How to Revive a Burned List

[Crystal Violet]

My first list of subscribers from last year, I really focused on money marketing and I marketed to them hard. I had low open rates and low click through rates. I revised my strategy and began to work on relationship marketing with all my traffic after that and saw significant improvement in open and click through rates. I tried to pull my original group back in (sent them the same emails that were successful with subsequent groups) and still haven't seen much improvement there. Any suggestions on how to revive a burned list?

 

[Developer]

Just my opinion here, however, it may be best to let dead dogs lie,
especially if it has been dormant for a while. If you continue to offer
informational and helpful emails and the response is still null, perhaps
send one final email (or even a few "final notice" type mailings) that
ask them to subscribe to one of your more active lists.

It may be that you burned some bridges that are just not repairable,
and again, if that's the case, perhaps letting dead dogs lie would be
the best route to take.

If your open rates are still low, you will need to work on creating some
compelling subject lines to grab their attention. If open rates are proving
to be ok, then, you obviously need to work on writing more compelling
content. Try promoting a little more inter-activeness with your subscribers.

Ask open ended questions at the end of each email asking them to post
their thoughts on your forum, blog, message board or even by hitting the
"reply" button. At least you will know that those who end up responding
in some way are still interested, at which point, try to get them on one
of your other, more successful lists, and simply let the dead list die out
completely.

This is actually a pretty good question Crystal, thanks for your post. I
can't wait to see what others will have to add as well.

 

[Crystal Violet]

Crystal Violet

Thank you for your response. I think that is good advice. I definitely agree that more compelling subject lines is the problem. I think may be the ones I recycled worked for other groups because I'd already built a relationship with them.

 

[Developer]

Developer

Two words for you, well, actually, 2 "word-phrases"...

1. Split Test
2. Swipe File

Now to elaborate...

1. Split Test
If you check out any number of my posts, you will find many common patterns, one of which is that I am a firm believer in SPLIT TESTING. If you're using a more reputable mailing campaign provider, they will already facilitate the necessary tools you'd need as well as short explanations and instructions on how to use split testing.

2. Swipe File
Once you start split testing, find a way to store a supply of swipe files (subject lines and email content) of your more successful test runs. Be sure to note what you did and why you think particular subject lines or message content did better than others. Then, you can browse through your swipe files in the future and find a way to re-use and re-purpose whatever it was that worked for your previously.

 

[Ron Killian]

I am slightly confused. Have you always emailed this list? Or are you trying to revive a list you have not emailed to much lately?

The problem you might have run into, is you may have a low engagement score with those subscribers. They could have stopped opening your emails because it was too much, too promotional, ect. Once they stopping opening your emails, for any length of time (seems like a week or two of regular mailings is a good indicator), those emails will start going into the spam/trash/junk folders automatically. Least for the major email providers. And of course once they start heading out of the inbox, they probably won't see them and sure won't open them.

If they were that promotional, you might have gotten tagged as a spammer, or have negatives as a sender. Get's you sent to the spam/trash/junk folders as well. Or not even make it to them.

Just a thought.

Think the best you can do is send them non promotional emails, try to get a response, maybe ask them something good like, "What are you working on now?". or "What have you been up to?". Not saying it will work, just an idea. Then see if any open your emails. More like an email from a friend.

Or, like Developer said, might be time to cut your losses and delete the list. A very important lesson learned. You built a list before you can do it again, and now you'll do it even better. Right? Deleting a list is sure not the end of the world. It happens. I've done it. If your paying for your autoresponder, they are just dead weight anyways, not giving you anything in return. Might be time to let go.

 

[Miguelito203]

My first list of subscribers from last year, I really focused on money marketing and I marketed to them hard. I had low open rates and low click through rates. I revised my strategy and began to work on relationship marketing with all my traffic after that and saw significant improvement in open and click through rates. I tried to pull my original group back in (sent them the same emails that were successful with subsequent groups) and still haven't seen much improvement there. Any suggestions on how to revive a burned list?

When you send out e-mail broadcast, do you tell them how they can unsubscribe before you type your actual message and send them something? If not, this could get rid of some of the people who aren't interested in being on your list, anymore. Also, is your list growing at all? If not, that might be something you want to focus your efforts on this year. Other than that, I tend to think a dead list is a dead list. When you're in the "make money online"niche, I think it's something that's just going to happen -- especially after reality sets in for a lot of people, and they realize there's no magic bullet. That's why you gotta work on really growing your list.

Joey

 

[Ron Killian]

I am also a firm believer that there is a life span for most subscribers. Even getting emails from some one we really like, admire, or believe in, think is a rockstar, the honeymoon doesn't last forever. Just my opinion.