![Email Marketing Tips with Terry Dean [LNIM127]](https://www.latenightim.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/email-marketing-tips-terry-dean-1024x675.jpeg)
Need actionable email marketing tips you can put to work today? In this episode we welcome Terry Dean to the podcast. Terry has been making a living online for over two decades and is one of the most experienced email marketing practitioners in the industry. He shares tips drawn from his own direct experience and from coaching thousands of entrepreneurs.
What You'll Learn in This Episode
- How Terry went from delivering pizza for $8/hour to building a full-time online business
- The Free Preview strategy that drives 30-50% of sales within 24 hours
- Why split testing big things matters more than testing button colors
- The three essential elements every email should contain
- How contrarian content cuts through inbox noise
- Why the best affiliate email is always a case study
Episode Summary
Terry Dean is a legend in online marketing. He has been doing internet business full-time since 1996 and has helped thousands of entrepreneurs build their businesses. Based in Dunnellon, Florida, Terry went from over $50,000 in debt and delivering pizza for Little Caesar's to building a thriving online coaching practice.
Build Your List with a Free Preview
Focus on the audience first. Your lead magnet should function as a Free Preview that bridges naturally to your first paid offer. If your audience wants to improve their tennis serve, your Free Preview is a video on serving technique, followed immediately by a link to a related product. Terry's clients typically see 30-50% of their sales within the first 24 hours of someone joining their list. Ride the momentum.
Split Test What Matters
People talk about split testing far more than they do it. When starting out, skip button colors and test the big things: headlines, offers, price points, and which affiliate products resonate with your specific traffic.
The Three-Part Email Formula
The two biggest email mistakes are sending nothing but promos (which burns your list) and sending pure content with no offers (which trains subscribers to never buy). Every email should contain:
- The Story — A simple hook that draws readers in
- The Value — One good tip someone can immediately use
- The Offer — A soft segue to one of your products or affiliate recommendations
Stand Out with Contrarian Content
When everyone else says X, say the problem is actually Y. This “rant style” approach gets emails noticed in a noisy marketplace and positions you as an independent voice.
Affiliate Email Strategy: The Case Study
The best email for promoting any affiliate product is a case study. Buy the product, use it, and share real results. Personal experience beats feature lists every time.
Value Is Direction, Not Just Information
Value is more than content. It is specific, actionable direction from someone your readers trust. Be yourself, have fun, and imagine talking to a friend across the table. Some people will love you, some will not. The worst they can do is ignore you.
Key Takeaways
- Your Free Preview should bridge directly to your first offer
- Every email needs a story, one tip, and an offer
- Test big elements first: headlines, offers, and prices
- Contrarian positioning cuts through inbox clutter
- Case studies are the most effective affiliate promotion emails
- Be yourself. Your personality is your competitive advantage in email
What's Changed Since This Episode
Mark recorded this interview in February 2017. Email marketing remains the highest-ROI digital marketing channel. The story-value-offer framework Terry teaches is still the gold standard for email structure.
Deliverability requires more attention. Gmail's tabbed inbox, aggressive spam filtering, and authentication requirements (SPF, DKIM, DMARC) mean that maintaining a good sender reputation matters more than ever. The engaging, personality-driven emails Terry advocates naturally support high open rates.
Privacy regulations changed the opt-in landscape. GDPR (2018) and similar laws require explicit consent before emailing subscribers. The Free Preview strategy satisfies this by design since subscribers actively choose to opt in.
Terry Dean continues coaching at MyMarketingCoach.com where he helps entrepreneurs improve their email marketing and overall online business strategy.
Resources Mentioned
Related Episodes
- LNIM127 Transcript — Email Marketing Tips with Terry Dean
- LNIM128 — 11 Essential Copywriting Tips
- LNIM129 — The Best Copywriting Formula
Listen and Subscribe
Listen to Late Night Internet Marketing on Apple Podcasts or subscribe at latenightim.com/internet-marketing-podcast/. Have a question for Mark? Call the digital recorder at 214-444-8655 or drop a comment below.
