This is a huge mistake I often run into on blogs I review…No way for readers to subscribe to get blog updates by email even though email is still preferred by a big margin over RSS. Based on 14 years experience I recommend that part of your visibility strategy include email and specifically blog updates by email. After all, the goal is to encourage visitors to subscribe, get your updates when new content is posted, return to your blog and eventually take action on your offers. Email is one of the most effective ways to keep you visible to your audience.

There are many services that provide blog to email delivery. My long time favorite is Feedblitz because of the depth of features they offer. My favorite feature is the ability to send an automated welcome email and link to a page to download a gift.

Regardless of what list system you use, setting up an email list, managing it, using it ethically, and promoting it can be confusing and overwhelming. That's why I love Phil Hollows, CEO of Feedblitz. He has just released a detailed, comprehensive ebook called List Building for Bloggers. I had the privilege of reviewing the book and I was blown away by the level of detail Phil goes into around three core strategies:

1. Building your audience
2. Increasing engagement with your audience
3. Growing your income

Here’s what you get:

• Ten Power Tips to turn your blog into a rocking-socking, butt-kicking, inbox-busting, fully automated email marketing and subscriber retention system.
• Three case studies so you can avoid the mistakes even the Big Guys make (these are really eye-opening!)
• Easily actionable tips to grow both list quality and quantity.
• Chapters on autoresponders so you can market while you sleep, custom fields for personalization, and how to avoid spam traps.
• All in easy to understand plain English!

Even though I've been using Feedblitz since 2005, I had not fully utilized the power of email with my blog subscribers. While I wanted to grow my blog list, my primary goal has always been to make compelling offers that will move blog readers onto my main database. I completely ignored the autoresponder function and only last year added a follow up email and gift for blog subscribers. Adding this incentive has boosted subscriber numbers and unsubscribes are very low. And while writing this, I got another idea for helping my blog readers even more through email follow up.

You can apply Phil's common sense tactics no matter what list provider you use. He doesn't beat you over the head to use Feedblitz, although I'm sure he would prefer that, he's much too nice to say it! 🙂 An entire chapter is devoted to the pros and cons of fee, free and do-it-yourself services so you can decide what's right for you. If you don't have time to read the entire ebook, skip to page 161 and study, then implement The Top 10 Email Power Tips and you'll be good to go! I believe even seasoned email marketers will learn a thing or two from List Building for Bloggers…Phil's been involved in email marketing for over eight years and this resource proves it.

Implementing a few of Phil's tactics will ensure your blog is keeping you visible and working for your business.

*I am an affiliate for this ebook. I would recommend it even if I was not an affiliate.

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