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| Get Started With Email Marketing |
There's no better moment than now to start using email marketing.
Since Constant Contact launched the first email marketing solution for small businesses in 1998, a lot has changed in the world of email marketing.
The efficiency of email marketing, on the other hand, hasn't changed.
Email marketing outperforms other digital marketing channels such as social media and sponsored search, according to studies.
Investing in email marketing may pay off big time, with an average return of $36 for every dollar spent.
I've noticed from my interactions with small businesses that figuring out how to get started with email marketing is frequently the most difficult part.
To make things easier for you, I've put up a list of ten things you should do when you first start using email marketing:
1. Choose a service provider for email marketing.
You should work with an email marketing service provider if you're serious about email marketing. The only way for your company to use email marketing automation to efficiently distribute communications to huge groups of contacts or subscribers is to work with a provider.
Professional email templates, tools to help you grow and manage your email list, and tracking features that show you who is opening and engaging with your campaigns and messages will all be available to you.
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2. Compile an email marketing list of contacts.
To build an email list, most firms will already have some contacts. Consider your existing clients and contacts. Maybe it's your normal work contacts; maybe it's simply a few supportive friends and family members, to begin with.
Don't get disheartened if you're starting from the ground up with an email list. Begin by posting a paper sign-up sheet at your register, adding an online sign-up form to your website, and urging your social media followers and regular customers to join.
Don't buy an email list, no matter what you do. Building and maintaining connections is at the heart of email marketing; interacting with a smaller group of high-quality contacts will have a greater impact than blasting messages to people who have never heard of your company.
3. Create an email marketing account for your contacts.
Add your contacts to your account once you've created an email marketing account and a list of people to send to.
Start by importing contacts directly from your Gmail or Outlook account or uploading a contact list from an existing spreadsheet.
Sort your contacts into distinct lists based on what you know about them if at all possible. Create distinct email lists for folks who have taken swimming lessons vs those who have taken yoga courses, for example, if you manage a gym.
As a result, you'll be able to send them tailored emails based on their particular interests.
4. Set up your welcome email
The first email your new email subscribers get from you is your welcome email.
Welcome emails are particularly significant since they serve as a first impression and reach individuals at a time when they are most interested in your company. Your welcome email is likely to have a higher-than-average open rate, so make sure you provide value right away.
Begin with a friendly greeting and a summary of what they may expect from you in the future, as well as an immediate offer of something valuable.
Your welcome email will be sent out automatically to all new contacts after you've set it up.
5. Create a reusable email template
This is the point where you get to have a good time. You can send professionally designed emails that look great on every device, even if you're not a designer.
You may choose from hundreds of email templates on Aweber, including timely layouts that will stand out in your inbox.
Look for a clean, eye-catching layout that will get your point over quickly when selecting a template. Choose a mobile-responsive email template that looks beautiful on any device, as people scan through their inbox rapidly — often while on the road.
Next, add your company's logo to the top of your email and link the image back to your website's homepage to personalize it with your brand. Create an email footer with your company name, contact information, and links to your active social media accounts, along with your company's trademark colors.
Make a copy of your email and save a version as your master template once you've completed these important design aspects. You won't have to start over and apply your branding each time you use this reusable template.
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6. Practice writing persuasive messages
For most business owners, this is the most terrifying step. I understand - writer's block can strike at any time.
Pretending I'm having a face-to-face conversation with someone and writing out what I want to say to them generally shakes me out of it.
It's also a good idea to stick to a formula and divide your message into three parts:
- What exactly do you have to offer? — Foreword
- What is the reader going to gain from it? — The content of the message
- What is the best course of action for them to take now? — Awakenings
7. Spend time on subject lines
The subject line of your email is one of the most important parts of the message.
Why? Even before they open your mail, your subscribers will notice the subject line. People won't be able to resist opening if you make a favorable impression. If you write something uninteresting, they'll probably disregard your message.
Short and snappy subject lines (about 40 characters) are ideal.
Asking a fascinating question, giving a deadline for urgency, or simply teasing your message can all help to capture attention.
8. Preview and test before you send
It's easy to make mistakes, especially when you're initially starting out with email marketing.
Perhaps you overlooked a crucial link or made an embarrassing spelling error right in the subject line. Doh! Due to the lack of a Back button in the email, always remember to send a Test Email to yourself or a member of your team before sending it to your full list.
9. Send your email (at the best time)
Timing is crucial when it comes to sending an email.
Each audience is unique, therefore the optimal time to send will vary depending on who is on your email list.
We've prepared some data based on client feedback to see which day and time would be ideal for your business.
You can also establish and stick to a regular sending schedule. If you send out a newsletter on the first of every month, for example, your subscribers will start to expect it.
If you do decide to stick to a timetable, make it clear at the time of sign-up:
Your subscribers will know when they'll hear from you next, and you'll be able to send your message according to a set schedule.
10. Track your results
Don't be fooled by the fact that email marketing doesn't end when the message is sent. You should keep track of your open, click-through, and unsubscribe rates, among other metrics, and strive to improve them over time.
If you want to see genuine results from your email marketing, you'll need a good understanding of how each email performs so you can improve it and learn more about your clients and subscribers.
Spending a few minutes looking over your email statistics can provide useful information such as who opened your email, who clicked on specific links, and what content your readers found most intriguing.
While knowing how engaging your campaign messages are is vital, make sure you're also tracking actions that occur outside of your emails. How many visitors to your contribution page convert to actual donations? How much money has been raised as a result of a single email?
These are the kinds of inquiries that will reveal the true value of your marketing efforts.
Do you have more faith in your capacity to begin using email marketing?
Email marketing, like most things, is daunting until you give it a shot. You now have 10 simple steps to follow to help you get started with your first email marketing campaigns.
