Continue reading »]]> In our office, the topic of email addresses, and our email mailing list comes up often.  We used to maintain a very large email database.  The database consisted of past clients for whom we had an email address.  If we had your email address, you were added to our email mailing list.  This method allowed our email mailing list to ballon out to 1000 names (a respectful number in the auction industry).

However, with the launch of our new website in August of last year, I felt it was best to move to a completely opt-in mailing list.  As a result, we went about the task of emailing our current list, and asking them to opt-in to the new mailing list.  Not surprisingly, our mailing list dropped by 95%.  That’s right we went from 1000 names to 50 names.  Around this time, a few noticeable things happened.

1.  The responses to our emails increased dramatically.  It has become common for clients to reply to our emails with questions, or comments.  Prior to the change, we never received emails in response other than to unsubscribe.

2.  While our list shrunk considerably, the amount of click-through traffic increased.  Our list became a list of interested people, rather than a list of people we thought might be interested.  The people receiving our emails, actually want to receive the emails.

3.  Our list has grown at a respectable rate.  We haven’t recovered to the numbers of our previous email list, but we’re certainly gaining ground.  In fact, the list has grown by 300% in the past 9 months.  If we can continue to grow our email list at that pace, we’ll be well on our way to surpassing the previous subscriber totals.  While that will be important, the best part will be that the list will be 100% opt-in subscribers.

With the above in mind, it was interesting to read Cam Beck’s [ChaosScenario] recent comments about the updates to the CAN-SPAM Act of 2003.  As Cam points out, if you’re a business that mass emails clients, you must:

• You must give recipients the ability to opt-out.
• You cannot require anything but a recipient’s email address and opt-out preferences to allow them to opt-out.
• You must include an accurately-registered address established by the U.S. Postal Service in the emails

Cam further makes a great point about why an opt-in list is so important, and hits on the exact reason we have moved to a 100% opt-in email list.

I know you want your audience’s email addresses, but they would be so much more valuable to you if they want to hear from you — which you’ll know if you asked them, in clear language, to opt-in, not opt-out.

If you’re not using an email list for your website, it’s an easy process, and one of the best ways to stay in contact with your clients.  I know for a fact it’s generated business from clients that we never would have approached or asked for business from in the past.  Just make sure you’re using an opt-in mailing list.  It’s as simple as wanting a list of people that want to hear from you if for no other reason than the conversion rates or ROI is much higher!

Continue reading »]]> Well, 2007 is in the books, and 2008 is off and running.  Today, I’ll take a quick look back at some of my more interesting posts, and stats from last year concerning this site.

Popular Posts

My three most popular posts were Truck Stop Dining, Redeye and Twins v. Hunter. 

Truck Stop Dining was picked up by MNspeak as one of the local blogging sites of the day. As a result, a high amount of traffic cruised on over, and visited my site.  In fact, it spawned a sprawling conversation about truck stops on MNspeak.  It’s difficult for me to tell if any of the MNspeak readers have stuck around.  However, I’m hoping I gained some readers from this link.

In Redeye, I seemed to strike a nerve about traveling, and needing to suck it up.  Not only does this post have the most comments of any post, it also has the most number of unique commenters.  Needless to say, it was a fun conversation that got people talking.

Twins v. Hunter contained my comments on Torii Hunter signing with the Angels for 5 years and $90 million.  At the time, I thought it was a good move on the part of Bill Smith.  Today, I still hold that opinion.  However, it’s becoming more crucial, two months later, that Smith address the gaping hole in centerfield.

Popular Traffic Sources

My three most popular traffic sources were Google, direct visitors and MNspeak.  In 2007, Google accounted for about 30% of my visitors, direct visitors accounted for 28%, and MNspeak accounted for 15% of my visitors.  The remaining 27% came from a variety of other sources.

Popular Search Term

Often, search terms used to reach a site from a search engine can be entertaining to look at it.  In my case, that’s not true.  The top three keywords used in searches to reach my site were variations of my name: john d schultz or john schultz. 

Popular Locations

In 2007, I had visitors from 14 different countries or territories.  The only country with repeat visitors was the United States.  Within the United States, Minnesota, unknown, and California are the top states.  I wish I knew more about the unknown state, as they’re among my most loyal readers.  But, I don’t.  I do know my United States visitors viewed 2.55 pages/visit, spent an average of 4:24 on my site, 51% of the time were new visitors, and 63% of the time never left the page they came in on.

Total Traffic

As you might imagine, my site does not get a ton of traffic.  From November 16, the launch date of the site, until the end of the year, I received 578 visits from 314 unique visitors who viewed 1,451 pages.  On a daily basis that breaks down to 12.8 visits per day, from 7.0 unique visitors who viewed 32.2 pages.  As the year progressed, those numbers grew, and are continuing to grow in 2008.  In fact, 2008 shows, on a very small sample size, an increase of nearly 40% in traffic.  That seems like a big number.  However, when you consider we’re comparing the 2008 numbers to rather small 2007 numbers, it makes some sense.

2008 and Beyond

My goal is to continue to post 5 or 6 times per week on a variety of topics.  As you saw last year, some of my favorite topics include sports, the economy, politics, random life updates, and a spattering of random musings.  I’m sure 2008 will be similar.  Look for the addition of commentary about auctions and the industry, and also for more political commentary – especially now that we’re in a presidential election year.  Other than that, I’m confident the traffic numbers will continue to grow and increase, as I continue to make regular posts.  In the end, popularity isn’t as important to me when compared to the importance of having the conversation.

Here’s to a great 2008.