Online marketing has changed the way we interact with customers and businesses. Thanks to the invention of the Internet, customers can access information and products from nearly anywhere at any time. As a result, businesses must adapt their marketing strategies to appeal to potential customers in other locations, whether they’re physically located in the same place or a different city.
While traditional billboards, magazine spreads, and newspaper ads can still be effective, they’re not the only digital channels worth exploring. Email marketing, in particular, can help businesses across all industries attract, engage, and convert potential customers into paying customers.
What is email marketing?
Simply put, email marketing is the practice of sending emails to customers and potential customers to promote products or services. In 2018, there were 3.5 billion total email messages delivered worldwide each day. In the United States, there were 226 million email messages delivered daily. So, it is clear to see that email remains one of the most popular and effective digital marketing tools available today.
Why Should You Use Email Marketing?
According to HubSpot Blogs research, 76% of consumers have bought something after receiving an email marketing message. So, if you’re looking to gain more customers, consider using email marketing as a strategy. It’s easy to set up and doesn’t require a huge marketing budget. Plus, you can target specific audiences with the right email marketing software solutions.
Email marketing also provides you with the ability to communicate with customers in an efficient and effective manner. You can use email to send out valuable and helpful information about your products and services. You can also use email to schedule marketing campaigns. For example, if you’ve decided to send out a series of emails informing customers of upcoming sales or offering them special discounts, you can utilize email to send these campaigns.
How To Successfully Market Online With Email
To ensure your emails generate the most interest and engagement, follow these tips:
1. Personalize Your Subject Lines
If you’ve ever tried to buy anything online, you may have been presented with a number of online stores that appear at first glance to be exactly the same. However, the product images, descriptions, and prices can vary from website to website. To ensure your customers know you’re talking to them and that everything is being customized specifically for them, use personalized subject lines in your emails. When done right, personalized subject lines can help attract and retain customers.
2. Use H1, H2, And H3 Headings
The headings used in an HTML email can have a significant impact on a customer’s experience. While using headings is not essential, it can help guide the eye of the reader across your digital marketing message. For example, if you’re sending out a series of emails relating to your products and services and you’d like each email to stand out from the rest, using H1, H2, and H3 headings can help guide the reader through your content.
3. Include Calls To Action
A call to action is a directive you give to the reader to take a particular action. This could be anything from subscribing to your email list to purchasing a product to finding out more information about a product or service. When used correctly, calls to action can increase conversion rates by up to 22%.
4. Measure The Right Metrics
You’ll want to ensure you measure the right metrics to determine the effectiveness of your email marketing campaign. Simply put, volume and open rates are the most popular metrics used to evaluate email marketing campaigns. While they can vary from campaign to campaign, in general, you’ll see that the more you send out, the more you’ll see the results. The more you send, the more you’ll see the results!
Create A CTA Button
Nowadays, almost all businesses have a website. If your business isn’t online yet, consider using a content manager to build your website. Having a website means you can collect customer data and reach out to them with offers and discounts as needed. To get started, visit this website and click the Get a Free Consultation button.
Then, you’ll be presented with a form. On the right side of the form, you’ll see a gray CTA button. To create your own CTA button, simply click the gear icon next to the button, and select Preferences from the drop-down menu.
In the Preferences window, you’ll see a section called Buttons. To create a CTA button, simply click the blue Add button. Then, you can give your new button a name and select whether you want it to be an icon or text link.
Finally, click the Save button at the top right.
Now, whenever you want to create a new form with a CTA button, you’ll see a handy reference to the exact location of your button.
Add An Additional Location
If you have a physical store, you can use Google Maps to show customers where you are located. If you’re running an eCommerce store or business, you can use the My Store button on your website to indicate your physical location. However, since not everyone has a physical store, consider using online tools like Find Me On Google Plus, which provides businesses with a place they can display their physical address and hours of operation.
With Google Maps, users can discover your business and reach out to you if they need help. Plus, you can direct them to your website, social media accounts, email, and phone number if you’re running an online store.
Use Schema
In the previous tip, we discussed how to personalize your subject lines in your emails to make them more interesting. One of the simplest yet most effective ways to do this is to use schema. When done right, schema can help guide the eye of the reader through your content in an organized and easy-to-follow manner. For example, if you subscribe to a newsletter, the schema within the email can help provide a clearer understanding of what is contained within the newsletter.
To learn more, check out this helpful guide by HubSpot Blogs on how to create a successful email marketing strategy.