You may be wondering how to effectively market your product or service in a plain-vanilla email. While there are numerous tips and tricks, knowing which ones to use can be difficult. That’s why we’ve gone ahead and curated this comprehensive list of the most useful and popular ones. From creating a solid unsubscribe link to using images in your email, we’ve covered all the basics you need in order to craft a marketing email that will get results.
The Basics Of An Effective Direct Marketing Email
Above all else, the key to a successful direct marketing email is taking the time to understand how email marketing works and how to apply it to your business. Here are some of the most important things you need to keep in mind if you’re looking to make your emails more effective.
1. Build trust.
Customers have grown tired of being hit with pitches disguised as ‘newsletters’ or ‘marketing emails’ that they receive every day. According to HubSpot Blogs research, only 16% of consumers feel this type of email marketing is worthwhile, and 74% feel it’s annoying. Instead of just sending your product or service information to everyone you know, build trust by including some amazing news stories, such as those that appear in the HubSpot Blogs. When you have created an environment where your email subscribers feel comfortable, they will be more likely to make a purchase, try out a new product, or leave a positive review online.
2. Keep things simple.
If you’re new to email marketing, the last thing you need is another convoluted tutorial on crafting the perfect pitch. As we mentioned above, consumers have grown numb to constant marketing emails, so make sure that your emails are as easy to understand as possible. Simplicity is the key to keeping your readers engaged and interested in what you have to say. In the same way you wouldn’t want to eat a meal that was poorly prepared, the last thing you want is to send your readers to the gas station to find real maple syrup, instead of the fake stuff you use to flavor your food.
3. Use language that relates to your audience.
As a business owner, it’s important to understand that everyone you email is not going to be a customer or subscriber. You need to identify the type of person you are speaking to and what would interest them. One option is to create a list of the demographics you think will be interested in what you have to say and then tailor your language to match the needs of your audience. For example, if you’re marketing to women and your product is clothing, you may want to use ‘girl’s night out’ or ‘dressing room talk’ as opposed to using the words ‘mammogram’ or ‘breast exam’ which could apply to a different demographic.
4. Use short, snappy subject lines.
It’s no secret that people are getting jaded to email marketing, so make sure that your subject lines are engaging and short. According to HubSpot Blogs research, almost 80% of consumers feel that email marketing is useful and only 18% feel it’s annoying. Keep your lines shorter than six words, and use a short version of your company name instead of ‘Dear Sir’ or ‘Dear Customer’ in your subject line. Short and snappy subject lines make your emails easier to read and less likely to be overlooked in a sea of similar emails. When someone opens an email and doesn’t have the time to read through a long, drawn-out pitch, they’ll quickly be put off by a poorly written subject line.
5. Use an email marketing platform.
In order to make email marketing easy and accessible, most businesses use a third-party platform to handle the technical aspects of delivery. Marketers use these services to send out emails, track opens and clicks, and analyze the performance of their campaigns. Most businesses won’t need to create their own inhouse system because there are so many features and benefits to using a professional email marketing platform.
6. Measure the success of your campaign.
The fact that you used a platform doesn’t mean that you have to stop at just email marketing. Measure the success of your campaign by taking a look at how many people opened and clicked on your emails, which buttons on your website visitors are they clicking on, and how much revenue you’re generating.
7. Learn from the best.
If you want to become the best, you have to know how to learn from those already there. Reading the blog posts and case studies of successful businesses is an excellent way to understand the ins and outs of marketing through email. Keep in mind that this is not a quick fix to becoming popular, as many of the above-mentioned businesses have spent a considerable amount of time and resources crafting their direct marketing campaigns.
8. Customize your emails.
If you’ve ever gotten bored of receiving the same automated emails from your inbox, you’re in luck because you can now customize your own. Whether you want to send out a welcome email or update your subscribers on a new product or service, your email marketing platform gives you the power to do so.
At this point, you may be wondering where you can go from here. You’ve got all the basics down, you understand email marketing, and you’re ready to start crafting some amazing pitches. The last thing you need is a fancy new pen to make your letters look more professional. Instead, keep those for your signature.