Have a business idea that you think will make the world a better place? You might have a huge impact using your talents and resources to change the world for the better. For those who believe in karma, the universe, and all things mystical, the perfect business could be found using nothing more than your intuition, empathy, and the power of suggestion.
To help you along the way, we’ve compiled a list of everything you need to know about using email marketing to grow your business. So, before you start spouting off random emails to potential customers, here’s what you need to know.
Why Use Email Marketing for Small Businesses?
With the proliferation of mobile phones, everyone has access to a device that can quickly and easily send an email. Even if you want to limit your marketing efforts to just the physical realm, you can use email marketing to your advantage. You can also use it to grow your business by encouraging people to sign up for your mailing list. Even if you have a small business with only a couple hundred thousand dollars in annual revenue, you can use email marketing to your advantage.
If you’re looking for ways to improve your bottom line, consider using email marketing as a tool. There are a variety of ways you can use email marketing to grow your business. You can use it to send out periodic email newsletters that highlight new products or upcoming promotions. You can also use it to promote a company event or the opportunity to take advantage of a limited time promotion. And for those who are particularly data driven, you can use email marketing to conduct A/B testing or other forms of split testing to determine what works best for your specific audience.
What Is Email Marketing?
Put yourself in your customer’s shoes for a moment. What is your mindset when it comes to marketing and advertising? What comes to mind when you think about marketing and what is the first thing that comes to mind when you think about marketing your product or service? If you’re like most business owners, you’re thinking about marketing approaches that will drive revenue above all else.
The term “marketing” can be a bit overwhelming, primarily because it can mean different things to different people. For those looking to grow their business using marketing and advertising, your first port of call should be your email marketing program. Marketing is basically everything you do, beyond just making sales, to bring in potential customers and keep them coming back for more.
Marketing includes everything from advertising, to sales, to customer service, and more. Basically, anything that can be done to make a living, or provide a service, could be considered marketing. Your mission statement, corporate values, and business plan might all fall under this heading. Email marketing is simply the act of sending out periodic email notifications to people who have signed up for your mailing list (usually as part of a simple sign-up form on your website).
What Type Of Email Marketing Should You Use?
There are a variety of email marketing platforms available. You can use these tools to help you send out email campaigns for free. You can also use tools like MailChimp, Aweber, and others to create, send, and track your email campaigns. If you decide to go this route, make sure you do your research before committing. There are a variety of free and cost-effective tools available that can easily and effectively grow your email list. If you decide that you want to go the DIY route and build your own email marketing system from the ground up, consider using a platform like MailChimp, which offers both free and paid plans. If your business model is based on suggestion and you want your clients to trust you with their credit card details, you should probably go with a paid plan. Otherwise, the free plan should work just fine for you.
The decision is up to you and what you want out of your email marketing strategy. If you’re looking for a simple solution to send out a series of reminders about an upcoming event or deadline, consider using a tool like Aweber, which offers both free and paid plans. If you’re looking for robust functionality and the ability to grow your email list quickly and effectively, consider using a tool like MailChimp, which also offers both free and paid options.
How Many Emails Should You Send?
Depending on your business and the size of your customer base, you might want to limit the number of emails you send out. If you’re looking to grow your business quickly, you might want to consider sending out several updates, or even a mini-newsletter, per week. Something that I would recommend is sending out an email every two weeks. This way you’re not going to upset your audience, by bombarding them with emails every week. Most business email platforms, such as MailChimp, allow you to set the frequency of the emails you send out. If you decide to go this route, simply set your email marketing program to send out emails on a every-other week basis and you’ll be all set.
How Should You Structure Your Emails?
When it comes to crafting an email that will inspire action, or even just interest, you want to look for three main things. First, you want to create a sense of urgency. People are more likely to act on an email when they feel they have to rush to take advantage of a limited offer or opportunity. Second, you want to use language that is easy to understand. Simply put, too many words and complicated sentences in your email and it becomes hard for your readers to understand exactly what you’re trying to get across. Last, you want to make sure that you mention everything you need to include in order to make the email as effective as possible. This last point is very important. You want to give your readers as much information as possible, without making the email cluttered or excessively long. In order to save you time and ensure that your emails are as effective as possible, you should consider using a simple outline, or even a few bullet points, to organize your thoughts and information.
How Should You Address Your Emails?
Another important factor to consider, when sending out your emails, is the way you format and address your emails. If you’re looking for a simple and easy to follow rule, consider using a business-like subject line, which will make your emails easier to digest. For example, if you’re sending out an email promoting a new product, consider using a subject line that says something like, “10 ways to use this product,” or “Why you should buy this product,” etc. Using a subject line like this makes it easier for the recipient to know exactly what the email is about. In addition, you can use subheads to further break down the subject matter of your email. Subheads make your email easier to digest and they help your readers get across the point of your email quickly and easily. If you use these elements effectively, you’ll find that you’re making your emails stand out among the rest.
How Should You Finish Your Emails?
Your emails should contain a strong call to action. What is the specific action you want your customers to take? Are they signing up for your mailing list or trying out a new product? You want your readers to take action so make sure that the last thing they do, before hitting the “quit” button on their phones, is to follow your instructions, or take the suggested action you’ve given them. This is where a little psychology can help you a lot. You’re essentially trying to get your readers to take the desired action, so consider using phrases like, “In order to take advantage of this wonderful offer, etc.,” or “If you want to participate in this limited time promotion, etc.,” etc. This sort of wording encourages your readers to act quickly and it makes it easier for you to get your message across.
Where Should You Post Your Emails?
Along with structuring and wording your emails well, you also want to make sure that you post them where your target audience can easily find them. If you’re looking for inspiration, consider posting your emails to your favorite websites or blogs for free. Or, if you’ve got a paid subscription to a certain publication, consider using that platform to promote your email updates or even a solo newsletter. Just remember that if you use these platforms, you’re also subject to their rules and regulations. Typically, these platforms require you to have a certain number of subscribers before they’ll give you access to their audience and they can also moderate what you post. If you want to keep your readers engaged and interested in your content, consider posting to lesser-known websites or platforms. Alternatively, consider finding your own niche website and growing your audience there. This way, you’re not competing for readership with the likes of Amazon and Google. Also, make sure that you include a solid call to action in your posts. This could be as simple as “read on” or “click this link” to take the user to a particular resource or page.