One thing that is often not taken into consideration is subscriber quality and retention.

Having a big list won't benefit you if it's members are unresponsive.

Here are a few tips designed to help you maximize productivity of your ezine, newsletter, follow up, etc. ...

1) Build a website, sub domain, or page off of your main site, solely dedicated to collecting email addresses for follow up.

Legendary Internet marketer Terry Dean of NetBreakthroughs.com fame < http://im4newbies.com/netbreakthroughs.htm > goes on record as saying that email addresses he collects using aforementioned method are up to 5 times more responsive than those collected by outside sources.

These subscribers are ultra targeted, as they want, specifically, what you have to offer.

You may think building a website on your own is an enduring task, but it's really not.

HTMLGoodies.com < http://htmlgoodies.com/ > is an excellent resource for those wishing to learn how to build a website on there own.

I also recommend Shelley Lowery's Web Design Mastery, which comes jam packed with anything and everything it takes to build a professional looking website, regardless of your past experience. < http://im4newbies.com/wdm.htm >

When designing this site/page, remember to include ...

- A subscribe form/link on every page. - Detailed description of your ezine/newsletter's content (what you offer subscriber to satisfy their interests, etc. ...) - Testimonials, whenever possible. - Full contact info, subscriber options, related associations that help solidify credibility and trust (iCop, BBB, etc.). - A sample of your work, archived editions, etc. - A reminder to bookmark your site, and allow ability to recommend it to others, in addition to giving subscribers permission to forward your publication to a friend, associate, etc. (add this to every mailing). - Something of value for signing up ... a freebie download (software, ebook, course, ...), discount, or other bonuses.

... which brings us to tip number ...

2) Focus on your content, NOT freebies!

In an effort to draw more subscribers, I've witnessed many publishers promoting freebies to a greater extent than follow up, itself.

This may increase number of subscribers, but level of responsiveness, and retention, will surely suffer.

You'll draw more of those interested in only receiving freebies, defeating reason you've asked them to join in first place.

Promote your content, and yourself, first and foremost, following up with freebies.

Include reference to them as a P.S. (post script) to your promotional copy.

3) Offer them an article series, course, or additional bonuses in each mailing ...

... and end your send out with a sampling of what's to come.

This will keep your list members interested, and subscribed.

4) Make it interactive.

Give your subscribers ability to provide feedback, in form of replies, advice, questions, etc.

Allowing them to participate will greatly increase level of interest, not only in regards to one providing feedback, but of those that are reading it, as well.

Providing ability to include a link in their response will aid in increasing level of interaction.

You may choose to involve them in other ways, such as group chats, forums, polls, etc.

5) Maintain a clean list.

If you do not have ability to bulk remove repetitive soft and hard bounces, it is very important that you stay on top of eliminating them manually.

This should be done for 2 major reasons ...

A) If your mailing does not reach it's desired destination, it will not do you any good, nor it's intended recipient.

An auto responder won’t work unless you can get it into your prospects email boxes, right? So, you’ve really got to make an irresistible, no risk offer if you want to get your message in front of majority of visitors.

Offer a free ebook, report, test drive, course, or anything else that’s low cost for you, has a high level of interest for prospects, and can be delivered automatically. You might even write an accompanying sales letter to increase desire for your free offer.

I’ve found that some on internet are hesitant about handing over their email addresses, just as some are reluctant to enter their credit card number. You have to break through this roadblock by offering them something they just can’t live without.

2) Get Your Messages Opened By Writing Irresistible Subject Lines

Another roadblock that your autoresponder faces is that people don’t have time to read all spam, ezines, offers, and autoresponders they sign up for. Yours has to engage them by subject line alone and needs to force them to open email to satisfy their curiosity.

Two successful techniques to get emails open include:

* Creating a 7-day course, and mentioning that this is next part in complete course.

* Writing a benefit heavy subject line that speaks directly speaks to your target audience

3) Use Your Prospects Names In The Email Subject And Body