There's a marketing estimate that it takes something like seven contacts with a potential client before they purchase. Email is a wonderful way to handle these contacts for a variety of reasons:
- you can send one message to a large number of people
- compared to traditional hard copy marketing it can be a lot less expensive
- if you use a list management system you can get instant results like how many people opened the email and how many "click throughs" there were to the links in the email
The most important part of an email campaign is having a list of qualified email addresses to send your marketing piece.
So just how are you supposed to get those email addresses? The best method is to have a sign up form on your website to capture the visitor's information. Here are some DOs and DON'Ts for creating a list for your online business.
Email MarketingEmail is the basic communication tool used on the Internet! It is the most important tool available and the most efficient. You can literally send your message to anyone in the world in a matter of seconds. You can t do that anywhere else and at no cost. What s the cost of a letter sent through the postal service? How long does it take to reach its destination? Do you realize the power behind this tool? You will be able to reach your prospects, clients and customers within seconds. It s the most powerful marketing tool at your disposal. You ll be issued an email address with your ISP and you ..
DO:
- Offer an incentive for them to give their email address. People usually won't give away their personal information unless they get something in return. Ideas for incentives include: a free report or guide, entry into a contest, product demo or samples, a complimentary consultation, etc.
- Provide valuable content in your communications. Offer tips and advice for the customer along side your marketing message to keep it from being too "sales-y."
- Ask for valuable marketing data on the sign-up form. Pick only one or two things to keep the registration process short and easy. What data could really help you with your marketing? Knowing their gender, age, location, interests?
DON'T:
- Sell or give away your list.
Email Marketing Advice: That FROM Field Can Really Sting You In The ButtIt sure is a big responsibility to be in charge of the company Email Newsletter. Once a week you, and only you, are responsible to carefully craft an email marketing message and get it out to all of your sacred e-newsletter subscribers.
You take the job seriously and get started early in the week. You want this email message to be really great. The company is counting on you! Your email marketing campaign is one of your employer s core marketing activities.
1. It is Wednesday. You take the afternoon and carefully craft the weekly company email message.
2. It is Thursday. You spell check the ..
- Fill up their inbox with messages. Keep to a monthly or weekly schedule at most.
- Bog your message down with lots of advertising. It will quickly be deleted.
It can take time and effort to build your internet marketing list, but the results will be well worth it.
Megan Corwin is an internet marketing coach who helps work at home professionals grow their businesses. For more articles and advice about online marketing strategy and solutions, become a member of Megans online community for work at home women: http://www.wahwoman.com/membership.html
Megan CorwinBuilding an Email Marketing List
