You’ve probably never heard the term “email marketing” before, but more than likely you have seen it. It’s everywhere! Your favorite companies have more than likely sent you a message telling you about a product. This is email marketing in its purest form. Does this sound like something you would want to use? Granting that it is, then continue reading.
Steer clear of renting or purchasing lists to pad your email marketing database. Not only do you not know if the emails you have purchased are truly your target market, but the lists can actually hurt your deliver-ability rates and ultimately your reputation. As much as possible, build your list organically.
If you buy a list of emails to send to, check and make sure it is up to date. Sometimes lists for sail might match your target demographics but be woefully out of date. The number of addresses now defunct can be as high as 25% of the overall list.
Never use the cliche phrases in your marketing. Specifically avoid the “Buy now! the way you go about it. If you do so, your work looks like spam. Build a strong relationship with your customers to ensure they respect you and what you sell. They will appreciate this a great deal and will be more likely to purchase from you.
Go for professional over slick with your emails. Don’t send emails that look like flashy webpages. This comes across as impersonal to the recipient. Also, keep in mind that many email programs will not display HTML images. So, do not focus on images in your emails. Go for concise, professional, and inviting so that everyone can read it.
If you want your email marketing messages to flow out across the Internet to people’s inboxes, consider where you are sending them from. Sent frequently from known and stable IP addresses is best. Sudden surges from new IP locations can raise suspicions and even result in blocks and blacklists from ISP’s.
Beware of including attachments to your email marketing! Mass emails with attachments are instantly suspected as spam by most spam filters. As well, these days many types of computer malware and viruses are carried in email attachments, and people are aware of this. Your email is in jeopardy of being immediately deleted when they see an attachment without even being read.
To make your emails look as professional as possible, invest a little thought in their design. Use a consistent layout, color scheme, and logo with all of your messages. This gives your subscribers the impression that they are hearing from a trustworthy, authoritative source. They will pay more attention and give your content more credence this way.
Follow up with your clients with an option for them to affiliate with you. Include a command on your email that tells them they can join instantly by clicking on the below link. The ending postscript could inform them to not be late on this incredible opportunity for affiliation with your company.
Ensure that you offer a simple way out for those who wish to unsubscribe or opt out of your mailings. Even though sending emails is basically free, they can still take money out of your pocket. If you are seen as a spammer, it can have many negative consequences for you and your business’s reputation.
There are zombie email addresses, and people do sell them. This not only wastes your time, but it keeps your messages from getting to the right targeted customers. Make sure you know what you are getting into, and make sure you are sending messages to people that could actually do business with you.
Research shows that there are three emails that are the most important. The first offers an introduction and invitation to sign up and give permission to receive further communication. The second presents the customer with specific expectations such as coupons, discount offers or newsletters. The third email would deliver those expectations in the form of the discounts and other incentives.
Use plain text and hyperlinks in your email messages, and save the images and Flash animation for your web page. Many email services now filter out images and animations in the name of consumer safety, meaning that your lists may not even see your carefully-crafted images. Plain text messages are guaranteed to go through intact, and then the images on your website will catch your viewers.
Use your email marketing campaign to offer customers a personal perspective of your business. Tell a story about how you got started and why you are passionate about your business while giving them a special promotion or offer. It will build trust in your clients and make them more apt to make a purchase from you.
Browse stock catalogs online for creative elements to your messages. You can find low to no cost images and even videos. These are all web ready and can be applied to your email marketing campaign with ease. Even though you have your reader’s attention for a maximum of three paragraphs, these creative elements give you a lot more room to play.
Offering coupons through your e-mail marketing campaign is a great way to attract subscribers, and also track the success of your campaign. Everyone enjoys receiving discounts, and coupons can also be an effective way to generate sales that otherwise would not happen. Keeping track of how many of your coupon codes are redeemed can also help you determine the effectiveness of your e-mail marketing campaign.
Ensure your email matches your brand. It is important for your customers to instantly recognize who is emailing them, and a great way to do this is by including your company name and logo prominently in the email. You can also employ a color scheme that matches that of your website to further connect the two mediums of communication.
After countless times of encountering email marketing, you finally know what it is. Put simply, it’s using the medium of emails to send messages either current customers or future customers for the sole purpose of marketing to them. Now that you know what it is, make use of it in your own emails!
