Summary

The website content promotes a bold approach to email marketing by advocating for shameless self-promotion, frequent resending of emails, liberal use of affiliate links, aggressive plugging of personal links, and offering seemingly exorbitant discounts to entice subscribers.

Abstract

The article titled "The Number One Rule to Boost Your Email Marketing Campaigns" suggests that the key to successful email marketing is to "Have no shame." It encourages email marketers to resend emails that were not opened, to freely include affiliate links, to repeatedly insert personal links throughout the email, and to offer substantial discounts to create a perception of high value. The author, Smillew, humorously emphasizes that these tactics are effective in capturing the reader's attention and encouraging clicks, despite their seemingly aggressive nature. The piece concludes with a satirical take on the manipulative aspects of marketing, while also promoting the author's own Medium content and referral link.

Opinions

The author suggests that resending emails to subscribers who did not open them initially is a crucial tactic in email marketing.
There is an emphasis on not being shy about including affiliate links, even suggesting that one should "spam the shit" out of their mailing list with these links.
The article advises marketers to plug their links frequently within the email content, assuming that readers skim and repeating the message increases the chances of engagement.
Offering a 99% discount is presented as a strategy to make an offer seem irresistible, despite the potential manipulative nature of such a tactic.
The author playfully acknowledges the manipulative aspects of marketing and the biases linked to conflict of interest disclosures, implying that as long as the lie is clearly stated, it may be acceptable.
The article takes a satirical stance on the effectiveness of these marketing strategies, while also self-promoting the author's Medium articles, newsletter, and referral link.
There is a call to support artists and creativity by donating to a platform that compensates writers and editors, suggesting that contributions lead to higher payments for content creators.

Have no shame

The Number One Rule to Boost Your Email Marketing Campaigns

Have no shame

Photo by Rafaella Mendes Diniz on Unsplash

As you might have guessed from the kicker and the subtitle, the number one rule to boost your email marketing campaigns is to HAVE NO SHAME.

You can write it in lower case (have no shame), AlT CaSe (HaVe nO ShAmE), or tOGGLE (hAvE No sHaMe), and even in title case (Have No Shame).

All of them are excellent choices.

For some of us, having no shame is easier said than done. Maybe that’s why you’re reading this article? Here are 4 simple ways you can have no shame too.

#1 — Have no shame with spamming

There are many number one rules in email marketing, and the following is most definitely one of them.

Resend the email if the subscribers didn’t open it the first time.

Introduce the new email with an “Oops, seems my previous email got lost? Here it is again just in case you need it. It’s packed with value. Be well, dear friend.”

The “be well, dear friend” at the end is crucial. It creates an emotional link with your reader.

Here’s an example:

To all my email subscribers that received a link to this article but didn’t open it, DO NOT WORRY. I’ll make sure to resend it to you in a special separate email. You can subscribe here if you want to have the pleasure of receiving personalized emails too.

Side note, I’ll resend it even if you opened it already. Who knows? You might want to open it again.

#2 — Have no shame with affiliate links

If one of your friends is launching a new product, don’t hesitate to spam the shit out of your mailing list with undisclosed affiliate links.

Some will say these are not affiliate links. It’s only because they “love sharing the good stuff.” Without mentioning that their friend, who is a business partner, will share their links when the time comes.

Alternative option, their friend will write fake testimonials for their landing page.

Here’s an example:

As I don’t have affiliate links to use at the moment, I asked my good friend Demeter for some. It’s not because she agreed to share 50/50 with me (she didn’t, twat); it’s because I heartily recommend this new clitoral stimulator. The best way to use it is while reading Demeter’s new book about sex workers.

#3 — Have no shame with plugging your link

Do not wait until the end of the mail to plug your link. The rule of thumb is to plug it into every phone-screen-sized chunk of text.

Also, do not hesitate to repeat your message in a slightly different form.

People skim through.

By repeating your message five times in five slightly altered forms, you let people the opportunity to enter your email at any point. With any luck, one of the copies will catch their attention, and they’ll finally click on the fucking link.

This brings me to the final stage of e-mail copywriting done right.

#4 — Have no shame with discounts

My articles are packed with value and entertainment. I asked an expert to assess the total value of the articles I published in 2021.

Their estimate was a whopping $55,121.

That’s a lot. A huge number for huge value articles. But today, you can get them and ALL THE ARTICLES of 2022 for only $50 by using my referral link. 99% discount! It’s a steal, people! Go for it!

Plot twist: I’m the expert.

Don’t write that you’re the expert in your email, though. Or write it. Who cares? People will think it’s funny and won’t hold it against you. Our minds are beautiful. One can lie to people. As long as they clearly state it’s a lie, it’s OK. It’s one of the biases linked to conflict of interest disclosures.

Have no shame with the takeaway

This is the real-life example that triggered the article:

Total value: $3,794. BUT. You can get it for a “One-Time Discounted Payment of Only $37.”

That’s a 99% discount.

Seriously? There’s no limit to how manipulative marketing can (try to) be. And we can guess it works, or they wouldn’t be using this trick.

Here’s hoping we’ll become wiser and stop buying these “special offers packed with incredible value for a one-time discounted payment…”

Smillew is a Medium writer who writes mainly about leadership, his Medium newsletter, and his Medium referral link. No need to follow him; he’ll show up in your feed.

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