I wish you a very happy, prosperous New Year...
...and for a while, that's the nicest thing I'm going to be telling you!
It's been a while since we last touched base, a lot has happened, and not all of it is nice. So while I *am* going to tell you about some VERY nice stuff, a few parts of this email are not going to be pleasant. Be prepared!
Ok... here goes!
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I've been living in a dream world!
And woke up after sending out the special Christmas offer on 20th December. Just 175 people on this list of over 2,000 responded, requesting one of the 8 gifts I was giving away. And only 3 wrote to say "Thank you".
And here I was, believing I had a relationship with you. One built through this newsletter. Silly me!
I'd even been hoping you'll be willing to help out in a critically important task which is the focus for ALL the different things I do on the Net - Congenital Heart Defects Awareness Day 2004, on Feb.14th.
Now I'm not sure if I should even ask for help!
Tell me I'm wrong. Prove it's only because of the holiday season you didn't respond to my offer. Show me you're really willing to partner with me on this mission.
Email me with a note saying: "I'm in, Mani. How can I help you, and help the kids?"
It'll give me back lost faith!
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On thinking it over for a week, I've made some hard decisions.
First, I'd rather have 200 supportive, responsive, interested customers on this list than several thousand "email addresses"
Next, I've chosen to focus on working closely, personally, one-on-one, with few select subscribers - and put everything else on auto-pilot. Others will still get the ezine. But little else!
Then, the new CAN-SPAM law confuses me - as it has several other e-publishers. I'm taking steps to protect my ezine and list.
Finally, all special offers and deals will be limited to my 'inner circle' of responsive readers. And you know how I love to *delight* my special customers. You'll find it worth your while to be a part of the inner circle. That's a promise!
Here are 3, right off the bat!
* Ken Evoy is offering his deluxe product, SITE BUILD IT - in a special "2-for-1" deal. You get a SBI site (with web hosting, mailing list, form builder, search engine submitter, link exchange, plus tons more of value) for TWO FULL YEARS - for the price of 1. At $495 it's a steal! I just bought myself another - my first SBI site has earned $596 since June 2003.
* My friend Mark Hendricks is letting me give away over 75 special gifts to valued subscribers - that's YOU. To claim them, simply go to http://www.hunteridge.com/12days.htm
* Another friend, Anne Ahira, is offering an EXTRA collection of value-packed stuff - once again, there's no cost to you. Pick them up from http://www.asianbrain.com
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So what happens next?
I've come up with a two-pronged approach to identify responsive core members to work with closely - and hope this includes YOU!
Here's how you can get into my 'inner circle' - in TWO easy steps...
#1 Become my customer. It's the best way for me to avoid accusations of sending unsolicited email to strangers. Order any of my products or services. They range in price from $997, right down to $9.95.
(After sampling the quality of my content and experience, if you feel they aren't worth even ten bucks, maybe we're not destined to work closely together anyway ;)
See a full listing at http://www.EzineMarketingCenter.com/products.htm
If you've ever ordered anything from me in the past, you're in. You don't have to do anything more -- EXCEPT...
#2 Support my CHD Awareness Day promotion. It's the only thing I've ever asked my list members to do - FOR MY BENEFIT!
Well, not exactly *mine*, but it's for a cause I'm passionately interested in. There may be no direct benefits to you from doing it.
That's why I'm hesitating to ask for your support this year. I don't want to impose on you, force you to do something not directly profitable to you.
But I'll be VERY happy if you volunteer to assist me.
And delighted to hear you say it!
Write to me soon. Let me know if you'd like to support CHD Awareness Day on February 14th, 2004. I'll include you in my 'inner circle' - and send more details about the event.
Happy New Year
Dr.Mani