You could use a mailing list in loads of ways, even alongside an RSS feed. A few people think that because you have an RSS feed that a mailing listis not needed, but that is not true. They both have their advantages and both can be used together.
RSS Feeds Are Immediate
An RSS Feed gives immediate information to your readers. As soon as the bookmark updates, they could see if you have posted anything new. They are also in control of when they look for new posts. These feeds look far better than mailing lists, so why use both?
A Mailing List Gives More Control
Well with a mailing list, you are in control of what you send and when. If you have found a special offer or valuable piece of information then you can highlight it within the newsletter, but getting the readers to read that particular RSS Feed entry is down to your skills of writing a good, succinct, title.
The benefits of sending a weekly or monthly newsletter are amazing. You can send to your list a summary of recent posts, along with some extra adverts that might not fit in with an RSS Feed. You can highlight the main post that you want to draw people in with at the top of the newsletter and other lesser posts further on.
The Hidden Extra Values
But a mailing list once it grows has a bigger appeal than only that. If you are hoping to profit from blogging it might also have a marketing value on top of what you may expect. I am not advocating selling the names under any circumstances, that might destroy the list and is unethical. But there are subtle ways to make cash.
If advertisers discover you have a list of people that like to read your site then they might be interested in placing a small advert in the newsletter. Or possibly if they have an affiliate product on offer you can write a post around it, selling the advantages, and then include a mention of the product in your newsletter. Maybe even only send a newsletter about this one post to really highlight it. As long as you are just sending odd newsletters, every couple of weeks, this should not offend.
A Newsletter Is Straightforward
Running a newsletter is straightforward. Sign up to a free service and grab their signup form. Put this form onto somewhere obvious on every page and promote it. Maybe even one of those bars that scroll up above the rest of the page to really attract attention.
Reassure your readers that you will not spam them and will not sell their email addresses and be sure that they newsletters you send are of valuable and sell your website and themselves. Make the newsletters something that your readers will want to receive.
This way, the mailing collection will give you the opportunity to run an exceptional newsletter that increases your website visitors and adds value to your web site.
Author Resource:
Written by Keith Lunt of How To Start My Blog . Call in if you need any help or advice with starting blogging .
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