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How many opt-ins do I need to start an email program?
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2 Answers
Mike,
First and foremost, I completely disagree with Dan's idea on sending an email out to your LinkedIn contacts. Yes, they are your LinkedIn contacts, but they did not become a contact of yours and give you permission to send them an email to ask for permission to send them email. I started my own company last year and know that some of my Linkedin contacts could help me with business, but I would not violate the professional trust I have with them. Even sending them an email asking them for permission violates privacy and permission, but it also seems kinda unprofessional, given what LinkedIn should be used for. Imagine if you had 500 contacts and 10% of them decided to do what was suggested to you....
Think I am blowing smoke? Here is an excellent post by my colleague Al Iverson about this very subject and its implications: http://www.spamresource.com/2011/01/linkedin-list-building-opportunity.html
That said, Dan's other suggestion of email being permission based is spot on. As your business continues to grow you would want to build up your subscriber base organically and then ensure that you offer up value in what you send to the subscribers.
To answer your original question, there is no magic number you need. To be honest, if you had 25 subscribers and had valuable content, then I say go for it. Its not the size of your database, but what you do with it. Let me know when you launch something as I would be happy to be your 1st or 37th subscriber.
Andrew Kordek
Co-Founder, Trendline Interactive
A Cross-Channel Messaging Agency
Twitter: @andrewkordek & @trendlinei
Email: andrew@trendlineinteractive.com
The short answer is none, and all. You can start a mail program with a list of contacts you have from linkedIN, but you should email them first with what you plan to do in your program and ask permission (let them know what is coming and here is how to opt out).
Anyone you ultimately mail to, should be permission based. If you are looking for an actual number, again it depends on what you are mailing. I don't think its worth the time for anything under 200 valid names. Over 600 is better.
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