by Jamila Vaughan

Created on: January 27, 2009

Many small-business owners cringe at the thought of email marketing. They think: I already get too many emails Isn't that spamming? Will I get in trouble for that? Won't people be annoyed?

Personally, I don't mind receiving something I've signed up for. I may delete it if I don't have time to read it, but at least I know that another email will be coming my way soon enough.

So relax, because not only is this marketing method legal (when you follow best practices), it's also effective and fun. Let's consider how email marketing can help you to increase sales.

Benefits of Email Marketing

Cost effective - Achieve a solid ROI considering you can produce your own emails in-house using cheap tools, DIY templates and wizards
Build relationships - starting a dialogue with your target market can offer new business ideas, improve service or product quality, bring attention to weaknesses
Build brand consciousness - get people used to seeing your logo, your ads, your face, your identity
Increase website visits - emails are a great way to pique a person's interest and direct them to your website, forum, blog, store, whatever
Keep custumers informed - they will feel priveleged to be in the know about discounts, events, news, and other valuable information
Harvest Emails with a Professional Email Marketing Policy

There are both reputable and shady ways to get email addresses. The safest way to collect emails is to use an opt-in form on your website. A person opts-in (in effect saying, yes! send me emails!) and then confirms their subscription through a link in their email inbox.

Other ways of getting email addresses include purchasing or renting a list, and emailing people asking if they'd like to receive emails in the future. Many people don't like receiving these unsolicited emails and will consider them spam. Use good judgement and tread wisely.

You should always have an opt-out or unsubscribe option available in your emails. This is in case someone decides they don't wish to receive any more correspondence, or if they've received an email in error.

Plan to Be Consistent and Informative

In order to have a consistent and productive email marketing plan, list the topics you'd like to cover. Decide with what frequency you will be corresponding with your contacts. Schedule everything out some businesses email once a month, others more freqently. You may want your emails to coincide with the seasons or sales cycles.

What can you write about? Write about new products, new services, discounts,

• 1
• 2
• Next Page >>