous persons like Oprah, Dr. Phil, or Tony Robbins do them.

You set it up on their site and paste page link into your "thank you for your purchase" auto responder on your web site or into other marketing materials. Include a 1-2-3 learning experience on what is included in a good testimonial with various examples. People will appreciate learning opportunity by taking time to complete process. In addition, their quality will increase.

Online diaries are updated frequently, thus giving a higher perceived value. They also have a warmer conversational style that increases reader connection. Because a diary is considered "private", it increases curiosity and they will read longer.

Two additional blessings are that you will save transfer time and others will read other comments.

The offside is that you will want to monitor entries to avoid some kids having fun.

You can also enter regularly updated customer comments received through other means on how product/service improved their life.

You can increase credibility by including customer's profile. Include their picture or audio testimonial or a video segment of them using product. You can also scan in and include handwritten letters or notes you receive.

A blog is an upgrade of online diary with additional controls.

There was once an online diary software available to help you set up your own online diary, however, blog software replaced it.

Resources:

Set up your own diary at: http://www.diaryland.com/. They provide a personalized URL: your-name.diaryland.com. I recommend this resource because I like personalization capability.

Here is a course on how to set up an online diary at: http://personalweb.about.com/cs/htmltutorials/a/310emailcourse.htm

Here is some great startup information on blogs: http://www.creativity-portal.com/howto/writing/blogging.html

2 -- Auto responder Method

After they make a purchase or receive a freebie, set up an automatic auto responder requesting a testimonial. You can include a link to online diary as only choice or as part of multiple submission options.

If you offer an ecourse, forward them a progress report request. This can easily be set up in auto responder system for easier production. Ask them no more than 3-5 questions that don't encourage yes/ no answers. Ask them to rate their learning experience or make suggestions too.

Resources:

All about auto responders: http://marketing-of-training.com/expert_advisors/ask_massimo/2002-03-23.htm

How to Write a High-Profit Auto responder Series http://javafaq.nu/article232.html

2. Add a one-liner to byline section of your online published articles. For example: "You can subscribe to [name]'s free e-newsletter by visiting [URL]."

3. Give people an additional incentive to subscribe. Give them a free ebook or ecourse that has valuable content on a topic that will attract exact type of ideal clients/customers for you.

4. During network events, ask if you can sign them up for your newsletter. Then manually add them when you return from function with a double opt-in feature. Explain opt-in feature when you ask them to subscribe. This gives them a way out if they were just being polite. Keep asking and don't stop. Practice a simple two or three-liner to explain frequency and purpose of your e-newsletter.

5. Contact any trade organization or associations you belong to or memberships that have your target market. Ask for their member list. Members usually get this free, they may charge you if you aren't.

6. After you have organization's or association's member list, send a direct mail letter, and offer a free subscription and other free offers you have that will help them get acquainted with you, type of services you provide, and benefits of working with someone such as yourself. You can educate them through free ecourses that were created from your e-newsletter articles.

7. Recommend your client's company's newsletter in your e-newsletter. Ask them for a reciprocal recommendation. Both of you win with new subscribers.

8. Write reviews or provide feedback to other newsletters (electronic or printed) you read and enjoy. Many times your comments will get posted in a future issue, along with a link to your site.

9. One of top ways to attract people is by giving them various ways to interact with you at your web site. Use questionnaires, contests, giveaways, games, or ask for post survey questions and post statistical responses. Send out a special e-mail announcement when results of the

questionnaire, survey, contest is posted on your web site. The Sales Lead Report, http://www.imninc.com/macmcintosh, adds a survey with each issue, then uses information in its PR campaign with phenomenal success.

10. Offer a different writing style. One that is warm, comforting, as if you are talking to a friend on phone. Write conversationally with a personal tone. Add I's, me and you.

11. Always encourage your readers to forward a copy of your e-newsletter to friends, colleagues, and co-workers. You can even write a "forwarding e-mail paragraph" at beginning so it is even easier for them to forward.