Need suggestion on reaching local businesses
 

Hi everyone,
I am working on my interior fung shui design business and my targeted customers are local businesses. From my local chamber of commerce, I was able to get a list of local business emails. However, I don't know how I should send out my emails so that they won't be perceived as spam. I can send my emails on a 1-on-1 basis, but is there something that I can say in the email so that I won't violate the non-spam law?

If you have similar experience, is there any sample emails that you can share with me?

Thank you very much.

Here's what I've done.
 

I have done a LOT of "local, unsolicited email" and have never had a "problem" or complaint. Whether you will, who knows.

I think the reason I have not had any "problems" is because;
1) The message is sent to a "niche" market who, for the lost part, is interested in what I am offering. It's not like sending an ad for "Viagra" to everyone.
2) The mesage is short. I keep mine to 4 sentences at most.
3) I include a Link to a web page.
4) I include a "disclaimer" which says, "If you do not want to receive any further emails from us, please click Reply and put "Remove" in the subject line. Thank you."

Don Alm

> Hi everyone,
> I am working on my interior fung shui design
> business and my targeted customers are local
> businesses. From my local chamber of
> commerce, I was able to get a list of local
> business emails. However, I don't know how I
> should send out my emails so that they won't
> be perceived as spam. I can send my emails
> on a 1-on-1 basis, but is there something
> that I can say in the email so that I won't
> violate the non-spam law?

> If you have similar experience, is there any
> sample emails that you can share with me?

> Thank you very much.




$3,000/wk from Restaurants

Re: Need suggestion on reaching local businesses
 

Greetings,

I would make sure the emails are more personal
than a sales pitch. No "Wait! There's More!"
involved. If you just write like you would talk -
I bet you wouldn't have a problem at all.

Stephen Dean
ebizknowitall.com
Home of the Tombstone Sales Letter


The Tombstone Sales Letter

Re: Need suggestion on reaching local businesses
 

Fiona,

I agree both with Don & Stephen. There doesn't seem to be much problem at all with messages to local businesses as long as your message is appropriate to the recipient, it stays fairly short, and you don't try to "sell, sell, sell!" with your first contact. Conversational. Pleasant. Business-like.

Stick to those parameters, and you'll have no problems.

Best Wishes,
Jim Erskine
Homeway Press


Local Business Ideas worth a look and a "hmmmmmm......"

Subject line is important too
 

Beside the message itself, the subject line is actually the most important component of the email that can decide if your email will end up in the trash can or not.

Incorporate the recipient's name, or company name or whatever closely relate to the recipient in the subject line. This almost guarantees the email will be noticed and opened. Of course, the bottom line still rests on how your product or service will benefit the recipient.

If you need more help on email marketing, viral marketing or email CRM, please take a trip to:
http://caars.doveexpress.com
http://www.viralmarketer.com




CAARS - Email CRM for the rest of us

Reaching local businesses
 

If you customize each email I don't think it should be perceived as spam. As others have said, do not make the email a blatant advertisement. You could conversationally introduce yourself and your services in the email. When you bring up your company in the messages, make it clear you are familiar with *their* companies by making comments and suggestions that are specific to each individual business.

David Frey recently wrote an article that includes some other ways to reach local businesses:
http://www.websitemarketingplan.com/Small_Businesses_Frey.htm


Strategic Web Site Marketing