Black Belt Web Marketing.pdf - Costa del Sol

Exercise 3-8 -- Reaching Target Audiences in Mailing Lists
Unlike newsgroups where anyone can read and post messages, a mailing list requires you to
be a member first. Only after you subscribe can you read other members’ messages and
post your own to them. Messages sent to the list are electronically copied and distributed to
each member. So, if a list has 5000 members, for example, your announcement will reach
all 5000.
A mailing list is an excellent way to reach a specific audience if the content or subject of
your announcement or other posting is what list members are interested in. Thousands of
lists cover every subject or interest imaginable. The chances are excellent that you will find
one or more that caters to an audience you have targeted.
Often mailing lists have moderators who screen messages considered inappropriate or
off-topic. As a results, postings are generally more relevant, more on-topic than they are in
many newsgroups, particularly the general groups in Exercise 3-4.
Announcements and other types of messages will get a better reception if you belong to a
group. For this reason, it’s a good idea to subscribe to a list at least a week in advance. Then
when you announce, start off by stating that you were a "lurker" (one who belongs but
doesn’t participate in discussions).and now decided to participate. Members are more
tolerant of "lurkers" than new members who jump right into the discussion without making
any pretense of learning about the group first. Most members were themselves lurkers at
one time or still are.
Moderators want to encourage others to "de-lurk" so they are more apt to approve your
announcement than from a new member. However it pays to spend time customizing your
announcement for the group the same way you did in Exercise 3-6 for special interest
newsgroups.
Worksheet for Reaching Targeted Audiences in Mailing Lists
1. Several Web sites provide a database of mailing lists. They allow you to search by keyword.
Each list includes a description and instructions for subscribing. For purposes of this exercise,
use L-Soft’s CataList, "the official catalog of LISTSERV lists". It allows you to search
for lists by:
Special interest
Host site
Host country
Lesson 3 Pg. 23