Are You Backing Up Your BIGGEST Asset?

Have you ever accidentally lost an important file on your computer? Perhaps your computer crashed (again) or your cat sauntered over a dooming sequence of keys. Remember that little pang in your stomach you felt when you realized that file was gone for good?

OK, now imagine losing your entire e-zine subscriber list. Did that pang just get a bit more intense? (Ouch!)

Several Internet marketing gurus were recently asked the question, "If your office was burning down and you could save one thing, what would it be?"

The unanimous answer among all of them was, "my list"!

Your list is your goldmine. It's your pool of warm prospects and clients with whom you've taken months to build a level of credibility and trust. They're your ticket to a steady stream of income.

It can take years to build a large collection of opt-in subscribers. But they can disappear in a flash if they're not protected.

So, are YOU backing up your list on a regular basis? (Be honest!) If not, let's get you started today.

If Your List Resides on Your Computer...

If you send out your e-zine or e-mail promotions from your own computer, you MUST make backing-up your list a daily habit. And by "backing-up," I mean saving your list to a disk or location other than your hard drive. For example, you can save your list to:

I currently use option 5 for my computer files. The service I use is called I-Backup, and there are many others out there, starting at as little as $3 per month. I prefer this option because I have so many large files on my computer that I'd have to backup my files to several separate disks or CDs. And because this method is so EASY, I'm more likely to follow through and back-up my files on a regular basis!

I also like I-Backup for traveling, as I can upload files that I'll need to access on the road. This way I don't have to bring a disk with me.

If you use a type of list management software that resides on your computer or your own Web server, such as Broadc@st or MailLoop, it can probably schedule automatic backups for you. See the program's help files or contact their support center for assistance.

If You Use an Online List Service...

Even if you host your list online with a listserve (such as Topica) or an autoresponder service (such as AWeber) that should make their own secure backups, you should still make your own backup copy on a regular basis! Just download or "export" a copy of your list each week for safekeeping. It should be pretty easy to do. This procedure varies depending on what program you use, so see its help files or contact their support center for assistance.

Consider Purchasing a Battery Backup System

Southern California is known for its frequent power outages, and they were wreaking havoc on my computer. So I purchased a battery backup unit. (I chose APC's 650 model.) It's about the size of a breadbox and keeps my computer going for another hour or so in the event of a power outage. This gives me ample time to back up any files I'm working on and shut down my computer properly. It also functions as a surge-protector to keep my computer safe from electric surges. You can buy units like these at any large office supply store, and they range in price from $100 to $500.

Don't Put It Off Any Longer!

I know that backing-up your files seems like another irritating addition to your busy schedule. But remember that you've worked hard to build your list ... and your business. So take just a few minutes each week to protect that investment.

TIP: Pick a certain day each week to back up your list. For example, my electronic calendar automatically reminds me to do this every Friday.

(c) 2003 Alexandria K. Brown

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Alexandria K. Brown, "The E-zine Queen," is author of the award-winning manual, "Boost Business With Your Own E-zine." To learn more about her book and sign up for more FREE tips like these, visit her site at http://EzineQueenTutorial.com/

Marketing software provider Hubspot has added functionality that effectively turns the company into an email service provider.

Athletic apparel and footwear company Fila has appointed marketing solutions firm 89 Degrees to develop an email marketing strategy, said Lauren Mallon, global marketing manager for Fila. 89 Degrees will work with Demandware, the e-commerce solutions provider Fila hired in July 2010, and SEO/SEM provider Adept Marketing

Experian CheetahMail announced May 3 that it has entered into a preferred agreement with Movable Ink, an email application designed to allow marketers to stream email content in real time, said Daniel Schotland, VP of client services at Experian CheetahMail.

To drive email response rates, marketers should be mindful of the little things such as colors, hierarchy, balancing text and images and mobile optimization said executives at the Responsys Interact conference in San Francisco, Calif.

More people will be reading email off mobile devices than off webmail or desktop clients by June, said Tom Sather, director of professional services at email deliverability firm Return Path.

Looking to spread the word about its services, ESET decided to create a program that would turn its loyal customers into product evangelists.

In the face of growing choices in digital channels, marketers are doubling down on email, increasing investments as they work to more precisely tailor messages.

What's in our mailbox this month: Targeted consumer emails from Panera's, Rewards "R" Us, Shari's Berries and Go Daddy. Who had a bright idea and what belongs in the trashbin?

Email marketing is no longer a one-to-many communications strategy. Our experts offer up their best advice to help marketers take advantage of consumer expectations.

Almost every time I wind up on some company's email database, I get punished for it.

Active Ride Shop, a Mira Loma, Calif.-based skateboarding outfitter, has a passionate customer base that enthusiastically turns out for skating competitions, fashion shows and other brand events.

Daniel Schotland, VP of client services at Experian CheetahMail, discusses best practices for holiday email marketing.