Using email for marketing is one of the most effective ways to connect with your customers and promote your business. But if you want to be successful, there are a few things you need to keep in mind. In this blog post, I’ll discuss five tips for email marketing success. So whether you’re just starting out or you’ve been using email marketing for a while, be sure to read on, and improve your email outreach marketing.
Getting Email Subscribers
When it comes to email for marketing, the first step is building your email list. This means collecting email addresses from potential and current customers. There are a number of ways to do this, and I’ll outline a few of the most popular methods below.
3 Methods for Collecting Email Addresses
- Giveaways: A great way to get people to sign up for your email list is to offer a giveaway. This could be in the form of a contest, an ebook, or anything else that would be of value to your target audience.
- Landing pages: You can also create landing pages specifically for email signups. These pages should include a clear call-to-action and a form for people to fill out.
- Checkout forms: If you have an eCommerce store, you can add an email signup form to your checkout process. This is a great way to capture email addresses from customers who are already interested in what you’re selling.
About Email Lists for Sale
Ever see those ads where people sell you a 100% guaranteed email list? Don’t do this. When you buy an email list, you’re essentially getting a group of email addresses that may or may not be interested in what you’re selling (besides they never gave you permission to email them – That is they never subscribed to your list).
This can lead to a number of problems, including:
- Increased spam complaints: When you send email to a list of people who haven’t asked to receive your messages, many of them will likely mark your email as spam. This hurts your sender reputation and can get your email account suspended.
- Low open rates: Even if some of the people on your purchased list do happen to be interested in what you’re selling, they’re not likely to engage with your email if they didn’t sign up for it. This results in low open rates, which can again hurt your sender reputation.
- Wasted time and money: If you’re not getting good results from your email campaigns, then all the time and money you spent on buying the list was a waste.
The bottom line is that email lists for sale are almost not a good idea. If you want to build a successful email marketing campaign, focus on getting email addresses from people who have actually subscribed to your list.
Once you have a list of email subscribers, it’s time to start sending emails. But before you start emailing people, there are a few things you need to keep in mind.
Finding an Email Service Provider (ESP)
As part of email for marketing, one of the most important decisions you’ll make is which email service provider (ESP) to use. There are a number of factors to consider when making this decision, including:
- Price.
- Features.
- Ease of use.
- Customer support.
- Size of email list.
- Number of email templates.
There are lots of email service providers to choose from!
Two platforms that I would suggest for you to explore are Sendinblue and Mailchimp. They offer a number of features that are perfect for email marketing, including:
- A/B testing.
- Automation.
- Signup forms.
- Integrations.
Mailchimp offers some additional features including:
- List segmentation.
- Geo-targeting.
- Time zone reporting.
Sendinblue and Mailchimp are both email service providers (ESPs), which means they both offer a number of features that are perfect for email marketing. So, which email service provider should you use? It really depends on your needs, so be sure to explore the features offered by them (and other providers).
Typical Email for Marketing Costs
Costs can be a real challenge in using email for marketing, one of the most important decisions you’ll make is how much you’re willing to spend. There are a number of factors to consider when making this decision, including:
- The size of your email list.
- The number of email templates you need.
- The frequency of your email campaigns.
- The type of content you’re emailing (e.g., blog posts, coupons, product updates).
To get an idea of how much email for marketing costs, I would suggest exploring the pricing plans offered by various service providers.
Often the best approach is to start with a lower tier plan, then slowly upgrade as your subscriber base naturally grows. This provides the benefit of minimizing start-up costs, until your email marketing campaigns begin returning a reliable revenue stream.
Using Guidelines for Your Email Campaigns
Using email for marketing is a great way to connect with your customers and promote your brand. But it’s important to have your guidelines in place. Doing so helps you map out (and improve) the effectiveness of your email marketing efforts.
Below are email for marketing guidelines that will help you create successful email campaigns. You can use them to create your own guideline for your email campaigns.
Document Your Email Marketing Plan
When you’re ready to start emailing your subscribers, it’s important to have a plan in place. This will help ensure that your email for marketing campaigns are effective and provide the best possible results.
Here are the steps you need to take to create an email for marketing plan…
Define Your Goals
What do you want to achieve with your email for marketing campaigns? Perhaps you want to increase brand awareness, drive traffic to your website, or improve sales.
Whatever your goals are, it’s important that you define them before you start emailing people. This will help you create email campaigns that are focused and effective.
Determine Your Subscriber Audience
It’s important to know who your target audience is. This will help you create email campaigns that are relevant and engaging.
There are a number of factors to consider when defining your target audience, including, the two most common are:
- Demographics (e.g., age, gender, location).
- Psychographics (e.g., interests, values, lifestyle).
You can use this information to create email campaigns that are tailored to your target audience.
For example, if you’re targeting parents of young children, you might want to email them about parenting tips or discounts for child products. But these types of email message may not be of interest to others.
Subscriber Sources
When it comes to using email for marketing, one of the most important decisions you’ll make is how you collect email addresses from potential subscribers.
There are a number of ways to do this, and each has its own set of benefits and drawbacks. Here are some of the most common methods for collecting email addresses (which I already touched on earlier in this post):
1. Signup Forms
One of the most common methods for collecting email addresses is to use signup forms. This involves embedding a form on your website that allows people to enter their email address in order to subscribe to your email list.
There are a couple of benefits to using signup forms:
- They’re easy to create and can be added to any page on your website.
- They’re a great way to collect email addresses from people who are already interested in what you have to offer.
However, there are also some drawbacks:
- Signup forms can be intrusive and may deter some people from subscribing to your email list.
- They can be difficult to setup if you’re not familiar with HTML or web programming.
2. Purchase Forms
Another common method for collecting email addresses is to use purchase forms. This involves adding a field to your purchase forms that allows people to enter their email address in order to subscribe to your email list.
There are two main benefits to using purchase forms:
- They allow you to collect email addresses from people who are already interested in what you have to offer.
- They’re a great way to build your email list quickly.
However, there are also some drawbacks:
- Purchase forms can be perceived as “pushy” which could prevent some people from opting in.
- If you’re not familiar with HTML code, they could be a bit more difficult to implement.
3. Lead Magnets
A lead magnet is a freebie that you offer in exchange for someone’s email address. This can be anything from an ebook to a discount code.
There are a number of benefits to using lead magnets:
- They’re a great way to collect email addresses from people who are already interested in what you have to offer.
- They help you build your email list quickly.
- They can be used in email list segments. (more on this later).
However, there are also some drawbacks:
- Lead magnets can be difficult to create if you’re not a skilled writer or designer.
- It can be time-consuming to promote your lead magnet.
4. Giveaways
A giveaway is a contest where you give away a prize in exchange for people’s email addresses.
There are a number of benefits to using giveaways:
- They’re a great way to collect email addresses from people, as well as creating “buzz” which helps get even more subscribers, when people share your giveaway content email.
- They help provide you with a surge in email subscriptions.
- They can also be used in email list segments.
However, there are also some drawbacks:
Giveaways can be difficult to promote if you don’t have a large social media following.
You need to have a prize that people will actually want to win.
5. Social Media
Social media is a great way to connect with potential email subscribers. You can use social media to promote your email list, as well as interact with people who are already on your email list.
There are a number of benefits to using social media for email marketing:
- It’s a great way to connect with potential email subscribers.
- You can use social media to promote your email list.
- It’s a great way to interact with people who are already on your email list.
However, there are also some drawbacks:
- Social media can be time-consuming.
- You need to have a large social media following to see any significant results.
Now that you know some of the most common methods for collecting email addresses, let’s take a look at segmenting email.
Email Segmentation
Using email marketing can be a great way to target specific groups of people with your promotional content. This is called email segmentation.
There are a number of benefits to email segmentation:
- It allows you to target specific groups of people with your promotional content.
- It helps you increase the effectiveness of your email marketing campaigns.
- It can help you save time by creating email content that is specific to each group.
How to Segment Your Email List
There are a number of ways to segment your email list. Here are some of the most common:
- By location: You can segment your email list by location, which is useful if you have a brick-and-mortar store or if you want to promote events in specific areas.
- By age: You can segment your email list by age, which is useful for promoting products or services that are targeted at specific age groups.
- By gender: You can segment your email list by gender, which is useful for promoting products or services that are targeted at specific genders.
- By interests: You can segment your email list by interests, which is useful for promoting products or services that are targeted at specific interests.
Now that you know how to segment your email list, let’s take a look at how to create email content that will be effective.
Determining Your Email Topics
One of the most important aspects of email marketing is deciding what to write about. The email topics you choose should be relevant to your audience and should also be something that you’re able to sustain and provide evergreen, long term content for..
If you’re not sure what to write about, try brainstorming a list of potential email topics. You could leverage online tools like AnswerThePublic, to help you build up on ideas.
Once you have a list of potential email topics, it’s time to start creating email content.
Tips to Create and Acquire Your Email for Marketing Content
Creating email content can be a daunting task, so it’s important to consider the elements below. This will help you to plan for, and create content that your email subscribers will look forward to!
Be Subscriber Focused
When it comes to email for marketing, it’s important to remember that your subscribers are the most important people. They’re the ones who have taken the time to sign up for your email list, so you need to make sure that you’re providing them with valuable content.
One way to do this is by treating them like MVPs. This could mean offering exclusive discounts, early access to new products or services, or simply providing valuable content that they can’t find anywhere else.
Provide Useful, Quality Content
Always keep it useful. That’s the key to email for marketing success.
When you provide your subscribers with valuable content, they’ll keep coming back for more. So make sure that you’re always providing quality content that’s relevant to your audience.
This could mean writing about a range of topics, from new products and services to industry news and trends. It’s important to keep your content varied so that your subscribers don’t get bored.
Personalize Email for Marketing Campaigns
Personalizing your email for marketing messages is a great way to connect with your subscribers and to increase the effectiveness of your email marketing campaigns. There are a number of ways to personalize email, but here are some of the most common methods:
- Using subscriber data: You can use subscriber data to personalize email content. This could include using their name in the email subject line or in the email content itself.
- Using behavior data: You can use behavior data to personalize email content. This could include sending an email about a new product to subscribers who have shown an interest in that product.
- Using demographic data: You can use demographic data to personalize email content. This could include sending an email about a new product to subscribers who live in a certain area.
As you can see, there are a number of ways to personalize email for marketing. By using this method, you can increase the likelihood that your email will be opened and read by your subscribers.
Also it helps when you add your own positive personality into your email content. This has the added benefits of making your email feel more like a conversation, rather than a sales pitch.
KISS for Clarity
When leveraging email for marketing, it’s important to keep your messages short and sweet. This will help you to keep your email content concise and easy to read.
Additionally, keeping your email messages short will help you to avoid overwhelming your subscribers with too much information.
So how do you go about writing email content that’s short and sweet?
One way to do this is by using the KISS method. KISS stands for “Keep It Short and Simple.”
This means that you should focus on writing email for marketing content that’s easy to understand and doesn’t require a lot of time to read. Additionally, you should avoid using jargon or technical terms that your subscribers might not be familiar with.
Foster Inspiration
One way to do this is by gathering great ideas from a variety of sources. This could include reading blogs, listening to podcasts, or even talking to people in your industry.
By gathering inspiration from a variety of sources, you’ll be able to create email content that’s truly valuable to your subscribers.
And by providing valuable content, you’ll be able to foster a relationship of trust and respect with your subscribers – Which is ultimately the foundation of a successful email marketing campaign.
Determine Goals and Email Frequency
When using email for marketing, it’s important to establish your sending frequency and goals. This will help you to determine the best way to reach your target audience and achieve your desired results.
One way to determine your email frequency is by using the AIDA model. AIDA stands for “Attention, Interest, Desire, and Action.”
This model helps you to understand the steps that you need to take in order to get your subscribers to take action.
By understanding the AIDA model, you’ll be able to determine how often you should be sending email and what type of content will work best for your desired outcome.
Stick to a Schedule
Among the best ways to ensure the success of your email marketing campaign is to stick to a schedule. This means that you should develop a plan and stick to it, sending email at regular intervals.
This will help you to ensure that your subscribers are always aware of your latest offerings and that they don’t forget about you. Additionally, this will also help you to build a relationship with more trust from your subscribers.
By sticking to a schedule, you’ll be able to provide value to your subscribers and keep them coming back for more.
Email Design
Your email design will determine how well your email is received by your target audience. Additionally, email design can also impact the open rate and click-through rate of your email.
There are a few things to keep in mind when designing your email:
- Use a responsive email design. This means that your email will look great on any device, including smartphones and tablets.
- Keep your email design simple. Avoid using too many graphics or images, as this can make your email look cluttered.
- Use color and whitespace for an advantage. Use colors that compliment your brand and add visual interest. Additionally, use whitespace to break up your email content and make it easier to read.
By following these email design tips, you’ll be able to create an email that’s both visually appealing and easy to read.
Leverage Email Design Templates
Templates can be a life-saver. By using email design templates, you’ll be able to create an email that looks great and is easy to read. Additionally, using templates will help you to save time and effort when creating your email marketing campaigns.
There are a variety of different email design templates available online (a simple web search will return lots of results). Simply choose a template that’s compatible with your email marketing platform and start creating your email.
Always Pre-Test Email Campaigns
Pre-testing email campaigns is a critical step in ensuring their success. By testing your email before sending it to your subscribers, you’ll be able to ensure that it looks great and that it’s easy to read. Additionally, you’ll be able to test the effectiveness of your email content (based upon the feedback from testers) and determine if there are any changes that need to be made.
Cross Platform Testing
When testing email campaigns, it’s important to test them in different email clients and to different ISPs. This will help you to ensure that your email looks great and is easy to read no matter where it’s opened.
Additionally, by testing in different email clients and ISPs, you’ll be able to determine which ones offer the best results for your email campaigns.
Test the “Human” Side of Email Campaigns
Send test email campaigns to friends and coworkers. Get their input. This will help you to determine if the content of your email is effective and if there are any changes that need to be made.
By testing email campaigns with real people, you’ll be able to get an accurate gauge of their effectiveness.
Take Advantage of A / B Testing
A / B testing is a great way to find the best version of your email campaigns. By testing different versions of your email, you’ll be able to determine which ones are most effective. Additionally, A/B testing will help you to fine-tune your email campaigns and make them even more successful.
To get started with A/B testing, simply create two versions of your email (version A and version B). Then, send each version to a different group of people. After a set period of time, compare the results of each email campaign.
By taking advantage of A/B testing, you’ll be able to improve email campaigns and increase their effectiveness.
Safeguarding Email Deliverability
When you’re sending email campaigns, it’s important to safeguard your email delivery. This means taking steps to ensure that your email is delivered to your subscribers’ inboxes and not relegated to their spam folders.
One way to safeguard email delivery is to use email authentication. Email authentication helps to confirm that the email is legitimate and that it’s coming from the sender that it claims to be coming from. Additionally, email authentication can help to prevent email spoofing (when someone sends an email that appears to be from you but is actually from someone else).
Another way to safeguard email delivery is to use a reputable email service. By using professional email service providers, you’ll be able to ensure that your email for marketing campaigns are delivered to your subscribers. Additionally, you’ll be able to take advantage of their deliverability expertise and knowledge.
Use Email Automation
Email automation makes it easy to send the right email to the right person at the right time. By using email automation, you’ll be able to increase the effectiveness of your email for marketing campaigns and improve your bottom line.
Here are some of the ways that email automation can help you:
- Automated welcome emails create a great first impression and help to build rapport with new subscribers.
- Automated email campaigns can be used to nurture leads and turn them into customers.
- Automated email campaigns can be used to increase customer loyalty and retention.
- Automated email campaigns can save you time by automating the email marketing process.
To get started with email automation, you would need to choose the email service provider (Mailchimp, Aweber, Moosend, and so on) that best meets your needs. Then, set up email campaigns that are triggered by specific events (such as subscribing to your list, or making a purchase, etc).
By using email automation, you’ll be able to improve email marketing campaigns and help increase your bottom line.
Follow up With Email Analytics
Tracking statistics in email for marketing can be a great way to measure the success of your marketing campaigns. By tracking email opens, clicks, and conversions, you can determine which campaigns are most successful and which ones need improvement.
Additionally, email analytics can help you to determine the best time of day to send email campaigns and the best days of the week to send them.
Click Through and Open Rates
When you’re sending out email for marketing campaigns, it’s important to track how many people open them and how many people click through. This information can help you to determine the effectiveness of your email campaigns and make necessary adjustments.
The most common way to track open rates is by using a “header tag.” A header tag is a piece of HTML code that is inserted into the email header. This code allows you to track how many people open the email.
To track click-through rates, you would need to use a URL tracking system. This system would allow you to track how many people click on links within your email.
By tracking email opens and clicks, you’ll be able to improve email marketing campaigns, because this information helps you see what works well, and what not so much.
Include Ecommerce Related Metrics
In email for marketing, ecommerce data is a crucial metric to track. By tracking email conversions, you can determine how many people are buying products or services as a result of your email campaigns. Additionally, you can track the total revenue generated by email campaigns, and see which email campaigns are the most successful.
By tracking email conversions, you can improve email for marketing campaigns by being able to see, and then focus (double down) on what works best.
Sending Readers to Your Website Funnel
While email for marketing is a great way to connect with your audience and promote your brand. It’s not just about sending out email campaigns – it’s also important to think about what you do with the traffic that email campaigns send to your website.
When you’re designing your email campaigns, it’s important to think about what you want your readers to do after they click through to your website. Do you want them to sign up for a free trial? Download an ebook? Purchase a product? It’s important to have a plan for what you want your readers to do, so that you can send them down the right “funnel.”
By thinking about email for marketing in terms of a “funnel,” you can improve email for marketing campaigns, because you’ll be able to better focus on what you want your readers to do.
Conclusion
Without question, email for marketing can be a great way to connect with your audience and promote your brand, but it’s also important to think about what you do with the traffic that email campaigns send to your website. By designing email campaigns that focus on getting readers to take a specific action, you’ll be able to improve email marketing campaigns and increase sales.
You can learn much more about email for marketing, by visiting our Small Business Email Marketing posts. As well as find out more about Email Subscriber Engagement.