Volume 2, Number 2 -- November 2008
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by Ron Meldrum
Is your phone being bombarded with election "robocalls"? How about your e-mail box -- is everyone you know (and a few you don't) -- forwarding you e-mails that have been forwarded a thousand times already, talking about McCain's economic plan or Obama's get-out-the-vote effort?
How about those people who forward you ten "cool" e-mails a day -- don't you just love it?
I do!
Let me explain. I didn't always like that. For years, it's been a pet peeve of mine. You know what I mean -- a friend discovers the Internet and begins bombarding your e-mail box with these forwarded e-mails that have been circulating on the 'net for 10 years. I get so much spam that I felt really annoyed at these people who, in their innocence, were making the problem even worse.
Then I discovered something powerful.
How many people do you suppose read those e-mails? Many of us (as I used to) just delete them immediately. But, judging by the number that show up in my box, and the number of times they have already been forwarded, a huge number of people actually read those things.
You can leverage that fact to promote your web site.
From now on, don't delete those e-mails. On the one hand, you're going to be able to use them in your web site marketing, but on the other hand, all of those senders are fair game for you to send your own e-mails to (by virtue of the fact that they have forwarded theirs to you)! Those senders will now become your PR distribution network.
Here are the two ways that you are going to be able to benefit from this Internet phenomenon:
1. Start forwarding these e-mails to everyone who has ever forwarded them to you -- but, each time you do so, add your e-mail signature (including your web site name and address) to the top of it. If it seems appropriate, add a little comment to it to attract some additional attention. From that point on, everyone who receives that e-mail will see a promotion for your web site. Given the way these e-mails spread in pyramid-fashion across the Internet, a lot of people could be seeing your web site address!
2. Secondly, start writing your own viral e-mails. Is there something unique about your web site or ministry? Do you have some interesting photos? Do you have something sensational or outstanding or timely on your site? Write about it! Once you have crafted your e-mail (writing it to be exciting to the end reader and be sure to include your web site address), send it to all those folks who have been forwarding e-mails to you. They have demonstrated that they are part of the group of Internet users who circulate these types of e-mails, so who better to start your own viral e-mail.
From now on, don't delete any of those annoying "fwd: re: fwd: ..." e-mails. Instead of annoyance, they are now opportunity for you.
(c) 2008 Baptist Ministries, Evansville, IN.
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