Don’t be fooled; effective email marketing is still very much alive and well. Email marketing is almost as old as email itself, but it is still a vital method. New strategies and techniques are always evolving and they can keep your email marketing efforts fresh and effective. Use these tips to make email marketing a fun and exciting venture for your business.
Always get permission! Unsolicited email is not welcome, and in certain cases, can get your ISP blocked. When contacting someone, always include a newsletter or an offer – this way the customer has the chance to agree to receive your messages. The last thing you want is to be branded a spammer.
If you have images or graphics, put them on the left side of the email message. Make sure that your call to action element is always on this side. Research has documented that this location produces almost double the number of clicks to your product, service or website than placing these elements anywhere else does.
Post a version of your newsletter with graphics and animation on your website. Then send your email list a plain text version of the newsletter with a link to the web version. This keeps your emails simple enough to stop them from being diverted to the spam folder as well as encouraging your customers to visit your website.
Tailor your emails and landing pages for mobile users as well as those using desktops. Keep in mind that smartphones have tiny screens that may not be compatible with the way you have your emails formatted. Trim the width so that your emails can be read by users without them having to re-size them.
Occasionally mix up your format for a more personal touch. For example, use plain text if you usually use HTML and vice versa. If they’re written well, they’ll come across as intimate and simple, which can attract your customers.
Do not send out rough drafts of your content. Write out what you want to say, and then cut the word count in half and rewrite to fit within your new limit. This generates messages that get to the point. Readers want to spend no more than three paragraphs of time reading your message, and maybe not even that.
Before sending any promotional emails to customers or potential customers, be sure to get their permission for contact. Email is a powerful tool, and consumers hate when it is misused. Any email contact that isn’t initiated by the consumer feels to them like spam. Your customers must agree to receive additional emails from you, even if they have made purchases in the past.
You want your sales list to be highly targeted. The way to do this is by having good customers, as well as their friends and their contacts, signing up to get your mailings. You will be able to create a more targeted and appealing email list if you make it seem exclusive to those who have a sincere interest in the topic. In addition, it will also appear more authoritative.
The emails you send out as part of your marketing campaign should start out with a welcoming, personalized tone. Include the name of the recipient in the subject line and the opening of the message. This will make your customers feel more receptive to your message and be more likely to patronize your business.
It is very important to pay attention to when you send your e-mails. If you send them in the middle of the night or very early in the morning, some of your recipients might simply delete your e-mail when they wake up along with the rest of their junk mail. Utilize tracking tools to determine the ideal time to send your e-mails.
Be persistent. Studies show that it takes a minimum of 7 to 8 impressions before your advertisements will take effect on a potential customer, and it could take many more. You need to touch base with your customers at least once every few weeks, and assume they will not buy your product or even click your links for several iterations of messages.
Make succinct subjects. If your email subject is under 60 characters, you have a better chance of getting your customer’s attention. Long subjects can be distracting and put people off. If you require a longer subject line, be sure to include the most pertinent information at the beginning to avoid having it truncated.
Solicit feedback in your emails. Ask a thought-provoking question and ask your readers to respond. This will engage those on your list, and they will feel like they are having a more personal experience than they otherwise would. You will also glean valuable feedback that you can use to adjust your emails if needed.
When utilizing e-mail marketing, make sure that you never spam your customer’s inbox. One of the quickest ways to lose the trust of your customer is to send spam to his or her email address. To make sure your marketing practices fall within mandated regulations, thoroughly read the CAN-SPAM act.
Write your message copy with benefits in mind, but not yours. Make sure your messages reflect the benefits that your content, products or services are offering your subscribers and readers. They want to know what is in it for them before they commit to the call to action, which is where your benefit happens.
As you now know, email marketing is still a viable marketing option for your business. If you use the advice in this article and keep learning new techniques for improving and innovating your email marketing plan, email marketing will work for you for years.
