Getting started with email marketing

Emails serve as one of the most widely used ways people communicate worldwide. As a result, companies organize email marketing campaigns to stay in touch with their clients and promote their products and services. Email campaigns, when used wisely, can boost your online reputation, website traffic, and sales. But, there are certain best practices to follow when building out your email marketing strategy.

Start with your list

Building an email list should be the first thing you do before anything else. Even with great content and no email list, it’s all in vain. You can start by using a CRM to send emails out to your list. Companies like MailChimp offer free plans to start, and paid plans as you grow. You will want to add email collection forms to your website to start growing your list. If you meet with prospects or clients in person, ask for them to add their email when you are collecting their information. The email list will help you identify clients who you can send offers to frequently and those who are interested in your products or services. When you have an email list, you are able to get people back to your website on a regular basis. Every time you publish a new post or add products, you can notify your list, increasing your repeat traffic.

Stick to a schedule

A schedule will help you stay on track and allow you to get the most out of your email marketing efforts. If your clients start to expect emails once in a month, then keep it that way. Most experts agree that one email per month is sufficient when starting out.



Personalize your emails

It’s best if you can address your email subscribers by their first name in your emails. A personalized email is more likely to be read than a general one. Personalization will help you to develop and nurture relationships with your clients. They, in turn, will feel that you are prepared to give them their due attention.

Write a compelling subject line

Your subscribers will look at your subject line and instantly decide whether they want to open and read your email. Hence, you should come up with a subject line that will compel them to open your email. Usually, a short descriptive subject lines work best.


Send relevant content

Supply relevant content to your subscribers. You can provide articles, tips, product reviews and industry related news. The key is to focus on messaging that will help you connect with your audience. The effectiveness of an email campaign also depends on how well the content is organized. The message you intend to communicate should be placed on the top as not all of your subscribers will read the entire email.

Avoid spam filters

Sending unsolicited marketing emails to users is known as spamming. Many Internet Service Providers are very strict about spam control. They will scrutinize every single commercial mail that’s sent to users. You can test your campaign for spam like terms, such as ”free”, “save”, “discount” and so on. Mailchimp has great write-up on avoiding spam filters if you are unsure. As per the CAN-SPAM Act, you need to add your contact details in your emails. This includes a registered postal address, a functioning telephone, contact information, and an unsubscribe mechanism. Not only will you keep your emails out of spam filter, but you will also boost your credibility in the eyes of your clients and those interested can get in touch with you.


Test your campaign

Testing is an important part of your email marketing efforts. You will want to test your campaign thoroughly before you send it to anyone. Send a quick email to yourself before sending it to your whole audience. In doing so, you can make sure that it looks the same on web-based email services and email clients.

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