Gone are the days when a company's #marketing plan could consist of running an ad in the local paper and sending out a mailer twice a year. Today's consumers encounter so much #advertising online and offline that they tend to tune it out. That's why a multi-pronged approach to advertising is essential, one that incorporates both traditional and digital marketing. As you develop your strategy, be sure to include #email marketing.
Email? Yes. You may have heard that email will soon be obsolete, but reports of its demise are greatly exaggerated. Even 75% of teens, the group usually described as email-averse, use it. Last year we sent 102.6 trillion emails worldwide. 99% of us check email every day, usually before we check social media. Promotional emails boast a 22.86% open rate. "The next time someone tells you email is 'dead,' try to imagine the cost of . . . giving up all the flexibility that email affords" says Aaron Straup Cope, a senior engineer in digital and emerging media.
Here are some key points to keep in mind if you are considering an email marketing campaign.
1. Automate
Companies like Mailchimp can help your email marketing campaign look great, reach the right people, and provide analytics so you can see how well it worked.
2. Budget
For every $1 you spend, email marketing returns an average of $44, making it a great choice for the small business owner.
3. Be Predictable
Don't overwhelm your customers with email, but try to send emails regularly on the same day of the week at the same time. Customers will come to expect them.
4. Offer Something
Coupons, rewards, or promotions offered in emails have a huge success rate. Encourage recipients to forward these emails to others who might be interested.
5. Personalize
It can be as simple as using the recipient's name in the email or as sophisticated as personalized recommendations, but make it personal so your messages will stand out.
6. Respect Privacy
Make it easy to unsubscribe.
7. Optimize for Mobile
Most of your customers will read your email on their phones.
Email: we all have it, so why not put it to use? If you need help with cost-effective ways to market your #SmallBusiness, please contact The LMC Group at info@lmc.group or 603-217-5045.