Monday 11 October 2010

Email Marketing: Is It Dying?

Email Marketing is the use of email in marketing communications. People who are unfamiliar with email marketing often wonder what all the fuss is about. They thought that spam have killed email as a marketing vehicle. And another reason why they think it is outdated is because of the many clever ways that we can communicate online using blogs, Twitter, Facebook and all other social media sites.

Although there are a lot of strategies now for marketing, email marketing still works because it allows targeting, it is data driven, it drives direct sales, it builds relationships, loyalty and trust and most of all it supports sales through other channels.

Modern email marketing services and solutions support database integration, segmentation and various other tricks and techniques for improving the targeting of outgoing messages. Advanced methods generate on-the-fly emails customized down to an individual recipient basis.

And every email campaign you send out generates a heap of actionable data you can use to refine your approach and messages.
Email promotions and offers generate immediate action: sales, downloads, inquiries, registrations, etc. Informative email newsletters and other emails send people to offline stores and events, prepare the way for catalogs, build awareness, contribute to branding, strengthen relationships, encourage trust and cement loyalty.

Convinced? But don't get carried away...

Just like trees only bears fruit if managed properly, so is with email marketing. We know it works but you have to get the basics right. The basics of building a list of people who want to hear from you, crafting a message and ensuring the emails get through to those on that list. And when you have the basics right, there's a whole spectrum of more sophisticated tactics you can employ to drive further success.

Now, several marketers used a lot of forms of advertising and they believe that it is not worth it to use email marketing anymore because of spam. There have been numerous challengers to email marketing’s throne, not the least of which is social media. However, email is still a vibrant, growing medium that has a future for a number of reasons.
Many people are getting very frustrated by how hard it is for them to make decent sales online via email marketing. Are they doing something wrong or has things really become that hard? In reality it is a combination of several things.

First of all the way to make email marketing work has changed for the simple fact that many consumers are getting used to the way many online marketers email. Another thing is that too many marketers are putting their eggs in one basket, thinking that a big list is the key to online profits. Some are even blasting email after email promoting a certain product, while their email list is getting tired of them.
You have to avoid the things that everyone else is doing online in order to make email marketing work for you. Responsible email marketing is based on the idea of permission. This is a complex issue and the subject of intense debate in the marketing community.

Essentially, you need an email address owner's permission before you can send them a commercial email. If you don't have this permission, then the recipients of your mail may well regard your message as spam.

Email has been around almost since the advent of the Internet. It’s a staple of the marketing milieu and one of the most commonly used forms. It’s still effective, both from a cost and conversion standpoint. Marketers should bear in mind that email marketing can co-exist with any marketing channel and it can help leverage social media and vice versa. Consumers are not choosing one medium over the other; they are just utilizing more mediums.

So for me, email marketing is not dying....it's simply going up and working with any other medium so it doesn't have its own spotlight anymore though it is still working effectively.
Article Directory: http://www.articledashboard.com

A Few Internet Marketing Tips That Give Results (by Eva Adams)

Internet marketing is not the new field it was ten years ago, and you can quite a bit of material about it online. Yet there are still many people new to internet marketing who are having a difficult time of it. This article aims to help with you a few Internet marketing tips that give results.
If you really want to see some change in your profits, then start working on an email marketing list. If you've been into Internet marketing for a while, you must have seen all the experts asking you to build an email list. List marketing is one of the few ways you can use to see extreme profit increases in your business. All very highly successful online marketers will tell you that their business didn't really take-off until they built a list. You'll always hear marketers referring to their lists as like having their own personal ATM machine. But you'll still see scores of marketers just going for the one-time sale.
It's very difficult to build a lasting business on that model. However, if you're like most marketers, then you would want to build a business that will be around for a long time and can absorb the ups and downs of IM. If you just keep your eye on the immediate gains, then you'll lose out on the real profits that are to be made. The other aspect is that a list represents the greatest source of targeted traffic that you can have at your disposal. Besides that, your aim here is to get the lifetime value of your customers and this can only be possible when you have them on your list. Your subscribers who have bought something from you statistically will buy more easily again from you in the future - so that's a great thing. The best policy to follow as an internet marketer is to strive to provide people with quality products and service. The goal of providing the best possible service holds true for both affiliate marketers and those who sell their own products. There is no positive outcome for you if you leave your customers feeling less than satisfied. Be creative in thinking of how to make your customers happy. For example, you can simply give away free bonus products to your customers to keep them satisfied. If you give customers a discount coupon on their next purchase, they will have an incentive to order from you again. Be as creative and original as you can when it comes to serving your customers and prospects.
One of the biggest mistakes new marketers make is getting stuck in the learning phase; reading, studying, and reading forums. Getting stuck in the learning phase is more prevalent than you may believe. Reading a book or a product won't bring in sales. So if you're just going to jump from course to course, without taking any form of action, then you obviously won't see any results from it. You don't have to read other people's success stories any more; you can create your own.
All in all, Internet marketing is not everyone's cup of tea, it only works for those who are willing to put in the hard work and dedication.
source: goarticles.com

The Most Powerful Internet Marketing Tips that You Must Know (by Eva Adams)

Internet marketing is a fascinating topic for people who dream of making money from home on their computers. Many people start out in internet marketing hoping to become financially independent in a short time. Many of these newcomers to the field don't realize how much effort internet marketing really involves. If you want to start your own internet marketing business, or make the one you have more profitable, the following tips will be useful.
First of all, as an internet marketer, you should only promote products that you can honestly stand behind. If you want to find any long lasting success, you should stick to ethical business practices. People prefer dealing with someone who they can trust. Focus on the actual advantages of your product when you plan your promotional campaigns. If you lie or exaggerate, customers will figure this out and you will lose credibility. So if you truly want to be a successful Internet marketer, you should aim at being honest with your prospects and try to deliver your promise in every possible way. This will not only increase your current sales but it will also lead to better sales in the future. Remember that when you satisfy one customer, chances are that you he/she will get you even more customers. Keep in mind when you deal with your customers that everything you do will be remembered and this is how your reputation is formed.
A simple but very effective way to communicate with people in your niche is to start a blog on this topic. A blog can provide your customers and prospects with a way to contact you and tell you their preferences. If your internet marketing decisions are based on the wants and needs of your customers, you will succeed. A blog is the perfect vehicle for you to communicate with your customers and also learn more about them. The more you post to your blog, the more traffic you will attract, and the more your credibility will grow. What's more, since search engines love blogs and rank them well, you shouldn't have any excuse to not creating your own blog.
Never think that you cannot be a success with your own business on the net just because you may not have a lot of money to put into it upfront. If you can cultivate things like the ability to take action on something, to persevere with your actions, and other qualities like that, then you do not need to have money to succeed. The best way to go about this path is to first start off with the free online marketing methods, make some money and then move forward. Whatever you make, always reinvest smartly but only on tools that can really make a difference in your business. So do not ever think you need a lot of money to get started. The only thing that you need to remember with Internet marketing is to keep your focus on getting high quality traffic and doing everything you can to convert it.
source:goarticles.com

International MBA Scholarships in Germany 2011

ESMT continues development of scholarship program to promote diversity on the through Internatiaonal MBA Scholarships.
* Regional scholarships available for applicants from all continents
* Full scholarships available for exceptional female applicants
ESMT European School of Management and Technology has continued the development of its MBA scholarship program for 2010-11. The MBA program at ESMT is built on both faculty and peer-to-peer learning, and the school is committed to diversity in the classroom. “The current Full-time MBA class at ESMT is made up of participants from 21 countries,” said Nick Barniville, Director of MBA Programs. “Our aim is to further increase this diversity.” The majority of all ESMT scholarships are now clustered according to region. Financial support is being offered in the form of merit-based partial scholarships to applicants from the Americas, Central and Eastern Europe, Africa, the Middle East, and Asia.
Two full scholarships for women will also be provided this year (value 38,000 EUR each). “We already have 35% women in the MBA class, and we are committed to doing everything we can to further increase this figure,” adds Barniville.
The school is also introducing an Academic Excellence Scholarship, giving financial support to an exceptional applicant with a GMAT score of over 700. In addition, applicants for the Full-time MBA have the opportunity of applying for the ESMT Corporate Fellowship Program. The program combines a full scholarship with attractive internship opportunities and mentoring at one of ESMT’s founding companies after graduation.
Tuition and fees for self-sponsored participants of the Full-time MBA program are 38,000 EUR. This includes 9,000 EUR for learning materials, office supplies, food and drinks on campus on weekdays while the program is running, and the international field seminar.
This year, for the first time, some scholarship funding will also be made available to self-financing participants on the school’s Executive MBA program beginning October 2010, which carries a tuition fee of 57,500 EUR.
Deadline
Application deadlines are mid-November 2010 (for full-time MBA beginning January 2011) and August 2010 (for Executive MBA beginning October 2010).
More information about this International MBA Scholarships in Germany:
Stephanie Kluth
Tel.: +49(0)30 21231-1400
Email: stephanie (dot) klut (at) esmt (dot) org
Website: hxxp://www.esmt.org/ info/scholarships
source: http://www.scholarshipclick.com

Daiwa Anglo-Japanese Foundation Scholarship 2011 Japan

About Daiwa:
The Daiwa Anglo-Japanese Foundation is a UK charity, established in 1988 with a generous benefaction from Daiwa Securities Co Ltd. The Foundation’s purpose is to support closer links between Britain and Japan.
Daiwa Foundation Japan House, the London-based headquarters, acts as a centre for UK-Japan relations in Britain by offering a wide programme of seminars, exhibitions and book launches as well as meeting rooms for Japan-related activities and facilities for visiting academics.
The Foundation is represented in Japan by its Tokyo Office, which provides local assistance to Daiwa Scholars and administers grant applications from Japan. It also handles general enquiries, and forms part of the network of organisations supporting links between the UK and Japan.
Detail:
The Daiwa Scholarship is a unique 19-month programme of language study, work placement and homestay in Japan.
Daiwa Scholarships offer young and talented UK citizens with strong leadership potential, the opportunity to acquire Japanese language skills, and to access expertise and knowledge relevant to their career goals.
NO PREVIOUS EXPERIENCE OF JAPAN OR JAPANESE IS NECESSARY.
By April 2010, 123 Daiwa Scholars – including scientists, artists, academics, lawyers and architects – will have benefited from the Daiwa Scholarships.
Daiwa Scholarships are provided by the Foundation to encourage better understanding between both countries.
Application Date: THURSDAY 2 DECEMBER 2010.
Applying online will be possible from mid-September 2010.
Contact:
The Daiwa Anglo-Japanese Foundation
Bancho Building 103
Goban-cho 12-1
Chiyoda-ku
Tokyo 102-0076
Tel: 03 3222 1205
Fax: 03 3222 1208
Email: tokyo.office@dajf.org
source: http://scholarshipsnews.org

Gates Cambridge Scholarship 2011 at University of Cambridge, UK

The University of Cambridge is normally ranked in the top three universities worldwide. It typically receives over 9,000 applications for graduate study from non-British applicants, approximately 1,700 of whom take up their place at Cambridge. Gates Cambridge Scholarships are awarded to outstanding students from outside the UK to study at the University of Cambridge. The programme aims to build a global network of future leaders committed to improving the lives of others.
Eligible
  • may be citizens of any country outside the United Kingdom.
  • may apply to study any subject available at the University of Cambridge.
  • may apply to pursue one of the following full-time residential courses of study:
    • PhD (three year research only degree)
    • One-year post-graduate course (e.g. MPhil, LLM, Diploma, MBA etc.)
    • MSc or MLitt (two year research only degree)
    • MBBChir Clinical Studies (3 year taught degree)
  • must be admitted to one of the degrees above at Cambridge through the University’s normal admission procedures. The Trust does not admit students.
  • must be well prepared for the Cambridge course for which they are applying and must meet all of the conditions for admission specified by the University (e.g. academic, English language proficiency, if required, and any other conditions set).
  • must be able to show evidence of high academic achievement, leadership potential, social commitment and a good fit with Cambridge.
  • who are already studying at Cambridge are only eligible to apply for a Gates Cambridge Scholarship if they are applying for a new course of study (e.g. a one year ‘MPhil only’ student may apply for funding to continue on to the PhD). Candidates already studying at Cambridge who are not applying for a new course of study (e.g. have already started their PhD) are not eligible to be considered for a Gates Cambridge Scholarship.
How Competitive
  • c. 7,000 eligible applicants apply for admission and funding
  • c. 300 are highly ranked by Departments
  • c. 100 are invited to interview
  • c. 55 offered a Gates Cambridge Scholarship after interview
Once applicants have applied for admission and a Gates Cambridge Scholarship, the Trust asks academic departments in Cambridge to rank their very best candidates. A shortlisting committee then applies the four main criteria of the scholarships to produce a final interview list. Gates Scholars are selected after interview.
Contact detail: info@gates.scholarships.cam.ac.uk
Information abut applying for a Gates Cambridge Scholarship and admission to the University for entry in October 2011 will be available – via the University’s Graduate Studies Prospectus – from June 2010 and applications will open on 1 September 2010.
Moreinfo:
http://www.gatesscholar.org/apply

Stanford Australia Foundation Scholarship 2011

The Stanford Australia Foundation Scholarship provides an annual opportunity for Senior Executives in the Australian non-profit sector to undertake further study at the Centre for Social Innovation at the Stanford Graduate School of Business.
Application accepted from now until 19th October 2010
In 2010, we awarded 3 scholarships for economy travel and tuition to the 2010 Executive Program in Social Entrepreneurship.  The scholarships have been made possible by the generous support of Australian alumni of Stanford and the Dyson Foundation.
In 2011, the scholarship will be for the following course:
Executive Program for Non Profit Leaders (6-18 March 2011) Drawing on the leading-edge research and course offerings of the Stanford faculty, the program integrates conceptual knowledge with Fellows’ own experience to generate powerful and practical insights about leadership and management. The learning stems from a variety of activities including classes, small group discussions, and individual study. Like the Stanford MBA Program, EPNL evolves as the faculty’s most current thinking and research keeps pace with the rapidly changing management environment .
source: http://www.stanford.org.au/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=89:stanford-australia-foundation-scholarship&catid=42:foundation-news&Itemid=76