In our last ezine, we launched a new infoproduct and a new email newsletter template with a simplified design and layout — I LOVE the new template because it really focuses on getting our loyal subscribers awesome content in a way that is easy to read and digest.

Brian and I are also working on an upgrade to our own website design (we’re so excited), but we won’t be ready to debut that until later. We’re in the design facelift phase right now and, as you can imagine, we’re nitpicking everything from the menu and the flow of content, to the paths our visitors travel, and every pixel of spacing.

The new upgrade is already so good, I’m having some website shame of my own (unheard of, I know) in regards to this one!

Why upgrade the site? Well first we do it every 18 months to 2 years as we continue to learn. Second, we’ve gained immense clarity (I’m talking crystal clear) about our brand and we need refine things a bit.

Now, along with gaining complete clarity about the Bourn Creative brand and where we want to take it, I’ve gained clarity in other areas too!

But My Clarity Lead to Infoproduct Irritation

This all came to a head while Brian and I were strategizing for 2012/2013.

Read my Rant on Infoproducts and How I’m Taking a Stand

Now that you know the 8 components of a successful website opt-in box, you have all the information you need to create an awesome opt-in box. But, even though your opt-in box has all the right pieces and works the right way … it may not actually work to build your list?

What?!

If your free offer — the thing you’re giving away for free in exchange for their name and email address — isn’t what your visitors want or need, they won’t sign up and enter their name and email … even if your opt-in box is awesome!

Learn 4 Ways to Make Your List Building Free Offer Irresistible

Let’s talk about your website opt-in box visitors will see when they come to your website, and the eight key parts of an opt-in box that ensure maximum success (and conversions).

In the example to the right, all eight components of a successful opt-in are used to create an irresistible offer for a free video series.

If you already have a website opt-in box, use this checklist to confirm that you have implemented each item listed and aren’t missing one key component that could increase your conversion rate.

If you’re in the process of planning or creating a new website, use this checklist to ensure your designer includes all eight elements in your website opt-in box so you can build your list effectively.

Here are the 8 components of of a successful website opt-in box:

Learn the 8 Parts Of A Successful Website Opt-In Box

You have Google Analytics added to your website and you’re tracking your website traffic, new visitors versus repeat visitors, goal conversions, and more…

But would it be nice to be able to see in Google Analytics exactly how much of your website traffic comes from the links you include in your email newsletter?

You can track this easily with one small piece of code!

Get The Code to Track Email Newsletter Links in Google Analytics

Almost every website I visit is talking about how to make money with social media, but surprisingly not many talk about how to integrate social media with your email marketing efforts.

Blending your social media marketing strategies with your email marketing strategies may sound difficult, but honestly, some of the strategies are pretty simple.

In fact, I’ll bet you can implement most of the strategies listed below in your next email newsletter!

It’s time to integrate social media with email marketing! Here are your strategies:

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Having an “irresistible free offer” with an opt-in box on your website is the cornerstone of an online information marketing business, unfortunately we see entrepreneurs set up their opt-in process wrong over and over again!

For visual people like me, check out the step-by-step information graphic of the basic opt-in process below – and for those of you who want this written out step-by-step, you can find that below the graphic!

Now Here’s What You Need to Know About Setting Up The Opt-In Process…

As I mentioned, time and time again, we see the same mistakes made in the planning, execution, and follow up (auto-responder) that takes place as part of a successful opt-in system. If you build your next campaign based on the following five key points and five opt-in best practices, you will increase your online success:

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This post is written specifically for Google Analytics and Infusionsoft users, but even if you use another provider for your email marketing and/or shopping cart software, many of the following tips still apply, so please read on.

We integrate Google Analytics with Infusionsoft in our online marketing in two primary ways; analyzing our email marketing campaigns, and tracking website conversions. With a planned approach for Google Analytics and Infusionsoft, I am able to answer the following online marketing questions with relative ease:

1. What type of visitor is filling out my Infusionsoft web forms, and where are they coming from?
2. How much of my website traffic is coming from my email marketing campaigns?
3. How effective are my sales funnels on my website?

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Including marketing and advertising legal disclaimers, with your online and traditional marketing campaigns, is not only a good practice but in many cases are also legally required by the Federal Trade Commission.

All legal disclaimers for products, programs, or services that you are marketing should be clearly visible on the same webpage or printed marketing piece that your items are described.

I have gathered the following marketing disclaimers as examples to consult when crafting your disclosures with a professional legal advisor.

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Last week Brian wrote about the worst direct email marketing tactic we’ve seen in a while and on Monday I received probably one of the worst introduction emails I have ever received – if you can even call it an introduction.

I read the email, re-read the email and again and at the end I still wasn’t quite sure what the sender was asking of me! But I think the sender was asking me to either meet him for a sales pitch or provide free coaching.

Here’s the problem with “cold calling” using direct email marketing: you can’t hear the tone of voice, you have a hard time reading between the lines, and you can’t clarify and ask questions easily.

In this post, I am going to share the email I received with you, I am going to critique it and share some insights on what a stranger would think reading it, and I am going to provide a rewritten version of the email that I would have liked to have received.

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Ok. I woke up this morning, grabbed my phone to do a quick scan of my email, and check in on Facebook and Twitter. Last night I posted the Infusionsoft’s Biggest Fan article and I shared it on my social networks.

When I checked in with Facebook this morning I saw that a friend of mine commented on the post (Don’t go looking to see who posted it. I deleted the comment so there wouldn’t be any embarrassment), and here’s what he said:

“Email Marketing is Outdated! Just FYI!”

I couldn’t believe I was actually reading this statement. I actually laughed at the ridiculousness and ignorance of this comment. Was he serious? There was no way he could really think that right? I was a bit more than surprised and had to tell Brian what I just read.

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