Businesspeople are realizing that they must take responsibility for building permission-based email addresses and taking advantage online marketing opportunities. Although they may have been email marketing for years, their approach was often haphazard and not focused. But times have changed. Smart business owners have learned that if they are serious about building their list, they can bring in more customers. It works!
It is crucial to build your list during difficult economic times. Your target audience is pre-qualified. They are familiar with your company and products. They are likely to have purchased from you before. They can be a great source for referrals and are easier to sell to. Email marketing is the best tool for your marketing mix. You can keep in touch with your most valuable customers for a fraction of a dollar per person and foster a relationship with them. They will remember you when they're ready to buy .....
Permission Is Not Required
Email marketing is different than other forms of direct mail. Today's anti-spam laws prohibit you from sending random marketing emails to any and all addresses. Only permission-based emails pass the spam filters to reach your customer's mailbox. Rest of the emails go to spam and are unlikely to be opened. Before you add anyone to your email list, you must inquire.
Unsolicited emails can damage your brand, reputation, and marketing campaign. Think about how you feel when you open your email account to see unsolicited messages from a pharmaceutical company trying to sell "bigger is better", or from a non-profit organization asking for donations ...., or anyone trying to sell something you didn't ask for. By using permission-based email addresses, you can avoid that negative impression. This is best done by providing a two-stage opt in process that requires confirmation before an address can be added to your database.
Do it quickly, but don't over do it
If someone shares their email address with them, they are now expecting something from you. Do not wait for them to contact you. They won't be able to remember you, and they will unsubscribe or delete your email immediately. While the connection is fresh, send a welcome email with a copy your most recent newsletter.
It is also a bad idea to send too many emails at once. No matter how great your business is, people don't like to be bombarded by information about it. Spam complaints that exceed once per week can be a problem and could lead to you being kicked off the ISP's list. You email could end up in the wrong place and not reach the customer's spam box.
Cleanen and Analyze Your Emailing Lists
Email marketing offers a way to monitor your results more closely than traditional direct mail. It is possible to see which emails were sent and opened, who read them, who shared the emails with friends, who clicked on the links within the email, and who blocked you. It is amazing how technology works. It is a challenge to know what to do with the technology.
It is not possible to keep adding to your list and never clean it up. While it is important to grow your list, don't sacrifice quality. While a large list might look impressive, having quality names should be your top priority.
Your email campaign will be affected if you use a dirty list that contains too many duplicate, out-of date, unsolicited addresses, or incorrect addresses. These statistics may not be accurate and can give you false confidence in your ability to succeed. You can reduce the number of undeliverable email addresses by cleaning out bad addresses. It also helps you spot potential problems.
Check your email list every six months to see who hasn’t clicked or opened it in the past six months. You can send them a special offer to get them back in touch with you. If that doesn't work, you may want to consider another option, Broadcast Marketing [http://spalontechniques.com/Broadcast_Service.html]. This phone-calling technology allows you to contact your customers more personally and directly.
New Subscribers
Sign up box
Signing up boxes are the easiest and best way to attract new subscribers. It should be prominently displayed on your homepage and on every page of your website. You can place one in the signature section at the bottom of every email you send.
In Your Store
A sign-up sheet for "join our mailing lists" is kept at the register. Instruct employees to invite customers. Keep a guest book at your reception for customers to sign. A clear Lucite stand with the most recent newsletter near your sign-up sheets is a good idea. This visual can be extremely compelling. There are many services that can help you create a monthly newsletter if you don't have one.
For new subscribers, offer an incentive such as an email coupon good for 10% off your next order. Send this coupon immediately. It is expected by the customer and gives you an opportunity to confirm that the email address was correct. To get the correct email address, contact the customer via phone if the email does not go through ed email database.
Over the Telephone
When a potential customer or customer calls you, make sure to ask them if they have already signed up for your email-only newsletter. Ask if they are interested in signing up.
Business or Networking Events
Ask for permission to add them to your mailing list when you meet up with colleagues at a business function. Most likely, they will have a business card with their email address and name on it. You can simply write a "yes” note on the back of your card to indicate that they have granted you permission to add them to your contact list. You can also keep the "yes" cards in one hand and the "no thank you" cards another.
Keep your business cards handy to hand out. It is one of the cheapest ways to advertise. Include a line at the back of your card with your website address and an invitation for you to sign up for our newsletter.
On Your Print Materials
Make sure you have your website address and invitation to sign up for our newsletter on all printed materials, including brochures, direct mail, business cards, and fact sheets. You can offer an incentive to sign up for our newsletter, such as a free report on a topic related to your business. Get a free report on your business, a consultation, and email-only discounts.
Social Media Sites and Blogs
If you have a website or are active on social media, you should! Post a teaser or small section of your newsletter on social media sites like Facebook, MySpace or Twitter. Include a link to your website or sign up links.
Family Friends and Family
When we want to grow our email list, it is a mistake to ignore our family and friends. These people can be our greatest "fans" and love to tell others about what we do and the products that we offer. They will more likely to share your newsletter with their friends and colleagues if it contains useful information or articles. Your business will grow if you have more contacts ......
Andrea Pekarik Welch is a specialist in helping people build their businesses through understanding the basics of internet marketing, advertising and using social media to their advantage. Email marketing with monthly newsletters, regardless of whether you are a brick-and-mortar business owner, is a must to keep in touch with your clients.
