Keep in Touch Using Email - Part 2 of 4

Supplement 1-to-1 Communication

With email marketing, an easy trap to fall into is treating email as your main means of communication with people… because of how convenient and time-efficient it is.

This is a mistake because emails lack the ability to create that human bond that is the real goal of keeping in touch. Here are 2 ways to get around this and use email as a supplement and not a substitute for 1-to-1 communication.

a) Categorize contacts 1, 2 or 3

Categorize how often you want to keep in touch with people off-line (such as a phone call or an in-person visit.) Here is how it breaks down:

• 1 = reach out once a month
• 2 = contact once a quarter
• 3 = connect once a year + birthday

I learned this technique from Keith Ferrazzi’s Never Eat Alone book. Keith also recommends that in the first month you meet someone, connect with them in three 3 different ways… such as email, phone & thank-you card or email, phone & in-person to build substantial recognition of your name.

b) Prompt people to respond in your email

Write your emails in a way that leads to 1-to-1 communication. How? Towards the end of the email, prompt people to respond.

For example, at the end of a recent email about 6 ways to ask people their birthday, I asked people the ways they ask people of their birthday. I learned a few new techniques and it started a few very interesting conversations.

Ad: Looking for a good email marketing software? I recommend signing up for a free 60-day trial of Constant Contact. It’s the email marketing software I use.

~ mel

Melvin Ram
CEO, Volcanic Internet Marketing
Direct: (916) 743-9369
Email: melvin@volcanicmarketing.com

‘Keep in Touch Using Email’ Series

• Part 1 - Use Emails to Provide Value to People
• Part 2 - Supplement 1-to-1 Communication
• Part 3 - Use a Good Email Marketing Software

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This entry was posted on Wednesday, August 15th, 2007 at 9:00 am and is filed under Email Marketing Tips, Relationship Marketing. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.